There’s no garment more meaningful than what you wear to say “I do,” so it’s no surprise that many to-be-weds choose to have a custom wedding dress or suit created for the big day. A bespoke look not only guarantees your wedding attire will be truly unique and created specifically to your measurements and style, but also allows you to have an original, wearable piece of art that captures the ethos and memories of this major life event. Creating a custom look allows you to collaborate with a talented designer and experience an exciting creative process as part of the lead-up to the wedding day.
If you think you want to go custom, know that there are some investments of time, money, and creative thinking in store. Read ahead to get all the details to learn how to create your own bespoke wedding look.
What to Know About Creating a Bespoke Wedding Look
The first step in your bespoke process is finding a trusted designer to work with. It’s best to find a brand that aligns with both your style and wedding day vision. While some ready-to-wear designers might be up to the challenge of creating an embellished ball gown, not all have that experience in their background or a desire to create pieces within a certain aesthetic. Not only do you want to collaborate with a designer that you trust and respect, but they, in turn, will want to work with a client who has design ideas that fit within their creative scope. “We collaborate with clients who seek to create within the language of our aesthetic,” notes bridal designer Danielle Frankel.
“It always begins with a conversation,” shares Patricia Voto of the bespoke process with her brand One/Of. “We sit down in the atelier and discuss everything from the atmosphere of the wedding to what she wants to feel—not just look—on the day. From there, we move into sketches, fabric trials, and fittings. It’s not formulaic. We let the garment evolve.” While some designers like Voto produce everything in-house, others will send their sketches and your measurements off to their factories and ateliers to construct the style according to your agreed upon design. Fittings may involve trying on a muslin, draping material on your body, and fine-tuning the silhouette to your exact measurements. It’s helpful to find a designer whose atelier is close to you or that you are willing to travel to since you’ll need to be there in person to craft the garment over multiple fittings.
While you might be interested in creating a fully original dress that aligns with a brand’s ethos, it’s also possible to take a bridal designer’s existing style and make some original edits to the look. “While customizations differ from a fully bespoke gown, many of our clients seek thoughtful personal touches,” shares Frankel. “We welcome these conversations, whether it’s hand-painted details on a minimalist silhouette or an extended train to suit a specific venue. Our aim is to realize the bride’s vision while ensuring every enhancement remains true to the codes and craftsmanship of the house.”
How Much Does a Bespoke Dress Cost?
Since creating a custom wedding dress is a far more time-intensive process for a brand, there is understandably going to be a larger price tag than purchasing a gown at a bridal salon that they have already created before at their ateliers. Depending on the designer you work with, you can expect to pay anywhere from $2,000 to $100,000 more than one of their regular gowns in their collections. Voto shares that her designs begin at $12,000 for a bespoke look and $25,000 for a ceremony gown.
How Long Does the Custom Process Take?
If you are purchasing a dress from a bridal salon, it’s best to leave at least eight months to allow for delivery and time for alterations. Working on a custom gown has some differences. While you do have to factor in time for ideation, the look will likely be crafted exactly to your measurements, which reduces the time usually needed to alter a made-to-order gown. “Six to eight months is ideal,” says Voto. “It allows for a rhythm that feels generous—time to source rare materials, to perfect the silhouette, and to allow for fittings that don’t feel rushed. That said, we have created extraordinary pieces in far shorter windows—when the stars align, and decisions are made with clarity.” However, be sure to research and do outreach further in advance, if possible, to see if a designer can even fit adding a custom look into their schedule.
