KB 0806 Sketch for designer wedding gown

Follow the progress of a designer wedding gown from design sketch to reality

It all starts with the design sketch which the designer will create during your initial appointment. The design will take into account any ideas you may have, together with the best judgement of the designer as to what will suit your body shape. Other considerations are the type and size of the venue and your budget. Each design is created individually for each client.
If, once you've seen how the process works, you would like to start the process of creating your own gown, why not book a free, no-obligation appointment with Yemi

Measurements

Getting the perfect fit

You might be surprised to learn that more than 20 measurements go into creating a couture gown. The measurements are used to draft your individual body block which, in turn, will be used to create your toile.

First toile

Ensuring a perfect fitting wedding dress

You will have at least one toile during your fitting process. The toile is the mocked-up version of the dress in calico so that the designer and you can be sure that the fit is absolutely perfect. The toile won't have all the embellishments of the final dress but you'll get a good idea of the shape and how the final dress will look and feel once worn.

Second toile

Any alterations and amendments required from the first toile fitting (if necessary) are incorporated into the second toile. You will have as many toile fittings as necessary to ensure that you and the designer are happy to proceed to the fabric stage.

The interior of a couture wedding dress

This picture shows the integral corset and underskirt. This is the secret support that creates the cinching in of the waist.

Corset boning detail

Corsetry is our specialty. It gives support - you won't need a bra on your wedding day - and the bones are carefully placed to follow the natural contours of your body. You can be sure that your wedding dress will be one of the most comfortable dresses you have ever worn - our clients say that a couture dress feels like no other.

Dress bodice in fabric

This is the upper outer shell of the gown - the part that everyone else sees - but before any embellishments are added on. We use a variety of luxurious fabrics in our dresses: duchesse satin (as here), zibeline, organza, mikado, gazar and various laces. The choice of fabrics is up to you.

Unruched skirt

This is the way the skirt looks before it is hand ruched and pinned to form the distinctive ruffled look that you can see in the finished gown.

Organza roses

This dress is embellished with hand-made organza roses which are then hand-stitched onto the bodice and neck strap.

Skirt front detail

Ruching is the process of manipulating the fabric to form a pleat or fold. This gives more interest and texture to the skirt. The folds are carefully formed by hand, pinned in place and then hand-stitched revealing the organza underskirt.

Skirt back detail

The train is picked up to form wave-like folds and pinned in place.

Hand finishing and hand stitching of the skirt

The ruching that has been pinned into place on the front and back, is then meticulously hand-stitched.

Embellishments: fabric roses

Some of the haute couture embellishments we give our designer wedding dresses

We can embellish our dresses in a number of ways, depending on the client's requirements. Here our bride specified fabric roses which were made in the same duchesse satin as the dress itself and then hand-stitched into place.

Embellishments: hand beading

Some of the haute couture embellishments we give our designer wedding dresses

Our client specified beading with different-sized and coloured swarovski stones which were individually applied to create this beautiful raindrop-on-glass effect on the collar.

Embellishments: hand beading

Some of the haute couture embellishments we give our designer wedding dresses

Another part of the same dress as the previous design. This shows the hemline where we mirrored the collar's effect with swarovski stones.

Embellishments: embroidery

Some of the haute couture embellishments we give our designer wedding dresses

This skirt hemline shows embroidery and beading which incorporated crystals and pearls. The result: a rich textured look.

Embellishments: customer fabrics

Some of the haute couture embellishments we give our designer wedding dresses

Sometimes our clients want us to incorporate fabrics that have a special significance or meaning into our gowns. This example shows deconstructed sari fabric that enhanced a traditional wedding dress.

Finished designer wedding dress

Full view of the finished gown

The culmination of the many hundreds of hours labour.

Model: Kiren Modi
Photo: Picturework Studios
Event: Sparkle and Wow Bridal Show

Finished designer wedding gown

Back view of the finished gown

Back view of the gown showing the fabric organza roses

Model: Kiren Modi
Photo: Picturework Studios
Event: Sparkle and Wow Bridal Show