1.Have an idea of the sort of style you'd like.

The reason you’re considering a custom-made bridal gown is often down to one of two reasons. Perhaps you’re looking for a completely unique design - a dress that is a true one-off. Or perhaps like so many of my clients, you’re struggling to find something that enhances your body shape in the most flattering way, giving you the confidence and comfort you deserve on your big day.

That said, it doesn’t hurt to try on a few off-the-peg dresses in advance. Getting an idea of the sort of style you’d like before coming to me will really help narrow our focus and make sure we get off to a flying start when creating the bespoke wedding dress of your dreams!

2.Choose your silhouette

This kind of goes hand-in-hand with the first point, but selecting your silhouette before coming to me; or at least narrowing the options down to two or three can really help us get cracking faster. “The silhouette?” I hear you ask. Well basically that’s the shape of the dress. You’ve probably got an idea of how you want your dress to look – fitted, floaty, full-length, ‘midi’; but understanding how that translates in terms of a silhouette is really helpful information to share with your dress designer. To start you off, this recent breakdown by Wedding Wire helpfully explains the silhouettes behind five of the most popular wedding dress styles. But of course, we like to treat everyone individually and if your dream dress doesn’t fit a particular mould, don’t worry, we can work with your ideas!

3.Consider the wedding venue

You may feel that choosing your venue and choosing your dress exist as two very separate boxes to tick when planning your big day, but the venue can have quite a bearing on your dress choice. The chances are that both are going to fit with your broader style and personality, but it’s definitely worth imagining your dream dress in your chosen venue. For example, if you’re having you wedding in London’s Petersham Nursery (as mentioned in my last post) then perhaps a more bohemian-chic, or simple modern dress would suit it well, as opposed to something that is possibly more traditional and classic.

4.Fabrics and features

Silk, satin, lace? Where do you start? You may have a rough idea of how you want your dress to look, but deciding what it should actually be made of can be a daunting prospect. It’s fair to say that settling on a certain style or silhouette will often narrow the fabric selection down a bit. This is because how that silhouette falls will be very much down to the fabric used. That said, if you have your heart set on a certain fabric, by all means tell us! There’s every chance it can be incorporated somewhere in your bespoke design. Also think about how you might want to combine certain fabrics and consider how that might intertwine with the neckline or sleeves you’re envisaging.

5.Don’t forget the finishing touches!

Finally, it’s really great if brides can give some thought to any little finishing touches they may want to incorporate. Your ensemble for that unforgettable day goes far beyond just the custom bridal gown. Offer some consideration to certain trims that might compliment your ideal dress. Think about whether pearls or a family piece of jewellery might enhance the look, don’t forget what shoes you might want to match with your dream gown and whether you want to include any headwear. All of these little details can really help take your beautiful custom wedding dress to the next level. It really is all about that finishing touch!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m delighted to help any bride in their thought process, whatever stage you’re at, but coming armed with some ideas around these topics can really help us hit the ground running and get off to a great head start on creating your dream custom wedding dress. Get in touch if you’d like to discuss any of these points in more detail!