Choosing your wedding gown: biggest fashion statement of your life, right? So why do so many brides expect their gowns to be totally matched to their personal style straight off the hanger? In various appointments, I’ve heard lots of comments along the lines of “If you need to change this or that, it’s not the right dress”. With all due respect, THAT’S CRAZY! If you’ve found THE DRESS, but it just needs a couple minor adjustments to make it uniquely yours, what could be more perfect? How many times have you found something you love at Goodwill, Forever 21 or even Nordstrom and made it perfectly “you” and super unique just by cutting something off, pinning something on, trading out the belt that came with it or adding a unique accessory. My friends and I do this all the time! We love taking existing clothing and doing minor cosmetic tweaks, either to make it more versatile or just more “me.”
The same is true of wedding gowns. If you’ve got a dress that you love, but just need to add a strap, change the neckline to sweetheart or alter the skirt to show off your curves, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. There certainly is the possibility that there is a different dress out there that could make you completely happy. However, it may or may not be in your price range, it may not be available in time, or it may even be in somewhere in London or Paris where you may never get the chance to see it. This dress, on your body, in your budget, can be made to do the exact same thing.
At Charlotte’s we are fortunate enough to work with some designers who are very open to doing custom changes on gowns. (Not all designers are willing to do this…..I don’t want to go overboard here. Always feel free to check with your consultant about changes you may want to make!) Casablanca Bridal is a great example of a designer that offers this type of flexibility. I’ve seen some simple changes such as adding a strap or changing to a corset back instead of a zipper, all the way to really dramatic customizations. A couple of months ago, we got to see a gown that a bride and her consultant pretty much put together from scratch, just borrowing minor touches from existing Casablanca gowns. Although I’m personally less familiar with them, I’ve also heard that Jasmine Bridal is willing to do some custom changes to their wedding gowns. God bless them for working with your individuality!
Another potential option would be to see if your seamstress can make the desired changes. We know it’s hard to order a gown with just the idea of a seamstress making changes. You are always welcome to have a seamstress come with you to look at a dress and determine if your vision is possible, or ask your consultant for recommendations of seamstresses who’ve previously dealt with custom work.
I love the idea of customizing gowns because you know you’re getting what you want, and no one else will ever have your gown. Not only is it designer, but it’s literally one-of-a-kind! Sure, changing the original pattern usually entails a fee, but your consultant will be right there to help you figure out if it’s worth it, or if it’s time to look for the “other gown that already has that.”
~Corinne
