Deciding to Customize

So after seeing all these dresses, and having a reality check about the size I am, and another humiliating bridal salon experience, I've decided to go custom with my dress. Why? Well, I just can't find exactly what I want in my size at a reasonable price.

Shopping for my wedding dress really reminded me of my interest in fabric, garment construction, fashion, etc. Finding a wedding dress with these elements, that I like, in my size, just didn't seem possible. Many (not all!) mass-market plus sized dresses are cheaply made variations on the same three silhouettes. The beautiful silk dresses I love, are not available to me, nor are they particularly affordable. There are very few high-end plus size lines I can think of, and the only one off the top of my head, Kirstie Kelly Red Label (for Disney), cost about $4k, and the nearest boutique is five hours away.

So, guess what I chose? Here's a clue:

(Photo via flickr)

Yes! I'm going to have my dress made. There are many variables to this, too... some pros & cons include:

Pros:
- I'll have the exact design I want
- No upcharges for a larger size and/or extensive fittings
- Higher quality, perfect fit, personally made

Cons:
- Not knowing *exactly* what the finished product will look like
- Not being able to try it on beforehand
- It might be difficult to find a good dressmaker

I'm not going to spend much less on my custom dress than on a mass-produced dress. However, considering that the dress will be in my favorite fabric and handmade, I will be spending much less than if I got a high quality, handmade dress from a top tier designer (Vera, Priscilla, et. al.).

If you're interested in custom dressmaking, these resources helped with my decision.
Offbeat Bride: Dress Advice for Plus Sized Brides; and Everything You Need to Know About Having Your Dress Custom Made.

I had an awful time finding custom dressmakers in the Dallas area, so here's what I found, all in one spot:

- Fabrique Fabrics (Richardson): They have an in-house sketch artist who will design your dress, then they'll set you up with a dressmaker to have it made. I'll just add that their website is one of the most informative I've seen, and got me excited about picking out my own wedding dress fabric!
- Richard Brooks Fabrics (Dallas). Also houses famous designer Michael Faircloth, but you can call them to set up an interview with any of their in house dress designers who are markedly less expensive.
- Nicolas Villalba of Nicolas Designs.
- Shemara Couture; does interesting designs; I would call them Eastern Fusion designs but I'm not sure if that's the proper term.

And, way too late for me, here's an article in this season's issue of D Weddings featuring even more custom designers.

I'll admit that I was very nervous at the start of this, especially since it took so long (about 2 months) to find any custom dressmakers (as opposed to seamstresses willing to make a dress -- big difference). This process can be more trouble than it's worth if I end up with the wrong person!