Buying a dress "off the rack" is simply not an option for some brides and the reasons are varied. In most instances, these brides:
• prefer a more custom fit because of their body type and/or height;
• want to maintain creative control over their style and fabric selection;
• are familiar with a certain seamstress or a designer and feel the person is capable of executing the attire;
• want to duplicate a ready-made gown.
If you are getting your dress custom-made, allow at least six months in advance of your wedding for this. Also remember that you will need to factor in extra time for fittings and adjustments.
Contrary to popular opinion, custom-made gowns are not always cheaper than their "off the rack" counterparts. This is often because of fabric costs, coupled with the costs incurred by the seamstress/designer to sew attire to your specifications versus a mass-produced gown.
Once you decide to go the route of having your attire custom-made, it is also important to distinguish between a seamstress and a designer. Designers, of course, design and fabricate a gown especially for you. Seamstresses will usually sew exactly what you ask them to do, although some do designing as well. Be aware that seamstresses that work exclusively by store-bought patterns may not know how to alter gowns to give you the style elements that you may want-for example a bustle skirt or unusual back.
Generally, these are the steps to getting your gown designed:
• Meet with your designer and bear in mind the direction you want for the style of your gown, for example, do you want your gown to be dramatic? Full? Fitted and body conscious? Feature a skirt with lot of movement? Or, should it be feminine or on the other end of the spectrum-more structured?
• After having discussions about your preferences and examining your body type; the designer will usually present attire concepts in the form of sketches and inspirational photos. He/She should also have fabric samples for you to choose from.
• After this, you can choose the silhouette, embellishments and decide on the type(s) of fabric that you would like incorporated. Then, via collaboration, you and the designer will determine a final choice.
• Measurements of the bride-to-be are then taken by the designer, over the actual undergarments that will be worn on the day.
• Most designers will do a "muslin fitting," to ensure proper fit. Muslin is a cotton woven fabric from which the designer makes a shell that moulds to the body of the bride. This shell enables the designer to easily drape onto it or create desired elements from the final garment.
• The designer then takes the muslin pattern and crafts it into the bride's chosen fabric. Usually, adjustments are done at this point since the muslin does not have the same characteristics as the final fabric (for example, silk, organza, satin etc.,).
• Additional fittings to ensure a perfect fit may also be required, depending on the complexity of the gown.