Choosing a wedding dress is one of the most exhilarating and stressful choices a bride makes, and deciding on a custom gown raises the stakes. Fear not! We’ve collected nearly a dozen tips from three dressmakers – Katie Jean, Elizabeth Dye (of The English Dept.), and Megan (of Grace Loves Lace) – for finding and custom designing the gown of your dreams.

Dress by Jillian Fellers | Shop Similar Styles
1. Take a peek inside your closet. Think about what you already own that fits and flatters you and what makes you feel pretty. Your “regular” clothes can be a touchstone for finding your wedding dress; your wedding dress shouldn’t be a costume — it should be an extra-special version of you.
2. Keep an inspiration board of images you are drawn to. You will start seeing trends in your photos, like if you love lace or favor a dropped waist.

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3. Pursue one strong design concept, one statement, and go with it. Don’t try to cram every good idea you’ve ever had into one dress. That wouldn’t be a pretty dress!
4. Ask questions. There should be a very open dialogue between designer and client, especially when designing a custom gown. Good communication leads to the best dress.

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5. Take accurate measurements. If you can’t or don’t want to go to a professional for measurements, you should ask for a measurement guide and have someone to help you. Although your fiance is the greatest guy in the world, before asking for his help, think about if he is good with details and being thorough. If not, find someone who is.
6. Make sure the design process is not a guessing game. When ordering a custom dress, client and designer should be on the same page before scissors touch fabric.

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7. Be flexible. Your dressmaker is likely either professionally trained or has made enough dresses to know what may or may not work for your dress. If you read all of their feedback, love everything in their shop, and like their style, you should try to give them the overall look you want and let them add their designer touch.
8. Get comfortable. Don’t get too caught up in all the glitz; you don’t have to spend a fortune. The most important thing is to wear a dress that suits your body and that you feel comfortable in. There’s nothing worse than an uncomfortable bride.

Dress by Motil Fine Design | Shop Similar Styles
9. Remember, custom is possible at any price point. If you’re on a budget, try adding custom details to a simple dress; vintage lace, silk flowers, hand beading, or adding buttons down the back can really set a dress apart without too much time and expense. Adding or changing straps is another simple alteration that can contribute a lot of custom flair.
10. Don’t obsess. If you love a dress, that usually means you should buy it — don’t think about it for too long.

Dress by Rebecca Schoneveld | Shop Similar Styles
11. In the end, it’s all about the fit. No matter what your budget, it’s really worth it to invest in a skilled alterations seamstress. A dress that fits you beautifully will always look dynamite.
Looking for more tips for ordering a custom gown? Read our full interview with dress designers Katie Jean, Elizabeth Dye(of The English Dept.), and Megan (of Grace Loves Lace) here.
1 Featured Comment
Lynelle Miliate-Ha from FalconandFinch said 6 years ago Featured
Etsy made it completely possible to have a bespoke wedding dress created for me on my very limited budget. I ordered mine from the wonderful Miss Brache, based on a tea length, vintage style pattern she had already created. I provided yards of vintage, embroidered French silk, and my measurements, and a few specific details, and I ended up with a gorgeous, high quality, one of a kind gown that was exactly what I wanted. When the dress arrived (from the other side of the country, of course) it took one little trip to my neighborhood alterations person and it fit perfectly. My only regret is that I only wore it once!
101 comments
Thom Aten from Circa810 said 6 years ago
There is so much talent on Etsy it is mind boggling ... Beautiful ideas for the bride to be. Thanks For Sharing
Victoria from Masonbottles said 6 years ago
I wish I had this information when I was getting married. Great tips!
Megan from MegansMenagerie said 6 years ago
These are such helpful tips! Sometimes you just know its the one :)
Rick Lee from QiQiDresses said 6 years ago
Great shareing!
Katyooshjewelry jewelry from Kattyoosh said 6 years ago
Beautiful dresses ! Great to see you featured! Congratulations!!!
Piper Pixie from PiperPixieDesigns said 6 years ago
╔╗───────╔╗╔╦═╗ ║╚╦═╦═╗╔╦╣╚╬╣═╬╦╦╗ ║╬║╩╣╬╚╣║║╔╣║╔╣║║╚╗ ╚═╩═╩══╩═╩═╩╩╝╚═╩═╝ Wish Etsy had been around when I got married... But maybe a second one for our 20th anniversary is in order;)
Piper Pixie from PiperPixieDesigns said 6 years ago
My keyboard's gone crazy! Think I hit paste. ooops
MJ Toops from WetDesertVintage said 6 years ago
A great article. I love to sew a bit here and there but I am truly impressed by the craft and attention to detail in these gowns. What a beautiful treasure to create for a bride.
nlbgrammy from Qt2t said 6 years ago
Wonderful tips on custom fit dresses!!!
TheFigLeaf from TheFigLeaf said 6 years ago
Oh so beautiful!!
Renata and Jonathan from RenataandJonathan said 6 years ago
Great tips!
Dorothy from JewelrybyDorothy said 6 years ago
Gorgeous!
Laurie Lewis from ShopHedgerowRose said 6 years ago
So much pretty here!
Cristy Ramos from ArtisanBathandBody said 6 years ago
Wonderful tips!
Xiu Li from Bridalize said 6 years ago
Wonderful tips. Fit and comfort is as important as the overall look. =)
happybdaytome from happybdaytome said 6 years ago
Cool !
Katrina Dzerkale from Dominna said 6 years ago
great tips, thank you.
Amy Gunderson from amysfunkyfibers said 6 years ago
Gorgeous! It's so important to be comfortable on your wedding day!
Natalia from Nikifashion said 6 years ago
Nice dresses!
Jeanne B from PruAtelier said 6 years ago
Perfect advice! I would also add - having done a few dresses myself - not to let too many opinions of friends, family, relatives and others influence your decision as you will be going around in circles becoming more confused as time goes on. It's one thing to have another opinion or two from only those whose opinions are truly objective...take it and value it, but ultimately you will be the one wearing and celebrating in the dress. In a time of stress for many brides to be, conflicting opinions and arguments on how YOUR dress should be, brings nothing but heartache when it should be a time of joy and celebration!
Jeanne B from PruAtelier said 6 years ago
I forgot to add that you will be saving the designer/dressmaker from pulling her hair out too having to change the design to suit all the opinions!
Kalisa L. from MuchandQuick said 6 years ago
Another tip might be to remember that with a custom dress, you are not relegated to what others might consider a "proper" wedding dress! Look washed out in white? Go for a color that suits you! Don't want a traditional Western style wedding dress? There are a bajillion Etsy sellers that can offer you saris, kimonos, fairy/pirate/zombie costumes, pant suits, whatever you can think of! I was honestly a little surprised to see only white dresses used as examples (all of them beautiful and exquisite, don't get me wrong) for this article when Etsy sellers can go so far beyond the norm.
kaylali from B2KDesign said 6 years ago
Beautiful!
Lowe Jewelry from lowelowejewelry said 6 years ago
Adorable !
AGORAA from AGORAA said 6 years ago
all so beautiful!!
Aga from AgasJourney said 6 years ago
gorgeous dresses !
accentonvintage from accentonvintage said 6 years ago
Beautiful selections!
Kim from RiverHomeVintage said 6 years ago
All great advice...yes, don't obsess...if you love a dress then buy it!
Marta DQ from tribomo said 6 years ago
They are all beautiful but I totally agree with Kalisa L. (some posts above) !
Lynelle Miliate-Ha from FalconandFinch said 6 years ago Featured
Etsy made it completely possible to have a bespoke wedding dress created for me on my very limited budget. I ordered mine from the wonderful Miss Brache, based on a tea length, vintage style pattern she had already created. I provided yards of vintage, embroidered French silk, and my measurements, and a few specific details, and I ended up with a gorgeous, high quality, one of a kind gown that was exactly what I wanted. When the dress arrived (from the other side of the country, of course) it took one little trip to my neighborhood alterations person and it fit perfectly. My only regret is that I only wore it once!
Lilladesigns from LillaDesigns said 6 years ago
Beautiful dresses illustrated with wonderful photos. Great article with very useful tips to help that special day memorable for life. Well-done!
Victoria from VictoriaCampAllison said 6 years ago
These dresses are so beautiful! A custom gown is so much more special than something mass produced, not to mention the benefits - for them and you! - of working directly with the designer.
Zeynep from ZeyJewel said 6 years ago
Great to see you featured! Congratulations!!!
Mark Houlihan from SideOrderofHooli said 6 years ago
My sister is getting married next year- how much do these generally cost?
Kerry Stokes from KerryAnnStokes said 6 years ago
great advice for bride-to-bes!
Shop Zoetic from ShopZoetic said 6 years ago
Stunning gowns!
Sabina from myheavenlydesigns said 6 years ago
I really enjoyed reading this special feature. There are so many gorgeous hand made wedding dresses here on Etsy, and talented people just waiting to make that dream dress come true. Beautiful!
Katie Porterfield from flowersnstars said 6 years ago
These are wonderful tips and beautiful dresses!!
Sukran Kirtis from SukranKirtisJewelry said 6 years ago
Gorgeous pieces
Nicole from KarmaCodeOne said 6 years ago
talented and beyond ~ brave brides and trusted vendors go hand in hand
Kathy Johnson from kathyjohnson3 said 6 years ago
Beautiful dresses, but don't forget about your hair and shoe accessories!!! I Love weddings and making the bride feel like a princess on her wedding day! You can really put together a gorgeous wedding on a small budget with all the wonderful vendors here on Etsy who are so willing to work with the bridal party to make the whole day special and fun!! I LOVE Etsy!
Balea-Raitz from LorenasLaceDesigns said 6 years ago
Gorgeous dresses and shops!
Michelle from twobloomsds said 6 years ago
Pretty gowns and great tips.
Vivi Chu from embroideryphotos said 6 years ago
Amazing work!!!
lunahoo from lunahoo said 6 years ago
Gorgeous wedding dresses! I love how Etsy dressmakers can add value to the wedding fashion sector.
Bangkokpants Pants from bangkokpants said 6 years ago
So stunning
Gail from SavoyFaire said 6 years ago
Do not give sizing too early! The biggest issues is they want their dress now but hold them off if they could lose or gain weight along the way as well as due to style, color and so many other changes that will happen! So many times my brides have said thank goodness you didn't let me send for this already! Limiting your wedding posse's input is another great tip already mentioned but I cannot stress that enough!
Elisa from FleurDeLisArtGlass said 6 years ago
Great and practical tips with beautiful dresses!
literacy2007 said 6 years ago
When I had a custom wedding dress designed and made for me 25 years ago, I chose the reasonably-priced option of having a mock-up dress made out of muslin before the real dress was made. That way, if I didn't like the design on me, I could change it without much expense.
stormi simonson said 6 years ago
I got married April 19th of 2014, I I had Gail , from etsy make my dress! Gail makes hand made wedding gowns and more! I wanted flair sleeves put on the dress. Gail said she has never made the dress I picked with sleeves but she would try it! Gail picked the perfect material and made it work! My dress is beautiful! I had a traditional wedding and wanted a some what simple but beautiful dress. Turned every head! I have had many compliments on my gown. People ask to borrow it often. I have not done that because I am saving my gown for my daughters. I do tell them to go to etsy homemade gowns by Gail! Gail has unbelievable prices on her gowns, can't beat it! The sleeves she added for me that she has never done before made a huge difference to the gown I picked and made my wedding day wonderful! Gail, thank you so much for making such a beautiful gown! The gown is what everyone waits to see, I felt like a princess! Hand made vintage gowns by Gail is the way to go!! She will work with you and do all she can to make the dress of your dreams!! My dress is the fairy tail wedding gown, check it out on etsy hand made gowns ! Thank you Gail !!!!!
literacy2007 said 6 years ago
Tell the designer at the outset what your budget is and ask what he or she can do within that budget. Don't mortgage the house for a dress you will wear once. If you do have your gown custom-made, you may also want to have your bridesmaids' dresses custom-made. That way, you can ensure that the design of their dresses complements your bridal gown. Their bridesmaids dresses shouldn't be copies of the wedding gown but should coordinate with it. They could, for example, be made out of the same fabric but in a color, and could "echo" a design detail such as a dropped waist.
Donna Davis from sewandso said 6 years ago
My answer to Mark Houlihan and others who want to know good prices for bespoke gowns and other clothing: Check my prices. If you can add up all the seams, hems, layers, and fabric, you will have a good ballpark figure of the price for labor. Don't forget shipping. There should be about two complete sets of shipping charges for a perfect fit (one to you, one back to the seamstress, and another round trip -- and maybe a third is the gown is tight). http://sewandso.wordpress.com/sew-so-current-price-list/
Olivia and Abby from TinyForestPrints said 6 years ago
Great tips! And the dresses are gorgeous!
Becky Lee Evans from GoingApeCostume said 6 years ago
I cannot emphasize enough that when you have any custom clothing made, you have someone else who is detail oriented take the measurements for you. I often make clothes for clients who order over the internet. In the contract in big bold letters I state that if they take their own measurements I cannot guarantee fit. This is because the lifting of your arms to take some of them can have measurements off by several inches. I make clothes by the measurements given. Good measuring means good fit.
Katie Baker from GracefulAndElegant said 6 years ago
I love these dresses. They are so pretty!
Camelot Vintage from camelotvintage said 6 years ago
Great Advice! Keep it simple and stress free. Nothing is more elegant than clean simple lines.. vintage or custom.
Nadia Morgan from Felt4Soul said 6 years ago
Wow!
Irene from Erinbonnie said 6 years ago
beautiful!
Cha Cha Louise from chachalouise said 6 years ago
great points.. especially the last.... as we designers do our best with measurements.. nothing beats a local skilled seamstress for nips and tucks.
Mandy Spivey from TastefullyMismatched said 6 years ago
Yes yes and yes!
Madap creations said 6 years ago
I Have seen your Blog its about Wedding Dress Which Looks Awesome than k you for sharing with us. http://www.melbournemandapcreations.com.au/
Libivee from Libivee said 6 years ago
Great tips and lovely dresses!
Calandra lee said 6 years ago
highqualitybuy.com offers products in many categories of wedding dresses,wedding party dresses,special occasion dresses,women's clothes and other widely high quality products at attractive price.
KatsKube from JamellaDaisy said 6 years ago
Perfect dress for a perfect day. Good tips.
Elena Vorobey from ElenaVorobey said 6 years ago
perfect :)
Avianti Jewelry from AviantiJewelry said 6 years ago
So fabulous! Have to keep this in mind when it's my turn to buy one. Thank you for sharing!
Jennifer Serene from ViennaIsLove said 6 years ago
Makes me want to go wedding dress shopping again!
Daniel Bryan said 6 years ago
Great tips to share and learn a lot. www.ClothingRIC.com
Sirikuwan Thipkum from tantawanlights said 6 years ago
Nice !!
Fallsvale Crochet from FallsvaleCrochet said 6 years ago
Loved the article, thanks for sharing!
Rick Lee from QiQiDresses said 6 years ago
Great Tips! Thanks to share!
Jenna Keller from LoveJennaK said 6 years ago
These are wonderful tips!
Lorraine Layman from LorraineBridal said 6 years ago
I love the first suggestion to check your closet for styles you like and wear. Having a similar style dress made with bridal fabrics, lace and trims can be a great way to reflect your personality, and know that the dress will look perfect...for you.
vicky zou from Angelonlinedress said 6 years ago
very good
Natalia from KMalinkaVintage said 6 years ago
Beautiful wedding dresses!
Valena2011 from PeraMantica said 6 years ago
Nice!
Mirela Lace Wedding from Laremi said 6 years ago
Lovely wedding dresses!
YZfashionbridal Inc from YZFashionBridal said 6 years ago
Lovely wedding dresses!
Dot-te-juju from DotteJuju said 6 years ago
Beautiful
Esther from BaysideStudios said 6 years ago
Thanks for sharing these tips; great for sharing with customers to help guide them. I love giving a personal touch to dresses, often including embroidered secrets or messages on the underlayers for the bride.
Mandy Spivey from TastefullyMismatched said 6 years ago
These are great tips!
FrenchPaperMoon Gelman from FrenchPaperMoon said 6 years ago
Wish I had this when I got married!
Lalita P from EtKrafts said 6 years ago
Great tips. One more option for the more creative is to design your own dress and getting it made from re-cycled Indian sari. Not only it reduces cost dramatically, the fabrics are also absolutely gorgeous. And you do your bit to the environment.
J Thompson from ForgetMeNotandCo said 6 years ago
great advice. https://www.etsy.com/shop/ForgetMeNotandCo
Amber from BambuEarth said 6 years ago
This is a great read! Number 3 and number 11 are especially good tips!
Ngoc Tran from leTsmarRy said 6 years ago
Best way to save time. Thank you so much for sharing.
Aleksandra Marosevic from Rozenhandmade said 6 years ago
Wonderful and concisely written, a lot of good information that are necessary for future brides in choosing their wedding dress . Dresses that are shown are excellent, simple but effective. Each in its own way beautiful and special. With some lovely accessories such as hair accessories and jewelry are a great choice. :)
Lina from svartlilja said 6 years ago
Pretty risky thing especially if you do it right before the specal day! If I would ever decide to start to make the wedding dresses I would prefer an empire style as it can be also used by pregnant brides!
Kim McKellips from Dressmesewchic said 6 years ago
I am a newbie here, just open my non-traditional bridal dress shop last month. I enjoy reading this wedding blog. Yes, for custom dress, precise measurements help dressmaker to create a proper fitted dress, follow the guide on how to measure, best is to have someone help you measure. Talk to your dressmaker if you need help. Custom made or ready made dresses sometime still need some alterations here or there to get the perfect fit.
Avianti Jewelry from AviantiJewelry said 6 years ago
This is perfect knowledge for buyers and sellers! Great advice!
HappyEverAfter from FairyParadise said 6 years ago
Thanks for the helpful tips!
Petranka Zdravkova from PepiZ said 5 years ago
so great tips:)
Mirela Lace Wedding from Laremi said 5 years ago
Good to know!
UNEMPLOYED Custom Orders Wanted USA Made Superhero Cufflinks Wedding Jewelry from boloties said 5 years ago
Wonderful tips!
Jack Wang from silkfabricforsale said 5 years ago
So good, Make wedding by silk fabric
Felipa Hanson from CardsinStock said 5 years ago
Stunning gowns, helpful tips.
Yushi Zhao from TDJasmine said 5 years ago
amazing!
sheusestngerins said 5 years ago
Hey Etsy-- friendly reminder not to assume that a bride's fiance is a man!
David Masamitsu said 4 years ago
David is my fiancé, I am C.j. I am looking for a belle epic style gown with embroidery and very sheer ivory cotton fabric. I would like the gown to be made in the era of the early 1900s late 1800s tea gown that is full length either full length or three quarter length sleeves. If I can't find a gown that is vintage (already made that fits me), I would like to find someone who can make it who understand historical clothing of that era. Thank you, c.j.
Gazzelle Champy said 3 years ago
Excellent advise, I believe that if you only custom make one garment in your lifetime, let it be your Wedding Gown! The process is easy when you work with a professional who you trust and relate to their style and good taste. https://www.ciampibridals.com/custom-made-bridal-gowns
Rivoli Bijoux from FrivoliteWeddingArt said 1 year ago
Great article! Very good tips! Lace is always very gentle and feminine! Coco Chanel said: "I consider lace to be one of prettiest imitations ever made of the fantasy of nature." For any wedding dress, I will help you find great lace jewelry! They are very light and comfortable. Tatting lace jewelry is always feminine and elegant! And elegance will always be in trend! You will be inimitable!