A while ago my Mom gave me her wedding dress in the original garment bag and it was rolled up in a ball. She said to me, do what you want with dress, I don't want it anymore {she was going to throw it away}. It sat in my closet for a while and I finally decided to do something with it vs. just hanging on to it. This is where you are probably going say what did she do? After debating for a while on what to do with it, I finally decided to cut up my Mom's wedding dress and made it into a wedding journal. My parents were divorced and my Mom didn't have any sentimental feelings towards it so why not. When Olivia was preparing for her communion, I was going to transform it into a communion dress but we just ended up buying her a new one. With the move from Arkansas to Michigan, my new thought process is, I don't want to hang on to things anymore, I want to use everything. The entire book is sewn together, even the pages of the journal. I only used glue in one spot and I have to say, I just winged it.....I really didn't have a process of how to sew a book together. On the front cover, the satin roses were on my Mom's bustle, the buttons were on her wrists and the the sequined lace was the body of her dress.
I decided to add photos of my Grandmother and her siblings as well as a photo of my Mom in her dress being walked down the aisle by my Grandfather. It is a tribute to all of the lovely wedding photos I am fortunate to have inherited {I used color photocopies so I wouldn't damage the originals}...it just kills me to have these wonderful photos tucked away for no one to see. So, here are the photos in order.
My Grandmother's sister.
My Grandmother and Grandfather, this is how they met...they each stood up for a wedding.
My Grandmother's brother.
My Grandmother {on the right} standing up for another wedding....her bother's wedding.
My Mom in her dress and I used the bridal shop's garment bag with the advertisment on the page.
My Grandmother's brother.
My Grandmother's brother.
Before I cut up the dress, I snapped a few photos of it.
I still have a ton of her dress left and I plan on creating additional journal for my girls when they get married. I will put that on my to do list. Now, if I only had the dresses and headpieces that my Grandmother wore. I hope after reading this you understand that I wanted to preserve my Mom in her dress and this is my way of doing it.
Wow, very impressive. Beautiful idea and put together very well.
Posted by: Jean Elliott | September 17, 2012 at 10:22 AM
Oh Lori...this is so, SO gorgeous...I love every single bit! What a great use of your moms gown, and a beautiful way to display your family photos. A true heirloom! Xoxo
Posted by: Suzanne Duda | September 17, 2012 at 12:23 PM
What a gorgeous book and fabulous remake of the gown. I too love to use things to make something I can enjoy rather than having something sitting in the closet gather dust. I hope you are going to send this in to Sew Somerset for publication. Beautiful!
Posted by: Thespoena | September 17, 2012 at 12:43 PM
Well I can't think of a better way of preserving that dress and those memories. I think making journals for your girls to have when they marry is just inspired. Well done!
Posted by: Kathy | September 17, 2012 at 02:17 PM
I think this is a FABULOUS way to preserve your Mother's dress. Its perfect. The book is gorgeous and a beautiful memento of your family's specials days.. you should add YOUR wedding photo also. It would be amazing to hand down to your girls..
Posted by: Heather | September 17, 2012 at 06:44 PM
What a beautiful and thoughtful way of preserving your mom's wedding dress. Your book is gorgeous!!
Posted by: debi | September 17, 2012 at 07:30 PM
This is such a beautiful book!! What a great way to use her dress!
Posted by: Susan | September 17, 2012 at 09:18 PM
Lori...such a fitting tribute to a beautiful dress. There is absolutely no reason to keep a garment all boxed up. You will have many more memories from this beautiufl keepsake. It is just stunning. I love it so much.
Posted by: Hope Ellington | September 18, 2012 at 10:55 AM
This is so beautiful and such a wonderful idea. So full of memories. Awesome
Posted by: tina | September 19, 2012 at 10:06 AM
Simply beautiful. Just beautiful.
Posted by: Lisa Super | September 21, 2012 at 12:38 AM
awww gorgeous love what you did, and I feel the same if your mother did not have any feelings well.. you sertainly did a wonderful art work its stunning all you beautiful keepsake
Posted by: dorte | September 21, 2012 at 08:38 AM
This dress/book is why I love you so much!!!
Posted by: karla nathan | September 21, 2012 at 02:36 PM
Lori, it is absolutely stunning! what a great idea. Your girls will treasure it forever.
Sarah
Posted by: Joy For the Journey | September 22, 2012 at 06:26 AM
Wow! What a stunning book. The dress made lovely embellishments.
You are so lucky to have so many family photos, especially of the weddings. I have a photo of my parents' wedding, and my own, and that is it. I think everyone else went to the courthouse.
Posted by: Erica H. | October 03, 2012 at 03:43 PM
What a beautiful idea that will last a lifetime. I enjoyed every page.
Posted by: BrendaW | October 06, 2012 at 01:38 PM
Lori, I love what you have done with the dress and the album! The pictures of your family added even more value to the dress and memory of weddings in your family. Love you and miss being around your create mind daily.
Posted by: Michelle Yocum | October 09, 2012 at 08:17 AM