Making Wedding Dress Corsets

A wedding dress corset adds definition to your waist.

Adding a corset to a wedding dress gives it an elegant and fancy look, and makes your silhouette slimmer on your big day. Opening the back of your wedding dress and putting in a corset is also a good way to make the dress a bit larger if you can't get the zipper all the way up. A seamstress can alter your dress by adding a corset, but doing it yourself is more economical. The supplies needed are available at fabric stores.

Things You'll Need

• Ribbon
• Fabric that matches the wedding dress
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Seam ripper

Instructions

1. Remove the zipper from your wedding dress. Use a seam ripper and gently pull the stitches holding the zipper to the dress. Be careful not to poke a hole in the dress with the tip of the seam ripper and go slowly to prevent damaging your dress.

2. Make a modesty panel. This will keep your skin from showing between the corset loops and ties. Choose a fabric that coordinates with your wedding dress. Use the opening as a pattern as to what shape to cut your modesty panel. Make it bigger than the opening, which leaves room to sew it into the dress.

3. Sew the modesty panel into your wedding dress using thread that matches the color of the dress. Use the small-stitch setting on your sewing machine, which will disguise the seam better and provide stability when you pull the ribbons on the corset.

4. Add the loops of the corset. Use small pieces of ribbon, about 2 inches each. Sew them along the inside of the dress where the zipper was. Space them evenly, which will create a symmetrical look when you put your wedding dress on.

5. Thread the ribbon stays into the loops. The length of the ribbon will depend on how many loops you needed. Rather than cutting the ribbon from the spool, thread it straight from it and then cut it at the end. Starting at the top, crisscross a long piece of ribbon through the loops, much like you would when lacing a pair of shoes. At the bottom, leave enough to create a bow and cut. Pass a lighter lightly over the ends of the ribbon to prevent them from fraying.

Tips & Warnings

• Most corsets on wedding dresses use white ribbon, but a color that coordinates with your wedding colors creates a special look.

• Pre-made spaghetti straps are a good alternative to ribbon for the loops and ties of your corset.

References

• Thread Banger: How to Make a Corset
• Sew for Dough: Adding a Corset Back to Your Wedding Dress