Can I buy a white wedding dress and have it dyed professionally to a light aqua color?

by on 2010/01/31

I want a light aqua wedding gown but I am having a hard time finding one that I like. I have seen beautiful dresses at nice prices but they are white. I was wondering if I could have a chifon/silk/ or whatever else material that most dresses are made out of taken to a tailor or wedding dress alternator and have the dress dyed to my desired color?

{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }

gotta love me bitch im special January 31, 2010 at 3:16 PM

Or you could find one online and order it.

Red Hott January 31, 2010 at 3:46 PM

most likely yes. they can dye shoes, and gloves, and purses, made of the same material. why not a dress?? :)

Army Chick January 31, 2010 at 4:30 PM

Yes you can, but before you buy a dress, make sure to ask the designer or the salon if it is possible to dye the dress. Some dresses can’t be dyed, so make sure to ask.

Rachel - Just Married! January 31, 2010 at 4:43 PM

Probably not.

Usually wedding gowns are made from a mix of materials, and much of those materials are partially synthetic. Because the materials in one gown vary it type, they also hold dye differently. So if someone tried to dye it one colour, the dress would turn out a bunch of different shades of that colour. Silk would suck up a lot of dye, tulle would hold none. So a wedding gown would not come out a uniform colour, even if dyed professionally.

Your best bet is to take some pictures of the dresses you do like, and take some fabric colour samples of the colour you like to a seamstress. Then you can have the dress, in your desired colour, custom-made. It is a lot easier (and will turn out nicer) to find a mix of fabrics already made in the colour you desire turned into a dress, versus trying to dye a pre-made dress a specific colour.

Visit your local fabric store and have a peak around their dress fabrics. You will find a rainbow of colours available in a wide-variety of types of fabrics. Silk, chiffon, taffeta, netting, tulle, all n a matching shade that a professional dressmaker can turn into your perfect light aqua wedding gown.

Nicole Lynn January 31, 2010 at 5:06 PM

Have you tried http://www.mybigfatbeautifulwedding.com?
I bought my dress from there (in white) but most any dress they have on their site can be made in whatever color you would like! They have a HUGE pallet that you can choose from! Plus they have many different types and styles of dresses to choose from at affordable prices. Also, they will custom make it to your specifications (no more of this 2-4-6-8 crap!) at no extra charge! So you don’t even have to get it altered!

Good luck!

iloveweddings January 31, 2010 at 5:56 PM

I would be very, very hesitant to do this. And, if you bring it somewhere, I am sure that they will make you sign an agreement absolving them of any “imperfections” if it does not come out exactly as you want it to. If the dress was ALL the same fabric (no additional laces, decorative accents, etc.) then you might be OK, but most wedding gowns have a few different fabrics. Each fabric will “grab” the dye differently and you will not get a uniform color.

Why not look under bridesmaids dresses and get a bridesmaid’s dress? Many are just as beautiful as wedding gowns.

jaymepower January 31, 2010 at 6:39 PM

Buy a bridesmaids dress in the color you want… There are hundreds of them out there, and in hundreds of colors. Also they are a heck of alot cheaper than wedding dresses

Jazzy Geo January 31, 2010 at 6:41 PM

I wouldn’t suggest that! You are going to end up with a tie-dyed look! If you love a dress have it custom made in the color you want. http://www.gioavonnisbridalboutque.net

truefirstedition January 31, 2010 at 7:39 PM

You can, but dyeing something as elaborate as a wedding gown is never a sure thing. For one thing, wedding gowns are usually made of several different fabrics – lace over satin with a tulle underskirt, or embroidered chiffon over silk. Those fabrics and trimmings are all going to absorb the dye differently, so the different layers may end up looking uneven and streaky. The dyeing process can also damage some trimmings, like crystals, beads, really delicate lace.

So you have to decide how disappointed you’ll be if the worst case scenario happens and your dress is damaged or just looks unsightly. Are you willing to spend that much money on a ruined first dress and then a second replacement dress?

Before you even consider dyeing a wedding gown, I would look at formalwear and department stores that don’t cater exclusively to brides. They are going to have fancy gowns in many colors that look just as beautiful as wedding gowns, even if they don’t have the word “wedding” on them.

thedreamweaverwolf January 31, 2010 at 8:21 PM

try looking at bridesmaid dresses they have some fancy ones

Sky January 31, 2010 at 8:28 PM

To joobay have a look, there may be what you want.(Free Shipping Now ! ! !)

Ma January 31, 2010 at 9:17 PM

The fashion trend wedding dresses in this website:
http://www.informal-wedding-dresses.com.
They are cheap and they can custommade.
They can make any design’s dress just you like to give them the picture or design

Baby January 31, 2010 at 9:39 PM
Niteer January 31, 2010 at 9:58 PM

Try this http://www.brandofdress.com,
they provide the wedding dress price comparison,and contains thousands of wedding dresses,
you may find a dress fitted you.

feoa21 January 31, 2010 at 10:34 PM

Not sure if its saf4e to dye a dress thats been made and cut to style. Usually you color the fabric before its made into a gown.

You can get a dress custom made in our color. Some dress makers do this and I do aswell.

I might be able to help. If you have a dress style in mind (an image of it) and an image of the colour you would like I might be able to put something together for you.

Im on ebay here

http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/fayes_closet/

Also, maybe try yell.com for dress makers and call up some bridal shops and ask them what they think.

I hope this helps.

Nice colour by the way :-)

ShortyWannaBride January 31, 2010 at 11:21 PM

Instead of having it dyed to the desired color- have it made by a dress designer and then you pick out the fabric first- that way the fabric and color will be ‘right’- you can get most designs made for under $1,000- google wedding dress designer or make me my dress online or search in your local area-there are many that can help you! good luck and congrats

krissylyn February 1, 2010 at 12:06 AM

Why not just ask a professional instead of the amateur bafoons on here?

Shanae February 1, 2010 at 12:52 AM

i wouldnt try it

seamstress February 1, 2010 at 1:40 AM

As a seamstress with vast experience with bridal wear I see that you have only two options.

Before I go into those options, I want to save you the time and expense of having a dress dyed. Dying is risky for many reasons. Mostly because different fabrics absorb dye differently according to fabric type and density of the weave. One white dress could come out of the dye four different shades of aqua. If you happen to get a dress made out of one specific material, dying is still a risk because you may not get the desired shade or the fabric may not be washable and dying it would ruin the fabric.

So, that leaves you with other options. As I said, I am a seamstress. I am sure you could find a qualified seamstress who can make you a dress in any style and color you desire. To find a seamstress, ask everyone you know if they know a seamstress. Go to fabric stores and see if they recommend a seamstress. Look in the yellow pages. You may have to go to the next closest city to find a seamstress to make your dress. Please get and call all references. Have a detailed contract and sketches.

Another option is to purchase a brides maids dress. I was recently helping a bride select her attendants dresses. I was amazed at the beautiful styles. I went back later and ordered a dress in black for a fancy cocktail party. Those dresses come in a ton of colors. Some of the styles had small trains and others were very bride like. You could always have a seamstress add some bling if you want to customize the dress.

Good Luck and I hope you get what you are looking for.

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