I'm a bridesmaid in a close friend's wedding this summer — R is transgender, and she's struggling to find a dress on a budget. R is a gorgeous woman who gets her curves from her post-transition hormones and her shoulders from her pre-transition adolescence. Dresses that look gorgeous on a model online look totally different when she tries them on, and she doesn't have the budget to have something completely hand-made. Since you did such a great write-up about finding suits for FTM transgender dudes and butch women, I was hoping you might be able to help us out a bit. -Beth

Thanks for writing, Beth — and congratulations to R on her engagement! I've got opinions a plenty, but I figured I'd bring in some experts to help me answer your question. I shared your email with four of my favorite independent wedding dress designers, and here was their advice…

Continue reading "Finding the perfect wedding dress for a transgender bride" →

Whirlingturban has long been one of our favorite resources for custom-made wedding dresses. You've already seen some of their amazing pin-up couture creations in action yesterday on both the bride and her bridesmaids. And another custom-made Whirlingturban dress in this elegant Rock 'n Roll wedding, where the bride's only advice for other offbeat brides was to… "Check out Whirlingturban. They make custom vintage style dresses that are actually affordable and one of a kind." 

That's why Offbeat Bride is pleased to announce the opening of the Whirlingturban Wedding Boutique! With the opening of the boutique, Whirlingturban is now offering ready-made versions of their most popular wedding dress styles and fabrics.

And attention budget brides: The prices start at $350! All the style and unique-ness of Whirlingturban's famous  custom–fit dresses, without the price of customizing and the extensive figure analysis of a custom fitting.

Exclusive OBB discount:
Mention Offbeat Bride and get a 20% discount when you buy a Whirlinturban wedding boutique dress and make your deposit by September 25, 2009!

Whirlingturban is a perfect place for offbeat brides to shop in particular — they offer many of their dresses with just basic features and allow you to pay only for the bells and whistles you want to add, like one of their boleros, or use it as a blank canvas to add your own DIY additions like our beloved colored crinoline!

So, if you're looking for either a fabulous custom-fit or an affordable ready-made dress click on over to Whirlingturban's Wedding Boutique. Or if are just love to shop for vintage style clothes that will absolutely knock your socks off, check out their amazing selection as well and just try not to drool on your keyboard!

The Offbeat Bride: Rachelle, Executive Assistant

Her Offbeat Partner: Joshua, Eggo Waffle Warehouse Man

Location & date of wedding: Corinthian Event Center, San Jose, CA — November 15, 2008

What made our wedding offbeat: Josh and I are tattooed rockabilly nuts, but our parents are rather traditional. We decided to compromise a bit and shot for a very elegant and lavish vintage inspired winter night wedding. We went all out and my event planning experience really paid off while planning our big day. Every little detail displayed our style and made our wedding the most-memorable.

Continue reading "Rachelle & Josh's pink & black rockabilly wedding" →

A while back I ranted about how I think brides are best off having their wedding dresses custom made — you'll get a better fit, exactly the design you want, and won't have to suffer the attitudes and obscene prices of a bridal boutique.

There was some grumbling in the comments about "Ok, fine: but how do you find a custom dressmaker?" My best advice is start in your immediate circle and work your way out &mash; do you know any seamstresses or amazing sewers? Do any of your friends or family known any? If not, search online or in the Yellow Pages for someone locally. Being able to do fittings in person is a big bonus. If there's no-one in town you like, then start looking online for seamstresses with styles you like who will work with you via email.

The ladies of the OBT came to the rescue with lots more tips on picking a custom dressmaker, as well as specific dressmaker recommendations:

Continue reading "Everything you need to know about having your wedding dress custom-made" →