The Bridal Atelier
Tucked away and hidden from view, Charlotte’s small atelier just outside London is a diamond in the rough, a treasure trove of fabric, feathers, beads and embellishments. It’s also a working studio, so consultations and fittings take place where designs are envisaged and wedding dresses are made.
Charlotte receives bridal clients by appointment only and is used to welcoming guests from afar. If you are based overseas, she would be more than happy to deliver her bespoke bridal design service remotely.
The Bespoke Design Process
The exact process will look different for each bride who commissions a dress, dependent on life schedules - we are very flexible to suit your needs.
Generally, a minimum of 6 months is required - 8+ months is ideal. Faster turnaround is possible depending on current commitments.
As a rough guide, the process will be something like this:
Contact us! Tell us everything you know so far, logistical things like the date and location of your wedding, but most importantly - your ideas! We love to hear in as much detail as you can envision - fabrics, silhouette, embellishments, motifs.
A few emails back and forward, and book in a consultation on Facetime, phone or in-person. In person is preferred as we ask lots of questions to really search out the information needed to create a design that will be truly personal. In person, we can gauge your reactions to questions, fabric options and ideas and form a connection and understanding that goes beyond an email or sketch.
A sketch will be provided for discussion - Often this will be a working drawing, outlining ideas and direction. You will be asked for your honest feedback, and alterations to the sketch will be made if necessary.
A quote will be provided based on the sketch and fabrics discussed. The quote is often accurate, and will not alter unless a major alteration to the dress design is made - such as silhouette, additional details, different fabric choices.
A toile (mock-up) will be made in cotton - this is a rough version, and the first draft is to work on fit and proportion and will often look nothing like the final design.
A second version of the toile will start to bring the dress to life, depending on the design, an extra toile fitting may be required.
During the toile fittings we discuss and plan all the details, which may be beadwork, lace embroidery, fabric choices, and we plot out all the things that will make the dress perfectly suited to you - placement of embellishment, necklines, waistlines, sleeve volume, train length, accessories - so many details which make the dress the perfect couture wedding dress, designed just for you.The wedding dress will start to emerge, first in plain silk fabrics to check the fit again in the final stages - then we add the detail, overlays, finishings and fastenings.
Finial touches - necessary tweaks are made to the fit and placement before your dress is ready to collect.
On average you will need around 5 fittings to complete your dress and ensure that is will be perfect.