If you want to see more step by step pictures of my progress, the original post is in "Let's Talk Weddings" group!

I've been working on my dress very slowly over the last couple months, but here's the general gist of it.

I've taken 3 different patterns to create the custom look that I wanted from the following patterns:

I've already created a pattern sloper (practice dress made in cheap cotton to work out the design) and started putting together the bodice in the real fabric a couple weeks ago. Below are the progress pics on my bodice progress:

Now I have to start constructing the underlining for the duchess satin, sweetheart underbodice! It's going to have a built in bra, so a lot of detail work is needed for it. I'm trying to take my time so I can pay attention to the details, but I'm on a tight timeline. I'm going to be moving mid-December and I want it to be done before then so the surprise to my fiancé isnt ruined!

*Update!*

Thank you so much to everyone for your kind comments so far! I don't have any of my close / childhood friends out where I live and work right now, and it feels so nice to share my progress with people and get feedback. 😍

This week I only managed to get most of the underbodice work with the built-in bra done. But it's better than nothing! All I have left to do is put in the boning and then attach the lace over bodice and satin underbodice together with the satin waistband. Once that's done, it's time for my to start working on the skirt! Pics below 😊 So I did some witchy-woo with a 10$ bra from Walmart to create a built in bra in the lining of the bodice. Positioned everything on my Judy, then pinned the lining to the bra more securely. Then I topstitched through the bra (after removing the underwire, which I set aside to re-insert later). And added in channels for the boning that will support the bodice and give it shape - this essentially creates a corseted bodice. Then I took the reinforced satin bodice front that I completed before, pinned it to the corseted lining, and then sewed the two layers together and trimmed and zig-zagged the seams.

Which then turns into this when turned all inside out (well, right side out)!

UPDATE 01/07: I am SO sorry it's taken this long to post, but this is literally the first weekend in over a month that I've had to actually work on my dress. Changing jobs, provinces, brand new city, moving in with my fiancé... A LOT of things have been going on. So today I finally managed to dig my sewing machine out if a box and do some work. This is the bodice now put together with the waistband! I'm hoping to get a start on the skirt portion soon, since the wedding is about 3 weeks away, and I'm away for a conference in 2 weeks. Yikes.

*UPDATE: 01/13* Ok so this is kind of a mini update, because I'm in the middle of sewing this afternoon. I have the beginnings of the top portion of the skirt, however it is not yet attached to the bodice. I've just got it pinned in place for right now so I can figure out the attachment with the lining and invisible zipper. Eventually there will be some ruching detail in the rump portion (gotta make that sweetheart ass for the fiancé, he likes a lady with a big back porch), and then some detailing with satin bridal buttons. Enjoy!

Here's another update quickly... my fiancé came home early from work and interrupted me! So I didn't get nearly as far as I wanted to this afternoon 😔 But upside, I have ALL day tomorrow and evenings on Monday and Tuesday to really crack at this. So stay tuned for more updates! Below you will see the bodice now officially sewn together with the top portion of the skirt. Starting to actually look like a dress, but I'll be honest, getting nervous for putting in the zipper... Wish me luck!

*UPDATE 01/14* OMG GUYS! I survived the invisible zipper!!! Is it perfect?? No! But by God, it will hold the dress closed on my body. Now I get to work on the last portion of the skirt -- the trumpet bottom😍 I'm actually starting to get stupid excited, it's starting to become a dress! MY WEDDING DRESS! 🎉🎉

*UPDATE!* It's got a skirt!! We are on the home stretch! The fiancé is out with the boys tomorrow night, so I'm really hoping I can get the finishing touches on tomorrow... My wedding is 6 days away guys!🤤🤤

*UPDATE* Still not entirely done, but this is the first time I've tried on the dress in this entire journey -- and thank God it fits!! I added the scalloped lace to edge of the hem on the bottom of the skirt tonight. I still need to add some lace applique to the skirt seam in the middle, and I also want to add some satin buttons to the zipper at the back. I only managed to get a couple pictures, as the fiancé came home sooner than I anticipated. Please excuse the bad hair and lack of petticoat under the skirt! Without the petticoat it makes the skirt a bit flat and doesn't hold out the shape as I would like it to. I tried my best to get a shot of the scalloped edge that i added to the hem, because I am IN LOVE with how it turned out! But I'm feeling really confident that the dress is finally coming together!!

*UPDATE* The post is too long now and Glow is limiting me ☹

*FINAL PRODUCT*