Okay, so when we last left off, I'd written off brick and mortar wedding dress shops, I'd decided to avoid the whole Chinese knockoff thing, and I'd dabbled in a little Mormon wedding dress internet stalking. I was left with only one choice: Etsy.
Against my better judgment, I ended up contacting the dress maker that Mrs. Pretzel had used for her wedding dress, Porshes Place. Despite Mrs. Pretzel's less than perfect experience, I decided to go for it anyway. What did I have to lose? I didn't like any other dress I saw elsewhere, and judging from Mrs. Pretzel's engagement pics dress and her wedding dress, plus all the other pictures in Porshes Place's shop, I thought there was a good chance that I'd end up liking what she made me. I sent her a doctored-up version of the Stephanie James dress I was stalking, edited artistically in MS Paint.
Images via Stephanie James Couture / edited by me
The original is on the right.
I think I literally snipped the shoulders and cleavage off another dress I found online and then spray painted some cap sleeves on her. Classy. I also sent this pic to her and asked her to do a cross between these sleeves and the spray painted ones:
Image via Shabby Apple
So basically the only thing I was keeping from my original soul mate dress was the poofy skirt. What can I say, I'm fickle. After I placed my order and sent my measurements and money, I just waited. And it didn't take very long. I received my dress in the mail about a month and a half after I ordered it. That girl is a quick sewer! (Or do you prefer "sewist?")
Once I was notified that the dress had been shipped, I stalked the package online with the tracking code for two days, waiting in agony for the dress to arrive. I was so worried it would be hideous or ill-fitting or just not what I wanted--not because I expected the dressmaker to be terrible, but because it is just such a gamble to buy your wedding dress online without ever meeting the person making it. And I really had no clue what it would look like, especially after telling her to make the sleeves a cross between two different things. After waiting impatiently for two days, the package arrived.
Personal pics
Can you feel the suspense building??
I yanked it from the box, slipped into it, zipped up the back, and checked my fine ass out in the mirror. And...I loved it! Before I show you pics, a few disclaimers:
- Mr. Unicycle: seriously GTFO
- I didn't buy a crinoline for it yet, so it looks a little like a deflated balloon right now. Believe me, it will look even better with a little more poof.
- It should also be ironed.
- It needs to be taken in because I measured myself and clearly don't know how to do it. And it should also be hemmed because I'm a shawty.
- Alright...here it is...drumroll please...
All personal pics
Attempting to show what it would look like post-alterations. Failing at that.
Attempting to show what it would look like with a crinoline. Also failing at that.
Hawt butt shot. Ow ow.
I saved the best for last--IT HAS FRIGGIN POCKETS. So now I can store all kinds of objects with me on my wedding day. Lipstick, a hankie, pepper spray, a mouse...the possibilities are endless.
In short: I would recommend Porshes Place to anyone who wants a vintage inspired, custom dress on the cheap. I only paid $400 bucks for this bad boy! I would also agree with Mrs. Pretzel and encourage you to get your crinoline elsewhere and set aside money for alterations. To all the people who thought I was nuts ordering a wedding dress online (which is to say, everyone I told about it): I TOLD YOU SO.
Would you ever take such a big gamble on your wedding dress? Has anyone else gone the custom route?
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