This unique tea length dress is elegant for a formal wedding ceremony, yet versatile enough for a long night of comfortable dancing at the reception. The outside layer of dress is 100% sheer silk and is embroidered with softly beaded flowers. Threading on the gently curving flowers give the dress a natural look – nothing shiny or manufactured. The bodice is easily tailored to fit snugly, but is firm and flattering. Gently tufted sheer silk rims the bodice, and a thick silk bow highlights a natural waist.
The dress hem is original, never shortened, but can be tailored to achieve a shorter tea length. The back of the dress closes with a sturdy zipper which is completely covered by delicately hooked buttons (see photo).
Notes from the bride: at the tip of the left bust, there is some minor wear with maybe five loose threads. I included a very close up photo, and one a little zoomed away. It is obvious if you are inspecting the dress very closely, but otherwise would not be visible in photos or to anyone else
I had a formal wedding with a religious ceremony (not black tie). My husband and the groomsmen wore suits with pocket squares; the bridesmaids wore Ann Taylor dresses. This dress is perfectly elegant for a formal processional and ceremony, but will also allow you to move around freely with your guests—no train or bustle to watch out for or deal with after the ceremony. You will love how the dress moves while you’re dancing, and be amazed how easy it is to forget you are wearing a wedding dress! The natural waist helps avoid any slippage, even while moving around, so you won’t ever be adjusting the bodice or worrying about whether it’s slipping down.
I wore simple ivory shoes for a conservative look, but this dress would also highlight a more spectacular shoe choice, if you wish. I am 5’5” and didn’t tailor the hem of the dress at all so I could wear it at a ‘longer’ tea length. You could shorten it a few inches if you are shorter, or want a ‘shorter’ tea length.