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Bespoke Wedding Gowns
Bespoke Wedding Gowns
I frequently get asked what to avoid when looking at wedding dresses, here are my top 5 pro tips-
Don’t rush your decision, whatever you do, don’t go wedding dress shopping and decide on the day. Sleep on it. I never pressure a potential bride to make her mind up on the spot. I think it’s really important that you take it all in, go home and get some perspective. If you’ve been to 5 bridal shops in one day it’s very likely your head is spinning and you don’t even know what kind of wedding dress you want anymore. Trust me, it’ll be worth the couple of bucks you may have saved if you ‘booked on the day’. I’m sure the bridal shop would still offer you a good price if they really wanted your business.
When I quote on a gown, I include all fabrics, fittings and initial alterations. We even provide a timeline if you are trying to lose weight to avoid excessive alterations. It is really important that when you find the perfect wedding dress you ask what it’s going to take to make it fit you perfectly. If you are buying off the rack, it’s likely that you’ll need to have it taken in and the hem taken up. Be aware, this can add $500+ to your wedding gown and push your budget over the edge. The worst part is when you hear the gown only arrives 1 – 2 months before your wedding, this leaves very little time for error.
Ahhhh, one of my favourite things. I was brought up from a young age to appreciate fine natural fabrics – wool, linen, cotton and silk. We use silk as a base to all of our made-to-measure wedding dresses. It is more expensive but if you are going to have a dress made to fit you, why not indulge in a bit of luxury? Silk is a natural fibre, it allows your body to breathe and is light to wear. It is important to ask what you are investing in when you find the perfect wedding dress. Ask what is the gown made from? This will give you a good idea of whether or not you are getting a good quality product.
Georgette, Satin, Chiffon, Taffeta, Dupion and Organza are all types of fabric. These mediums come in a synthetic fabric called Polyester or a natural fibre called Silk. Polyester is a dirty word in couture.
There are a number of eco brides who are aiming to lead a sustainable lifestyle and their ethics don’t support poor working conditions. Please bear in mind that some bridal stores purchase your wedding dress for $50 to $200 and then sell it to you for $2,000 to $4,000. They are able to do this because they are manufacturing overseas, the quality of the garments and working conditions of the workshops can’t be guaranteed. It is worth enquiring as to where they purchase their gowns and who designs/makes them. There is half a chance that if you purchase a Chinese made gown with a hefty price tag, you can buy a rip-off version for a fraction of the cost. Now, there is no originality in that, is there?
Most women know what suits them, if you take a look at your wardrobe – what do you wear? Apply this to wedding dress shopping. It’s important to keep both your body shape and style in mind when buying your wedding gown. It’s a good idea to try on a variety of styles to find the right design for you. Once again, take your time, you’ll figure out pretty quickly what works and what doesn’t.
Jaymie in a Elvi Design made-to-measure gown. Image by Still Love.