Every girl dreams of finding the perfect wedding dress for her special day. But for Meredith Myers, finding a dress wasn’t good enough—she wanted to make it.
Myers, an employee of local designer Ella Pritsker and Timonium’s Maryland Center of Fashion Design, was married on Sept. 24 to her college sweetheart in a dress she co-designed and created herself.
“I originally went into some bridal shops, but there wasn’t anything perfect,” Myers says. That’s when she approached Pritsker about the possibility of a custom design.
“Anything I wanted, Ella would be able to do,” she says. “Ella can do anything.”
Pritsker, who has known Myers since the latter was a high school student, enthusiastically agreed, volunteering her design services and time for free.
The two went to work on a pattern, which centered on an elaborate train.
“I wanted something that was very airy, light and simple—not too blingy or over the top—but the train was my big dramatic element,” Myers says.
“The dress she wanted reminded me of Grace Kelly,” Pritsker says. “It’s simple, elegant, sophisticated and just in such great taste.”
After the pattern was complete, the pair designed a sloper, which is a sort of “second skin” that matches the wearer’s body type exactly, and the rest was (occasionally frustrating) history.
“It was so cool to go through the whole process,” says Myers, who sewed much of the dress herself. “I could make it exactly as I wanted it. Not many people can say they were able to design the wedding dress of their dreams. It was really fun and I’m very proud of it—I loved having the chance to showcase my talent and her [Pritsker’s] talent.”
Which is not to say, of course, that it was a (wedding)cake walk.
“I did get frustrated and overwhelmed,” Myers admits, laughing, “because it was a lot of work. I mean, I knew it was going to be a lot of work, but it was a lot of work.”
Overall, though, Myers and Pritsker couldn’t have been happier with the process and outcome.
“It’s been such an emotional journey because I’ve known Meredith since she was a high school kid,” Pritsker says. “In the few years we’ve worked together, she has grown tremendously as a person, and it’s been wonderful to watch that. In the last few months, her transformation and the broadening of her skill set has been amazing, nothing short of miraculous.
“Meredith has become someone who’s able to take on a project and be able to see it through,” Pritsker adds. “That’s a pretty incredible skill to have in itself. From conception to final product, just knowing that walked down the aisle in that dress is very emotional. It’s been great. I’m very proud of her.”
As for her plans for the gown now that she’s a married woman? Myers isn’t sure, but she knows her love affair with the dress isn’t over.
“I’m going to keep it hanging in my closet,” she says. “I’d hate to just put it away. I’d love if Ella could use it in a fashion show.”
Pritsker agrees. “Work like that needs to be seen again and again.”
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