Wedding: The Dress
August 29, 2007
Uncategorized

Wedding: The Dress

I received my great grandmother’s wedding dress from my cousin over the weekend! This turn-of-the century dress is linen lace said to be handmade by nuns outside of Paris. It’s one complete piece of lace with a soft empire waist and a small train in back. My great grandmother was known for her exquisite taste and this dress doesn’t disappoint.

The dress also happens to fit me perfectly. Those skinny Bemis/Stockton/Williams genes are pretty dedicated through the generations. Now I just need to book a good seamstress to have a new satin lining made and to do something with the neckline (currently wide strap v-neck that isn’t particularly flattering with my toothpick arms). How exciting!

Post Tagged:
Next Post:
Previous Post:
This article was written by
mrsem

Related Posts
There are 21 comments for this article
  1. Chelsea at 9:20 pm

    Oh my goodness! You are so lucky to have this and also to have the figure that will fit into it. It looks gorgeous.

  4. Elizabeth at 10:49 pm

    you are SO lucky – can’t wait to see a picture of the whole thing! How many brides in your family have worn it?

  5. Leslie at 10:54 pm

    wow. that’s incredibly pretty. i can’t wait to see the pics of your big day!

  7. mrsem Author at 11:02 pm

    I’ll show it to you next time you come over to the apartment!

  8. Miche at 11:05 pm

    You are so lucky that it is not only intact, but that it also fits you so perfectly!!!! Amazing!

  9. Anonymous at 11:16 pm

    Are you looking for a recommendation? I got married a few months ago and wore a lace dress from the 1920’s. Leila at Persepolis Designs in the Marina did an amazing job adding a new slip and taking in the top.

  10. mrsem Author at 11:21 pm

    Thanks for the recommendation. If you wouldn’t mind sharing; about how much did that cost you?

  12. love.boxes at 12:46 am

    How wonderful. Something old and lovely for your something old. I think it must be the best luck to be married in a grandmother’s dress.

  13. marian at 10:56 am

    Dress is amazing. I almost used my great grandmother’s dress, but in the end I was so petrified about making adjustments to it (I didn’t want to “ruin” it for future generations) that I chickened out. I wish I hadn’t, but hopefully my sister will be braver than I was. 🙂

    I saw this and thought of you – not really the look that you’re going for with your wedding (I don’t think) but there’s tons of yellow for inspiration – Check here

  16. e at 1:51 pm

    the lace is gorgeous. i wish nuns today still made such lovely things.
    can’t wait to see the final results!

  17. Anne at 2:24 pm

    gorgeous!
    i think getting the dress is one of the best parts of planning! 🙂

  19. Anonymous at 7:49 pm

    To have a new slip added and the top taken in at Persepolis was not cheap. It was about $800. She had to take the entire top apart and put it back together to get the lace to “match” up. But the final price was exactly the same as what she quoted me, and she was a doll to work with, and she was really careful to preserve as much of the lace as possible, so I think it was worth it all in all.

  20. Jessica at 9:53 pm

    That is awesome that you can be married in a dress that is so sentimental!

  21. Andie at 11:14 am

    I was married in my grandmother’s dress as well. What a special thing to do. Can’t wait to see it.