Getting A Custom Made Wedding Dress If you chooses the wedding dress designer carefully, the result will be a beautiful and unique wedding gown. Here are some tips for you to choose the dress as well as the dressmaker: Try on some dresses: Try on some gowns at a bridal salon to select what styles are most comfortable and flattering for you. If you are confident in what looks best on you then you will have an easier time discussing the design with the dressmaker. Find a dressmaker: You can go through advertisements in magazines or in online classifieds. You can also ask friends and family if they know of anyone who had a dress made, and if they would recommend the dressmaker. You should never be afraid to interview potential dressmakers to get a feel for if they will be able to work well together. You should also get the chance to see the dressmaker's portfolio. Bring pictures: Photographic examples will give the dressmaker a chance to discuss potential costs, and how a design might be altered to be more flattering to you on your wedding day. References: You should talk to the wedding dress designer's previous clients, look through their portfolio, and see some of their work up close. Sketches and fabric Samples: You should expect to see some sketches of ideas, and fabric samples from your designer. Thereafter you can discuss any concerns you have with the designer about the fabric, the drape and overall feel of the dress as well as the cost. A prototype to try on: Dressmakers make a muslin prototype of the dress for the bride to try on. This allows the designer to adjust for fit, and give you a chance to see the general shape of the dress. Cost: By having a wedding dress custom made, the bride gets exactly the dress she wants tailored to her body type, but labor costs can add up. Also, the choice of the fabric, amount of lace and trim, and the type of dress can all have an impact on price. But, if you need the dress to be made more cheaply, the designer may have many helpful suggestions for you. You can also consider having a dressmaker make an existing wedding dress pattern for you. There are many beautiful dress patterns available in shops and some small adjustments to the design can be made at a cheaper cost.