Last Updated on September 19, 2021 by Guillermina
Today, we’re going to be looking at adding rhinestones to a wedding dress. As weddings are becoming increasingly more expensive, more brides are taking it upon themselves to do tasks themselves. Whether that be creating your own centerpieces, or making your own chair covers – brides and grooms can do it all nowadays! But a trend becoming more popular is doing your own wedding dress embellishment.
Adding bling to your dress may sound easy, but there’s lots of things to consider before you start adding rhinestones! Let’s take a look at how to customize your wedding dress, in the easiest ways possible.
Why Add Rhinestones to a Dress?
There’s a plethora of reasons as to why you may want to add rhinestones to your dress. Here’s just a few!
- If you’re on a budget, it’s a great way to cut back on costs. Plainer gowns are far less expensive than dresses that are already full of bling! Doing embellishments yourself can make the base price of your dress considerably less
- Your dress will be completely unique. When adding to your dress, it makes the finished product one of a kind. This is appealing to many brides, as no one in the world will have the exact same wedding dress as you.
- Once the rhinestones are in place, the gown will look far more expensive than what you originally pay for it.
- It adds a real personal touch to your gown, especially if done by your own hand. Or if a bridal party member is doing it for you, it makes it extra special.
- If done correctly, rhinestones can add real elegance and class to your gown. And accentuate all of your best features.
How to Add Rhinestones to a Dress
There’s a variety of ways you can add rhinestones, whether you’re good with your hands or not. From gluing, to sewing, to tying – let’s take a look at some of the ways to bling up your wedding dress.
Sewing
Sewing is the most traditional way to add rhinestones to your dress. It’s important to note that if you’re a complete novice with sewing, this may not be the best time to try your hand at it. Your first time sewing should not be with one of the most important clothing garments of your life. I would strongly advise practicing before you start on your gown – no matter how confident you feel!
Sports Rec has a great step-by-step guide on How to Add Rhinestones to a Wedding Dress by sewing them on.
Gluing
If you’re not confident with a sewing needle (I am definitely not), you may want to opt for gluing instead. It’s far less time-consuming than sewing but requires a steady hand, and a good eye. All you’ll need is rhinestones, glue, and tweezers – and you’re good to go!
This video from Classic Royalty Designs on YouTube is amazing at teaching you how to glue rhinestones yourself. It’s quick, easy – and she has some great tips in there.
Belts
If changing any part of your wedding dress permanently seems terrifying to you, but you do want to add a bit of sparkle to your dress – there’s something else you can do! Rhinestone wedding belts and sashes are becoming increasingly popular and require minimal effort.
If you’re wary of making irreversible changes to your dress, this is a great option. Online stores like Etsy do gorgeous affordable options, but if you’re looking for something more luxury – try your local bridal boutique. They really can be a stunning addition to your dress.
Tips and Tricks
There are a few things you may want to bear in mind before you take the plunge of adding bling to your wedding dress. I think any additional sparkle is a bonus – especially on your wedding day. So let’s look at some tips and tricks to make sure that everything goes smoothly.
Do Your Research
I can not stress this enough. Although I feel like if you’re reading this article, the research has already begun – you’re doing the right thing! Watch tutorials. Read blog posts. Learn as much as you can about the material you’re adding the rhinestones to. It can also be easy to overcrowd your dress, or add to few rhinestones – place them on your dress before you put them on permanently, just to give you an idea of the finished result.
Be Careful Where You Place Them
Let’s be honest – rhinestones are uncomfortable. And you definitely want to feel as comfortable as possible on your wedding day. When choosing where to add the rhinestones, be sure not to add any under where your arms sit, or anywhere where the rhinestones will directly touch your skin. Rhinestones rub, and they will leave a mark if they’re rubbing all day – especially if it’s hot!
Working With the Dress
Placement of the dress is important once you start the work. Ensure the dress is lying down on a flat surface, rather than upright. Rhinestones are fiddly and gravity will want to pull them downwards. Having the dress flat out will help stop this.
Practice
The most important piece of advice I can offer is – practice! You want your gown to be perfect, and practice definitely makes perfect. Buy a few cheap pieces of clothing, or use old clothes and see how adding rhinestones goes to those first. If that’s successful, then start on your dress!
Conclusion
I hope this article has taught you all about adding rhinestones to a dress. Whether you’re comfortable with a needle or would prefer to use glue – adding embellishment to your dress doesn’t need to be as difficult as it may seem. It just requires a lot of time…and a lot of patience!
Did you add embellishment to your wedding dress? Do you have any tips and tricks for fellow brides? Please feel free to leave any suggestions in the comments below. You’ll likely be helping out future couples!
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