A few years ago, Sarah Kolis posted a reel on Instagram that went viral: she transformed familiar blue floral bedsheets into a stunning ballgown. This journey inspired many, leading to the creation of a Sarah Kolis Couture Bedsheet Gown DIY Sewing Pattern. Brides from all over reached out, eager for a dress just like it. Little did she know, one young seamstress across the Atlantic would purchase the pattern to make her own wedding dress with her mum—and the result was unforgettable.
Sarah’s Original Bedsheet Gown
Design and Styling @nicolecolwelldesignandco
Custom Gown @sarahkolisdesigns
Venue & Host @theivyrosebarn
The Couple
“Matthew and I started as best friends and that is the best basis we could have for our marriage, we think! We fell in love doing theatre so now feel so lucky to both work backstage in the theatre industry in the West End! We both love our jobs and on our days off we still like theatre enough to go into town and watch new shows. We have an adorable little tabby cat called Mitten, who is the other love of our lives. Our ideal days together are sat watching TV series, drinking tea. I do A LOT of crafting so for the length of our relationship I have always been crocheting, scrapbooking or embroidering whilst we watch TV. Matthew occasionally will also sit and hand sew little rips in trousers etc. We had been together for 4 years before Matthew proposed.”
The Proposal:
“In May 2023 Matthew bought me a film camera for my birthday. I had started to really enjoy using his dad’s old film camera, but that sadly broke, so was delighted to be gifted one. Around the same time Matthew had decided to propose, and came up with his idea. Whilst I was taking photos on my film camera, he would sometimes sneakily take the camera and take his own photos of him ‘getting ready’ to propose. Then when I got the film developed, I would see these photos and he would propose that way.
In June 2023 he asked my parents for their blessing to marry me. They were delighted and my dad asked Matthew how he was planning on doing it. Matthew shared his idea and although my parents loved it, my dad thought that Matthew should take the photos on his phone so he could ‘preview’ them to make sure they were in focus. Matthew agreed. However, he had already taken some photos on my film camera, which meant the timing of the proposal had to line up with when I got my film developed. It took me until December 2023 to finish that roll of film…
Finally, when I had finished the roll, Matthew said he had seen that the snappy snaps (A place to have film developed) near his work had a special deal on film development and asked if I’d like him to take the photos. I said yes. I forgot about them, and then on New Year’s Eve 2023, he said, ‘oh, I’ve got those photos in my bag!’ I flipped through and suddenly turned to one which was a photo of Matthew knocking on the door of my parent’s house. It clicked straight away what was happening. He had created a little storyboard of photos with my parents, my sister, my brother, and even our cat, Mitten, leading up to him asking me to marry him. He then pulled the ring out of a drawer and asked me to marry him. It was the easiest yes ever. We ended New Year’s having a cup of tea and chatting about the 6 months from when he first asked my parents to actually proposing.”
Finding the dress, AKA the Instagram reel that disrupted Betty’s Wedding Dress shopping
“Just after we got engaged, I obviously started looking at wedding dresses. I had followed this dress shop in London for a few years and really loved one of their dresses so thought I should make an appointment there. However, one day I was scrolling on Instagram reels and Sarah Kolis’ bedsheet dress shoot came up… I sent it to my mum and sister straight away saying ‘oh dear, I think this might be the one.’
Obviously, with Sarah being based in the US and me in the UK, I felt that although it was so beautiful I just didn’t think I could make it work with alterations etc. I kept looking at dresses but could not stop thinking about the bedsheet dress. There were so many things I liked about it—my grandparents’ house, where we got married, is blue and white, the dress is blue and white. I loved the puffy sleeves and the shape hugging the waist. I always loved the idea of having a big skirt but not a meringue and I felt the bedsheet dress nailed that. I did go dress shopping one evening with my mum and sister for the experience of it, and even though there were some beautiful dresses, there really was nothing that matched the bedsheet gown. I was certain it was the one!”
Getting the bedsheets from the USA to the UK
“When I had decided that my wedding dress had to be the bedsheet gown, initially I decided I’d get someone to make it for me. After enlisting the help of mutual friends who were on holiday in the USA, we got the fabric back to London. I was in the process of finding a dressmaker, but whilst looking at dress patterns and the process of making clothes, I really got the sewing bug and asked for a sewing machine for my birthday in May 2024. I got one and started practicing dress patterns immediately.
It was only about 2 months later, after having some success in making my own clothes, that my mum suggested we make my wedding dress together. I loved the idea. I always felt a bit iffy about spending so much money on a dress I was only going to wear for one day, so the combination of it being made out of bedsheets and making it myself just made me so excited, and what amazing memories to have with my mum.
DIY-ing My Wedding Dress
We started by buying some inexpensive white and pink floral fabric to practice with and made a mockup. I was really quite nervous making such a huge garment considering I’d only started sewing that year, so getting a chance to make mistakes was great. I sewed a zip in for the first time, cut on the bias for the first time. After the practice we decided that the skirt and the sleeves were beautiful but we could make adjustments to make the bodice fit my shape better.
We enlisted the help of our wonderful friend, Sophie, who is also a home sewer but goodness me is she good at it. She brought round lots of different bodice options, helped draft them so they fit me perfectly, and added all the little details—organza in the shoulders of the sleeves \to keep the volume, premade roulou loops, elastic in the shoulders to hold my bra straps—that made the dress feel really special. After making four practice bodices, we settled on ‘the one’ and started making the actual wedding dress.
It was so funny having my parents’ kitchen covered in fabric, all hung up in order on the cabinets. All my family pets got involved, sitting on the fabric and getting in the way slightly. We’d do a little bit every week when I could find time! As the day got closer and the dress started becoming more and more finished, I got so excited. My favourite moment was when we finally attached the huge skirt to the bodice and put the zip in. I finally was able to put it on and see the dress on myself for the first time. It was an amazing feeling, I felt so beautiful and it wasn’t even finished yet!
A week before the wedding, we had a ‘final’ mammoth sewing day—hemming the sleeves, sewing in little buttons to hold up the bow, and finishing those last details. My incredible mum actually ended up putting the last button on the night before my wedding! I really couldn’t have done it without her.”
The Wedding
I woke up really early on the morning of our wedding! I was so excited but had that normal mix of nervous butterflies. My mum and sister were also awake (my sister and I had had a sleepover the night before – she painted my nails and we watched old films). Our amazing make up and hair artist, Rebecca, arrived just before 7am and got us ready. The 3 of us all had our hair and makeup done and I felt so beautiful. As a person who never wears makeup day-to-day I was really keen to still look like myself but wanted to feel special. Rebecca did such a great job of finding that balance. Same with my hair, I wanted a slightly ‘wild’ look like I’d picked flowers from the garden that day and put them in my hair, I didn’t want to be super ‘made up’. I also felt like this would match the style and fabric of my wedding dress.
As our wedding was at my grandparents house it was so special getting ready in somewhere that held so many memories. Matthew also had to come to my grandparents in the morning to pick up my Grandpa’s MG car which we were driving away from the Church in. It was so exciting when he arrived – we didn’t see each other. I stayed upstairs getting ready whilst we was downstairs but it was nice hearing him being around and my sister sweetly passed messages between the two of us! I felt very giggly and overwhelmed with emotion!
I didn’t expect to get emotional during the ceremony. I was so excited to see Matthew and just felt happy. However, when I was standing outside the church with my dad, sister and two little Bridesmaids I got super teary from happiness! Then when the doors opened I saw one of our friends gasp and look so happy for me and it really pushed me over the edge! Matthew was absolutely beaming at the end of the aisle and it was just so amazing having a church full of everyone who we loved. Matthew and I hadn’t told each other about what we were wearing at all so just coincidentally Matthew had chosen a baby blue suit to wear for our wedding day which matched my dress perfectly! We were giggling together and just so excited to be getting married!
After our ceremony, Matthew and I walked through the churchyard whilst our guests got ready for the confetti throw. I couldn’t wait to tell him that I’d made my wedding dress and also that it was made out of bedsheets! He was blown away. I also showed him the converse I’d gotten embroidered to wear on our day and it was just so nice catching up with each other! The ceremony was definitely the highlight of the day and having that moment just Matthew and I, as well as when it was just the two of us driving back to my grandparents house was so comforting and special.
Advice to future brides
For future brides I’d say make sure your wedding is just what you and your partner want it to be. For the first chunk of the planning we were so worried about upsetting people, what others would think, what is ’normally done’ etc. It was only once we decided to just do what we wanted that we started to enjoy the planning process – we went from thinking we would have to invite 70+ people to only inviting 35 and having a very relaxed, bbq and graze table and then playlist on an iPad in the evening. It felt perfectly us and we wouldn’t have changed a THING. It’s easier said than done – but in the end, just focusing on what we wanted was the best thing to do.
Betty
I had the best time making my wedding dress. It was really challenging at points and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my mum and our friend Sophie’s help – but, it was so special and will be very important memories that I keep forever. I love that my wedding dress was made out of bedsheets. It is so me. I have left over fabric and I can’t wait to make an outfit out of it that I’ll be able to wear every year on our anniversary! Sarah was so helpful with all her tips, tricks and advice on how to sew the bedsheet gown and I’m so grateful to her for finding the fabric and designing such a stunning original gown!
Vendors:
- Photography: @Newmanphotographic
- Hair & Makeup: @bridalandbeauty_byrebeccajayne
- Flowers: @bloomingdels
