After I decided that I was going to use my maternal grandmother's dress for my wedding gown, my bridal consultant recommended I work with Janice Martin. This was going to be my first exposure to a couture shop, so I didn't know what to expect. And, my husband was quite skeptical about the notion of using my grandmother's very conservatively designed 1945 wedding dress. After meeting Janice and Freddie in her shop and learning that the fabric of my grandmother's dress was in great condition for re-designing, we started planning. Although not every bride wants to take a lot of time to plan and design her dress, I did. It was so much fun! Janice graciously took in all my ideas and massaged them with her years of professional expertise. We spent hours ""noodling"" different designs, draping the fabric to see what could be done and how it looked, and ""blue-skying"" what would come next. In the end, my dress came out TRULY unique and stunning. My husband was speechless when he saw me in the gown. He couldn't stop telling me how gorgeous the gown was and how amazing I looked in it. Everyone who has seen the dress marvels at Janice's talent for transforming what was once a very conservatively designed gown into a modern, sexy and sophisticated one. Beyond the outstanding look, it functioned perfectly. I danced the night away without pulling up the strapless top ONCE. She truly is an amazingly talented dressmaker. I expect to build a collection of Janice Martin attire over the years, but will always have a special place in my heart for my wedding gown.
more