Your idea is a good idea, but I personally wouldn't even think about making a wedding dress without a lot of sewing experience. Sewing cotton is easy, sewing satin, lace, etc., aren't. It's doable, but not easily, in my opinion.

Oh, my! What an undertaking!!! You are braver than many of us, I am sure. I have no suggestions but would love to have up-dates as time goes by. Please post pictures as you progress!

I made my daughter's wedding dress from two patterns, but nothing quilted. I'll help where I can. The night before the wedding I wasn't happy with the detachable lace train that I made so I ended up crocheting 3 Irish roses to place at the top of the train....it was just what was missing.......LOL! That made the dress.

As a non sewer you are really setting yourself up for some nail biting. I made the dresses for my three grand daughters to wear in my youngest daughter's wedding. I used the simplist pattern I could find. I then made an overshirt of white lacy fabric for the little girls to put over their cherry red dresses. It was basically a big apron that tied with a bow in the back. If you did something like that using the other dresses to make the overskirt or apron you could use a very basic plain dress underneath. You might even make a detachable collar or shawl like cape if you wanted more at the top.

A wedding dress made by a novice sewer out of old wedding dresses with quilt block patterns would be my dream dress if I was a twentysomething. Just sayin.

What an undertaking.Keep us posted.

Wow, I wouldn't even know where to start. I bet it is going to be wonderful though.

For the Vogue pattern, I'd make the bodice as the quilted piece. Cut a muslin foundation larger than the pattern to crazy piece and embellish. For the Butterick, I'd make strips of flying geese as 2 of the swirls. They could even be embellished with lace, beads, appliques, etc.

It'll be a beauty - good luck!

I have made at least one of anything you can think of. I even now make my own bras. I made my daughter and my DIL wedding dresses, plus a one for a niece. I would use muslin first to try out the pattern. Satin is slippery so use lots of pins. Get the silk pins with glass heads. I have found them at Joann's.DO NOT mark with the air or water pens (blue or purple) On satin it runs and you have a hard time getting it our. Post pictures of what you are trying to do and I'm sure you will get more advise that you dreamt of. Everything is do able. When my students say something is to much of a challenge I tell them "it's like eating an elephant, one bite at a time".

How can I post the pictures? I am new to this site since I thought it would be the best place to get advise.