How Far in Advance Should I Order my Bespoke Wedding Dress?

If you’re thinking about ordering a bespoke wedding dress with me, it’s a good idea to get a feel of the steps we’ll take and how long the process will be so you can be well prepared and avoid last-minute stress.

Here’s a timeline of the process, which is very thorough, and ensures you’re getting a perfectly fitting, gorgeous gown of your dreams.

Consultation

Our first consultation is completely free and can either be on Zoom or in person. We will have a half an hour chat to work out exactly what you want, which will involve some rough sketches based on what you’ve told me to give you a bit of a visual.

There are lots of different things we will take into account here, firstly we’ll see how you want to feel and look, pieces you’ve already seen, what you usually wear and body confidence issues. Then, to get a better feel of your personality, I’ll ask about any character quirks you might have, your tastes in music, art and TV, as well as shared interests with your fiance(e)- we’ll also go over your budget.

Then, if you like how the consultation has gone, you can request a design package for a charge which will come off the final bill when the order is placed. In this package I’ll flesh out the designs you liked and add some more detail, including some fabric swatches to give you a real feel and visual for your gown.

If you like everything and give me the go-ahead, a £1,000 booking fee is required. Now, your wedding date and work period is secured in my diary and we are all ready to turn the designs into a stunning, personalised dress.

9 Months Before the Wedding

Leaving ourselves ample time before the big day, we will get started on taking measurements so the dress is the perfect fit for you and your body.

This is a thorough process which I know can be a bit daunting for some people. However, there’s absolutely no judgement from me; every body is beautiful, whatever the size- I’m here to adorn it and make you feel confident and gorgeous on your wedding day.

Don’t worry about shaving your legs, or wearing matching underwear- you’ll be wearing a black snugly fitted vest and leggings. At later appointments I might take some basic measurements, but this is where I’ll be thorough.

From now I will have started showing you the most suitable fabrics and trims for your dress so we can decide what you like and get them ordered.  9 months is enough time for you to choose in an unhurried way and allows for delivery times.

8-7 months before the wedding

This is where we’ll do the toile fitting. It will be a mock up of your dress using cheap fabric, usually calico, so I can make sure I’m on the right track. This will be the first time you get to see your gown materialise.

It’s a great time for you to give me your honest thoughts and feelings as we can still edit the design, as well as monitor the fit, comfort and functionality. You’ll have to ask yourself the big questions- will it allow you to do the YMCA? Is the skirt big and extravagant enough to hide an entire marching band under? And of course, most importantly, do you feel confident and love how you look? 

2 Months Before the Wedding

By now all the materials will have arrived and we’ll do your final toile check. It’s a super exciting appointment as we will get a glimpse of how your dress is going to look on the day. We will check that the fit is perfect, you’re comfortable, and you love the way it looks- with your approval all the way along.

After this I’ll begin cutting the real fabric and bring the gown to life!

4 Weeks Before the Wedding

This is your final fitting. Bodies change and weight fluctuates, which is completely fine, so we do this as close to the day as possible to make sure it’s a perfect fit. The dress is nearly finished by this point, and after we check the fit I’ll close it all up and add the embellishments. It’s at this appointment where you will pay the outstanding balance, minus the booking and design fees.

2 Weeks Before the Wedding

The dress is complete! Come in, try it on one last time, sign it off and take it home. This is such a lovely part of the experience, where I can see you glow in the gown that was quite literally made for you. All that’s left to do is get married, have a fabulous day, and feel absolutely stunning.

Need a Bespoke Wedding Dress More Urgently?

I can actually make a wedding dress in a matter of weeks, however this greatly limits your choices and the resultant rush mentality may cause you lots of stress, which I work so hard to keep away from my lovely little atelier!

I want my service to be relaxed, memorable and enjoyable. This is slow-fashion!  

However, never say never and if you are shorter on time, but are still looking for a bespoke wedding dress, then it’s definitely still worth getting in touch – If I have capacity and what you require is easily obtained, then I can help!

Click here to contact me and we can have a discussion about what you’re looking for and your time frame.

Photo credits: Nicki Spendalow Photography ,  Sally Masson Photography

Venue: South Farm

If you’re thinking about ordering a bespoke wedding dress with me, it’s a good idea to get a feel of the steps we’ll take and how long the process will be so you can be well prepared and avoid last-minute stress.

Here’s a timeline of the process, which is very thorough, and ensures you’re getting a perfectly fitting, gorgeous gown of your dreams.

Consultation

Our first consultation is completely free and can either be on Zoom or in person. We will have a half an hour chat to work out exactly what you want, which will involve some rough sketches based on what you’ve told me to give you a bit of a visual.

There are lots of different things we will take into account here, firstly we’ll see how you want to feel and look, pieces you’ve already seen, what you usually wear and body confidence issues. Then, to get a better feel of your personality, I’ll ask about any character quirks you might have, your tastes in music, art and TV, as well as shared interests with your fiance(e)- we’ll also go over your budget.

Then, if you like how the consultation has gone, you can request a design package for a charge which will come off the final bill when the order is placed. In this package I’ll flesh out the designs you liked and add some more detail, including some fabric swatches to give you a real feel and visual for your gown.

If you like everything and give me the go-ahead, a £1,000 booking fee is required. Now, your wedding date and work period is secured in my diary and we are all ready to turn the designs into a stunning, personalised dress.

9 Months Before the Wedding

Leaving ourselves ample time before the big day, we will get started on taking measurements so the dress is the perfect fit for you and your body.

This is a thorough process which I know can be a bit daunting for some people. However, there’s absolutely no judgement from me; every body is beautiful, whatever the size- I’m here to adorn it and make you feel confident and gorgeous on your wedding day.

Don’t worry about shaving your legs, or wearing matching underwear- you’ll be wearing a black snugly fitted vest and leggings. At later appointments I might take some basic measurements, but this is where I’ll be thorough.

From now I will have started showing you the most suitable fabrics and trims for your dress so we can decide what you like and get them ordered.  9 months is enough time for you to choose in an unhurried way and allows for delivery times.

8-7 months before the wedding

This is where we’ll do the toile fitting. It will be a mock up of your dress using cheap fabric, usually calico, so I can make sure I’m on the right track. This will be the first time you get to see your gown materialise.

It’s a great time for you to give me your honest thoughts and feelings as we can still edit the design, as well as monitor the fit, comfort and functionality. You’ll have to ask yourself the big questions- will it allow you to do the YMCA? Is the skirt big and extravagant enough to hide an entire marching band under? And of course, most importantly, do you feel confident and love how you look? 

2 Months Before the Wedding

By now all the materials will have arrived and we’ll do your final toile check. It’s a super exciting appointment as we will get a glimpse of how your dress is going to look on the day. We will check that the fit is perfect, you’re comfortable, and you love the way it looks- with your approval all the way along.

After this I’ll begin cutting the real fabric and bring the gown to life!

4 Weeks Before the Wedding

This is your final fitting. Bodies change and weight fluctuates, which is completely fine, so we do this as close to the day as possible to make sure it’s a perfect fit. The dress is nearly finished by this point, and after we check the fit I’ll close it all up and add the embellishments. It’s at this appointment where you will pay the outstanding balance, minus the booking and design fees.

2 Weeks Before the Wedding

The dress is complete! Come in, try it on one last time, sign it off and take it home. This is such a lovely part of the experience, where I can see you glow in the gown that was quite literally made for you. All that’s left to do is get married, have a fabulous day, and feel absolutely stunning.

Need a Bespoke Wedding Dress More Urgently?

I can actually make a wedding dress in a matter of weeks, however this greatly limits your choices and the resultant rush mentality may cause you lots of stress, which I work so hard to keep away from my lovely little atelier!

I want my service to be relaxed, memorable and enjoyable. This is slow-fashion!  

However, never say never and if you are shorter on time, but are still looking for a bespoke wedding dress, then it’s definitely still worth getting in touch – If I have capacity and what you require is easily obtained, then I can help!

Click here to contact me and we can have a discussion about what you’re looking for and your time frame.

Photo credits: Nicki Spendalow Photography ,  Sally Masson Photography

Venue: South Farm