Non-sewer Dad Promises to Make His Daughter's Wedding Gown

Danielles father, Erin, preparing to work on her silk charmeuse wedding dress. This was the first dress he had ever made!

Danielle Lucien and her new husband Steve Thompson. Danielle is wearing the gown her dad made for her.

Danielle's father, Erin, preparing to work on her silk charmeuse wedding dress. This was the first dress he had ever made!

Photo: Courtesy of the San Francisco Chronicle

SEWING A BRIDAL GOWN IS THE ULTIMATE SEWING PROJECT
Those of us who sew dream of making our own wedding gown or the gown for a daughter, niece or other person dear to us. A wedding is such a special day that the dress, too, becomes symbolic of the love shared during a wedding ceremony. Few dads would contemplate making their daughter's wedding gown—unless they had considerable experience sewing. Construction worker, Erin Lucien, felt differently.

NON-SEWER ERIN LUCIEN PROMISES TO MAKE WEDDING GOWNS FOR HIS DAUGHTERS
When his three daughters were young and thinking about getting married one day, their father, Erin, told them he would be willing to make each of them a wedding dress for the occasion. Years later when Danielle, 24, became engaged, she took him up on his offer. Erin, with no sewing experience whatsoever, decided following step-by-step instructions for working with fabric couldn't be that much different from creating something using wood or other materials.

ERIN HAD TO LEARN TO SEW FIRST!
Erin used books and videos to teach himself how to use a sewing machine and to learn the sewing techniques necessary, and he got to work. He even made a muslin out of sheets, which he referred to as a "prototype." With many long nights, and hundreds of hours of work from design conception to the final fitting, he completed the dream gown including his own "designer" label! Even ABC TV produced a segment about Danielle's wedding dress.

A PROUD DAY FOR DANIELLE AND ERIN
Danielle knows that "Nothing is more memorable than your own father making your wedding dress!" She was not-surprisingly thrilled to wear his dress on that long-awaited day, but I suspect Erin was the proudest of all as he escorted his daughter down the aisle wearing the beautiful silk charmeuse dress he created especially for her. I can't think of a more loving gift from a dad to his daughter.

HAVE YOU MADE OR DREAMED OF MAKING A WEDDING GOWN?
Did you make your wedding gown? The gown for a daughter, niece, or other person? How did the dress make you feel on the day it was worn?

April M. Mohr, contributor
Posted on Nov 15th, 2011 in sewing, design, garment construction, fabric, garment, sewing machine

Comments (15)

SewingForKids writes: Bravo Dad!! I think he should be the official Father of the Year! What a commitment and labor of l♥ve. What lucky daughters
Posted: 2:06 am on February 6th

sewingheaven888 writes: So Sweet. Well done!
Posted: 7:11 pm on December 4th

isewu writes: Congratulations!!!!!!I have sewn my daughter's special dresses and I know the pains ,fears, tears, and sleepless hours it take . but the pride you feel is unequal when you see them wear it and you hear them say "my mom/dad made it" and "no one has a dress like it "
Posted: 4:11 pm on December 1st

mad14kt writes: A dad keep his promise...PRICELESS!
Posted: 1:08 am on November 25th

deChez writes: I made my daughter's wedding dress. She didn't want a traditional white gown, and wasn't finding anything close to her vision, so we decided to go for it. We found some beautiful beaded lace at our little local fabric store, and we were off and running.

As a sewing teacher, I love that this man began with the concept that his building construction skills would translate to garment construction...his instincts were spot on.
Posted: 2:36 pm on November 19th

DebraMartin writes: My daughter is still a teenager, but I dream of making her wedding dress someday. Kudos to Erin! I loved the ABC video. It is true that there is an awful lot of engineering involved in sewing clothing that fits. Hmmm, maybe I should refer to myself as a "Sewing Engineer" from now on...
Posted: 4:58 pm on November 17th

EdieT writes: One of the best memories I have is the day my son called me to tell me he was engaged...and then to ask if I would make the wedding gown. I had 2 sons, so never expected I would get this chance. I made her gown (my first wedding dress), and some years later, when my second son became engaged, there was apparently an expectation from the new couple that, of course, I would make the gown. By then I had made several gowns, so I was more confident. Those 2 gowns are my favourite works (even better than all the original Hallowe'en costumes I have since made for grandchildren!). I think I was as proud of them as I was of my boys. What a thrill to watch them come down the aisle and hear all the oh's and ah's!!!
Posted: 2:59 pm on November 17th

nanacosta writes: Actually, I design and make only wedding and evening gowns, and that was something I never dream with, but now I love my work!!ERIN: If I had one thousand hats to take off at you....I will take them all!!!!! BRAVO!!! there are many wonderfull qualities we can see of you here with this amazing detail: you are a trustwordy man....you love your girls so so much...you are a man that endures and goes thru whatever is necesary to get to your dreams etc., etc., etc.....your daughter I am sure was the proudest bride in the world!!! and I wish her all the best on her life, and to Erin: may God bless the father, and the hands that with so much love and diligence made a dream come reality.
Posted: 7:15 am on November 16th

JeanneMariesews writes: How awesome! I have made numerous wedding dresses and applaud his ambition in taking on a wedding dress as a first project.
Posted: 1:13 am on November 16th

tzivia writes: I am an architect and a hobbyist sewist. I was a framer at one time; and I have used textiles to solve design problems other than 'what shall I wear today?'. For years, I've told anyone who would listen that I have never been able to find a line between construction with building materials and construction with fabric. BOTH require an ability to define the "design problem," come up with a 3-D solution, and know enough about the limits and potential of materials and labor to realize the solution.
In decades past, this view in my male-dominated profession, aroused only puzzlement. Sewing was viewed as distinctly feminine.
I am pleased to see that Mr. Lucien shares my opinion (and am also pleased that the construction industry is at last learning to erase its gender biases).
Posted: 6:19 pm on November 15th

bubbie writes: What a wonderful show of love from this father! As a seamstress, who has done bridal work for years, it is sometimes hard for the experts. For this father to go ahead, and the daughter to trust him so much, is amazing, BRAVO
Posted: 5:49 pm on November 15th

AmyGail writes: I have made several wedding dresses and gotten "goose bumps" seeing every bride wearing her dress. But when my daughter wore her dress she had dreamed of since junior high, the feelings were much stronger and more diverse. First of all, my only child getting married, even when I adored her fiance, brought a lor of emotion. And the fact that I made my dress and the bridesmaid dresses meant I was completely brain-dead on the big day. But the sight of my daughter on her father's arm made me very proud!
Posted: 3:36 pm on November 15th

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