Choosing a Custom Gown: Pros, Cons and How-To

Most girls are dreaming about their wedding day before they even hit puberty. And what is usually the fixture of that fantasy (aside from the groom, of course)? The wedding dress. Everyone wants to be especially exquisite on their big day and the gown plays a huge part in making the bride look like a princess. Searching for your perfect dress can be a little more stressful than what the fairytale implies. Experts agree that brides should begin their search about six months before the wedding day since it will not only take some time to pick out their dress but it is also time consuming to have it fitted and altered. Maybe you’ve already been looking for months and know exactly what you want by now but simply can’t seem to find what you have in mind. Or maybe you don’t want to shop for a dress that’s already made – you want something more special, a little more unique. This is the point where you want some advice on having a custom gown made because you’re unsure of where to begin and if this is the right choice for you. Here are some pros and cons of having a dress made especially for you…

Pros
~ If you already know what style looks best on you, or how you want your dress to look, you can take your design and ideas to a seamstress and have the gown you’ve always dreamed of instead of settling for something that’s close to what you want.
~ You know no one else is wearing your exact dress and that what you’ll be wearing on your wedding day is totally unique.
~ Your gown is created not just for your body “type” but for your actual body. For example, women with larger busts may have difficulty finding a dress that fits them just right because most ready-made dresses are made for B, sometimes C, cup bust lines.
~ You will have an heirloom for generations to come.
~ You are involved in every detail of the design of your dress – you have total control! (Yes, bridezillas, this means you)

Cons
~ You won’t be able to see your dream gown in reality until it is finished.
~ Custom gowns can be more costly than ready-made dresses – however, this depends on how much you have allotted for your wedding dress budget. Expect to pay anywhere between $500 to $5,000 for a custom dress.

Tips
~ Even if you know you want your dress custom made, if you haven’t already, go to a few local bridal shops and try on different dress styles to see which is most flattering for your body. This will give you a better idea of what you want to be asking of the seamstress.
~ Ask friends and family for seamstress references – using someone who has already been “tested” by someone you know and trust can put your mind at ease.
~ To make everything a little simpler, decide on the payment plan and scheduling ahead of time.
~ Allow at least six months for this entire process as the dress not only has to be created, but there are multiple fittings involved which are spread out over a few months.
~ Most importantly, no matter how stressful this whole process may be, remember to relax and enjoy all of it. This is supposed to be fun, too!

The Engagement Photo

Having an engagement picture taken is a great idea for many reasons. It may be something you hadn't thought about just yet (with all the other decisions that are weighing on your mind!) but here's a few reasons you might want to consider it -

1. It's great documentation of one of the happiest moments of your lives. Some brides may choose to use as their engagement photo one that they have taken themselves, the day they became engaged. Doing it this way can capture those joyful memories right when they happen.

2. Maybe you've dreamed of submitting your engagement photo to your local newspaper since you were a little girl. Even if you don't still live in the town you grew up in, it's a nice way to keep old friends and family up-to-date with what's going on in your life. Every newspaper has their own requirements but most ask not just for the picture, but also the bride and groom's names, current city and jobs, high schools, colleges attended, and of course the parents' names. Some newspapers even allow you to submit all of his information online. If you decide you're going to submit your picture to your local newspaper, make sure you send it in at least six weeks before the event although three months ahead is generally preferred.

3. Having your engagement photo taken is also a great way to test out the photographer you've booked for the big day. Many photographers include this in the packages they offer - take advantage of it.

4. One of the last reasons you may want to have an engagement photo shoot is to put that picture on save-the-dates, invitations or little favors you may hand out to guests at the reception. Of course, if you're going to go this route, make sure you ask to see the pictures ahead of time!

A few last minute thoughts....
Before having your pictures taken, think about how you are planning to use them. This will help determine where you want to have the shoot at and in what style. Share this information with your photographer as well so he is clued in to what is going on. He may have some helpful tips of his own to share.

Determine Your Budget

It seems as though everyone is trying to figure out how to better manage their budget these days. Engaged couples are no exception. Planning a wedding is a huge undertaking and the first, and most important, thing couples need to do is set their budget. The average wedding costs $28,000 – an incredibly large sum of money! It isn’t an easy task, deciding how much to spend on your dream day, but it’s something that becomes much more manageable when you consider these guidelines.

1. Determine where the money is coming from. It is tradition for the bride’s parents to foot the bill for the wedding but that is becoming less and less common. If you are getting money from your parents, or his, find out just how much that is and then decide if you think that is enough. Maybe you, or your fiancée, will want to begin saving your own money to pay for your big day.

2. Oftentimes, a big deciding factor in what a wedding budget will be is how many guests are invited to the reception. The more guests you have attending, the more expensive the wedding will be. If you are looking for a quick, if not altogether easy, way to cut costs, the best way to do so is by shortening the guest list. Keep in mind – an average wedding size is 150, a large and expensive wedding would be attended by 250 or more.

3. Something else to consider – figure out what you want your wedding theme to be. Once you have determined this, you can begin researching tips on how to save money according to your particular style. There are literally thousands of websites on the internet that provide hints as to how to cut costs.

4. One of the best things you can do to eliminate stress for yourself when you’re planning your wedding is to decide just how you’re going to spend your budget. How much are you willing to spend on your dress? Your reception venue? Your catering and drinks? These are very important things to consider and can keep you from going over your budget.

Choosing a Style for Your Wedding

First and foremost the style of your wedding should reflect who you and your fiance are together. What is it that makes the two of you so special? Are you a casual, outdoorsy couple? Is your favorite date a trip to the contemporary art museum? Identifying your personal style will help you determine the style for your wedding.

Once you’ve determined the basic direction of your wedding style, discuss with your fiance all the various options of how your style could be represented in your wedding. Don’t disregard ideas that others may have, including parents. They may surprise you with some great ideas or tips!

Hiring a professional planner can help you organize your thoughts and ideas into a cohesive style and keep you on track to achieve your custom look with less stress and less of your time wasted. Be sure to check out our idea albums on our Facebook Page.

Working through the following statements can be a starting point to determining the style of your wedding:

Rank the following in order of importance:
___food
___photography
___aesthetics (flowers, decor, ambiance)
___liquor
___music
___convenience
___apparel
___spirituality
___family & friends

When I reflect back on our wedding, I want most to remember:
___How exciting everything was
___How romantic it was
___How beautiful it was
___How proper everything was
___How smoothly and easily everything went
___How happy my parents, family, and friends were

The following terms most define me and/or my fiance:
___romantic
___bold
___soft
___artsy
___classic
___exotic
___clean
___contemporary
___traditional
___dynamic
___simple
___eclectic
___formal
___casual

___semi-formal


Most importantly have fun with it and enjoy the process!