Bridal Cheongsam for Tea Ceremony reception

Working on Kelly’s Tea ceremony dress for her wedding was really exciting in many ways! The Cheongsam is a style that I haven’t made before. Though much the same as any other dress, there are extra little things to figure out, like the mandarin style collar, and the positioning of the raglan-type seams at the shoulders.

I love a coloured wedding dress, though unusual for me, red is the traditional colour worn by a Singaporean bride. The printed fabric was extra special too, as it was cut from Kelly’s mother’s wedding dress.
Another more traditional feature of the Cheongsam is that it should be very figure hugging, but still relatively modest. Kelly wanted to make the design of the Cheongsam her own, while keeping the defining features of the bodice details. We added flare to the lower half of the skirt, and because the printed fabric was limited (and also a stiffer woven fabric not suited to swishing for a Scottish Caleidh), we added in silk crepe satin. There were many shades of pinks and reds in the print and it was difficult deciding which was the best match. In the end, we chose two, a Poppy red and a Fuschia pink. The skirt was to have a split in it, so the pink on the inside would be revealed when the skirt swished open.
The plain silks and the patterned fabric were brought together by embroidering gold french lace and red chorded lace motifs in an organic, over-grown design.
The bodice over the back and the decollete was made from a fine illusion tulle, and embroidered with the gold lace and the red lace picking out the seams of the Cheongsam, edging the capped sleeves and neckline, and cascading down the back. Tiny gold and red beads were sprinkled over the lace to highlight.
Making this dress was such a pleasure, I hope you like it too!

The stunning images were captured by Giulia and Sophia from On Love and Photography www.onloveandphotography.com