08/31/2026
Brianne & Luke (my niece and new nephew) were married in Vermont this weekend! Yes, I did alter her gown. It started as a strapless gown entirely made of crinkle chiffon with an open front basque waist. We changed it up… I replaced the back bodice making the chiffon sheet embellished with lace that matched her veil. We also closed the front of the skirt adding a gathered chiffon panel to the center front skirt and added straps to the bodice.
Brianne and Luke Fortune
8.29.26
They had the most beautiful ceremony and exchange of vows I’ve ever witnessed. Love you both so much!
You can see here how the front of her basque waist skirt is now closed and complete.
My beautiful sister Diane with her daughter the bride!
I made my dress for the wedding using a silky floral and Vogue 1944 (a Vera Wang pattern). I added the leg slit and finished it the day before we flew out!
It featured a low back and cowl drape with a slightly flared skirt back. I removed the train of the dress, though.
This is my family… but not even all of them! 14 of us flew from Detroit and 4 more made it a road trip! Thursday - Sunday, we stayed at the WilloughVale Inn and cottages and had the most spectacular view of the Green Mountains and Lake Willoughby!
I made my niece Jenna a dress, too… long distance from San Francisco! She chose a beautiful Liberty of London cotton lawn, texted me her measurements and an indoor pic. I put it together in January and mailed it to California. It just needed a quick alteration before the rehearsal dinner! Seamstresses travel with needles and thread!!!
Here we are all cleaned up and enjoying the welcome party! I made my dress for this night, too. It’s cotton sateen and New Look 6800.
My daughter and I enjoyed the 4-day “girls weekend” together between her completion of college and the start of her career in a couple weeks. I think this is the first event that I did NOT make anything she wore! 😂 We laughed at the road signs (scarified? Moose!) and the picturesque Vermont countryside. I thoroughly enjoyed our blended playlist that she created and hope we can make little getaways like this a tradition. ♥️
The back of my dress… and the gardens at