Rare Dirndl Brides - Custom Made Bridal Dirndls

Working with brides is truly one of my favorites things about my job! I have created a lot of unique bridal dirndls over the years and each one was such a pleasure to design and make. While some brides chose to wear their dirndl for their German-themed rehearsal dinner, others wore theirs for the wedding ceremony and others just for the reception. Every bride was different and their wedding matched their personal style. Here is a look at some of our brides and what they had to say about their wedding.

Elle & Brad

I could not have asked for a better wedding—I have never felt so surrounded by supportive and loving people before and everyone who was a part of this day helped make it what it was. It was a day that truly made me realize who my family was, chosen or not. :)

Brianne & Dan

Being a member of Gemutlichen Enzianer for almost 20 years and also a member of the United German Hungarian for almost two years my German heritage has always been a big part of my life. I have met many great friends and even my husband through this amazing community. Growing up every girl dreams of the perfect dress that they want to wear on their wedding day, for me that wasn't the case. For me it was having the perfect dirndl to wear as I dance with my clubs to a traditional German folk dance at the reception and surprise everyone, including my husband as we lined up on the dance floor to dance for with a beautiful dirndl.

Courtney & her husband

Our rehearsal was a nod to the groom’s hometown of Lissendorf, Germany. Our guests were asked to wear German inspired attire, and most happily complied. We danced the night away with a German band, and enjoyed both German and Chicago inspired treats.

Amanda & her husband

Amanda and her Mom

Everything went amazing that day. I had my favorite band (Die Schlauberger) to play; something I've always dreamt about! I was super excited to wear the amazing Rare Dirndl that people kept asking me about, as I kept it a surprise for the party at the end of the night. I wore it at the reception, the after party and the next night at the Mountain Brauhaus. Of course as Germans, we had to keep the party going for an entire weekend! Everyone loved it! Not only did I have my dirndl, but many people came with leiderhosen to change into as well. The funny thing was hearing people that are not used to German music or tradition, excited about DSB and our "outfit changes". Everything went off without a flaw. What an amazing time it was!

Naomi & Doug

We brought a little bit of Bavaria to the West Virginia Hills with our wedding. Our Oktoberfest style wedding featured many traditions from the Polterabend, apparel, log sawing, lebkuchen herzen, polka dancing, cuisine, and the pranking of the newlywed bedroom. The night was capped with fireworks and campfire.

Anne & her husband

We truly had the perfect day!! Our ceremony was short and sweet with the sweetest words shared in our vows to each other. Steve and I danced the night away with our family and friends. die Schlauberger played all the best songs in true Oktoberfest style. We also shared lots of beer and enjoyed a tasty roasted pig dinner! It was a blast. We all felt gorgeous and stunning in our Rare Dirndls...thank you again for helping to make our day so special!

Katie & Mike

When we were planning our wedding, my now-husband and I decided our biggest priority was for everyone to have a great time. And what better way to do that than have an Oktoberfest rehearsal dinner (never mind that it was late August)! Our family and friends had a great time, whether it was their first introduction to dirndl and lederhosen or my Donauschwaben family rocking their traditional tracht.

Monica & Claytone

We decided to have a German themed wedding rehearsal in honor of my German heritage! Everyone raved about my gorgeous dirndl! They especially loved how the colors of our wedding, sage and plum, were incorporated into the dirndl truly em-boding a one of kind masterpiece! The dirndl really made our dress rehearsal memorable.

Jen & her busband

My bridal dirndl was everything I dreamed it would be! Our fairytale wedding day was simply unforgettable

Ingrid & Dan

The wedding was so much fun! My parents went above and beyond to supply the German traditions. My mom bought us a wedding cup in Munich last year, and we drank out of it. My dad made us a frame and supplied a log and saw for the Baumstammsagen. Plus the cake we cut was the Black Forest Torte. Looking at the pictures yesterday, I remembered how much I felt like a princess in my dress. It was the most special day, and thank you so much for making it happen!

Mallory & Bryan

Our wedding was awesome! Everything came together perfectly. We came up with the Oktoberfest wedding idea over a maß at the Old German Beer Hall in Milwaukee with the best man. We didn't know how it would come together but we figured between our friends and family we would have fun regardless. Once Erika designed my dress everything else fell into place. I could envision the colors and theme and couldn't be more excited. Our guests had a great time. The food was delicious. The band was the best. But, most importantly my dirndl stole the show. I had so many compliments. I can't wait to wear it every anniversary to an Oktoberfest! It was about 90 degrees and we got married outside in a beer garden. We regretted doing the traditional log cutting ceremony after a few minutes of sawing. (it's way harder than it looks!) But, in the end it was the best day of my life. I would do it again next weekend if I could. :)

Janet & Daniel

As my husband Daniel and I were talking about what to wear for the wedding, neither one of us was excited about "traditional" American attire. It seemed natural to us to dress in traditional ethnic clothes, Russian for him, his son, our best man and my matron of honor, and German for me! We are both choir directors for our Russian Orthodox churches, so our ceremony was sung by about 25 of our choir friends, in English and Slavonic. Our best man and matron of honor are also choir directors, so naturally we have a picture of all of us singing along during the ceremony. The reception was also a nice mix of German and Russian tradition with plenty of sausages, hot German potato salad (made by my Mom), pierogies, and all kinds of other European treats. Our band played plenty of polkas and traditional German and Russian music along with American favorites. Working with Erika was so fun and easy, and even though I didn't know exactly what I wanted, she was able to create the dress of my dreams! I'm even more excited to have a wedding dress that I will be able to wear again! I can't wait to get my next Rare Dirndl.

Jennie & her husband

The wedding was beautiful! The dress could not have been more perfect! My mother wore her dirndl she bought in Germany. (She was born and raised in southern Germany.)

Olivia & her husband

For me, getting married meant moving countries and embracing my husband's culture. My gorgeous wedding rehearsal dirndl helped me show off my own heritage that I'm so proud of. Wearing the dirndl made by Erika and my sister Samantha made the perfect outfit for an amazing celebration!

Steffi & her husband

Everyone LOVED my dirndl..... they thought it was the most unique dress choice ever ;)

Elaine & Mark

It was an amazing fairytale wedding - we had a wonderful time. Everyone loved my dirndl and marks vest - awesome job.

Connie & Kevin

When my mom and I went to Germany, our favorite thing to do was to sit in the town square and watch all the ladies walk by in their drindls. We both agreed then that when I got married, we would fly back to Germany to have mother and daughter drindls made. Unfortunately, when I got engaged, my mom had recently passed away. It was important to me to honor our agreement and find a drindl for my wedding dress. My one-of-a-kind wedding dirndl was exactly what my mom and I had in mind so long ago. The best part about my dress is that my mom and I had the idea for it, and Erika made it a reality.

—Connie Gartner Williams Bay, WI

Mary-Claire & Jeremie

I had specific color tones in mind for my bridal dirndl as I wanted it to match a 100 plus year-old family heirloom, a Schiffli lace veil made from my great-grandmother’s wedding dress. I desired subdued elegance; no tulle, beads, and sequins for me. Erika understood my vision; we agreed on a champagne and pale gold dress with a sheer lace apron. I really can’t thank her enough and the pictures say it all.

—Mary-Claire Glasenhardt Chicago, IL

Christina & Chris

The wedding was epic. My dirndl was absolutely beautiful at the Oktoberfest Welcome Dinner we held the night before. It was a total hit!

—Kristina Haas Oakland CA

Rachel & Brandon

I had such a difficult time finding a dress. It needed to be beautiful enough to be my wedding dress but fun and in the spirit of Kiskerfest and Erika was the perfect person to go to. When I found Rare Dirndl I was so excited and from our first phone call to excitedly opening the dress for the first time I knew it was the perfect match!

Kiskerfest was about sharing our love and some of our favorite things with the people we care most about and starting off our marriage with a lot of happiness. From the food to the music and our special Lederhosen and Dirndl everything was perfect.

—Rachel Kisker Stockton, CA

Daniel & Terra

Photo credit Mary Mason Photography

Our wedding was fabulous. The dress worked perfectly. We also had the only significant snow storm hit the day before so we had great pictures. But we were snowed in and I couldn’t leave to get my hair and makeup done, but it turned out perfect.

Photo credit Mary Mason Photography

Kristel & Hansi

The custom bridesmaid dirndl from Rare Dirndl is truly a bridesmaid dress I will wear again! I loved the apron, it was gorgeous and really made the piece unique. I also loved the blouslette that was paired with it and am so happy to be able to wear it with all my other dirndls as well. It is perfect for summer events as it’ll be great to stay cool and not get dirndl blouse tan lines!

—Ashley Harker Waukesha, WI

Anita & Ryan

Photo credit https://mannandwifephotography.com/

When we first got engaged I proposed an Oktoberfest themed wedding and Ryan loved the idea! October 13 was the day that my dirndl wearing changed forever. No dirndl will ever be able to compete with my bridal dirndl. Beautiful is an understatement for how I felt that day, and I owe it all to Erika. She made my dirndl dreams come true more than she could ever imagine. I felt gorgeous the entire day and Ryan even cried when I came down the aisle (shh...).

Photo credit https://mannandwifephotography.com/

Gabi & Zach

Photo credit https://andrewmorrell.com/

Our wedding day was better than I could have imagined or hoped for. It truly embodied Gemütlichkeit, just like we wanted. In addition to the wedding party dressing in Bavarian style, we also invited all of our guests to as well--and we had a great turnout, about 90% of guests dressed up! We incorporated a number of German wedding traditions: the log cutting, the "wedding newspaper" (as placemats), the decor, the food, group renditions of Ein Prosit, and of course the steins and lots of beer. I couldn't have been happier with the wedding, and of course with my dress! Erika did a fantastic job with it!

Photo credit https://andrewmorrell.com/

Leslie & her husband

Photo credit https://www.romangrinev.com/

Everything turned out great and the girls and I got tons of compliments on the beautiful dresses and vest you made. THANK YOU!! Our Oktoberfest reception was tons of fun.

Photo credit https://www.romangrinev.com/

Monika & Mark

I knew I wanted to show my heritage and love for dirndls, for my wedding, just wasn’t sure exactly how because I didn't want to wear a dirndl as my wedding dress. I’m so happy I went with an elegant yet wearable bridal dirndl for my shower! Plus now I can to wear it time and time again. I get endless compliments anytime I wear it.

Nancy & Len

Photo credit https://www.shootforthestarsphotographyandstudios.com/

Words can not describe the joy I have and the honour it was to wear a dress made from such a passionate woman as yourself. You are amazing to work with and I had zero flaws with the outcome. I have attached some of the teaser photos I have received so far for your enjoyment. Going from Miss to Mrs surely does change lives perspectives. My husband cried when he first saw me walk down the aisle and later said the dress complimented me and my personality perfectly. I had nothing but endless compliments about it and I made sure everyone knew who made my dress and where they could find something for them.