Your Custom Wedding Dress - A Guide for the Clueless

Every would-be bride dreams of having a custom wedding dress—a gown as unique, beautiful, and special as they are. Even for women who have been planning their big day since childhood, the actual process of getting a bespoke bridal gown made can be an overwhelming task. Fortunately, specialised bridal wear designers are dedicated to creating the perfect gown for every bride, and making sure they look their best. Below, we dissect the process of having a custom wedding dress made and what you can expect at each step - although do keep in mind that every designer differs.

Before Your Initial Appointment

When it comes to a custom wedding dress, the earlier you get started, the better. Depending on how complicated and intricate you want your gown to be, you should book your first appointment from a year to nine months before your big day. Remember, this is just your initial appointment and many decisions will need to be made between this and the final fitting. Here are some preliminary questions you should ask before the appointment:

• How long will the session be?• Should I bring with me? Who?• What should I wear?

Prior to the appointment, you should make a list of questions to ask about the process itself, such as fees and the services they include (e.g., adjustments fee, fees for additional fittings, etc.), as well as a tentative schedule for the process. If you already have some photos or sketches of the kind of dress you want, be sure to bring them along.

Your First Appointment

During your first appointment, you should be able to ask your designer all your pertinent questions about your custom wedding dress. Be sure to get clear answers with regards to costs/expenses and included services, including how many sessions and fittings there will be (ideally, you should have at least three fittings, more if possible). If you have no idea of what style suits your body type, try on some of the dresses in the shop to see what works or ‘speaks’ to you. Based on your ideas, your body type (one of the first things your designer will do is get your measurements) and skin tone (as well as the colour scheme and theme of your wedding), your designer should be able to present some initial sketches.

Second Appointment

Prior to your second appointment, your designer should have sent over a selection of fabric samples for you to consider. Once you have both agreed on the preferred fabric and the best shades for your skin tone, they will most likely do a ‘draping’ in order to figure out how to best construct the gown. This should give you a better idea of how your finished dress will look.

First Fitting

Here, your designer will turn a very critical eye on your custom wedding dress, looking for imperfections, details that can be improved or added to, and alterations. If you have already chosen your accessories, bring them to the fitting to see how they work with the dress.

Final Fitting

Ideally, your final fitting should be done a few days (at the most) before your wedding day, and there should be at least one more fitting in between your first and final fitting. At your final fitting, your gown should be almost finished, with only minimal alterations needed.

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

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.