What to expect when you book a consultation

Bespoke wedding dress consult

When a new client is ready to book a consultation I usually allow an hour and a half in my schedule for your visit. It doesn’t often take the whole 90 minutes, but this allows for a relaxed session. Most people come to my studio in Dorking, Surrey, but if an online session is more convenient that is possible as well.

The main areas we will talk about include design ideas, fabrics, timescales, fittings and then costs and payments. There is plenty of time to cover all aspects of the process in detail and to answer any specific or more unusual questions you might have about the making of you bespoke wedding dress. I usually create quick sketches to illustrate the ideas we talk about as we talk, and then send a proper drawing of your dress design with your quote letter after the consultation.

Photo: iris visuals

Ideas and Inspiration

Brides often book a consultation at different stages in their ‘imagining my dress process’. If you arrive with a very clear picture of what you would like made the early part of the consult can be very quick. But many brides do not have their design ready for me in this way and so the first part of your time with me if often lots of questions and suggestions to narrow down what your ideal dress would be. Do not worry if you don’t have the technical language for design details, or feel unable to draw anything – it is not expected at all. That is all my job! That said, if you do bring me a fully realised sketch I am happy to work with that too!

Many brides spend a lot of time looking at inspiration before they book a consultation with me. This might be collating ideas on Pinterest or from magazines. All of this is useful for our session. It’s often just as helpful to have a clear idea of what you don’t want, even if exactly what you do want seems out of reach. I am an expert in guiding those who feel out of the their depth towards more solid design ideas.

More than one idea

Sometimes the difficulty is choosing between two very different looks, that both seem appealing. Often I can suggest ways to bring together ideas into one design. Small differences like sleeve length or an alternative neckline shape often don’t affect the cost anyway so can be decided later in the making process anyway. But where your ideas really are two different dresses I usually quote for just one design to begin with. If you then decide I am the right dressmaker for you, but you do want another quote for the other dress look we can go over that in detail after confirming to go ahead.

Here Lauren is trying on her toile (practice run) with two different necklines so she can choose which she likes better. She choose the strapless option for her wedding dress, which you can see here.

Fabrics and materials

I have fabric sample books at my studio that we can look through during your booked consultation. I have samples of all types of bridal fabrics, silk, lace, crepe, satin and chiffons etc. Many fabrics also come in beautiful colours for bridesmaids, mother of the bride/groom or for more adventurous brides. If you are looking for specific patterns or prints my sample books will be less useful but I am happy to recommend where to looking. There are still some big fabric shops and districts in London, Brighton and other cities. Or online retailers too. It can be very helpful if you have handled physical fabrics in my studio, small samples or larger pieces off the roll if you shopping elsewhere.

Bennett silks is one of my favourite suppliers. Photo: iris visuals

Trying on shapes

As my whole job is making bespoke wedding dresses, everything I make for clients is taken away when it is finished. So although I do have some dress samples hanging p in my consultation space It is not usual that we try anything on at your design consultation as you would at a conventional bridal shop. The dresses I have in the studio are those I have made for photoshoots. They are often a bit wild and wonderful (why make a ‘normal’ dress for a photoshoot?) and in model sizes. I might refer to them to show you fabric or a skirt shape. But for the most part, when you book a consultation, we are looking to create something new and unique for you. I am less interested in making something I have made before!

If you need to try on dresses to get a sense of what suits you, and this is a very good idea which I encourage strongly, it is best to book a session at one or two conventional wedding dress boutiques. Of course if what you want for your wedding dress is not conventional, or more high-end-couture than the offering to be found in a high street wedding shop I quite understand that these visits might be frustrating. Indeed this is why many brides have come to me in the first place, because they have already been disappointed by the dresses in bridal shops.

Photo: iris visuals

Changing your mind after you book a consultation

You do not need to be completely sure of what you want made when you book a consultation. When I make a bespoke wedding dress for each of my brides, the first time to you get to try something on is at the toile fitting. This does mean there is a chance to correct any design aspects that are not quite as you imagined or even change your mind. In 20 years of creating bespoke dresses I have so far only had 2 brides completely change their dress design after trying on the toile.

For the most part, with small tweaks being expected, the dress we design at your consultation is the dress I make to completion. But it is reassuring to know that you are not obliged to continue with a dress that doesn’t feel right. I am always happy to make changes until you feel the dress is perfectly you!

Timescales and fittings

The most usual timescales are to enquire with me about a year (or more) before your wedding date and book a consultation. We then agree a timeframe for starting and finishing that feels comfortable for you. Most brides find 4-6 months before your wedding day to be about right but if there are extra factors to be taken into account it’s very normal for me to make over a longer or shorter span. I have made dresses inside a three week window before, or spread out over more than a year! Occasionally brides who are travelling a long way will arrange to stay overnight nearby and have more than one fitting over a few days close together to cut down on travel times.

Photographer: Chloe Martin Photography

Prices and payment schedules

I have a start price for most bespoke wedding dresses of £2600 for the labour. The cost of fabrics is quoted separately. The making cost of your dress might be a little lower if it is an exceptionally simple design. Things that might increase the cost of your dress include adding sleeves, very full skirts or extra layers of fabric. Other expensive techniques include hand embellishment with lace or beading or very complicated pattern construction.

I have a page dedicated to the costings for various different designs. I cover wedding dresses, mother of the bride/groom, bridesmaid and flower girl dresses or waistcoats for men and boys.

You will pay a booking-in fee to confirm your sewing slot in my schedule. The booking-in fee is usually 20% of the making cost, with the final balance then due for the finished garment is collected and taken away. Some clients like toe spread the cost out, paying smaller chunks regurlary or whenever if convenient to them. All payment schedules are welcome, whatever suits you, as long as the two three deadlines I set are met. 1. booking-in fee to book, 2. materials before they are ordered in and 3. all paid before collection.

Your quote letter

I normally write up your quote letter and email it over within a few days or a week of your consultation. You will receive a description and clear drawing of the design. I will describe the fabrics we have chosen or suitable options and yardages for you to choose your own. There will be a suggested start and finish date for the project as agreed. These can still be changed before you book in if needed.

I also send a link you can use to accept the quote when you are ready to book in. So it’s very quick and easy to go ahead when ever you are ready.

This example quote letter was for my lovely bride Lisa, in 2024. You can see her bespoke wedding dress here.

After the consultation

I normally leave you with the space and time to think about the quote and any other options you are exploring for 3-6 weeks before being in touch again. If I hear from you first, of course that is wonderful! Some brides know very quickly if I am the right bespoke wedding dressmaker for them and book in right away. Others need time to sleep on it! It’s also very useful to hear from you if you decide at any point not to go ahead. Then I can archive your enquiry and not chase you again for feedback later.

You can then use the booking-in link whenever you do decide you are ready to book. It lets you select any optional extras we may have discussed. There will be a contract for you to sign which lays out all my Terms and conditions. These differ slightly depending on the nature of each commission but are largely as shown on my T&C page. Then you will be shown your invoice, with the booking-in fee marked so you can make an online transfer to complete the booking in process.

I will send you a receipt and booking-in email as soon as the contract is signed and the deposit safely received.

Making the fitting dates

As booking in for your dress is usually some months, if not a year or more, prior to the actual start date for your wedding dress making slot, we do not make the fitting dates right away. You will have booked an agreed sewing slot in my schedule so your sewing time is reserved and safe. The sewing window can still be moved even after booking-in. For example if your wedding date has changed or if work dates or holidays booked later get in the way.

When we are about 2 months prior to the agreed start date you will get an email inviting you to choose your first appointment. The first visit is your measuring session. And we can look over the design then too and check you are still happy with all the details. We then make further fitting dates each time you visit.

Are you ready to book a consultation?

If you are now ready to book a consultation with me, please do get in touch.