John and I are coming up on our 1 year wedding anniversary - and I frankly cannot believe this much time as passed since we tied the knot! (Can time slow down please?) Our wedding day was honestly the best day ever but if I am being truthful with you all, I am thankful the planning part is over.
One of my favourite parts however, as I am sure is common for a lot of brides, was picking my dress. I have always considered my fashion sense to be a projection of my personality and a way for me to express myself in the world, so I knew from day one I did not want an ordinary dress.
I started with looking at gowns online for inspiration, from Pinterest, Google, Designer websites and more with no avail. For me, too many of the dresses were built for taller women and did not offer the fairy-tale look I was going for when planning my wedding. Many were way out of my price range for something I did not love and others simply were too generic.
That's when I decided to contact Kaitlyn Mae Bridal about quoting a custom gown.
Crazy, I know right? But not really.
From the first moment I contacted her, Kaitlyn was incredibly professional and easy to work with. She assured me that she could design the dress of my dreams and I was sold. Having my gown custom made was one of the best decisions I made in regards to my wedding (other than marrying John of course, haha!) Benefits included but are not limited to:
1) The dress was made to fit me and only me. This meant I had no issues with finding a gown that I did not drown in. So many of the gown styles were not made with someone like me in mind. Standing only 5' was making dress shopping shockingly difficult and would have resulted in a lot of money being spent on altering any gown I did end up choosing.
I also found that although I could get the hem brought up, this would not have addressed the issue of balance and proportion. Due to the fact my legs are shorter than my torso, in combination with the height problem, most dresses I tried on simply looked wrong. In getting my gown designed to fit me, I avoided all of these issues.
2) Pockets. Seriously. Though I have seen it as a trend on many bridal websites and magazines, actually finding a dress with pockets was nearing impossible while I was looking. I know it seems unconventional to have pockets in your wedding dress, but for me it was a really big want and Kaitlyn included this detail for me without question.
3) Uniqueness. There literally is not another dress in the world like mine. There may be some that are similar, but in essence, my dress is a snowflake. The most common compliment I have received about my dress is how "me" it is. My wedding dress screams "Emily" whenever someone looks at it. To me, it's a representation of my princess attitude, unconventional style and a dash of innocent bad-assery. If the dresses in the stores do not speak to your personal style, I highly recommend you consider having one designed for you.
4) The process. For many, dress shopping is the highlight of wedding planning. I know for others, it can become the bane of their existence. One of the things I enjoyed most about my experience of having my gown made was the process. From the initial consultation and brainstorming, to design finalizations, mock dresses, dress fittings, anticipation and seeing the final product; there were so many amazing parts of Kaitlyn's service experience. If you love the feeling of being taken care of and getting exactly what you want; having your gown designed might be for you. It was truly so fun.
5) The Final Product. I mean, the gown really speaks for itself. From the surprise pearl buttons that matched my grandmother's necklace, to the details in the hem, it was very obvious from the moment I laid eyes on my finished gown that a great deal of care and work went into the final product. Worth every penny. Cinderella can eat her heart out, 'cuz she ain't got nothing on me!
6) You get exactly what you want. For me this was the biggie. I am normally an incredibly frugal person. Couponing, canning, DIY, budgets, thrifting and generally obsessing over my bank account are my jam. Therefore whenever I make financial decisions, they are not made lightly. If I am going to be dishing out the dollars, I want to make sure my investment is in something I am 100% sure on. As an accountant, John is the same way which is one of the many reasons we make such an awesome team. (For example, this is the reason we chose Sophie from @rawfootagephotography to be our photographer!) So, when it came to my dress, the best part of having a custom gown was the assurance I was getting something that was exactly what I wanted, and being able to have a say every step of the way.
Kaitlyn was so accommodating with all of my requests, such as adding a second skirt for the reception and creating a full skirt with as few layers as possible. She made sure I was clear and constantly informed on the process and progress of my gown. You can tell that she puts a lot of time, creativity and consideration into each piece she makes. She wanted to make sure I was satisfied and excited at every point in the process. (Can you tell I am a big fan of Kaitlyn? 10/10, would recommend!)
So there you go. My thoughts on why you should consider having a custom gown made. It may not be for everyone but it worked out wonderfully for me. Looks are not number one in my life, but it was important to me to look and feel my best on our wedding day. John entering my life was seriously like Prince Charming riding in on his noble steed and Kaitlyn Mae Bridal ensured all my dreams came true while we celebrated our fairy-tale.
Until next time,
xo Emily
Gown: Kaitlyn Mae Bridal
Photographer: Sophie Sheldrick from Raw Footage Photography
MUA: Alex MacKay
Hair: Christie Murray