How to Customize Your Wedding Dress to Make it Totally your Own
It probably goes without saying that your vision of your wedding dress is something that’s stunning and unique. And what could be more special than a custom wedding gown? Galia Lahav not only specializes in custom-made wedding gowns, but also allows brides to be a part of designing their dream dress. Brides today want a dress that stands out and customizing their gown allows them to create a one-of-a-kind look.
“In the age of social media, a lot of brides want a dress they haven't seen all over TikTok or Instagram,” says New York-based bridal stylist Gabrielle Hurwitz. “I think every bride wants something a little different, from adding delicate straps to a strapless gown she loves to better suit her style or altering a neckline from square to scoopneck.”
Customizing your wedding gown is an exciting and exclusive experience. Because all of Galia Lahav dresses are made to order, you can fall in love with any of our styles and have it created into your perfect dress with your requested adjustments and alterations. “Customizing means personalizing. Each bride knows which special tweaks will touch her heart and make her gown her own,” says Galia Lahav designer Sharon Sever. “Many brides are asking for overskirts, detachable sleeves or tops, and other transformative details to create two or three looks from one gown.”
Galia Lahav’s customization process begins with a consultation with a stylist at one of our exclusive boutiques. Before your appointment, create a mood board with your favorite styles and make a list of your must-haves for your dream dress. And gather photos of the elements that you want for your gown to show to your stylist.
When customizing your wedding dress, start with what you love about the gown, not what you want to change, and then think about what would make it feel more like you and your style,” says Maisie-Kate Keane, New York-based bridal stylist and the founder of Maisie-Kate Style.
“Detachable or removable elements are a common request with brides,” says Ms. Keane. “Overskirts, sleeves, or toppers that can be removed for the reception are especially popular. Many brides also want to tweak the silhouette slightly, like raising a neckline or dropping the waistline.”
You can add or change almost anything for your Galia Lahav wedding dress. Customizations can be as subtle as altering the neckline, adding a sleeve, or extending the length of the train to more involved like taking the silhouette of one gown and having it made with lace from another or replacing the back of your gown with an illusion detail you’re obsessed with. Swapping the bodice from another dress style or designing bespoke elements like a matching cape are also among the many options you can choose from. “One trend I’m seeing with brides customizing their wedding dress is blending two dress styles together to create one spectacular gown,” says Ms. Keane. Mixing and matching different gown styles is an easy way to totally customize your dress. Referencing elements and details like the neckline, silhouette, or embellishments from different gowns makes the customization process smoother.
Your stylist will guide you through your customization wish list, as well as advise you on how certain changes may compromise the fit and silhouette of the gown, such as how low a neckline or open back can go or how cinched the waist can be without jeopardizing the construction of the gown.
Make sure you really move around in the sample you’re trying it on by dancing, sitting, raising your
arms, etc. so that you understand how it will feel on the day, says Ms. Keane. “These gowns are made to turn heads, but your comfort matters just as much.”
Once you sign off on your custom changes, our studio goes to work. Ideally, you should have a year for a full custom dress; however, our skilled staff is able to do anything in anytime, taking into account the
availability of materials and the amount of work needed, so consult with your stylist. “Some fabrics take longer to manufacture, hand embroidery requires time, and most couture gowns need meticulous care, so the sewing process is more intricate,” says Mr. Sever. In addition, you’ll need about three or four months for finalizing all your alterations and details before your wedding.
Customizing your Galia Lahav wedding dress will combine a flawless fit, your personal comfort, and all the drama you want for your bridal look.
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Photography: Gil Hayon and Ori Parat