Choosing your handmade wedding dress in Surrey
Felicity Westmacott is an experienced professional who has been creating handmade wedding dresses in Surrey since 2007. I work from my studio on Dorking highstreet designing and making each wedding dress from start to finish. I use couture techniques and my breadth of experience having worked with brides of all shapes and sizes. My specialism is making dresses that are unusual in some way, after all why else would you need a handmade wedding dress?
Picture above: Illusion back wedding dress for Helen. Official photography by Alex Tenters Photography
What is a handmade wedding dress?
A handmade wedding dress is a gown that has been designed and made on a small scale. It has not been produced as part of a large batch of clothing, using a factory set up. In fact the actual techniques used will be largely the same. Both a handmade wedding dress and a factory made dress might use computer pattern grading, laser cutting tools, sewing machines, overlocking machines and steam generator irons. But the finishing and hand work techniques for a ‘handmade wedding dress’ are too time consuming for a lower budget factory made dress. It’s not that the factory workers haven’t or couldn’t learn the same skills, but the option to use them isn’t there. The price point of the final garment doesn’t allow for such work.
Photo by https://altwedding.co.uk/
In this context the term ‘handmade’ doesn’t mean there is no machine sewing. Using a sewing machine is part of the hand-made process for clothing. Sewing machines do not automatically sew clothes, anymore than an electric oven automatically bakes cakes. The parts still have to be assembled by the operator. A handmade wedding dress may entail the use of a sewing machine, button covering machine, overlocker, all sorts of other machine tools. I also then undertake the skilled delicate hand work and finishing that is the hallmark of a handmade wedding dress.
Hand finishing techniques
Many steps in the making of a handmade, bespoke wedding dress are undertaken using couture hand sewing techniques. Most of them can also be sewn on a sewing machine, and in a factory set up they would be. But I prefer to elevate your bespoke wedding dress with hand sewn touches, old fashioned perhaps but also unusual in our factory-led world. You will feel your wedding dress has had hours of love and care sewn in. The techniques have evocative names like slipstitch, cartridge pleating and applique.
Commissioning your handmade wedding dress Surrey
If you think that your ideal wedding dress would be one that is handmade I would love to hear from you! The process of having your bespoke wedding dress handmade here in Surrey starts with a one to one design consultation. Your appointment can take place in my shop-studio on Dorking high street or by video call if you prefer. We will talk about your design ideas, look at fabric options and work out at ideal sewing schedule to match up with your wedding date. After that I provide a written quote with sketches and fabric samples, so can use if I am the right wedding dressmaker for you.
Sewing and fittings
Pictures of Vanessa’s first and final fittings. First the toile (practice run in cheap fabrics) and then the finished dress ready to collect. See more of Vanessa’s handmade wedding dress here.
If you decide to book in with me a deposit is due to confirm the booking and reserve a space in my sewing schedule. Then, when it is time we get started we begin with a measuring appointment. Followed by a series of fittings, 2-4 weeks apart as I make up the dress. The first fitting is the ‘toile’ which is a practice run of the dress in cheap fabrics so we can check the design and fit before cutting into your proper materials. Most handmade wedding dresses take 3-6 fittings over a 3-5 months to be complete.
I can also make dresses in a much shorter timeframe if we have pre-planned, for those brides who perhaps have a weight loss schedule. Or if you are coming from a long way and want to visit less often.
The next step
If you would like to know more about having a handmade wedding dress created for your wedding day please feel free to get in touch with any questions or to book a free design consultation.
Laura’s hand made wedding dress for her Surrey wedding was made in silk mikado and hand applique lace. Photo by Mark Shaw
