There is something uniquely exciting about ordering a wedding dress that is made specifically for you. Rather than choosing from the gowns currently available on a boutique’s rack, special order bridal shopping gives you access to a designer’s full range of options — including sizes, colors, fabrics, and select customizations that may not be represented in the samples you try on in the boutique.
But what exactly does it mean to special order a wedding dress, and what should you expect from the process? From your first appointment to the moment you meet your finished gown, here is everything you need to know about shopping for a special order wedding dress.
What Is a Special Order Bridal Boutique?
La Jeune Mariee is a special order bridal boutique that carries sample wedding gowns from a curated selection of designers. When you find the gown you love, we place an order with the designer, who then produces a brand-new gown specifically for your order.
If having a brand-new, never-before-worn wedding gown is important to you, special ordering is a wonderful option. Perhaps the most meaningful advantage is choice. You aren’t limited to the gowns that happen to be available in your size on a boutique’s rack. Instead, you can focus on the gown that fits your personal style story, whether that be a whimsical soft A-line silhouette, modern mikado gown, or a dramatic ball gown.
When Should You Order Your Wedding Dress?
A special order wedding dress typically takes approximately 6–8 months to be produced and shipped from the designer, although timelines vary by designer, gown, and time of year. Therefore, we recommend beginning your wedding dress shopping approximately 12 months before your wedding date. That timeline gives you plenty of room to shop and find your gown, place your special order, allow time for designer production, receive and inspect your gown, and complete your wedding dress alterations. We are able to accommodate many shorter timeframes as well, but they may require a rush cost.
Starting early gives you peace of mind. Your wedding dress is one of the most important garments you’ll wear for your celebration, and you don’t want to feel rushed through the process.
Special Order vs. Custom Wedding Dress
The terms special order and custom can sometimes sound interchangeable, but they describe different experiences.
With a special order wedding dress, you are selecting an existing design from a bridal designer’s collection and ordering that gown specifically for you. Your stylist takes your measurements and uses the designer’s size chart to determine which size to order. Depending on the designer, you may also have the opportunity to select from available colors, fabrics, or approved customization options.
On the other hand, a fully custom wedding dress is created from the ground up around your measurements and design preferences. The pattern, construction, and design may all be developed specifically for you, often with design decisions being made throughout the process.
What to Expect When You Try On Sample Wedding Dresses
When you visit La Jeune Mariee, the gowns you try on are samples. These samples allow you to experience the designer’s silhouette, fabric, construction, and overall aesthetic before placing your order.
However, a sample can look surprisingly different from the finished gown you receive. A sample may be clipped to fit your body, too large or too small, or missing a particular customization. That’s why your bridal appointment is about more than taking a quick look in the mirror. It’s about understanding proportion, fabric, movement, construction, and the feeling you want to carry into your wedding day.
The expert stylists at La Jeune Mariee are here to guide you through every step of the wedding dress shopping journey, helping you find a gown that reflects your vision and makes you feel your most beautiful. Our stylists take the time to understand your wedding vision, personal style, venue, and preferences, then thoughtfully curate gown selections that align with what you’re looking for while introducing possibilities you may not have considered.
At La Jeune Mariee, a private appointment creates space for those discoveries. A carefully curated bridal collection means offering designer wedding dresses with intention, then giving each bride one-on-one guidance to find the gown that feels like a natural extension of their style.
Special Order Wedding Dress Customizations
One of the benefits of ordering a wedding dress directly from a designer is the opportunity to explore bridal gown customization. Special orders can be especially appealing to brides who want access to the designer’s full range of size and color options or who want to make select details of the gown their own.
Customization options vary significantly from designer to designer. Depending on the gown and collection, possibilities may include:
- Changing the gown’s fabric color
- Adding or removing straps
- Adjusting the train length
- Changing a neckline
- Selecting a different fabric
- Adding or removing certain design details
Some customizations are relatively simple, while more involved customizations are typically only offered by couture designers. Your stylist can help you understand which options are available for your particular gown and what each change may mean for the overall look.
There is a trade-off, however. Additional customization can affect the cost, production timeline, and eventual alterations required for your gown.
Our advice? As you try on gowns, pay attention to what details you naturally return to. Those must-have details will help you decide which customizations are worth adding.
What Happens When Your Special Order Wedding Dress Arrives?
After months of anticipation, your gown finally arrives at the boutique. At La Jeune Mariee, our stylists carefully inspect every detail of your gown to ensure it meets our standards before it is presented to you. Then comes one of the most exciting moments in the wedding dress process: your Meet the Gown appointment.
Your stylist will contact you to schedule your appointment, where you’ll see your gown for the first time — no sample clips and no imagining what a different size or color might look like. This appointment marks the transition in your bridal era from anticipation to realization. Your gown is ready to be seen, styled, and refined, bringing your full wedding day vision into clearer focus with the guidance of a stylist who already understands the direction of your look.
Once you’ve met your gown, you’ll take it home until you’re ready to begin alterations.
Understanding Wedding Dress Alterations
Here’s an important thing every bride shopping for a special order gown should know: your special order wedding dress is not made to your exact measurements.
When your stylist takes your measurements, they are determining which size to order according to the designer’s size chart. The recommended size is generally based on your largest measurement because a gown can typically be taken in more easily than it can be let out. As a result, your gown will still need professional wedding dress alterations to achieve your individual fit. This is completely normal, and alterations are an essential part of the bridal gown process.
Depending on your gown and your needs, alterations may include:
- Hemming the gown
- Taking the gown in or adjusting the fit
- Adding or adjusting the length of the straps
- Adding, changing, or removing bra cups
- Adjusting the train length
- Adding a bustle
- Adjusting sleeve length
- Adding corseting
- Incorporating lace or beading
- Making other fit or finishing adjustments
The goal is not simply for your gown to fit. The right alterations help your wedding dress feel comfortable, secure, and completely yours.
How Much Do Wedding Dress Alterations Cost?
Always plan for wedding dress alterations as a separate expense from your gown budget. The cost of alterations varies significantly depending on the complexity of the gown, the changes being made, your location, and the seamstress you choose. Some seamstresses charge individually for each service, while others offer a flat alteration fee.
As a general planning guideline, we recommend setting aside approximately $500–$1,500 for standard alterations, and additional customizations could cost more. Your stylist can help you understand what may be involved, but your seamstress will ultimately determine the exact alterations and cost once they evaluate your gown.
How Long Do Wedding Dress Alterations Take?
Wedding dress alterations are typically completed over multiple fittings, allowing your seamstress to assess the gown, take precise measurements, make adjustments, and refine the fit.
Many brides begin the alteration process approximately two months before their wedding date. This timing allows your seamstress to accommodate natural changes in your body and gives you enough time for multiple fittings and final adjustments.
A typical alteration schedule may include:
First appointment: Consultation and initial pinning
Second appointment: Evaluation of the initial alterations and additional fitting adjustments
Final appointment: Finishing details, final fit check, and learning how to bustle
Your individual timeline may vary depending on your gown and the amount of work required.
A special wedding dress can be a beautiful choice if you value designer craftsmanship, want a brand-new gown, or want more choice than what is available off-the-rack. It’s particularly well suited to brides who are shopping approximately 12 months before their wedding, want a brand-new designer wedding gown, have a specific designer in mind, want access to a wider range of sizes and color options, are interested in gown customizations, and want the guidance of a stylist throughout the process.
Most importantly, special ordering gives you the opportunity to choose your gown based on what feels right for you, rather than simply choosing from what happens to be available at that moment.
Finding your wedding dress is about discovering the gown that makes you feel confident, bridal, and unmistakably you. A special order allows that process to unfold with intention.
At La Jeune Mariee, our stylists are here to make the experience feel personal from your first appointment through your Meet the Gown and beyond. We’ll help you understand your options, navigate designer sizing and customizations, and ultimately find a gown that feels like the most beautiful version of your personal style.
Ready to find your dream dress? Tap the button below to schedule your bridal appointment.