Lace-Tying Techniques For Beautiful Wedding Invitations

A wedding dress with a corset back will need to be laced up carefully on the big day. It's important to practice lacing up your gown before your wedding day to ensure it looks perfect. Begin by clipping in your modesty panel and lacing your ribbon through the top two loops from the outside in, much like a tennis shoe. Make sure your strings are pulled evenly so that you have the same length to work with on each side. Then work your way down the corset, making sure to loop the strings from the outside to the inside. This will give you more coverage and a smoother look. Once you’ve laced the entire corset, unclip the modesty panel and begin tightening it from top to bottom, keeping in mind that the corset will loosen up throughout the day.

How to lace a corset wedding dress

Corset wedding dresses are back in fashion and are a perfect fit for vintage-themed weddings, sexy sophisticated ceremonies, or even gothic, steampunk nuptials.

When it comes to lacing a corset wedding dress, here's a step-by-step guide to help you achieve the perfect fit:

Prepare the Lacing:

• Ensure you have the right type and length of lace for your dress. It should be strong enough to withstand tightening and provide a secure fit.
• If your dress has metal eyelets, consider using a flat or tubular lace that can be easily threaded through the holes.
• For dresses with fabric loops, a thicker lace or ribbon may be more suitable.

Starting the Lacing Process:

• Begin by finding the centre of the lace and positioning it at the middle of the corset, usually at the waist.
• Thread the ends of the lace through the bottom eyelets or loops on each side of the corset, ensuring equal lengths on both sides.

Criss-Cross Lacing:

• Bring the right end of the lace up and across to the left side, passing it through the next available eyelet or loop.
• Then, bring the left end of the lace up and across to the right side, passing it through the corresponding eyelet or loop.
• Continue this criss-cross lacing pattern until you reach the top.

Tightening the Corset:

• Gently pull on both ends of the lace to tighten the corset, ensuring that the lacing pattern remains neat and even.
• Adjust the tightness to your comfort level, keeping in mind that the dress should accentuate your curves but also allow for breathing and movement.

Tying Off the Lace:

• Once you've achieved the desired tightness, tie off the ends of the lace securely.
• You can create a simple bow, or for a more secure hold, try a double knot followed by a bow.

Final Adjustments:

• Check the overall fit of the dress and make any necessary adjustments to ensure it's comfortable and flattering.
• Ensure the lacing is evenly distributed and not too tight in certain areas, which can cause discomfort.

Lacing a corset wedding dress can be a delicate task, but by following these steps, you'll achieve a beautiful and elegant silhouette for your special day.

For added glamour, consider incorporating a lace-up corset back detail, a detachable bolero, or even a dramatic black tulle skirt for a gothic-inspired look.

The importance of practicing lacing your wedding dress

Lacing up a wedding dress is a skill that is best practised ahead of the big day. Many brides don't practice tying their gowns and don't realise until it's too late that they don't have the time to fix it before the ceremony. This can be a costly mistake, as poorly tied laces can ruin photos, and even a seasoned Photoshop expert would struggle to fix them.

Practising how to lace up a corset doesn't take long and guarantees a better result on your wedding day. It's important to make sure whoever is assisting you knows exactly what to do. It may look easy, but it's a skill that needs to be learned.

• Thread the ribbons through the top loops.
• Make sure the ribbons are an even length.
• Thread one end of the ribbon into the loop on the opposite side, and do the same with the other end – like tying a shoelace.
• Continue threading through the loops until you have tied three ribbon holes.
• Pull outwards on the second ribbon to tighten the dress, then do the same for the third.
• The dress should now have shape and the bride shouldn't feel the gown slipping.
• Continue tying the ribbons, trying to keep them as straight as possible.
• Tie every loop until you get to the bottom.
• Working your way down from the third loop, pull outwards to tighten the corset.
• Once all the loops are tightened, tie the end of the ribbon in its first knot.
• Put the laces underneath the skirt to where the bottom of the corset is and feed/poke both ends of the ribbon through into the dress via the hole at the bottom of the corset.
• Once the ribbon ends are inside, pull them down to make sure the corset is tight and sits nicely.
• Inside the dress, tie the ends of the ribbon into a bow, so it doesn't get caught when walking or dancing.

How to tie a knot and hide the strings

Tying a knot and hiding the strings on a wedding invitation with lace is a fun way to add a unique touch to your special day. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to achieve this:

Materials:

• Wedding invitation with lace
• Ribbon or string
• Modesty panel (optional)

Instructions:

• Practice lacing your invitation before your wedding day. This will help you avoid any mistakes and ensure a smooth process.
• Clip in your modesty panel if you have one. The modesty panel provides extra coverage and can be unclipped later if it hinders the tightening process.
• Start lacing by threading your ribbon through the top two loops from the outside, similar to lacing a tennis shoe. Ensure that the strings are pulled evenly to maintain the same length on each side.
• Work your way down the invitation, looping the strings from the outside to the inside. This technique will provide better coverage and a neater appearance.
• Don't worry about keeping the lacing too tight at this stage.
• Once you've laced the entire length, unclip the modesty panel if you used one. This step ensures that the panel lies flat and doesn't bunch up when you tighten the lacing.
• Begin tightening the lacing from top to bottom. Keep in mind that the lacing may loosen throughout the day. It's okay to make it a little tight.
• Create a V shape with the lacing as you pull it snug. Maintaining evenness on both sides is crucial.
• When you're satisfied with the tightness, tie a secure knot.
• Tuck the ends of the strings neatly into the bottom of the dress or invitation to hide them from view.

And there you have it! A beautifully laced wedding invitation with a hidden knot. This technique will add a unique touch to your invitations, and your guests will surely admire your attention to detail.

The role of a modesty panel

A modesty panel is a piece of fabric that can be attached to a bra to cover the wearer's cleavage. They are often used to make low-cut dresses more modest, and are particularly useful for brides who are getting married in a church and require more coverage.

Modesty panels are a simple and versatile solution for brides who want to make an adjustment to their wedding dress. They can be attached to the bra with buttons and elastic, or sewn onto a low-cut dress. They can also be made removable by using buttons on the inside of the dress. This is a good option for brides who want to be covered during the ceremony but would like to remove the panel for the reception.

When lacing up a corset-back wedding dress, it is important to first clip in the modesty panel. This will ensure that the panel lies flat when the corset is tightened. Once the modesty panel is in place, you can begin lacing the ribbon through the loops from the outside in, making sure to keep the strings pulled evenly. After lacing the entire corset, the modesty panel can be unclipped and the corset can be tightened from top to bottom.

In addition to being a practical solution for brides who want more coverage, modesty panels can also add a stylish touch to a wedding outfit. They can be made from plain fabric or lace, and can be chosen to complement the style of the dress. For brides who want to avoid a bulky look, a modesty panel is a better option than wearing a vest underneath the dress.

How to lace a corset in a V shape

To lace a corset in a V shape, follow these steps:

First, put on your corset and fasten the busk. Ensure that the smallest part of the corset is resting against your waist. Adjust the corset so that the modesty panel at the back is flat.

Now, grab the two looped laces, or "bunny ears," at the back of your corset, which should be at your waistline. Gently tug on these loops to tighten the corset around your waist.

Next, grab the criss-cross laces at the top of the corset and pull them away from your back. Move down the corset, pulling at the lacing until you reach the bunny ears. Tug on the bunny ears to tighten the top half of the corset. Repeat this process for the bottom half of the corset, pulling at the bottom criss-cross laces and moving upwards until you reach the bunny ears.

Finally, pull on the bunny ears to further tighten the corset to your liking. Ensure that the corset remains comfortably tight and does not restrict your breathing or movement.

To finish, tie the bunny ears into a bow. If the bunny ears are very long, you can wrap the laces around your waist and then tie a smaller bow at the back for a smoother look.

Frequently asked questions