Behind the Scenes: A Day of Wedding Preparation at Gabbinbar
Last weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to provide a Day of Service for Elizabeth’s wedding at the breathtaking Gabbinbar Homestead. It was a morning filled with excitement, final touches, and seamless solutions—everything a bride needs for a stress-free start to her big day.
Wedding Day Service for Elizabeth Horton. Captured by @incmillphotography
Arrival and Setup
I arrived at Gabbinbar at 12:05 PM, ready to jump into the preparations. By 12:15 PM, I was already steaming the bridesmaid dresses and wedding gown, ensuring every fabric looked flawless. The steaming process took about 1.5 hours in total, but had I focused exclusively on it, I could have completed everything in two hours, including setup and pack-down.
However, my role extended far beyond steaming—I was there to be the bride’s go-to problem solver, stepping in wherever needed to make the morning flow effortlessly.
Helping the Bride and Bridesmaids
One of the biggest stress relievers for Elizabeth was having me help her into her dress and lace up the corset. Brides often worry about whether their bridesmaids will know how to do it properly, but with me there, she didn’t have to think twice. In just 10 minutes, her dress was secure, comfortable, and perfectly adjusted.
Bustle Support: I made sure the bridesmaids had a YouTube tutorial link so they’d be fully prepared to bustle the dress later.
Last-Minute Alterations: Two bridesmaid dresses needed tacking to prevent gaping, another required fashion tape, and I safety-pinned a dress to a bra to keep it in place.
Emergency Fixes: One dress hem had fraying threads, so I quickly mended it to ensure it looked pristine.
Having me there meant Elizabeth could fully enjoy her morning, knowing that all these little details were taken care of—without any last-minute stress or distractions.
Wedding Day Service for Elizabeth Horton. Captured by @incmillphotography
Groomsmen Duties
After helping the bride and bridesmaids, I stepped over to check on the groomsmen’s preparations—because we all know that while the girls are usually well-organized, the guys sometimes need a little extra assistance!
Pocket Squares & Ties: I folded four pocket squares and re-tied three ties. One groomsman even asked me to redo his after attempting to tie it himself! The half-Windsor knot was the best fit for the group.
Final Touches: One of the groomsmen needed an extra belt hole, which I quickly added using my scalpel. Another was struggling with the humid weather, so I applied no-sweat spray to keep him feeling fresh. (If only I had arrived a few minutes earlier—I would have given all of them a quick spritz!)
When the bride realized I had taken care of the groomsmen too, she looked so relieved. She had expected that I’d only assist the bridal party, but knowing that her groom and his groomsmen were also fully sorted made her morning even easier.
Wedding Day Service for Elizabeth Horton. Captured by @incmillphotography
Exploring Gabbinbar
Amidst the busy morning, I took a few moments to appreciate the beauty of Gabbinbar.
I captured photos of the stunning cake, elegant floral arrangements, and the dreamy venue setup—perfect for sharing on social media and in future blog posts.
I took a short break on a swing overlooking the grounds, soaking in the atmosphere while the photographer was busy capturing dress shots.
Speaking of the photographer—I even helped her set up the wedding dress shot, climbing up a bookshelf with a ladder to get the perfect angle! That was a new experience for me, and it made for a fun behind-the-scenes moment.
During our conversation, she shared that her mother had been a seamstress who did this kind of wedding-day assistance, but she hadn’t seen or heard of it in years. She was so impressed by the service and said she’d be recommending it to future brides. That was a huge compliment and a reminder of how valuable this role truly is!
Wedding Day Service for Elizabeth Horton. Captured by @incmillphotography
The Value of a Seamstress on the Wedding Day
Brides spend months—sometimes years—planning every detail of their wedding, but those final few hours before the ceremony can be the most stressful.
Will the bridesmaids know how to tie the corset correctly?
What if a dress needs a quick fix or an emergency hem repair?
Who’s going to help the groomsmen with their ties and pocket squares?
Having a seamstress on the day eliminates these worries. With me there, Elizabeth didn’t have to delegate, explain, or stress about a single thing. She simply got to enjoy her morning, knowing that every detail was taken care of.
And because I could move freely between the bridal and groomsmen suites, I was able to handle both sides of the wedding party—something that isn’t always possible at every venue. Gabinbar was the perfect setting for this service since everything was just a few rooms away.
A Seamstress by Your Side: More to Come
Elizabeth’s wedding was a perfect example of how much a Seamstress Day of Service can elevate the wedding morning experience. Instead of last-minute stress, there was calm. Instead of problem-solving, there was confidence.
I’m beyond grateful to have been part of such a special day, and I’m even more excited for what’s next—a dedicated webpage and service packages will be launching soon!
If you’re a bride who wants a relaxed, stress-free wedding morning, knowing that an expert is on hand to handle every detail, this service is for you.
