BEFORE & AFTER Michelle Duggar says how Jill Dillard’s wedding dress was altered for modesty
For her June 21 wedding to Derick Dillard, Jill Dillard (née Duggar) stunned in a beautiful dress from Ava Laurénne Bride — that still fit the Duggars’ modesty standards.
The day after the wedding, mom Michelle Duggar spoke with bridal gown expert Wendy Rivera about how the 23-year-old 19 Kids and Counting star found her dream dress.
“When we came to look for the dress, Jill had in her mind what she thought she wanted,” Michelle explained. “But you, knowing enough about brides, had her to try on a variety of things because you said, ‘When you come, you think you know what you want. But once you leave, you may leave with something totally different.’ And that’s what happened!”
Wendy said that Jill was very specific about wanting a vintage-inspired dress that didn’t have lace. It was only when they talked her into trying on an Allure Bridals gown with a lace appliqué that Jill changed her mind.
“She goes, ‘Oh, I like this lace! But this lace is different,'” Wendy joked of Jill’s reaction when she found her gown.
Michelle added she was especially pleased when the normally understated Jill went for a dress with “bling.” She said, “When she picked the dress that she picked, I was like ‘Yes! She got it!'”
Even once Jill said yes to the dress, the whole process wasn’t over: Michelle and Wendy explained Jill wanted it to be more modest before the big day. In a second video, Wendy revealed they employed Moni Reeise, a pastor’s wife in South Carolina, to make the necessary alterations.
“We created it with the lace from some veils and then Moni matched the fabric as well with some other lace and other fabric and created the top,” Wendy said of customizing Jill’s dress.
For comparison, here’s what the Allure Bridals dress normally looks like and how it was styled for Jill…
Michelle said all of the Duggar women were blown away by the finished project — and agreed to return for Jill’s sisters’ future dress searches.
“I said, ‘I cannot believe this is the same dress that she tried on that needed all of the alterations in places that she wanted to do,'” Michelle said, gesturing to a draw a higher neckline. “It was absolutely gorgeous.”
