The Journey of your Dress
Your wedding dress should be one of the most enjoyable aspects of your special day, and the whole experience, from choosing one to wearing it, should be fun and stress-free. That’s why at Atelier 5, we always strive to take you seamlessly through the process of designing and making your dress. We are here to give you all our attention,working closely with you to take your input and requirements on board, to keep you updated throughout the whole process, and to ensure your dress fits perfectly at the end. Here’s what typically happens from our first meeting to the last – generally a process that needs a minimum of around 6 months. However, we are very fluid, and the stages and timelines below are guidelines only. We are happy to work with you in a way that not only works for us, but also for you.
Step 1: Initial Consultation – 2-3 weeks to the Design Sketch and Initial Quote
Our initial consultation is free. Over a cup of tea or two, you can ask us anything that you want to know about our work, and we will note down what you love, what you don’t like, anything that is relevant about the wedding (e.g. date, any colour or style theme, location constraints, etc.), and any particular requirements that you may have. If you already have some dress ideas, we would love to see them. If not, don’t worry, we can browse a few different styles together and show you a few examples of features, styles and fabrics. You can, of course, take advantage of our Silhouette Styling System to help you decide which neckline and skirt shape suits you the best. From this, we will be able to give you some sketches, fabric samples and an estimate quote within a couple of weeks. In some cases, if we will need to source specific fabrics, the quote can only be finalised once we agree on the fabric choice. There is no charge or obligation for the consultation.
Step 2: Wedding dress measure and toile fitting – 6-8 weeks to toile fitting
When we have confirmed purchase order from you, we usually require a deposit to get the work started. This enables us to start working on the paper pattern, making toile and securing the fabrics at the same time. The deposit is normally 50% of the first estimate.
Toile is a mock up dress, made with calico fabric, to ensure that we get the fit and drape right. As all brides want to look their best on their wedding day, weight change is often an important issue to be considered. We are happy to arrange the fitting when the bride is happy with her shape as long as there is enough time for the dress to be completed. At the fitting session, we make some alterations on the toile to make sure everything fits right.
Step 3: Making the Dress – 16-18 weeks to Completion
This is when we cut and make your final dress, using the alterations from the fitting. Depending on the style and individual bride, the fitting needed may vary from two up to six, with the final fitting as close as possible to the wedding. When completed and pressed, your dress can be collected prior to the wedding.
On the Day Assistance
For added peace of mind, we also offer, upon availability, the option for On the Day Assistance, where one of us will come to you on your wedding day to make sure everything is OK, help you get dressed, and make any last minute adjustments if needed. Please ask us early if you’re interested in this service.