A nonbinary wedding outfit provides an opportunity for the ultimate custom experience. Because my nonbinary clients aren’t confined by traditional gender norms and expectations, we can figure out what really affirms them and makes them feel amazing on your wedding day.
When Chris came to me, everyone was asking what they would wear to their wedding. Chris knew that she didn’t want to settle for what others expected. We worked closely to find the perfect mix of elements to make them feel fantastic on his wedding day.
Making a Nonbinary Wedding Outfit
Every custom design starts with a process of getting to know my client and what they have in mind. In Chris’s case, they knew what they didn’t want to wear – a dress or a suit. So how did we figure out what Chris’s nonbinary wedding outfit would look like.
Chris and I set out to filter out what didn’t feel right until we got to the core of what Chris really wanted to wear. Open communication made all the difference. We quickly hit it off as I sent over sketches.
I was surprised when Chris picked the design that I thought was a total wild card! When I do sketches for clients, I like to include something that pushes boundaries a bit – the go big or go home design. People choose these designs more than you might expect.
Next came the mock up stage in which we tested the basics of the design. Once we were satisfied, we moved into selecting fabrics. Whenever I’m making a custom outfit, I consider how the fabric sits in a certain pattern. Chris’s jacket maintained a structure that added a touch of masculinity to the more flowing pants and overskirt.
Slowly but surely, the look came together. By the final fitting, Chris was beaming. We had obviously found the right combination of elements to make the nonbinary wedding outfit they dreamed of.
Embracing a Truly Custom Design
As with all of my custom designs, the process of designing Chris’s outfit was very collaborative and personal. Chris was an integral part of the process from beginning to end. The result was a truly custom design.
For Chris’s nonbinary wedding outfit, we played with all of the elements of what people consider masculine and feminine. Of course, the combination of pants, overskirt, and jacket pulls together traditionally gendered pieces. We challenged binary approaches to wedding clothes through fabric and color as well. The navy detail on the pants added a traditionally masculine color that at the same time had a lot of movement because of the way the fabric of the pant legs draped.
Not only did Chris want this outfit, but I got to design as well. Sometimes people know exactly what they want. This is great! I always try to add something unique to that. With Chris, he knew the elements of what he wanted but not how to combine it all into a cohesive look. I feel very lucky that I got to do them justice with my custom design.
Unearthing Authentic Confidence
I know one of my custom designs is a success when I ask my clients to walk down the hallway. This shows them how they’ll look and feel on their wedding day. Typically, it reassures people that they’ll be comfortable and feel like themselves.
I can tell so much from someone’s body language when they walk down that hall! When hris walked by, I could see their confidence in their gait. Best of all, it was the kind of confidence that can’t come from the outside, only unearthed from within.
One of the great things about Chris’s outfit is that it’s the kind of piece that can be taken apart and worn again. Wedding outfits should be special, but it’s important to me that Chris can take the pieces that make them feel so confident and wear them elsewhere. Why confine that confidence to her wedding day?
Are you interested in working with House of Bretón on your custom wedding outfit? Let’s start the journey together.
Thanks to all the vendors who made Chris’s wedding possible:
Venue: The Barn in Zionsville
Planner: Plum and Poppy
Lens: Amanda DeBusk Photography
Florals: A Bride’s Choice Florist
Catering: Nameless Catering Co.
Arieanna’s Dress: Love Curvy Bridal
Dress tailoring: House of Breton
Chris’s custom look: House of Breton
Hair: G. Michael Salon
