How it works

Further Information on our wedding dress service

Bespoke Wedding Dresses – appointment only

Ellie creates all the designs within our boutique. She works with you to design any wedding dress required (within dressmaking limitations) and at your first consultation will discuss styles and designs that you like, suit you and fit the theme of your wedding.

Designing a bespoke Ellie & Charlotte wedding dress allows you to input your ideas from the initial consultation. The design then organically develops; allowing you to enjoy the whole experience of having your wedding dress designed and made just for you.

Dress fittings: Appointments last one hour and fittings take place in a private fitting area out of sight of the main boutique (there is room to bring some friends and family) so your experience of having a dress made is a personal one.This service includes three to five fittings. Prices start from £2500.

NEW: As fair-trade and Green Weddings are becoming more important to brides, and it’s something that Ellie & Charlotte support, we do offer an organic and fair-trade silk fabric range.

Made to Measure – appointment only

Choose a dress from our contemporary wedding dress collection in your choice of silk and we will make it to your measurements. This service includes three to four fittings.Prices start from £1850.

We also offer an electic mix of veils, shoes, accessories and under garments. Everything you need to complement your dress.

Definitions

Toile (twaal) • noun an early version of a finished garment made up in calico material so that the design can be tested. ORIGIN French, ‘cloth, web’

The toile is our working pattern and the starting point for any of our bespoke dresses. Alterations and adjustments will be made in calico before proceeding into the silk fabric of your choice.

Silk Fitting When referring to a silk fitting we are referring to any fitting where your dress/outfit will be tried on and fitted in the final silk fabric.

How the process works:

1. Free Consultation

Free 1hr consultation where you meet Ellie & Charlotte, discuss your ideas, look through fabric samples and colours and most importantly try on dresses to see different styles on. Ellie will sketch various designs so you can visualise your dress and take your measurements.

From this consultation you will walk away knowing what your dress will look like with suggestions of fabric it will be made in and how much it will cost.

2. Confirmation

Once you have confirmed that you want Ellie & Charlotte to make your dress we require a 40% deposit to secure your order and we will organise your first fitting. We will also order a selection of fabric samples (discussed at consultation stage) so you can finalise fabric choice for your dress.

3. Garment Fittings

Items required for your 1st fitting - the undergarments you intend to wear with the dress (your choice of undergarment is discussed at consultation, as it depends on design and body shape). It is very important that we shape your dress around the undergarment and the shape it gives you. You will need to bring the undergarments along to every fitting.

1st Toile Fitting - Your first fitting will be a calico toile of your dress. It will be made to your basic body measurements (taken at consultation stage). This is our working pattern. Alterations will be done whilst you are wearing the toile; they will be discussed with you and if you have any questions about the design or alterations we will explain them to you.

Items required before we move into the silk fittings - Shoes, you will need to know what shoes you will be wearing (for heel height) before we will order the fabric to make sure we have enough length for the hem.

Silk Fittings - This is when your dress comes to life - you will be able to visualise the dress we designed and sketched for you at the consultation. The dress will not be finished at this stage, but you will be able to see how the fabric falls, how it fits your figure and how it feels.

Alterations will be done to ensure a perfect fit and the fastening (buttons, zips, ribbon) will be added, the neckline and armholes or sleeve hems (pending design) will be completed so your dress will be ready for the final fitting, the hem fitting. This process can be spread over 1 to 3 silk fittings, depending on the dress design.

Hem Fitting - You will need to bring your shoes for this fitting. Often at this final fitting clients like to bring along all their accessories and jewellery to try on with their dress - this is the last fitting before you collect your finished dress.

At the hem fitting we double check everything on your dress is perfect and prepare the hem to the correct length.

4. Dress Collection

Your dress will be pressed and put in a garment bag ready for you to take away.

Final payment is required one week before collection.

This is a general overview of how we work. As each dress is made individual the procedure may vary.

Ellie & Charlotte offer a beautiful selection of shoes, veils, accessories and undergarments that can be chosen to complement your dress. These items are ordered in time for your silk fittings.

Questions often asked

Payment?
40% deposit is required to confirm your dress orderThe outstanding balance is required when collecting your dress. You can pay with credit/debit card, cheque & cash.

What if I change my mind on the design?
We can accommodate small changes to your dress design before the silk dress is made; this is all part of the organic process. If you make radical changes to your initial design mid way through, then the process starts again –a charge would apply to cover the costs as we may need to draft a new pattern.We want you to be happy with every part of your dress and for you to enjoy having a dress designed and made especially for you.

How long does it take?
The timescale for making your dress is based on each individual. We use a guideline of 6 months for a wedding dress and 3 months for bridesmaids’ dresses, eveningwear and mother of the bride, but we have made dresses in two weeks before! As we design and make everything in-house (our workshop is at the back of the boutique) we can work to any time scale; it will just depend on our workload at the time as we can only make a certain number of garments per month to ensure you receive the best service possible.

How are the dresses priced?
Each bespoke item is priced individually. The price is determined by: The complexity of the design - whether it’s based on a design that already exists (from collection) with alterations or if it’s bespoke.Which fabric you choose for your dress

We always recommend arranging a free consultation as once we have a clear understanding of what you want we can tell you how much it will cost.

We hope this page explains more about how we work, if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us.