Should I Invest In Bespoke Options For My Wedding?
The words “Custom-Made” and “Bespoke” tend to bring up two reactions:
“Wow! I get to have exactly what I want! I have so many ideas and I can’t wait to see them become a reality!”
or
“I have no idea what I want. I wouldn’t know where to start. What if I get it all wrong? And how much will it cost me?”
First of all, I want to reassure you that you won’t get it all wrong. Second, it’s ok if you sit on either of these spectrums, or anywhere in between - bespoke design is open to everyone.
Third: You don’t have to have it all figured out before you get started. In fact, that all comes in to the process!
The trick is finding someone you trust and whose style you admire. When you find someone with those qualities, you’ll feel safer making decisions and trusting that they can create exactly what they promise.
The experience you get when having something custom made is worth far more than you actually pay. It’s an insight behind the scenes, where you get to watch a seedling of an idea bloom into something real that you can eventually touch, feel and wear.
Let me bust some myths about bespoke, to help you feel more empowered considering it as an option.
Myth 1. I can’t afford it
I understand your fears here! Bespoke is synonymous with luxury, and for some of us, that conjures up images of high price tags and also questions about whether we really deserve it.
We struggle to see our own value when it comes to purchasing things for a one day event.
Now, value is different to cost (I’ll share more about that in another post!). Buying something cheaper doesn’t mean you’re getting good value.
We’ve all had the experience of buying clothes in cheaper shops. The clothes last a few weeks, months if we’re lucky, and then are so worn or broken that we end up replacing them again and again.
And don’t get me started on the ethical and environmental impact of our investments in fast fashion…
In the long run, we probably spend more on cheap things than if we’d invested a little more in quality pieces.
Ok, I’ve run away a bit here! What you may not have realised is that bespoke options are tailored to you. And that, in many cases, means your budget too.
A friend of mine had a beautiful wedding dress made for her. It fit her perfectly and suited her style completely. I was shocked when she said it had cost her less than £700.
As she put it, nothing she saw in the shops felt like her and would need to be adapted significantly to suit her taste, so why not just start from scratch with a dress maker she liked? She got to see her dress evolve from sketch to finished piece, an experience she really treasured.
I think it’s important to enjoy the wedding planning journey, and the experience should really add to it. Having a bespoke option can calm your nerves and bring some excitement back, knowing that something is being made exclusively for you.
“I’m speechless, you’ve completely nailed exactly what I wanted”
Myth 2: I don’t know what I want
While knowing specifically what you want is a good reason for choosing a bespoke design, it can actually make things easier when you don’t have a clue too.
Bespoke designers are all experienced in seeking the information they need to create something for their clients.
They know which questions to ask and which stories to draw out of you. They develop an understanding of who you and your partner are so that they can create their best work for you.
The majority of my brides don’t know what they want when they come to me; they just know that they like what I do and have connected with me and my values. They already feel they’re in safe hands when they enquire, and they know I’ll do my absolute best to give them what they’re looking for.
Often you have more ideas than you think. It’s our job as designers to connect the dots and see recurrent themes to piece together what you’re looking for.
“So happy with my accessory and it’s going to look so special on my wedding day”
Myth 3: It’ll be awkward working with someone one-to-one
Maybe when you first meet, but let’s be honest, the person you’re contacting is probably someone you’ve been following on social media for a while, so you’ve probably got an insight in to who they are way before you book an appointment.
To know if someone is right for you, look at how they show up in their social media posts - do their captions resonate with you? Are there things you have in common? Look at their website - what do other people say about working with them? How do they come across in their blog posts, videos or podcasts?
Do you feel this person can genuinely help you?
If someone resonates with you, you have nothing to lose by booking an initial appointment. Most designers offer these for free or for a small fee.
If you decide they’re not a good fit for you, you’ve not lost anything. Even if you’ve paid a fee for your consultation, you’ve invested well in avoiding a bigger, more costly mistake.
As the process goes on, you’ll feel greater connection with your designer.
In fact, I’m still in touch with most of my past brides and we’ve developed distant friendships since working together. You’ll be surprised how quickly you connect!
“Literally my favourite thing about my bridal look - the hair vine is so beautiful”
Myth 4: It’s easier to get something off the shelf or online
If you’re able to see and try on things in a shop, then yes, off the shelf is one option.
But if you’re searching online, it can be difficult to know who to trust.
Don’t forget that you may have to factor in alterations to dresses and suits, which can increase the price, and searching online for the other details exactly as you want them could take up a lot of time.
If you’re struggling to find things you like in shops or online, and don’t know if approaching a designer is right for you yet, start collating pictures of details you like - it might be the lace on a dress, the tweed of a suit, the colours in an accessory or the style of bouquet you’d like to carry…armed with that information, you can approach both shops and designers to see what they can source or create.
Bridal boutiques often work with a range of designers and suppliers, so will be able to connect you with someone.
They may know exactly where to purchase that tweed waistcoat in your fiancé’s size, and a designer in any field can look at details you’ve gathered and use them as inspiration for something that is completely you. When that happens, it feels like magic, like they managed to pull all the ideas out of your head before you could formulate the words to express them.
It gives me butterflies!
Taking inspiration is completely different to copying; if a designer offers to copy something exactly, walk away. It’s not fair on the original designer, or on you having a knock off version.
Do you have any more questions about choosing bespoke or custom-made options? Let me know below!
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