Beaded Wedding Gowns

November 3, 2021 By Leave a Comment

Beading is an exquisite detail in a wedding gown. It adds elegance and grace to a dress. What people may not know is that beaded gowns require a significant amount of time to alter. There is a very specific process we use so that the beads don’t fall off during alterations. We wanted to share this with future brides, as it is always a good idea to give yourself extra time in the wedding gown alteration process.

We recently worked with Bride Lauren on alterations for her beaded wedding gown. She has a beautiful gown covered in tiny seed beads. We shortened the straps and took in the sides to make the bodice fit perfectly. We also hemmed the dress.

Beaded gowns always take more time than non-beaded gowns to alter. On average it takes three to four times longer. This is because the beads are usually held together with a chainstitch. If you cut the stitch, then the beads will all start falling off because the stitch unravels. The technique we use requires us to carefully break the beads that we need to remove without breaking the stitch. We determine where the new seam or hem will be, break the beads that will need to be removed, and then finish the seam or hem. We then need to hand-sew many beads as well to make sure the ends of the chainstitch are secure.

Although working on a beaded gown is a more tedious, we LOVE it! It’s a very zen and relaxing process. We put on music and zone into the beads and do the work. Brides-to-be, please reach out in if you need assistance with your beaded wedding gown. Email us at love@jenniferoberg.com for inquiries.

Filed Under: Alterations, Dressmaking

Real Weddings: Jada & Kurt

October 6, 2021 By Leave a Comment

Jada and Kurt were scheduled to get married on June 1, 2020 at the Hui No’eau Arts Center on Maui. They had to reschedule their wedding for a year later, and they tied the knot on June 1, 2021! Congratulations to this gorgeous couple! And brava to all the couples finding ways to make their weddings work amidst the pandemic. We are happy to see our clients finding safe ways to tie the knot. 

We worked together with Jada and Kurt on alterations for their wedding clothes. We always enjoy working together with both the Bride and Groom. 

We altered Jada’s gorgeous beaded gown. We love working with beaded dresses. Check out our last blog about working with beaded gowns here. For Jada’s gown, we lengthened the straps, and made them cross in the back to provide more support over the shoulder.  We took the dress in around the bust and took the zipper in on the back.  We also hemmed the dress, a very nice and meditative process when it comes to working with the intricacy of beaded gowns. The beading was delicate and lovely and we enjoyed putting our heart and soul into the process.  

For Kurt’s wedding clothes, we tailored his shirt so that it fit better through the body.  We find that many men’s shirts fit through the shoulders and are too full in the waist area. This means you end up with a lot of bulky fabric to tuck into the pants.  So streamlining the fit makes a better look overall. We also hemmed his pants.  

We love working on both the bride and groom’s clothing! Get in touch if you and your partner need wedding attire alterations, we would love to work together with you!

Filed Under: Alterations, Dressmaking, Real Weddings

Wedding Gowns + Aesthetics

July 28, 2021 By Leave a Comment

We have been working together with many brides this last month on custom dresses and alterations. Many brides that had weddings scheduled for 2020 have had them rescheduled to 2021. It has been a busy few months for us! Last month, we altered this elegant white gown for the bride. We added an English Pick-Up Bustle which you can learn more about in our ‘All About Bustles’ Blog series here. 

This gown is a great example of ‘less is more’. Every detail and design is purposeful and clear. It can be overwhelming making that final decision on a gown. We recommend breaking down your aesthetic preferences into smaller categories to help make the process more simple. So what exactly should you consider? Here are some elements to consider when choosing your gown:

  • Color – there are infinite shades of white, do you want to go more towards an off white or a bright white, or do you want to experiment with some nontraditional colors?
  • Sleeves – what season is your wedding in? Do you want a lace long sleeve or maybe you want to go strapless? What makes you feel beautiful?
  • Neckline – high necklines or sweetheart cut? Or maybe you want something more linear cuts as an aesthetic choice? Is there a neckline that is more flattering on you?
  • Back Styles – there are so many beautiful back cuts to explore, maybe you want something simple, or maybe you want an elaborate cut on the back.
  • Waist + Silhouette – how do you want your gown to hug your body? Do you want a tight fit or do you want more of a ballgown style? 
  • Fabrics – fabrics can be an aesthetic choice and it can also be a comfort choice. Do you want fabric that feels luxurious on your skin? Or maybe you want a fabric that has a shine to it?
  • The extras – what details are must-haves for you? Is it beading, lace, sequins, ribbons, or would you rather not have extra details?


We hope this helps you break down the different elements of the wedding dress during the wedding dress process. Ultimately, when making your choices, think about what makes you feel good or what you think flatters your body more. It truly is all about feeling comfortable and beautiful in your skin. If you want to take the adventurous step into a custom wedding gown, Jennifer of JOA, will guide you through every step of the way. She will make sure every detail is aligned with your vision and will help make the process an exciting and memorable one! Get in touch for wedding gowns and alterations at love@jenniferoberg.com.

Filed Under: Alterations, Bustles, Dressmaking, Restyling

Gown Restyles

July 14, 2021 By Leave a Comment

The perfect gown isn’t always out there. Sometimes you just have to create it! Gown restyles are a great way to add the missing details to a beautiful dress. When you work with the right person, a few changes can completely transform a dress.  It takes more than a basic seamstress to do this work.  A skilled dressmaker like Jennifer, who has not only sewing knowledge but also pattern making and dressmaking skills is able to restyle a dress into something new. You can even get that custom dress feeling when you restyle a dress!

We recently worked with a Maid of Honor to restyle her gown. She came to us with a gorgeous rose gold sequin dress with a fun side slit. The dress had a very low, revealing back and skinny straps. Our client wanted a bit more coverage than the dress offered. We believe in helping our clients feel their best. We wanted to make sure our client felt comfortable in what she was wearing so that she could confidently shine in her dress!

For this gown, our restyles involved providing more coverage while adding some eloquent details to compliment the style of the gown. We started by taking extra fabric from the hem and adding it to the back of the dress to provide more coverage. We then added chiffon arm drapes to the gown. This gave an elegant off the shoulder cut and added extra texture to the straight cut of the dress. It simultaneously added extra coverage. Matching the arm drapes to the rose gold color of the dress was a momentary challenge. It was hard to find the extra shade of rose gold chiffon. The inherent sheerness of chiffon allowed us to use a taupe chiffon and a rose chiffon and layer them in three layers – taupe, rose, taupe – to create a color that matched the dress. A hem, extra fabric to the back, and added arm drapes were the little details that transformed this gown! 

If you are stuck trying to find the right dress, don’t forget you can always restyle. It is such a great way to create the perfect dress, especially if you find a dress that is ALMOST the one, but it is simply missing those final details that matter to you. And this also goes along with dresses that just don’t fit your body quite right. We will make any dress, whether too big or too small, appear as if every curve and seam was made just for you and your body. The perfect gown is just a needle and thread away!

Filed Under: Alterations, Restyling

How to Take Your Wedding Dress on a Plane

July 7, 2021 By Leave a Comment

Maui sees many destination brides each year! Brides have been paving the way forward with ways of flying with their wedding dresses for many years now. The thought of flying with a wedding dress can make most brides pretty anxious. After all, no one wants to arrive at their destination with a wrinkled or ruined wedding dress. Chances are your wedding dress has become a very precious garment for you by this time. So we have gathered some of our tips for traveling with your wedding dress to ensure it arrives in tip top shape.

  • Contact your airline – Every airline is different. We recommend contacting your airline and asking about storing large and delicate items, such as your wedding gown. They may have an extra space where you will be able to store your gown separate from the overhead storage. Alternatively you may need to store it in the overhead compartment. Make sure you determine where you can store your wedding gown so you can properly secure and fold your dress before arriving at the airport.
  • Consult your dressmaker or the bridal shop you purchased your dress from – depending on the size of your dress and the length of your train, packaging your dress in a garment bag can vary significantly. Consulting your dressmaker is a great way to get expert advice on packaging your dress for the plane. They will help you delicately lay and fold your gown in the safest way possible.
  • Buy a breathable garment bag to store your gown in – We recommend buying a 20” gusset garment bag made out of breathable material. Muslin is a great option, try to go for 100% cotton fiber and unbleached fabric. And if you are worried about any unexpected spills on the plane, you can place a plastic covering over top of this garment bag. 
  • Keep an eye out for empty seats on the plane – Here is your golden ticket for your wedding gown. If your plane has some empty seats try to swap seats so you can use the empty seat for your dress. This is the perfect situation! 
  • Don’t panic at the sight of wrinkles on your gown – Your dress will likely accumulate a few wrinkles and creases here and there during your travels. Don’t worry, this is completely normal and expected. 
  • Find a dressmaker at your wedding destination prior to arriving – Regardless if your dress is perfectly packaged or not, make sure you seek out a dressmaker to help you with professional steaming and pressing for your wedding gown. They will have professional tools and the expertise of working with a plethora of fabrics. Be sure to book this ahead of time. Dressmakers working in destination locations can be very busy bees.

Destination brides and Maui brides if you are traveling to or from Maui don’t hesitate to contact us. We will gladly assist you with storing your gown for traveling or with steaming and pressing services upon arrival. Regardless, we will make sure your wedding gown is perfectly cared for for your wedding day. Get in touch at love@jenniferoberg.com to schedule your appointment.

Filed Under: Alterations, Bustles, Dressmaking, Sewing Tips + Tricks

4 Tips For Choosing The Bridesmaids Dresses

June 22, 2021 By Leave a Comment

Muir Adams Photography

In the whirlwind of wedding planning, there are so many details to consider and choices to make. It’s not easy to make quick decisions when you’re planning a dreamy wedding. One of the best things you can do is remember that everything does not have to be perfect and actually the most unplanned things usually have a way of becoming the highlights. So in an effort to ease some decision making, here are some of our tips for choosing your bridesmaids dresses:

  • Let the bridesmaids choose their own dresses. You can give some guidelines about length, style, and color, or have them check in with you to make sure the dress aligns with your aesthetic and vision. Having varying bridesmaid dresses is a nice way to empower your dear friends by allowing them to find a dress that makes them feel beautiful. Going the mismatch route also creates a more organic feel.
  • Delegate! There is no shame in delegating tasks during the wedding planning process. Ask your maid of honor or bridesmaids to find 3-5 dresses that they like. Then, making the final decision on which dress to go with becomes much easier with just a few options to choose from, plus your bridesmaids will be happy to have a say in the choice too.
  • Don’t be afraid to have varying shades of color. Again, going the mismatch route, having a spectrum of one color can be a subtle way to create an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Especially if your wedding palette has more neutral tones, this is a nice way to give some accents of color to your wedding day.
  • Be open to varied patterns + fabrics. This is a great way to give some more texture to your bridesmaids dresses and an opportunity to give some freedom to choose. Mixing patterns with solid color dresses looks beautiful together. And playing with different fabrics, can create a satisfying compilation of dresses when done right. Also, if you are stuck on a decision on which color, pattern, or fabric to go with, you can just choose 2-4 options that create a nice palette together and each bridesmaid can choose the dress they prefer. 

Ultimately, the most important thing to consider is how your bridesmaids will feel in the dresses. You want them to feel just as confident as you on the wedding day. Giving some freedom to either choose or have a say in which dress they prefer will make your friends feel valued and appreciated. And if you are short on time, definitely try to delegate this task to a friend you trust. Lastly, have fun choosing these dresses! It is like painting a picture of your big day. The bridesmaids add a dash of color so don’t be afraid to be playful with your choices.

Filed Under: Alterations, Bustles, Dressmaking

The Next Steps AFTER You’ve Found The Perfect Dress

June 16, 2021 By Leave a Comment

Once you’ve found the perfect wedding dress, it feels as if you can check ‘wedding dress’ off your to-do list. However, there is still a creative process that rests ahead. Be prepared so you can continue your wedding preparation with plenty of time and ease. Here are some tips and recommendations for AFTER you’ve found your gown:

  • Find a professional atelier with skilled alteration specialists to assist you with your bridal fittings and alterations.  At our atelier, we have an amazing creative team to help you. Book an appointment at least 8 weeks in advance of your wedding date.  Depending on how complex your alterations are, we may need more time to work on your dress. There can be many fittings in this process, so you want to make sure you have enough time in between fittings, too. 
  • If possible, decide on your shoes, undergarments, and accessories prior to going into your first fitting. These will all affect the alterations on your gown. We want to be sure  everything fits perfectly, so have on exactly what you will be wearing on your wedding day.
  • Bring one honest and direct friend or family member to give you a second eye during your fittings. This is always useful and will help you confidently make decisions on any additional alterations. 
  • If your dress has a long train you will need a bustle created. We have so many ideas for bustles and will help you find the most flattering bustle to compliment your dress. 
  • During your final fittings, be sure to have the exact shoes, garments, and accessories you will be wearing on your wedding day. This is your last chance to make the finishing touches to your gown. Make sure you feel comfortable, and if anything at all feels awkward, be sure to bring it up in the fitting.
  • Finally, if your gown has a bustle, bring your Maid of Honor or a bridesmaid with you so they can learn how to bustle your gown.  If they are not available, we will take a video in the studio showing exactly how to do it.

After finding your perfect gown there are plenty of steps you need to take before you can check it off your wedding to-do list. Make sure you allocate plenty of time for the wedding dress process as it doesn’t end after finding your dress. Any brides-to-be in need of an Alteration Specialist for their newly discovered wedding gown please get in touch with us at love@jenniferoberg.com. We would love to assist you in finalizing your wedding gown process!

Filed Under: Alterations, Bustles, Dressmaking

5 Things to Know Before Investing in Your Wedding Gown

May 12, 2021 By Leave a Comment

Upon being engaged, one of the first things Brides want to do is choose their wedding gown! It is such an exciting and thrilling time–and the time surely moves quickly in the months moving forward to your wedding day. In all the excitement and joy, decisions can happen spontaneously and quickly. So before you invest in your wedding gown, we wanted to share some of our tips to make sure you are making the right choice for you and your wedding day!

    • BUDGET – always # 1, but really consider your budget before jumping into that gorgeous gown that might be far off of your budget. Often Brides account for the cost of the wedding dress but they forget to budget in bridal alterations. At minimum you will likely need a hem and a bustle added. Bridal alterations can range from $200 to $800, depending how complex your alteration needs are. It could be that you end up wanting to restyle part of your gown or embellish it with more details. Our advice is to give yourself some cushion room in your budget (including dress and alterations) so you don’t end up exceeding your budget.
    • Designer, Custom, Vintage, or Hybrid – There are numerous options when choosing your wedding dress. You can buy a brand new designer wedding gown, you can get a custom made wedding dress, you can get a vintage wedding gown, OR you can have a mix of these. Don’t limit yourself to just buying from a boutique, consider what makes sense for your context. Maybe using your mother’s vintage gown and layering new details onto this gown is what will give your gown the meaning it deserves stitched between each thread. 
    • LOCATION + Seasons – this one is a big one, if you’re considering having an outdoor wedding in the summer then your dress will surely be different from a bride having a wedding on a snowy winter day. Perhaps you will want to go more towards lighter fabrics and sleeveless dresses, or maybe you will need the reverse.
    • Time – give yourself time to find the right wedding dress or to create your own custom dress. Do not save your wedding gown shopping to the last minute. Even if you purchase a wedding dress from a boutique, it is likely that you will need some alterations, and if you have a long train you will likely need an Alterations Specialist to create a bustle for you. Allowing for plenty of time will make the wedding dress process all the more enjoyable!
    • Trust your gut – There is so much our bodies are able to tell us. Listen to your gut and trust what your body is signaling to you. Working with honest and trustworthy vendors is so important! You don’t want to feel like you are being tricked, you want to be able to trust that the people you are working with have your best interest at heart. Trust your gut when you are making the final decisions on your wedding gown. You will know when you have found the right dress!

This is such a wonderfully exciting time in the wedding process. Happy wedding dress shopping Brides! We hope you find exactly what you are looking for. JOA is available for any custom wedding dress requests, bridal alterations, or wedding dresses that need some extra embellishments. We would love to assist you through this exciting journey and time in your life!

Filed Under: Alterations, Bustles, Dressmaking

Embellishing Your Wedding Gown

March 3, 2021 By Leave a Comment

Every bride is so different and unique! It is rare to find a gown that speaks fully to one’s style. We love to encourage our clients to discover their styles and add that little flare to make their dress feel unique to them. There are so many fun ways to add that extra gleam to your wedding gown! 

Perhaps it is having an intricate bustle, a bodice covered with crystals, a fiery red silk sash, or some elaborate beading throughout your gown. The possibilities are immense! What is important is realizing what you feel is missing or doesn’t feel quite right. Then, your dressmaker or even your family and friends can help you envisage what this extra embellishment to your dress could be. And finally, your dressmaker can actualize this vision and ultimately let your uniqueness run through every inch of your wedding gown!

Custom sleeves being created.

Jennifer working on the custom sleeves for the bride.

During the last few weeks we have been working with an adventurous bride, creating custom sleeves to be added to her wedding gown. The sleeves are made out of a stretch sheer net with white applique flowers attached. A simple, yet very unique touch to a wedding gown. In the photos you can see how the white applique flowers elegantly wrap around her arms. It seamlessly blends into the wedding gown to create this beautiful continuation of the dresses flower design down to her wrists. The appliques even show off her fantastic pomegranate tattoo on the back of her right shoulder.  This is a wonderful example of adding something special to your wedding gown!

The custom sleeves we created for our client’s wedding gown.

More details of the custom sleeves.

For any assistance with embellishing your wedding gown to fit your unique style, please get in touch with us. We love empowering our brides to find their unique voice within their wedding gown. To book an appointment, send an email to Jennifer at love@jenniferoberg.com.

Filed Under: Alterations, Dressmaking, Restyling

Finding the Right Alteration Specialist for your Gown

February 2, 2021 By Leave a Comment

Finding your dream wedding gown is such an exciting moment! There is joy, relief, enthusiasm, and more. Though it feels like you can check the wedding gown off your list, it is very likely that you will need to have a few alterations done on your dress to ensure it fits just right. Sometimes these can be simple fixes, but often wedding gowns are more complex than your average dress and will require a specialist with years of experience working with wedding dresses. So how do you go about selecting the right Alteration Specialist to work on your wedding gown?

  • Find a Professional Dressmaker – Working with a professional Dressmaker is the best way to ensure your wedding gown gets handled with the utmost care and precision. The wonderful thing about working with a Dressmaker is that they understand how to construct a gown so they are very skilled at reverse engineering some of the more complex alterations. Plus, if you want to modify the design of your dress, they will know exactly how to help you transform your gown.
  • Find an Alteration Specialist with previous wedding dress experience – When it comes to altering a wedding dress, there are a significant number of factors to consider. Is your wedding dress a particular brand, has your Alteration Specialist had experience working with this brand? What type of fabrics are they familiar with? What types of bustles can they create? Can they add beading or any other extra embellishments? When you find an Alteration Specialist with years of experience working with wedding gowns, chances are they have a wealth of knowledge for each of these elements. This will only make your wedding dress experience more pleasant and stress-free when you can rest assured that your dress is in good hands.
  • Look through their work online (websites, social media, etc.) – Social media and online portfolios gives you a nice opportunity to see some of the previous work of your potential Alteration Specialist. You can see pictures, client testimonials, success stories, and maybe more details on what types of dresses they have previously worked with. Pictures are some of the best ways to get an idea of the type of work they have done.
  • Word of Mouth is always our favorite – If you are still hesitant about choosing your Alteration Specialist for your beautiful wedding gown, then ask around! Word of mouth is our favorite way to meet new clients. Ask friends or family in your local community for their recommendations. Chances are they know someone they highly recommend.

We hope this helps you in finding the right Alteration Specialist for your wedding gown! If you are located on Maui and need assistance with your wedding dress, then we would love to help you. Visit our website or social media accounts to see some of our previous work. We hope we can help give your wedding dress those final touches to make it absolutely beautiful! Send us an email at love@jenniferoberg.com to book your appointment. 

Filed Under: Alterations, Bustles, Dressmaking
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