Tied the Knot in Style: This LA Bride Crocheted Her Own Wedding Dress!

“Though neither of us were looking for a relationship, we could not deny the natural chemistry between us and the alignment of our paths,” say newlyweds Dominique + Alexis, who first met when a mutual friend brought Dominique along to meet up at Alexis’s house before a night out. “Our attraction was immediate, and we quickly realized how much we have in common: a love of art, music and dancing, being from large Latin families, and prioritizing personal and spiritual growth.”

When the time came to tie the knot, Dominique + Alexis planned an earthy yet glamorous wedding full of subtly tropical florals and a color world built from rich, warm colors as well as airy off-whites. 

“The theme of the wedding was Havana Nights to honor my husband’s Cuban heritage,” says Dominique of the celebration she and Alexis put together at her parent’s Mediterranean-style home in Los Angeles with the help of planner Rayvn Neal. “Our goal when styling our wedding was to create an experience that would be different from your typical wedding vibe. Our florals were tropical and bold, and we decorated my parent’s home to look like a nightclub in Cuba.”

The couple took a unique approach to their invite list by keeping things intimate for the earlier portion of the wedding day, adding more guests for the evening’s festivities. “We opted for a small ceremony earlier in the day and a large reception in the evening. We both come from large Mexican families who love to party and dance,” say Dominique + Alexis.

The photos from Dahlia & Finch are just so gorgeous. And don’t worry, we’ve got SO much to share with you about this unbelievable handmade crocheted wedding dress that bride Dominique created for herself! 

“Looking back, we feel the ancestors and higher powers had a hand in bringing us together,” Dominique + Alexis say, “almost as if our relationship was bigger than us.”

There aren’t many brides who can say they handmade their very own wedding dress, but custom crochet couture designer Dominique Calvillo is one of them. You just might recognize her handiwork from this colorful Día de los Muertos Wedding!

Check out our collection of the best unique engagement rings and vintage + antique engagement rings if you’re loving Dominique’s taste in jewelry already.

To embrace the tropical Havana Nights vibe, groom Alexis and the other fellas in the wedding party + fam all wore linen suits. Some even rocked fedoras, as well!

The Dress (!!)

“It took me the entire 8 months of our engagement to make the dress,” says bride Dominique. “I have made dresses for many brides in the past but making my own dress was a different experience. I wanted it to be different than anything else I have ever made before, and I was very particular about the fit and the pearl detailing.”

“My sister in law Jasmine also happens to be an amazing crocheter. It was so special that she was able to help me design and make the dress. I would not have been able to bring all of the details together on my own, and I will always cherish the memory of us working on it together. She also crocheted the flower girl’s dress which was adorable.”

“The dress design was inspired by the 1920’s Spanish architecture in Havana, Cuba in honor of our theme,” says Dominique of the look, which she completed with handmade jewelry by Robyn Rhodes.

Like the idea of tying the knot in something a custom knit like Dominique did? Check out this mod 70s wedding shoot and this intimate streetcar wedding for even more handmade bridal textile inspo!

Dominique even chronicled the experience of making her dress on her Youtube channel, Namaste & Crochet. Push play below to check out the whole process!

The Bridal Party

“Everyone in the wedding party was styled with an individual look that fit into the overarching theme and warm color pallet,” says Dominique of this rich, mismatched bridal party look. “I wanted our sisters and mothers to all shine with their individual style.”

“I am NOT the type of bride who wanted all the attention, so I put a lot of thought into the looks of my girls, and I was so happy with how the family looked all together,” Dominique says. “Each girl and mother was a shining gem in their own style and collectively, they looked stunning.”

The Intimate “I Do’s”

Our Favorite Memory
From the bride: "Walking down the aisle was so special. I had been working on my dress for 8 months and hiding it from Alexi’s so he wouldn’t see it. I was standing with my father who had tears in his eye and I couldn’t help but shake from excitement and anticipation. The piano player started playing our song “How Deep Is Your Love” and it was time. When Alexis finally saw me walking down the aisle, I could see tears welling up in his eyes and it was such a beautiful moment of pure joy."

We love that Dominique paired her one-of-a-kind gown with this embellished, scallop edge wedding veil. Such a dreamy way to highlight the embellishments in the dress itself.

Our Musical Choices
Processional
“How Deep Is Your Love” by The BeeGees, played by Abner Dominguez 
Recessional
“This Will Be" by Natalie Cole, played by Abner Dominguez 
First Dance
“Sway” by Dean Martin, played by Live Salsa Band

Dominique’s flawless bridal makeup look was created by Jaqueline Reyes.

“Our florist, Margaret Joan Florals, chose tropical and unique flowers such as orchids and anthurium to create my bouquet and the stunning florals featured all around the venue,” remembers Dominique.

Fun fact: Dominique did that romantic wedding updo herself! What can’t she do?!

A Poolside Celebration

The couple’s sweet, blush, single-tier wedding cake was a nod to Dominique’s skill with a crochet hook created for them by Andrew Calvillo.

Our Advice
There is no right way to get married. People will project all kinds of expectations onto you and at the end of the day- it is impossible to make everyone happy. Don’t be afraid to ditch tradition and do something that feels authentic to you and your love. 

These two certainly know how to throw a party. There was a cigar lounge. There was rum. There was a portrait photographer. And there was definitely music. “The live band played salsa music and the dance floor was always full with our families who love to dance!” says Dominique. “At midnight, iconic Mariachi artist, Lupita Infante, who is married to my cousin, gave a surprise performance and brought us to tears with her romantic songs.”

“The thing I am most proud of with our wedding is the vibe,” reflects Dominique. “People are still telling us how much fun they had dancing, eating churros, and getting their portraits taken. Many said it was the funnest and most unique wedding they had been to. I am so happy we let go of certain traditional elements to make room for a wedding that fully represented us and the spirit we are hoping to create for our future.”

Congrats, Dominique + Alexis! There was so much love in every single stitch of your special day. Wishing you both all the very best!