A Unique Dress Fit for a Swallowtail Butterfly

A hand embroidered Swallowtail Butterfly, that is. 

A collage of Washington State mountain wildlife adorns this unique wildflower wedding dress. Intricate stumpwork embroidery includes a Wild Columbine flower, Calliope Hummingbird, Western Blue Bird, Swallowtail Butterfly, Common Blue butterflies, Bumblebee, Lupines,  Shooting Star flowers, Moss Campion, Stinky Cinquefoil,  Asters, Oxeye Daisy, Wild Lillie, Fireweed and Forget-Me-Knots.

“It is so, so beautiful, and it fits me perfectly! I am thrilled, and he is too! ” – L.T. 

 

Wedding photos by Julia Kavalieros Photography 

“The dress is starting to come alive!” – L.T. 

Stumpwork embroidery brings the wildflowers and butterflies on this unique wedding dress to life. It is a form of raised embroidery that has a 3-dimensional effect. The motifs are embroidered on muslin. Sometimes the wings, flower petals and leaves are framed in couched wire. Once embroidered the motifs are cut out, the edges are finished and they are hand appliqued to pop out on a truly unique wedding dress.

“I particularly love the way the yellow flowers spill across the seam between the bodice and the skirt. It’s organic and lovely.” – L.T. 

“I am so in love with the daisies with the butterfly, and the blue bird is just as stunning as it was in the sketches.” – L.T. 

“I love Mr. Bee! And the whole thing is looking so beautiful and full and joyous — I love it.” -L.T.

 

Wedding photos by  Julia Kavalieros Photography

More about this custom made wildflower wedding dress by Tara Lynn 

L.T. knew she wanted a wedding dress that had a casual but easy feel. However, after seeing Tara Lynn’s work she knew she also wanted a riot of wildflowers, insects and birds on her dress. Tara Lynn’s embroidery spoke to her as did the Fiorella wedding dress from Tara Lynn’s Woodland Collection. L.T. particularly loved the sheen of the hemp silk fabric, the brilliant pops of color and the overlapped skirt panels that offered a peekaboo of color. 

L.T. loves hiking in the Mountains of Spokane Washington so she requested her custom wedding dress capture the mountain wildlife there. 
Tara Lynn began with sketches of the dress and a study of Washington State wildflowers, butterflies and birds. She loves learning about wildlife. This intricately hand embroidered wedding dress took about a year to make. Every bird, butterfly and flower was hand embroidered on scraps of fabric which were then then cut out and appliqued by hand to L.T.’s wedding dress. In between the embroidery work Tara Lynn and L.T. had several dress fittings. Once the fit was approved Tara Lynn began to pin all the prepared stumpwork onto L.T.’s unique wedding dress. Tara Lynn shared photos of the embroidery progress as well as it’s placement on the dress with L.T. for her approval every step of the way.

 
Common Blue butterflies land on the Lupine flowers. A Bumblebee feeds on an Oxeye Daisy. A Swallowtail Butterfly lands on Fireweed while a Western Blue Bird flies across the skirt. On the bodice of this unique wedding dress there are 3-D Moss Campion flowers, Forget-Me-Knots close to L.T.’s heart and Sticky Cinquefoil flowers trailing down to her hip. A Calliope Hummingbird is feeding on a Wild Columbine flower resting over L.T.’s back shoulder. 

In the end this wildflower wedding dress is a work of art fit for a Swallowtail Butterfly. It will be cherished for a life time. And because of the pandemic L.T. will get to wear her wildflower embroidered wedding dress again next year as the couple replays their wedding day among the flowers and their family and friends. 

Would you like to work with Tara Lynn?

“I will capture your spirit in a truly unique wedding dress & delight you with genuine customer service.”

– Tara Lynn