Allow around eight months from order to a fully altered, ready-to-wear dress. A designer gown is made to order in your measurements, and most designers work to a production window of four to six months, followed by roughly eight weeks of alterations with a seamstress we recommend. That is why we consistently advise placing your order at least eight months before your wedding day — but if your date is closer than that, do not assume it is hopeless.
The standard timeline
When you choose a dress from one of our designer collections here in Colchester, you are choosing a made-to-order gown. The designer produces it specifically for you — in your measurements, in the colourway you selected — and that takes time. Most work to four to six months, though it varies with the season and how busy a particular label is. Then comes alterations. Unless a dress fits perfectly straight from the hanger, which is genuinely rare, there will be some work to do: taking in the sides, adjusting the length, adding a bustle for the reception. We can recommend a trusted local seamstress, and you should allow around eight weeks including your fittings.
What if your wedding is closer than eight months away?
First, breathe. This is more common than you might imagine, and it is not the disaster it can feel like at two o’clock in the morning. Some designers offer rush orders that shorten production, sometimes significantly, and we will tell you honestly what is available and at what cost.
But the option that surprises many brides most is our Ready to Wear collection. We hold over five hundred wedding dresses in store at any one time, many available to buy and take home with a much shorter lead time. These are not lesser gowns — they are full designer pieces, beautiful and varied, and they are a real solution when time is against you.
Tia Butler knows this better than most. She came to us with just three months to go, having made the difficult decision to cancel a dress ordered elsewhere. She was, in her words, “stressed and overwhelmed.” But with Gemma’s help — taking time to understand her personality, her style, the wedding she was planning — Tia found a dress she loved even more. “Gemma went above and beyond to help me find my dream dress.” Three months, the right person helping, and a story with a wonderful ending.
A note on sizing
Bridal sizing works differently from the high street. Designer charts have their own scale, and it is common to order a size or two larger than you normally wear — nothing more than how the charts work. Please never order smaller in the hope of fitting into it later. A dress can be reduced by up to three sizes during alterations but only expanded by around one, so getting the starting size right genuinely matters. Your stylist will guide you through it calmly.
The one thing we would always say is this: please do not wait until you feel certain before getting in touch. An honest conversation costs nothing and will almost always leave you calmer than before you picked up the phone. Call us on 01206 577756 or book your appointment. Browse the bridal collection first if you like.