Dressed for Symbolism.

Last night about 1am we put the final touches into another wedding dress. This dress was different than the others we have made due to the hand stitching and beading required for the intended effect. It turned out good, but I do not think we will be doing any more dresses with extensive handiwork. I am far more comfortable with the machine. I also successfully incorporated significant structural boning work in the bodice.

Here it is:



The Bride picked out the basic shape and location of the bead work, and I recruited David to design the specifics of the bead work so they would be appropriately symbolic in pattern and design.

We originally were going to use roses as the stitching, but it did not flow as well with the pattern and design, plus, we could not get them to look as nice as we would have liked.

David decided that the cherry blossom would be a fitting match. It is far more unique than the traditional olive, fig leaves, lillies, or orchid patterns.

In various parts of Chinese culture, the cherry blossom is the symbol of love, good fortune, and affection.

Intricate and gorgeous, the cherry blossom is only seen for a short duration of the year. Therefore this dress is designed to remind those who see it that the eternal marriage is the pinnacle point in life and perhaps its most beautiful moment. It blooms in spring, which, in the seasons of life, is where the Bride and Groom are finishing. It also serves as a subtle reminder that life is short compared to the eternal existence of the soul, so decisions should be made with an eternal perspective.



The drape beading and location of the stitch work also was designed to be symbolic. It starts in the bodice, mirroring a protective breastplate to symbolize strength.



It then moves to the back into an eternal weave to symbolize the length of the marriage, and finally spread to an open curtain to symbolize eternal posterity. (No uncle Gary, that is not the same as eternal posterior, the bride works out thank you).