Hello 2023 and welcome to my blog on how to choose between a Bespoke or RTW wedding dress! I had a fabulous day yesterday meeting new brides at a Swan Valley Twilight Expo, and a question that came up is, “I’m not sure if I want RTW or BESPOKE wedding dress?” So, here’s my 5 tips to help you decide…
- Understand your BODY SHAPE
- Know the best STYLE for your body shape
- Set your THEME for your wedding day
- Decide on your Wedding BUDGET together
- Relieve the “Stress of the Dress”
Now let me expand on each of these for you…
1. Understand your BODY SHAPE
To me this is the foundation to a successful and confident bridal experience. We are all unique with different proportions and instead of pretending we are not, rather embrace it and work with it! By doing this you will find a style that flatters and enhances you in the best possible way. The 5 main body shapes that I work with are, Hourglass, Pear, Apple, Rectangle and Inverted Triangle (opposite of Pear).
I recently spoke to Melody Edmondson (published author of “The Space of the Waist”) on Voice America Variety Channel on this topic and if you’d like to hear more, grab your favourite beverage and sit back for an hour and listen here.
2. The best STYLE for YOU
Once you understand your particular figure the next step is understanding which styles work to flatter you in the best way. The objective is to create balance and the illusion of the desired hour-glass figure.
So if you’re a “Pear Shape” you want to add volume to your upper body and if you’re the opposite an “Inverted Triangle” then you want to give the illusion of narrower shoulders and wider hips to give a better balance between the top and bottom. (More on this in next month’s blog.)
By understanding your BODY SHAPE and STYLE for your figure you will be able to go to your bridal appointments with a really clear idea about what will work best for you.
3. Your Wedding Day THEME
This is a topic you and your partner should go over in detail so that each of your personal styles are carried through to the smallest of details. The 2023 trends are Romantic, Rustic, Modern/Minimalist, Boho or Classic/Traditional. Your dress or outfit should not only reflect who you are but also be in harmony with the wedding theme you choose. If you’re feeling a bit clueless follow a few wedding planners to see what each style represents and find one that excites you both. To make it easy for you, here’s a few of my favourite Perth wedding planners, each with their own unique style, Etta Mae Decor, Chandelabra Weddings and Jem Wedding Planners.
4. Decide on your Wedding BUDGET
This can always be one of the hardest but one of the most important topics to cover right at the beginning of your wedding planning! On average Australian couples will go 26% over their initial budget, so bear that in mind too.
Once you’ve set your budget, allocate amounts to each category and this will give you a really great guide when choosing suppliers that match with you, not only in their style but in their pricing too. Some of the main categories to consider are, Venue, Photo/Video, Celebrant, Bridal Attire (Bride & Groom), Bridal Party Attire (not always covered by the couple), Catering, Florals, Wedding Planner, Music, Cars, Hair & Makeup and lastly the Honeymoon.
If you’re able to invest $4500+ on your dress, then Bespoke can be an option for you and if not then the RTW (Ready to Wear) dresses are your best bet. Be sure to remember that ordering a RTW dress does not include the alteration fees (often up to $900) and be sure to allow an extra couple of months in case their order book is full.
5. Relieve the “Stress of the Dress”
Once you have booked your venue and set your date be sure to book your celebrant, photographer, videographer and begin to look for your perfect dress! Remember my first 4 tips and be sure to not compromise on them.
It can take several bridal store appointments for you to “Say Yes to the Dress” and by starting early (I recommend 12 months +) if you don’t find “The One” that makes your heart skip a beat, you will still have time to create a BESPOKE one with your favourite Designer. This way you can include all of the elements that will make your dress totally and uniquely YOU!
I hope this blog helps you gain a bit more clarity as I know how overwhelming it can all feel! If you’d love to get even more clarity, simply connect with me on my Socials Instagram or Facebook and I’ll be happy to guide you through any confusion you may be having!
With love, Jo xx