So you've decided to have your wedding gown made, but you don't know any dress designers? When it comes to your wedding gown, you deserve the very best you can afford. This does not mean to say that your parents mortgage their house for your wedding dress. It does mean though that simply making a few phone calls and then choosing the cheapest designer is NOT the way to go.
Determine your budget:
There is a huge misconception in our society today that getting a dress made is a cheaper alternative to buying it off the rack. In my opinion, nothing could be further from the truth. If you are looking for a reputable dress designer, who is capable of designing the dress, making the pattern, and sewing it to perfection, you shouldn't expect this to be a cheap service. For more information about pricing, see my article "In search of the perfect wedding dress".
What if you don't know of any dress designers, how do you find a good one? If a designer is experienced and confident with her work, chances are she will advertise in some way. The Yellow Pages is a good place to look, under the Dressmakers section, as well as the Bridal and Eveningwear section. Also many dress designers advertise in bridal magazines. You will have to make a few phone calls and ask some basic questions in order to decide if a particular designer is worth visiting.
Make an appointment:
Once you have spoken to several dress designers on the phone, make an appointment with one or two of them. This way you can go to their studio and inspect their standard of work for yourself. A reputable designer should have a couple of sample dresses on hand for display. If only photos are available, look closely at details such as seams, points on collars, and the general appearance of the garments. If the photos are not very clear, and she has no samples to show you, I would be very skeptical. It's possible she has something to hide. Things to look for include: a well-lit studio with ample space for consultations and fittings; sample garments of her work; clear photos which show the types of dresses she has made (if the dress looks bad in the photo, it probably looks worse in reality, but if a dress looks great in a photo, it would look even more fabulous in reality because photos often don't show detailing very well);
A skilled designer should have lots of suggestions regarding design, fabrics and colours, and be able to design a gown that is perfect for you.During this time, you should also be able to decide whether or not you get along with this designer. This is very important, as you will see her several times by the time the dress is finished. I find that by the time I have completed the gown, the bride and I have become friends, and are no longer just client and dress designer. I will do my utmost to ensure she looks perfect on her wedding day, going to her house on the morning of the wedding to make sure the dress is put on right.
Consult friends or relatives:
If your cousin who recently got married hired the services of a designer, ask her about it. Was she satisfied with the designer's work? How did the designer handle problems, if any? Was the finished gown exactly what she ordered? How many fittings did she go to? If the answers to these questions satisfy you, perhaps you should get the designer's contact details and make an appointment to see her. Word of mouth is the best form of advertising a designer can have, so a satisfied client will often refer her friends and relatives to her. Much like hairdressers and solicitors, dress designers often have a loyal client base, so chances are if your cousin was over the moon with the work of her designer, so will you.
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