I recently started working with the West Country Wedding Planners based in Exeter and they asked me to write down my top five tips for their brides on buying a bespoke wedding dress. It was hard to narrow it down, but to me these are five ways to get the most out of the dress buying journey.
My top five tips for buying a bespoke wedding dress
1. Get inspired
Unlike walking into a shop and picking something out, with bespoke you have a real opportunity to be involved in the design of your dress. Get inspired by wedding magazines and Pinterest, start collecting images and see if there's a common theme - maybe they all have sleek skirts or use a lot of lace. Remember that inspiration can come from anywhere and you have the chance to be very personal - maybe you could include details from your mum's dress or from what you wore on your first date? Think about your favourite thing to wear and why you love it.
2. Consider what you want to be able to do in the dress
Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life - you do not want to be uncomfortable. If being able to run up the church steps, dance, or cycle away on a tandem is important to you, make sure you're picking a dress you can move in. This also applies to choosing your undergarments and shoes. It might be a good idea to skip the tightly laced corset and killer heels and opt for Spanx and shoes you can comfortably walk down the aisle in- remember that it's a wedding day and you're likely to spend more than 12 hours in your outfit.
3. Chose your designer carefully
It is important to find a designer who you like personally and whose style suits your vision for your wedding day. You will have quite a few appointments with this person, and spend a fair amount of time together in the run up to your special day. Look at their previous work online, and definitely meet them before committing. Once you've found someone you want to work with, trust them. It can be a challenging process waiting to see your dress finished, be patient and trust that you chose this person for a reason.
4. Leave plenty of time
Ask your designer what the turnaround for their dresses typically is. From most bridal boutiques the order time is about 6 months. With dressmakers it can be shorter, but too close to the wedding they may charge a rush fee. It's also not unusual to be charged a little extra if you lose or gain a lot of weight in the run up to the wedding; since the dress is being made specifically to fit you it can cause a lot of extra work. Remember to go to fittings in the underwear and heels you plan on wearing on the day, as they can also have an effect on your posture and body shape.
5. Take one kind, trustworthy friend
In your first meeting with a designer you should be getting a sense of what they do, what you want, and maybe trying on a few samples. It is likely that you will walk away with a pretty clear idea of what dress you will end up with. The temptation is therefore to bring along all your bridesmaids, sisters and mum. This will mean that rather than focusing on what you want for your day and from your dress, you are worried about their opinions and them getting bored. There are plenty of fittings which your bridesmaids can come to, and the final fit (where you pick up your dress) is the most fun one for them to attend. Leave them at home and bring only your kindest, most trustworthy friend.
