After the excitement of starting the search for your perfect dress, scouting the Internet and putting together a crack team (mom – grandma – witnesses – girlfriends) to accompany you, it’s time for the first fitting. And while some of you may fall in love immediately, with a tear in your eye like in the best romantic comedies, for many others it’s a total disappointment…
The difficulties of trying on wedding dresses.
The models you’ve been eyeing don’t suit you at all. You absolutely wanted your mermaid gown, but it emphasizes a tummy you’re not comfortable with, buttocks that aren’t muscular enough for your taste, and the corsage makes you look fat. In short, anything but the elegant bride you want to be.
Your nearest and dearest have fallen in love with a dress that doesn’t appeal to you. Under pressure from your mother, who wanted to see you in a Lady Di dress, you tried on a princess gown, but you feel disguised and ridiculous… Except that your mom starts to cry with emotion and your cousin shower you with compliments, telling you that it suits you perfectly and that it’s really the one for you.
The one you preferred was quickly ousted by your companions. Grandma thinks it’s too low-cut, your maid of honor wants exactly this one for her hypothetical wedding, so she doesn’t want to hear about it, and in passing you come across a few disparaging comments about your cellulite or a scar that’s supposedly too visible…
The more wedding dresses you try on, the more lost you become… You’re on the sixth dress in the second boutique, and you’re definitely not as far along as you were before you started trying them on.
You don’t particularly like the dress that everyone has approved of. At the time, you thought it must be the right one, but as you look back at the photos, you wonder what’s so special about it?
So what to do? After the fiasco of those first fittings, you’re lost, demotivated, you’ve got complexes about parts of your body that have never bothered you before, and you’re starting to think that you’ll never be the beautiful bride you always dreamed of being…
Your options for choosing your wedding dress.
Classic ready-to-wear. After all, if wedding dresses don’t suit you, you might think that a simple white outfit from one of your usual stores might. For some, this may indeed be the ideal solution. If you don’t recognize yourself in traditional wedding dresses, or don’t want to spend too much money on it, a store-bought white dress or a nice pantsuit ordered online will do just fine!
Wedding dress boutiques. Yes, you’re thinking, you’ve already given it your all, but by selecting a few boutiques whose aesthetics you really like, and by reducing the size of the accompanying group to one or two kind-hearted people, you may yet find your happiness. This solution is perfect for those who want something trendy, but don’t want to go over a precise budget.
Semi-Measure. This is a good option for those with a more substantial budget who are looking for something more modern and streamlined than traditional dresses, often with some lace, layering or skirt and top combinations. The main advantage of semi-custom dresses is the possibility of modifying your outfit. You’ll have the opportunity to talk directly with the designer of the semi-measure collection to, for example, combine the top of one dress with the bottom of another, redesign the shape of the neckline, add a slit… The idea is not to start from scratch, but to mix and match looks from the collection. It’s not possible to make major changes either, as the designers don’t want to end up with models that are too different from the aesthetic of their collection.
Made-to-measure. As impressive as it is appealing ! It’s associated with red carpets, Parisian couturiers and unattainable luxury, and yet…
What if a made-to-measure dress was the perfect solution for your wedding?
The expertise of a professional. The stylist’s job is to turn your desires into reality. When you’re not sure which cuts, volumes and necklines suit you best, the designer immediately identifies them. She understands your morphology and asks you questions about your desires and tastes, so she can make choices that suit you and make you look your best.
Objective advice. The made-to-measure dress designer’s sole aim is to make you feel beautiful and at ease on your big day. You’ll have a face-to-face meeting with her where you can freely explain your desires, expectations, fears and complexes. If you wish, you can involve your friends and family at a later stage, during the canvas fittings. They can then give their opinions on the shape of the sleeves, the length of the veil or the choice of lace, but the essence of the dress will have been decided beforehand according to your deepest desires and with the professional advice of the designer.
Far more affordable than you might think.
Prices generally start at just under €2,000, practically the same starting price as most quality wedding dresses. Of course, the complexity of the design, the materials used, the embroidery and the hand-finishing can make the price of a made-to-measure wedding dress increase, but if you talk to the designer beforehand, she’ll make sure you get a proposal that fits perfectly within your budget.
The uniqueness of the dress. In my opinion, this is the greatest asset of made-to-measure creations. Absolutely everything is possible, and the choices are made with the only goal of enhancing your silhouette and personality. Together, we create a dress that reflects you, and that can only be yours, because on your unique wedding day, you deserve to wear something unique too.
Are you ready to experience the adventure of made-to-measure? Contact me to book your first free appointment and let’s discuss all your wishes.