Made To Measure Bridal Gowns
Written by Lisa Merton
Are you thinking
of having your wedding gown made to measure, but not really
sure about what’s involved? Can a couturier really create
your perfect gown exactly as you desire?
Lisa Merton from
Culture Shock Bridal and Eveningwear guides us through the
“Bridal Couture” process, and explains your options.
Why Choose Couture?
Choosing what you will wear on your wedding day has a huge
impact on the look and style of your whole wedding. Many girls
dream about their ideal gowns long before they have even met
their future partners, whilst others like to shop around and
try on lots of different styles to help them reach their decision.
Photos from bridal magazines and other peoples’ weddings
can be a great source of inspiration and can make your search
a lot easier, but sometimes no matter how hard you look, you
just cannot find the perfect dress for your big day. This
is when you need a couturier to create a dress that is designed
and made specifically for you!
The term “couture”
simply means “made to measure”, and a “couturier”
is a professional who can design, source the fabric, patternmake,
cut and sew a gown to your exact measurements, incorporating
all the requirements you need (budget, style, colour, fabrics,
trimmings, etc). Couturiers specialize in their own signature
style, and with a bit of research you can find one whose style
appeals to you. Most couturiers adapt and make up their own
designs for you, whilst others are happy to work to your design,
or a mutually satisfying mix of both. (Note- most couturiers
will not copy someone else’s work….if you simply
want to copy a picture, then what you need is a dressmaker,
not a couturier.)
Some of the many advantages
of working with a couturier are:
- Getting Exactly What You Want
every detail is approved by you, and if you want to change
a detail such as sleeves, neckline, etc, you can!
- Perfect fit
no matter what size and shape you are, your couture gown
should fit you perfectly
- High quality
in design, fabrics, trims, fitting, workmanship and most
importantly, personal service
- Individuality
a unique one off design that can truly be called your own
- Co-ordination
couturiers can design outfits for your entire bridal party,
from flowergirls and bridesmaids through to the mother of
the bride and groom
- Flexibility
throughout the making process, adjustments can be made to
improve the fit and look of the gown, and most couturiers
are also flexible with appointment times to suit your busy
lifestyle
The process of having your gown made to
measure by a couturier is time-consuming but well worth the
effort. The gown needs to be constructed over a period of
time with several key stages as I will explain below. Of course,
all couturiers have their own special ways of working, but
in general here is a step by step guide:
1. Timeframe
A couture wedding gown can take anywhere from 3 to 12 months
to make, depending on how busy the couturier is and how far
in advance they require a booking. Exclusive imported fabrics
can take months to order in, and delicate hand-work such as
beading and embroidery is very time-consuming. In general,
you should start looking around as soon as you can, and allow
at least 6 to 8 months wherever possible. Smaller couturiers
could make a wedding gown in 3 months, but larger businesses
will need more time to co-ordinate their orders.
2. Budget
Despite popular belief, it is not necessarily more expensive
to have a wedding gown made to measure. Compared to exclusive
designer labels and European imports, a couture gown is indeed
great value when you consider the quality of workmanship,
originality of design and the fact that you are getting exactly
what you want! A smaller sized couturier with lower overheads
has a lot to offer in terms of value for money and friendly
personal service. Depending on the quality, fabrics selected
and amount of work involved, most couture gowns will cost
anywhere between $2000 to $5000. The average price would be
somewhere around the $3000 mark, although it is possible to
get a simple yet stylish gown for under $2000. If you are
conscious of keeping the price down, try to reduce the amount
of hand-work such as beading or embroidery, and keep the style
simple. Using man-made fibres such as polyester rather than
silk can reduce the price slightly, but it doesn’t really
make that much difference … the bulk of the cost is
in the labour.
Continues
on page 2
Made To Measure Bridal Gowns
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For further information on Culture Shock
Bridal and Eveningwear please contact Lisa Merton.
This
article has been reproduced on Wedding Central Australia with
permission. © Lisa Merton 2003. All Rights Reserved.
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