The unique process of designing and creating
your
custom wedDing gown
At Daci Gowns, your wedding dress inspiration, ideas and dreams are brought to life:
ONE AT A TIME
ONE OF A KIND
As a designer bridal boutique, we work with a few custom brides every year.
The ‘custom wedding gown’ is the dress that is designed and created from scratch for the bride that has a specific dress in mind and she cannot find it anywhere. We work with a few custom brides every year. Daci will create the custom wedding dress of your dreams, for you and with you. Every aspect of this bridal gown will be customized to reflect your vision.
1. DESIGNING YOUR DREAM CUSTOM WEDDING DRESS
Initial Consultation
The custom wedding dress design process begins with a one-on-one consultation with Daci. The consultation will take place over Face-time, through e-mail or at Daci Gowns bridal boutique, whichever you prefer.
The ideal time to reach out for a custom wedding dress is at least 12 months before your wedding. (If your wedding is less the 12 months away please take a look at our bridal collection. Processing times for Daci’s collection wedding dresses is 4 to 6 months in average.)
The custom wedding gowns average between $6,000 - $8,000.
For the consultation please gather all your wedding dress ideas and inspiration. You will discuss your favorite dress silhouettes, styles, textiles and colors. During the consultation Daci will get to know you, understand your vision and help you narrow down the design and style of your dream dress.
After the initial consultation, when you decide to move forward with the design process Daci will start to design and and then create your dream dress.
Daci will take a week to ten days to design and draw sketches of your wedding dress. She will research and gather silks and laces for you to choose from. You will be part of the dress designing process to the smallest detail.
2. CREATING YOUR DREAM CUSTOM WEDDING DRESS
Timelines
After the custom wedding dress is purchased, and the dress design is finalized, Daci and her team will start creating your dream dress. Daci will create a custom fitting timeline for you. The fittings will take place over Face-time, emails or at the Daci Gowns bridal boutique in Boise.
Measurements
Daci will guide you over Face-time how to take your own measurements. We can also send over email the instructions how to measure yourself. If you are a Boise bride Daci will take your measurements in person. We will then begin to create your custom dress. The dress will perfectly fit your size and measurements.
Dress fit and dress design
While creating your dream custom wedding dress we will first focus on how the dress fits. A dress pattern will be created making sure the wedding dress will fit you perfectly. After the fit is completed we will move on to finalizing the custom wedding dress design.
Fittings
We will need 1 to 3 virtual or in person fittings to create and finalize your dream dress. The fittings will take place over Face-time or at ‘Daci Gowns’ bridal boutique. Some custom wedding gowns require an in-person fitting. On average, the fittings are 6-8 weeks apart, which gives Daci and her team to time to work on your custom dress. There will be photos, videos and emails sent during this time. The virtual or in person fittings are generally 30 minutes to one hour long.
Custom gown virtual fittings:
The first fitting is to make sure the pattern we created fits you perfectly. Daci will have the custom dress on the dress form in your size.
The second fitting is what we call a ‘design fitting’. This is when all the fine design details of your custom dream dress unfold. Every design feature comes together at this point. Daci will show you your custom dress, live on the dress-form and you will discuss all the design details.
The third fitting is a week before we ship the dress to you. You will see your finalized custom dream dress one last tome on the dress-form.
Custom gown in person fittings:
The first fitting is to make sure the pattern we created fits you perfectly.
The second fitting is what we call a ‘design fitting’. This is when all the fine design details of your custom dream dress unfold. Every design feature comes together at this point.
The third fitting is when you come try on and pick up your finalized custom dream dress.
A few other details you might want to know
about the custom gown process
A few of our out of state brides come to Boise for the ‘design fitting’.
Whether virtual or an in-person fitting Daci will ensure that your dress fits you flawlessly by the time it's completed.
At the in person final fitting most brides will get their hair and makeup done and bring a few guests to celebrate. At this time, you will also receive the original dress sketch with the final updates of your gown, signed by Daci.
At request, after you receive the dress we can schedule a FaceTime with Daci when you first try the dress on.
Please also read our Terms, Policy and Delivery Times.
Whether your dream wedding gown is a custom couture experience or one of Daci’s bridal collection designs, the detail, quality and timelessness of your wedding dress will be unmatched.
Bride Jessica, ontario - Canada
Below is a testimonial from our bride Jessica, who traveled from Ontario, Canada for her bridal fitting:
“Daci's passion for designing wedding gowns is evident the moment you meet her. Her every word conveys how much she loves what she does, and how much she cares for her dresses and the brides that are lucky enough to wear them.
When I initially reached out to Daci, I was trying to decide between a gown that was fitted, and a gown that would be light, flowy, and able to billow in the Icelandic winds - the location of our elopement. Daci assured me we could create a dress that would suit everything I had ever wanted, and then some - and exceed expectations she did.
Daci designed for me a gorgeous, fitted lace dress with detachable lace sleeves, and an overskirt with several panels of hand-dyed ivory and blush silk. At the final fitting we decided to add a bridal cape with the same lace as my dress and silk panels that were slightly more blush than on the overskirt. I felt like I had several stunning dresses - all built into a one-of-a-kind, custom dress, created just for me.
Daci was incredibly kind, thoughtful, and professional in all our interactions. Since I do not live in the USA, we had to correspond through email and meet a few times over zoom to discuss the dress and take my measurements. When my mom and I flew out to meet Daci for the fittings, I couldn't believe how perfectly the dress fit me. You could tell it was literally made for me. I could have went home with it then and been absolutely thrilled with the dress.
At that first fitting, Daci went over every piece of the dress to make sure all the details suited my vision for my wedding day. Daci's attention to detail is impeccable. She added lace to the neckline, tried out a variety of silk panels for the overskirt, and ensured that the fitted dress would lay perfectly flat and not ripple. Since we were flying home the next day, Daci spent the rest of the day, (along with her lovely seamstress) finishing the small additions. When I went for the final fitting the next day, the dress was perfect.
If you are trying to decide whether you should fly out to meet Daci and do the fitting in person - don’t hesitate, book the ticket. I learned so much about my dress and the process that went into creating it that I wouldn’t have known had I not met Daci in person. Also, entering Daci’s bridal boutique was inspiring. You could see and feel how much work she has put into developing her craft and creating unique dresses for each bride.
Daci,
I have taken months to write this review, for the simple reason that words cannot describe the nostalgia I feel whenever I think about the experience of working with you to create my wedding dress.
Designing the dress, flying out to meet you with my mom, and putting the dress on for the first time will forever be some of my favorite memories. I am sincerely hoping that we will have a reason to meet again in the future. Thank you for making my fairytale wedding dress dreams come true.”
Custom bride Jenna. Caramia Photo