A custom made wedding dress is designed for you alone. At Catherine Colubriale Couture that means a hand-drawn design, a toile cut to your measurements, three to five fittings and a finished gown two weeks before your wedding. Bespoke bridal gowns start from $3,500.
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What does custom made mean?
“Custom made” is used loosely in bridal. Some shops use it for a sample gown ordered in your size, others for a gown with a few changes. In our atelier it means bespoke: Catherine designs your dress from a blank page, the pattern is drafted to your body, and every piece is cut and sewn here in Sydney. No one else will ever wear it.
Because nothing starts from a pattern on a rack, you choose everything:
- The silhouette: A-line, ball gown, mermaid, sheath, a two-in-one with a detachable skirt, or a jumpsuit with pockets.
- The details: neckline, sleeves, back, train length and where the lace and beading sit.
- The fabric: silk duchess satin, silk dupion, silk organza and georgette, French and Italian laces, soft tulle and Mikado, sourced from around the world.
- Something with meaning: Maddie’s gown was woven with lace from her mother’s wedding dress.
- Your body, as it is on the day: we have dressed many brides through weight changes and pregnancy, including Belinda.
Custom, made to order or off the rack?
There are three ways to a wedding dress, and each suits a different bride. We offer the first two.
| Bespoke (custom made) | Made to order from our collection | Off the rack | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | Created for you from a blank page | One of Catherine’s Bridal Couture Collection gowns, shown at New York Fashion Week 2026 | A finished design in stock sizes |
| Fit | Patterned to your measurements, refined over three to five fittings | Made to your measurements | Altered from a standard size |
| Time | Six to twelve months | Four to six weeks | Days to weeks, plus alterations |
| Price at our atelier | From $3,500 | Quoted at your consultation | Not offered |
How is a custom wedding dress made?
- Consultation. Over champagne or coffee in the atelier, we talk about your wedding, your style and how you want to feel. Bring any images, colours or ideas you love, and anyone you’d like with you.
- Sketch and fabric. Catherine hand-draws your design and you choose the silks, laces and embellishment together. If you find it hard to picture a dress from a drawing, the fabric samples and the toile do that work for you.
- The toile. A test version of your gown is cut to your measurements in plain fabric, so the shape and fit are right before your real fabric is touched.
- Fittings. Usually three to five, as the gown is built and refined on you.
- Finished two weeks early. We aim to have your gown ready two weeks before your wedding. Catherine also offers a wedding morning dressing service, helping you into your gown and checking every detail.
How much does a custom wedding dress cost?
Bespoke wedding dresses at our atelier start from $3,500. The design, the fabric and the amount of hand-work decide where your gown sits above that, and every gown is quoted individually before you commit. There are no hidden costs: the only thing that can change the price is changing the design or fabric once your gown is in production, and we discuss that with you first.
Your private consultation is $150, credited in full to your gown, and a 50% deposit begins the design. For a full breakdown of what affects the price, read our guide: how much does a custom wedding dress cost?
When should I start?
Allow six to twelve months for a bespoke gown, depending on how detailed your design is and how busy the atelier is. Booking your consultation as soon as you have a date gives you the most choice.
If your wedding is less than six months away, the Bridal Couture Collection is made to your measurements in four to six weeks. If you would still love a bespoke gown, call us on +61 2 9922 4193 to talk through your timing.
Is a custom wedding dress right for you?
Choose a custom made dress if you have a picture in your mind that you can’t find in a shop, you want a fit that moves with you all day and night, or you want something with meaning sewn into it. It also suits brides whose bodies are changing, or who are hard to fit off the rack.
It may not suit you if your budget is under $3,500, or if you would rather try a finished gown on today and take it home. A good bridal boutique is the right choice then, and there are many in Sydney.
Many brides come to us because they want the experience as much as the gown. In Alexandra’s words: “The whole experience with Catherine was my favourite part of my wedding journey.”
Visit the atelier
Consultations are by appointment at 422 New Canterbury Road, Dulwich Hill, in Sydney’s Inner West: Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm, and Saturday 10am to 3pm.
