HOW TO DESIGN YOUR DREAM GOWN AT DIANA'S
Have you ever dreamt of designing your own wedding gown for your
special day? If the answer is yes, Diana will make your
dream come true. As a bride, you can try many
gowns and still not find the perfect one. Ideal dresses are
often a combination of many styles. Brides who bring in
pictures, ideas, and descriptions to Diana's Couture & Bridal
leave with the gown of their dreams. As a designer/dressmaker
with 32 years of experience, Diana understands body type, custom
cut and most importantly, proportions.
Designing your dream gown is simple:
1. As soon as you get engaged, it's the time to think about your
gown.
Decide what style, skirt and what kind of design you would like.
The easiest way to get ideas is to look in your own closet.
Search for a dress, a top, a skirt, a neck line, sleeves or a
fabric that always gets you compliments. It is also
helpful to clip pictures from bridal magazines. For example, if
you see a neckline, a skirt, a front or back that catches your
eye, circle it. Get as many ideas as possible. Once you
have gotten your ideas together, call Diana's and make an
appointment for a free consultation.
2. During the appointment, we will gather all your ideas and
pictures and sketch a few designs that include your favorite
details. We will then give you an estimate based on the
final sketch, fabric and design. This price will vary
depending on added options, the design and the fabric.
Quite often we get phone requesting estimates over the phone.
Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way for designs or
alterations. What we can do is offer is a free in-house
estimate and a clear explanation how the procedure works.
Rest assured, work only will be done upon prior agreement of
both parties.
3. It will take approximately three to five months to complete a
gown order, though we can handle rush orders as time allows.
It will take two to three fittings in order to complete the
dress. During the first fitting, the gown will be eighty
five percent complete so you have a good idea of what the final
product will look like. The first fitting is critical for
fitting proportions. Be prepared and come in with
undergarments as well as a pair of sample heels similar in
height to those you will wear on your wedding day. Please
feel free to ask questions. Reasonable changes can be made
at this time providing they are within the original design.
4. The second fitting is scheduled much closer to the wedding
month. That does not mean that you and your family can't visit
your gown! For example, if you have purchased different
shoes or undergarments, give us a call and schedule an
appointment. At the second fitting, we will
check on body fitting. Keep in mind most brides,
bridesmaids and mothers of the bride will try to lose weight
prior to the wedding date. Be sure to schedule your
appointment accordingly if you plan on adjusting your weight or
body shape. Please discuss your diet plans with Diana when
scheduling the second fitting.
5. FINALLY, we're done! The last fitting should be a
week to ten days prior to the pick up date. At this time,
we will make sure the gown still fits or see if we need to do
some minor alterations as well as add a bustle if you have
chosen to do so.
6. Allow sufficient time to try on your gown one last time
before pick up.
HOW TO GET A STORE-BOUGHT WEDDING GOWN ALTERED AT DIANA'S
If you have purchased a wedding gown and are not entirely happy
with the fitting, design, etc. schedule a free fitting
consultation for a price quote. As mentioned above, we
can't give you a price estimate over the phone, not because
we're difficult, but because they’re not accurate. During
the appointment, we will study the cut of the gown and the
fitting and then we will then give you a price quote based on
the amount of work involved. Please understand that
wedding gown construction is complicated. Taking in or out
the wrong seam may affect the proper fitting of a gown. We
have had many customers come into Diana's with last minute
disasters that needed to be corrected. It is more
difficult to fix a mistake than to do it right from the
beginning. At Diana's we handle alterations as the
reconstruction of a cut and we recreate the right proportion of
the gown. We do not just take seams in and
out. This is how we are able to guarantee a perfect fit.
It takes two fittings for wedding gown alterations. Please
follow steps 4, 5, 6 listed above.
At Diana's, we stand behind our work one hundred percent.
We love to see a big smile on a bride's face.
We will do whatever we can to make you, the bride, the most
beautiful, happy person on your special day.
