Bridal FAQs
Bridal Inquiries
Bill and Cassandra photographed by Kara McCurdy
So you’re getting married…Congrats!
Have questions about Bridal shopping? I’m happy to offer an hour-long conversation about anything and everything Bridal! This consultation is $60 and we can start the scheduling process right here. If we decide to move forward and make your gown together, that sixty bucks goes towards the final price of the gown. Absolutely no commitment to purchase a gown through me after the consultation.
I want a custom gown, how much? Let's get straight to the point. The starting price for a custom designed and custom made wedding gown is $5,000.
Why? It takes a minimum of 200 hours to make a wedding gown from start to finish. My hourly rate is $25. Basic math brings that to a starting price of $5,000. After 200 hours it gets complicated, which is why I require all brides go through a consultation to make sure we are all on the same page about your specific gown and design.
Why does it take so long to make a wedding dress? The process starts as a conversation about concepts, measurements and materials. Then a first "mock-up" of the dress is made out of a cheaper fabric. This is fitted on the bride, adjustments and changes are made, and then I go back to the pattern and re-draw it so that it's exactly how she wants it. Depending on how many changes are made to the first mock-up, I will either go straight to making the real dress, or else I will make another mock-up to make sure the dress is absolutely perfect. We want to do this with the cheaper fabric because usually bridal fabrics are expensive and precious. At this point in the process, I will have already worked on the dress for around 100 hours and we haven't even started the "real thing." This is also the point in the process where we can have a better idea of how much more work will need to go into the dress and therefore have a firmer end price.
Does your pricing include dress materials? No. Bridal fabric and appliques vary too much in price for me to reasonably give a quote. You will need to do your own research to see what pricing your looking at for the fabric you desire. I recommend checking online at Mood Fabrics and Fabric.com to see two sides of the price and quality spectrum. Also remember that you will need to purchase fabric for lining and dress structure, as needed.
How much fabric will I need to purchase? This is figured out when we make the mock-up. It is also dependent on what type of fabric you choose. If the fabric has stretch or a pattern, we will need more in order for the pattern pieces to be cut out in the correct direction. For example, you might need 5 yards of taffeta for a sleek, strapless mermaid gown but you need 15 yards of stretch lace for a tea-length 50's full dress with long sleeves.
What is the fitting process like? We will need to do a minimum of three fittings, plus a measurement session for a bridal gown. I will not let you send me your measurements taken at another bridal store. Everyone learns how to take measurements differently and sometimes there are differing terms for the same measurement. Along the same lines, I will not mail you a mock-up or a version of the gown for someone else to fit on you. Each fitting must be done in person, so take that into consideration if you live far away from Central Florida.
What is your experience with wedding gowns? I have been sewing and altering patterns since I was taught by my mom at 8 years old. I got my Bachelor's degree in Theatre from Knox College, where I received one-on-one training in costume design and construction from Margo Shively. The summer before my senior year of college, I made my first wedding gown. It was a simple strapless A-line dress for the daughter of a friend. I went on to complete a year-long fellowship in the costumes department at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, where I learned womenswear draping and design from expert draper Kitty Muntzel and designers including Meg Neville and Kathleen O'Neill. I moved to San Diego to work as a stitcher for the Old Globe Theatre. While there, I began working for a private bridal and alterations shop called Alterations By Sandra. Sandra taught me the finer points of wedding gown alteration and construction for a year and a half. When I left San Diego for a job in Ashland, Oregon, I continued to freelance and make custom clothing. I made four custom bridal gowns during my time in Oregon, before I moved to Central Florida to work for Cirque du Soleil. Now I only take on a selective few clients.
Want me to make your wedding gown? Click here to schedule a bridal consultation. Let's get this conversation started and make your perfect wedding gown!
What about just a veil or an accessory? Sure! A personalized veil or one-of-a-kind belt can add something new and custom to your bridal look. If you’re just looking for a bridal accessory, get in touch with me through the custom garment consultation and we’ll make it happen.
