AKA – why I have been MIA.
My cousin got married last Friday to her boyfriend of 6 years and she asked my daughter to be one of her 4 flower girls {yes, I know… FOUR flower girls! What can I say, we have a big family and we are lucky to have four little 3-4 year old princesses}.
While brainstorming ideas for dresses for the 4 of them, my cousin mentioned she thought tutus would be cute. I agreed, and started scouring the internet to find something wedding-worthy we could buy.
Unfortunately, we found that tutu flower girl dresses are EXPENSIVE, so we started looking at buying some regular flower girl dresses off the racks instead. When we weren't finding something the bride loved, I decided to try my hand at making the tutu dresses she really wanted. I wish I could say that I relied on a step-by-step tutorial {that I could now point you to}, but I really was blindly going into the whole dress making business and, quite frankly, had no idea what I was doing.
To start with, I made some rookie mistakes – like buying the tulle by bolt instead of going for the pre-cut strips. GO WITH THE STRIPS – whatever extra they cost is 100% worth it. My other mistake is not accounting for how the elastic headband system we used stretches as you tie on the tulle, and then becomes too big. Thankfully, I did each dress one by one, so it was only the first dress that I needed to alter.
But, my biggest mistake was not accounting for comfort in the original design. Going into the project, I thought we would just need capri pants under the dress, but after I made the first prototype, I realized the top needed to be lined as well or the dress would be scratchy and uncomfortable. Because navy blue spaghetti strap tank tops are impossible to find, I had to buy white ones and then dye them with Rit dye in a plastic tub, which ended up setting me back a few days with washing and drying.
The dresses literally were finished two days before the wedding. This was fine because at that point they had been thoroughly tested and perfected, but I would have liked to have a larger window of completion before the wedding. If I ever do this again, I will definitely plan on getting them constructed sooner and then just fine tuning the last week, not doing major overhauls to the design.
So, what do you think?
I thought they turned out cute and the flower girls really loved the dresses {my niece on the left kept asking if she got to keep it}, so I would say they were a huge success. They were actually quite fun to make, so hopefully I can get a tutorial up soon to share with you so you can learn from my trial and error.
As much fun as it was to watch my four dresses prance down the aisle and rock out on the dance floor, I was mostly just happy that the bride was pleased. She and her new husband are such a cute couple and I was happy to be able to lend a crafty hand to their beautiful wedding.
So, would you like a tutorial?
UPDATED! I now have a tutorial! You can thank all the people that emailed me, commented on this post and hounded me on Pinterest for this tuturial…. drum roll, please….
You can see the full instructions for my DIY No-Sew Flower Girl Tutu Dress here!
You and your crafty ways! The dresses turned out absolutely ADORABLE, you’ve definitely got to share a tutorial in case I feel non-lazy some day and want to make something my girls would love!
Those are beautiful! I don’t think I could tackle a job like that but you did great.
You and your creative ways! The outfits converted out definitely ADORABLE, you’ve definitely got to discuss a guide in situation I experience non-lazy some day and want to create something my ladies would love!
Oh I would love a tutorial for this beautiful dress
I would love to have a tutorial. I am making my daughter’s flowergirl dress for my wedding and I think your creation would be great!
Would love love a tutorial on this please!!!!!!!
Yes, please I would love a tutorial. 🙂
Wow! I was amazed with the dress of the kids.. so awesome and lovely! I wonder if how much did it cost this style.. 😀
I would love a tutorial!!!
I’m interested! How did you attach the tutu part to the tank?
i would love to know how you made these. I have been looking for a pattern.
Where can we find this tutorial? I’d love it!! Thanks!
Im curious as well! I want to make these dresses for my flower girls!
this is exactly what my daughter wants. and i would love to know how to do it!
these are fabulous! and good tips on how to make them comfortable for the girls. Thanks so much for sharing this.
I would love the tutorial please. My daughter is getting married in June and these dresses would be perfect.
oh please please please, i would love a tutorial!
Soooo, tutorial anytime soon?
Would LOVE a tutorial!
Sorry, guys! Tutorial coming soon, I had to go get more supplies!
I would love a tutorial
I really liked the new idea of ivory and silver dresses. Looks very different and I truly loved the hair styling and the matching shoes worn by the little flower girls. Adorable!
would love a tutorial too!
Great combination of colors with off white and blue giving compliment with pink rose bow. Looks absolutely fantastic and wonderful.
can you PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell me how you made these?! this is EXACTLY what i’m looking for my 2 flower girls and my wedding is this may. Thanks!!!
TUTORIAL PLEASE!!!! These are adorable! Exactly what I’m looking for, for my October wedding!!!
These are stunning! I can’t believe you made these!
Would love to know how you made these!! Any idea when you might get the tutorial up?
These are ADORABLE! DIY info, please!
Gorgeous!
Is there a tutorial yet? My daugther is getting married in 10 months. She is having 3 flower girls and I’m making the dresses. She wants tutu dresses. Yours are lovely. Please help! I need your tutorial!
I would love a tutorial for these!! They are adorable, and I would love to make one for my daughters wedding in August. Maybe at least ask you a few questions?
They are beautiful!” how did u make them?
I love these!!! My daughter is getting married in October and my 3 granddaughters are going to be her flower girls! This would be perfect! I would love a tutorial!!
Thanks!
I would love to see a tutorial on this my sister wants my girls to be in her wedding and this style would be perfect for them
These are gorgeous! Absolutely perfect!! I’m getting married in September and have been looking for a diy tutorial for my flower girls EVERYWHERE! I also have a big family so we have a total of 5 flower girls. I can’t get myself to ask my family to buy them for over $60 each 🙁 Please post a tutorial soon!! Thank you so much!
Any word on a tutorial? I tracked forward through November and didn’t see one. These are beautiful!!
These tutus are very cute, so much nicer than the tiny bits of fluff I see in a few stores. The girls are adorable in them.
These are adorable!
So cute!!