Britt and Alejandra approached me to make Britt a custom suit, and to do alterations on Alejandra’s dress from the wonderful shop Brides by Young here in Indianapolis. What started as one email has now become a wonderful friendship.
If you know these two, you know how well they treat their friends. So it’ll be no surprise that their wedding was a magnificent show of love for each other, their families, and their friends. You’ll see in these pictures the biggest smiles. Their joy is so contagious.
We actually started with a different color for Britt’s suit. It was this really cool salmon suiting. After the mock-up, and letting the fabric color simmer, Britt contacted me worried that she thought she was changing her mind. We hopped on the phone and I assured her that we could buy more fabric. The cost of buying this new fabric, a gorgeous, lightweight suiting from Holland & Sherry, was absolutely worth it.
Holland & Sherry is a well-known woolen merchant, started in 1836 in London. Since then, they have come out with a number of ranges, all beautiful and lush. In 1982, they moved to Savile Row, and provides wools to so many companies, big and small, that they don’t even list them on their website. They’re that good, and that well known. And their fabrics are so incredibly wonderful to work with.
Working with couples
I love working with couples. Some want to stay out of the fitting room while the other is getting fitted, but Britt and Alejandra wanted to be there for their fittings, which was so incredibly sweet. And for anyone worried that if you see each other during fittings that it won’t feel special at your wedding, I’m here to tell you not to worry. There were so many happy tears as Alejandra walked towards Britt at the altar. It’s a different space. You’ve got a very special atmosphere. It’s THE day.
Even if I’m not working personally with both people in a couple-hood, it’s still common to text with my client’s partner to get colors right, and make sure there is cohesiveness within both looks.
I got a text from Britt where we were talking about her custom suit, and she said she wanted to look like a bad b!tch. The next day, I ordered custom labels that said just that! I love surprising people with tags. I never put in a size tag. The reason for that is that there is no one size for any of my clients. Everyone is unique and don’t fit into a numbered box.
Over the past couple of decades, size labels have turned into what the industry calls “vanity sizing”. Vanity sizing only works when you think that being a smaller size makes you more worthy within society. I completely disagree with that, and I can say with certainty, that the size and shape of your body is the least interesting thing about you. I promise you that.
Alejandra’s alterations were so wonderful to work on. With most plus size wedding dresses, the assumption is that you’re an hourglass. I wanted to show off Alejandra’s beautiful body, and that meant tearing apart the bodice, and reconstructing it, not only to take in the bodice, but to re-drape the tulle. Taking in the underbust, where your bra band hits, let’s you see the person’s shape, and adds support.
Her dress actually had a really long train, which Alejandra didn’t want, so we actually used some of the glitter tulle to make a lingerie set for her wedding night! It’s such a cute set! This is definitely a piece that we kept secret from Britt. At the beginning, it wasn’t exactly what Alex was wanting, but she got to see how each fitting made the set more and more exactly what she wanted. She loved the process so much, she’s already set up an appointment to get a custom look made, even after her wedding.
Britt is the epitome of pure joy. She thought every step that her suit was perfect, even when I kept pinning, and finessing. I love how her vest, which at first we weren’t going to do, is clean right around her neck and body. I love the fit of the jacket, how the shoulders hit her at that sweet spot, and how the sleeves are perfectly curved around her arms.
A lot of times I get clients who ask me to make all the fit decisions. Even thought I’m open to that, I always open the dialogue so that we can work together. What feels great to one person might not be perfect for another. And those are the considerations I make with everyone I work with.
I was lucky enough to be at their wedding, and I got to both help them get dressed, and give them big hugs before they stepped out of the dressing room. Yes, I’m making clothes. But clothes mean more to me than just the thing hanging in a closet. What I make is not just clothes. It’s a conversation in fabric form.
Would you surprise your partner?
Britt surprised Alejandra with a mariachi band, which gave Alex and her family so much joy. I’m from Colombia, and I know that music from my country makes me feel a joy that I can’t bring out any other way. That’s what I saw in Alejandra. It was such a perfect surprise, and while Britt told me she was doing it, I still felt the explosive joy when the band first walked in.
Surprising a partner is totally personal, but if you know that your lover will get a thrill from something, I’m sure you should do it. You, of all people, know your partner best. Your wedding is such a great time for these big gestures of love.
Britt and Alejandra did their first look, and it was made of fairy tales. They got to see each other, at the venue they chose together, with the looks they loved for each other, the flowers they picked out together, and the suit color that they knew was the absolute perfect choice.
And there were tears. Lots and lots of tears. It was so beautiful.
Britt in this blue is pure perfection. This color is so perfect with her skin tone, her hair, eyes, and most importantly, her taste. The moral of this story is to go with the color you want, deep down inside. And, if you want a vest, go for the vest.
Get in touch if you’re ready for this kind of experience.
Thank you to an amazing team for making Britt and Alejandra’s wedding such a success.
