4 Steps to Choosing Designs for Custom Made Wedding Dresses

Deciding on commissioning custom made wedding dresses should, in principle, be easy. After all, there won’t be any need to look through hundreds of dresses in countless stores to find the perfect one – this is for you and only you, so you can have exactly what you want.

But while custom made wedding dresses are done to a woman's measurements and specifications, but unless they’re super-human, many brides find that in this particular process, one decision can lead to another, to another, to another...

To make the process just that little bit easier, however, here are four simple tips to follow.

1. Look at your favourite clothes.

If you’re stumped on where to begin when deciding on a particular style and design that will suit you, you don’t need to go far. Your wardrobe is a great place to start. Take a look inside and pick out your favourite items of clothing. Which styles, cuts and fabrics flatter you most? Which ones are the most comfortable while making you feel like you’re at your best? See what details these pieces of clothing have in common - chances are there is a common denominator that makes them so flattering. It could be a cut, a particular skirt or top length, a dropped or high waist, a specific sleeve style or any other feature that you know suits you. Note down these features when you start planning custom made wedding dresses and incorporate the ideas on your wish list.

2. Do the inspiration board ‘rip and pin’.

Chances are, you’re already going through different magazines for wedding theme inspiration to decide colours, settings, moods and more. Take it a step further and do a separate inspiration board that will inform the choices in the design process of your bridal gown. The pictures you choose don’t even need to be bridal gowns: accessories, design details, almost anything that appeals to you can end up here. If certain themes pop up among the pictures you are drawn to, take note of them to discuss with your designer.

3. Narrow down the concept.

Here’s the hard part. Try to pick out the one theme you like best and that really "speaks" to you. If that’s too hard, try to narrow it down to three. The key is to remember you can't put every idea you love into the design of custom made wedding dresses. If you’re still having trouble selecting just a few, get some help. Ask the people whose fashion sense you trust to help you choose design elements that are absolutely essential.

4. Talk to your designer/dressmaker.

The best person to talk to when pinning down the final look for your bridal gown is the person who will end up making it! Once you’ve figured out which designer/dressmaker to go with, trust their expertise and allow them to guide you towards the perfect dress. Remember, they've been doing this a lot longer than you! Make sure you’re both on the same page before the first patterns are made and the fabrics are cut, however.

Deciding on the design of your gown early will help you with the myriad other decisions you’ll have to make for your big day. Get this right, and everything else will be so much easier!

Looking for couture wedding gowns? Tatiana Porembova is one of the leading designers of custom made wedding dresses in London and her work spans a range of styles and influences. Based in Richmond, she creates beautiful couture wedding dresses and bridesmaids outfits to provide the perfect garments for the perfect day.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.