Custom Dress Image – which style do I choose?

Remember when I was oohing and ahhing over the thought of a custom dress illustration? Well, if there is one thing I have learned since entering into the world of wedding planning, it is that people can really come out of the woodwork, in a good way!

Shortly after posting about my desire for a beautiful illustration of my dress, an old friend from high school (we’ll call her A) got in contact with me. She went to college at Parson’s for fashion design (yes…location of Project Runway, Tim Gunn…sigh…ok I'm going off topic now...). Anyway, she offered her services…and I couldn’t be more excited about it!

Since she is so skilled, A is able to create the illustration in a number of different styles…it is up to me to decide which I like the most! These are the styles I have to pick from (but obviously, they'd be of my dress instead!)…

Vintage Poster Print

Text could even be added to the side to make it resemble the vintage posters!

Modern and Color Blocked

Simple Pencil Sketch on white paper

I’m a sucker for Audrey Hepburn…but that is beside the point…

Glamour

1940’s style

A fun pose

At the moment, I am gravitating towards the vintage poster print or the “fun pose” that would be a bit more unusual. Which of these illustrations strikes your fancy? Where do you think you would put an illustration like this?

Custom Dress Illustration = Divine!

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So...rewind a few months to this summer, when I was in the midst of wedding dress shopping...I was buried up to my nose in wedding magazines, and my eyes were crossing from staring at a computer screen for hours at a time, searching endlessly through wedding dress inspiration!

Anyway, as I was contemplating my dress budget and the like, I started to ponder the thought of what exactly I am going to DO with my dress after the day is over. What is a girl to do? I could preserve it, and hopefully have a daughter someday who might be interested in wearing it...or I could sell it, and let some other bride enjoy it in the more immediate future. Either way, the dress is either going to be in a closet or out of my hands after the wedding. But, there might be an option to keep it in view on a daily basis (with the exception of our pro photog's pictures)!

I recently stumbled upon Aboutthedress.com, a company that creates custom bridal gown illustrations! You send them a few pictures of yourself wearing the dress, and their artists create a custom fashion illustration of you! for $425 (plus shipping), you get an 11"x14" illustration that is double matted and framed.

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What a unique way to remember your gorgeous dress after the day is over! However, kind of pricey, and I am hoping to find something a bit more...fashionable! So, I thought I'd check out one of my favorite places, Etsy, to see if there was anything available at a more reasonable price!

How about these beautiful sketches from MeganHamilton?

And, if you want to include your man's suit/tux...you can do that too!

MeganHamilton

I love love love the idea of having a custom sketch of my dress! This could also be a wonderful first anniversary present (cough cough...any husbands/fiances out there cough cough)...

If you don't want to purchase the illustration, but like to see the juxtaposition of a designer sketch to its actual conception, Brides.com has a featured section called "Sketch to dress Spring 2010" on their site right now...you can see your favorite designers' sketches next to photos of the real thing! So cool!

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James Clifford

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Monique Lhuillier

So...are you doing anything special with your dress/to remember your dress after the wedding?