Planning my wedding - a Dickens Christmas Wedding!

Yes, we are definitely planning a wedding at Dickens on the Strand next year. After the wedding ceremony we saw this year, we made the final decision. It's very inexpensive, and how many other places offer bag pipers, Queen Victoria, and her Beefeaters at such a price? We were looking at TRF, but it's just so far away and inconvenient (never mind expensive - it's impossible to spend anything under $200 in one day!) so we decided on a venue that is still unique yet better priced and close by.

I'm thinking since I'll be having a lot of out-of-towners (never mind -staters!) I think this venue will be fun, creative, and very memorable. Also gives me a chance to make more costumes to add to my portfolio!

I've been looking at Civil War Re-enactment weddings online and Godey's and Peterson's fashion plates for ideas. Not thrilled with what brides have worn to Dickens in the past, it's very late Victorian (or Victorian-inspired) - might be perfect for them but for me I want to go all-out in regards to historical accuracy. I've never made a dress to match an exact fashion plate, so this should be fun.

First of all, I chose 1860-1865 for my time-frame. I have narrowed it down to December 1860, because there is one in Godey's 1860 book that I absolutely adore, and Harriet's has already made the pattern for it. (look for the Dianna, http://harriets.com/Ballgowns.htm ) She seems to make excellent patterns, and even e-mailed me examples of what the dress looks like finished in real-life. I never was one to like white (I get neurotic about dirt, especially outside) but I think this is it, if I can find wide enough and cheap enough lace, as it's going to take at least a full bolt to make I would imagine, with all those tiers!

I do however have other options. I could go with a colored travelling dress or best dress. Currently, for that I'm looking at

Simplicity 4510 (http://www.simplicity.com/dv1_v4.cfm?design=4510 )

Simplicity 9761 (http://www.simplicity.com/dv1_v4.cfm?design=9761)

Also want to get a plain parasol and dress it up like one of these from Butterick 4955, probably view C. (http://www.butterick.com/item/B4955.htm?tab=costumes&page=2)

I definitely plan on having a veil with a crown of orange blossoms, just like Queen Victoria did and either get one already-made on Ebay or make one myself from a kit from http://www.lacis.com/catalog/catalog.html .

And, I already have the flower girl/ring bearer dresses (yes dresses - I have 2 little nieces and no nephews!) so to double the cuteness factor I plan on using McCall's 5131 (http://www.mccallpattern.com/item/M5131.htm?tab=costumes&page=3 ) their only middle/upper class little girl's pattern from the correct era. Even includes a chemise and pantalets, although I think I'm going to use more lace on them than the pattern shows. And to top it all off, I already own the pattern in all sizes! I'm thinking red and green velvet or taffeta, since my theme is going to be Christmas.

Dickens pics

Here are some pics of my family and clients at Dickens this year:

And OK, I have bragging rights, my clients made it on the front page in color in the Galveston Daily News. He definitely caught a lot of people's eyes, since I've seen him in a number of other people's pics I found online recently!

Dickens and Christmas are finally over

OK, I think I can finally take a breath, because between Dickens and Christmas I need a break. Not sure if I'll get one though, as I have some potential clients for Galveston's Mardi Gras coming up soon.

I totally lost track of how much I ended up spending on my mom's outfit, as I like to budget, but I can say I still can get a rough idea of what I had to spend last-minute on trim that I needed. Looks like I easily spent at least $35 between lace and the black trim I needed, which luckily was on sale for 40 cents a yard at HL!

So for the grand total....well it looks like I'm missing the pricing for a few things, but I'm guessing $175-$200. Not bad for a blouse, coat, skirt, and bonnet, using all natural materials. Looking back on it, I'm actually impressed with the low price. But then, it doesn't include any of the underthings, since she didn't want them and she certainly did not want a hoop skirt, even though I thought one would be fun and would perhaps give a better silouette. But I do think with the A-line bridal petticoat with the jacket did look slimming.

Usually I look very forward to Dickens, but this time I'm actually glad it's over. Now I can do some recreational sewing, like blankets for the local pet shelters (of which I have currently made 15, with a final goal of 30 by New Year's) and night gowns and pajamas for my nieces. It sure is fun to have a challenge, but every once in a while it's good to have something easy to do.

Please do check out my photos on Webshots. They include my clients and my family as well as many others (gotta get some great ideas for next year!!)

I was very glad that Christian, my fiance, enjoyed himself thoroughly in his full Victorian outfit, of which pieces were bought for a fair price at Peggy's Victorian Corner. (Yes, he said he wanted a costume 2 weeks in advance, when I already had projects going!) But this way, it was actually much cheaper and easier than making it myself, with the cravat, tie, and morning coat being retired rentals, and the cane, gloves, and hat new. He bought the dress shoes from Wal-Mart very inexpensively and already had the dress socks, slacks, and shirt from his current modern suit. Came out quite well, and he will have it for years to come.

However, a little travesty happened to my hem that Sunday. It got ripped. So I'm not sure if it's worth redoing or not, since it's kind of getting too small (even with the new corset) and the trim needs to be redone too. I guess I'll see what I'm going to do for next year later in the year. Might have to be retired completely, or semi-retired as a back-up outfit.

Also planning on redoing the hem on the outer petticoat. Had to pin one side up so it wouldn't show. So difficult to make something for yourself....it's so much easier when it's another person, although the ruffle and 5 pintucks and the fact that I made it 2 years ago probably doesn't help either...I have learned a lot since then.

My bonnet died in storage. It's completely flat. It survived 2 Dickens festivals but not a third. So I got my hair done by the Twisted Sisters. Pretty awesome job they did. Felt bad I didn't have a bonnet, but I sure did advertise for them since I didn't cover it at all. So I'll be making a better one for next year, especially since I know the ins and outs of bonnet contruction now.

Well it looks like a good excuse for a new outfit. However, I won't have to make any more underthings, unless I want to make a real tape-and-bone crinoline to be historically correct (which I might). Also thinking of making one more chemise and another pair of drawers, especially for the heat, since it is 2 days and not just one. (I just cannot imagine how they must have worn underwear for so many days back then....ew....)

Which brings me to the next post, which I will post separately since it's a slightly different subject and probably will be lengthy.