Me thinks you are in over your head,unless you are a very experienced seamstress.
I would get some muslin,or broadcloth,find a design and pattern that you and she likes and PRACTICE,PRACTICE PRACTICE,and then Practice some more.Do you know how your new machine works,i mean,do you have any experience embroidering on it,or is this all new to you??
You're braver than i am,that's for sure,i wouldn't attempt a wedding dress,embroidery and all that with a brand new machine,and all that it entails,and i sew a lot and have made many wedding and prom dresses.
JMO
Kathi

Thanks Kathi for your advice, I am an experience sewer however I am not making the dress. I am an IT coordinator so am experienced with computers and know my way around software and a sewing machine. I'm the sort of person who spends hours researching something before taking the plunge and I'm very good at copying something I like.I do like your advice in using broadcloth and practice, practice, practice.But now I'm not feeling very brave maybe I'll just keep it fairly simple. Have you seen any good patterns?
Thanks
Gaylene

What's an IT coordinator??
No i havn't seen any patterns for what you're looking for,but then again i havn't sewn any bridal/prom stuff for a couple years now.Doing mostly baby stuff,and quilts these days.
Since you know your way around computors,wish you lived by me.I'm computor illiterate,i learn as i go,most of the time by trial and error.
I've spent the last 2 night trying to figure out how to post pictures to photobucket/webshots or something so i could share with all you my sewing,gardens and all that i do.Do you suppose i can figure this thing out??? NO !!!

To make matters worse i'm a visual person,so i can read something a thousand times(not quite) and it still won't click for me.
So tell me is there any hope for someone like me and the computor??? LOL
Kathi

Practice first on a fabric with a similar weight, and with the stabilizers you intend to use.

Then mark out the bodice pattern on the fashion fabric - do NOT cut it out. Plan out your design and mark where each individual embroidery will go. Try to stay out of the seam lines.

Embroider, then cut out the bodice - or leave that to the seamstress. Do coordinate your embroidery with her sewing, so you can come up with the best results. You do NOT want a large flower or heart motif sitting directly on a breast, like a great big target, for example!

As for lace motifs to embroider - do a web search on "K-Lace", which is Criswell Designs. This company has lots of lace motifs as well as lace edging designs.

Here is a link that might be useful: K-Lace

You don't mention what style dress she wants, or what the fabric is.

But you have to do the embroidery before the bodice is cut out or it turns out too small.

I agree Criswell does have some lovely heirloom designs. Also I have a special foot for my machine that is for attaching bead/pearls, so once you practice-practice practice (!) the hardest part would actually be choosing the design.

Pat

Gaylene I have been playing with my machine and the art of lace making, lots of fun, I am wondering if you would think about doing the lace on your machine and then sewing it onto the dress, you know any design that you choose can look like lace by doing it all in white, I am experimenting with white tulle, sandwiched between 2 sheets of sulky soluble stabilizer, kind of fun, I think I would do any project this way, when it comes to lacey stuff, here is a link to Zundt Designs the are so classy. rene

Here is a link that might be useful: Zundt