The Custom Couture Process

Brooks Ann Camper Bridal Couture

Before I get into blogging about my newest bride, I thought I’d write a general post detailing an overview of my process and what to expect when commissioning your custom couture wedding dress. I know!  I know!  This big long post looks like a lot of work. And it is, but it is also a […]

Caitlin’s Custom Wedding Dress Fittings

Brooks Ann Camper Bridal Couture

Continuing the story of Caitlin’s custom wedding dress creation… …it was finally the part of our process where she’d get to try something on!   I patterned and made a mockup “test dress” out of muslin and some lace yardage.  The dress would eventually be made using some of her mom’s wedding dress fabric, so […]

Ensemble Under Construction & Photoshoot Preview!

Brooks Ann Camper Bridal Couture

As I mentioned in my previous post, by the time we finalized a design that Margaret loved, her daughter’s wedding date was approaching.  Luckily, I had my fantastic new assistant Alyssa to help me build the garments!  But unfortunately, I had very little time to set up photos for blogging.  So this post features the […]

Retrospective: The making of a dress, a blog & a business

Brooks Ann Camper Bridal Couture

  Leah’s wedding dress was the first real wedding dress that I created for someone I did not already know.  It’s funny to think of it that way, because since working with her on her dress, Leah has become one of my most treasured friends and someone I hope to always have as a part […]

Retrospective: Melissa’s Silk Chiffon Maternity Wedding Dress

As you may remember from my first “retrospective blog post” last week, the first real wedding dress that I ever made was for my (now) husband Charles’s sister Katie.  Well, Charles has more than one sister!  Not long after Katie’s wedding, his sister Melissa announced her engagement.  I had such a great experience working with […]

Fit and Finish

Brooks Ann Camper Bridal Couture

Lila Rose flew into town a few weeks ago for her final fittings and subsequent photo shoot! I picked her up from the airport Friday morning.  We had a FANTASTIC fitting.  Then, I had until Sunday morning to do all of the fitting corrections, lining, finishing, and set up for the photoshoot.  It was an […]

The Construction of Lila Rose’s “Space Bustle” pt.1 (Prep)

Brooks Ann Camper Bridal Couture

After the collar was constructed,  I was able to add the invisible zipper, begin to close up the dress, and start on the unique bustle for Lila Rose’s unusual eighties neon wedding dress. The side seams, sleeves and hems are simply hand basted, so that they are adjustable during our next fitting.  We were so […]

Last Minute Surprise

A few weeks ago, Michelle came to my studio in Hillsborough for her first Fabric Fitting.  The Fabric Fitting is the first time that my bride gets to try on her actual wedding dress.  It is very exciting because up to this point we have been working in muslin.  Now that all the fit and […]

Fabric Fitting Preview

The dress was marked, prepped, cut and assembled for our first fabric fitting.  Different fabrics act differently so it is important that I not rely totally on the fit of the mockup once I start making the real dress in the real fabric.  Though I’d love to actually finish the dress and finally see it […]