At our Sydney atelier, a bespoke wedding dress starts from $3,500. When brides book, they choose one of three budgets: $3,500 to $5,000, $5,000 to $10,000, or $10,000 plus. Where your gown sits depends on three things: the fabric, the amount of hand-work, and how complex the construction is.
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How does a custom dress compare with other wedding dresses?
Easy Weddings’ national survey puts the average Australian wedding dress at $2,502, and $2,919 in New South Wales (Easy Weddings, wedding dress cost). That average mixes off-the-rack and custom gowns, so it is a useful floor rather than a guide to custom prices.
Comparing on price alone can mislead. An off-the-rack gown usually needs alterations, which add to the final cost. A custom gown includes its fittings, because fitting you is how it is made.
| Type of gown | What you pay for | Fittings | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Off the rack | A finished design in a standard size | Alterations, usually charged separately | Days to weeks, plus alterations |
| Made to order | An existing design made to your measurements | Fewer, because it starts from your measurements | Four to six weeks for our Bridal Couture Collection |
| Bespoke (custom made) | A design created for you, a toile, and every hour of hand-work | Three to five, included | Six to twelve months |
What changes the price of a custom wedding dress?
1. The fabric
Fabric is often the biggest single cost. Pure silks such as duchess satin, dupion, organza and georgette cost far more per metre than synthetic satins and polyester tulles, and they behave differently: silk holds structure, takes dye and catches light in a way synthetics don’t. French and Italian laces, especially hand-made or embroidered ones, are priced well above machine laces.
Volume matters too. A sheath gown might use a few metres. Lia’s fairytale ball gown used thirty metres of duchess silk.
2. Hand-work
Hand-work is where couture hours go: placing lace motifs one by one so they flow over the seams, hand-beading a bodice, sewing pearls or 3D flowers, or hand-finishing a hem so it falls cleanly. A gown with lace placed over the whole body, like Jamie’s Italian embroidered lace gown, takes far longer than one with lace at the bodice only.
3. Construction
Structure takes skill and time. A boned corset bodice, a full ball gown skirt with layers underneath, a long train, or a two-in-one gown with a detachable skirt all add pattern-making, fabric and fittings. Simple, fluid shapes cost less to make, though they leave nowhere for poor sewing to hide.
4. Extras
A custom veil, a detachable train, a second look for the reception, or matching bridesmaid, flower girl or mother of the bride gowns are each quoted on their own. Ordering them together means everything is designed to work as one look.
What does the price include?
At Catherine Colubriale Couture, your quote covers the design, all fabric and materials (we source everything), the toile, your fittings and the finished gown. There are no hidden costs. The only thing that can change the price once your gown is in production is a change to the design or fabric, and we always discuss that with you first.
When you compare quotes from other designers, check what each one includes. Ask whether fittings, fabric and a toile are covered, or charged separately.
How does payment work?
- Consultation, $150. Paid when you book, to reserve your time with Catherine. It is credited in full to your gown when you go ahead, and you can move your appointment free of charge with 48 hours’ notice.
- Your quote. After the design conversation, your gown is quoted individually and everything is explained before you commit.
- 50% deposit. Paid when you book your gown, to begin the design process.
How can I make my budget go further?
Tell your designer your real budget at the start. A good couturier designs to it, rather than designing first and pricing later. These are the trade-offs worth discussing:
- Choose one hero detail. A dramatic back, a statement sleeve or a beautiful lace usually has more impact than several competing details.
- Put precious fabric where it shows. Ask where the lace or silk will be seen, and where a different fabric could work just as well.
- Simplify the structure. A softer A-line or sheath generally uses less fabric and fewer hours than a full ball gown.
- Start early. More time gives more design options and avoids the pressure of a short timeline.
- Consider made to order. If one of our Bridal Couture Collection gowns is close to what you want, having it made to your measurements is a different route to a couture gown.
Questions to ask any designer about price
- What is your starting price for a bridal gown, and what do most of your gowns cost?
- Does the quote include fabric, the toile and every fitting?
- How much is the deposit, and when is the balance due?
- What happens to the price if I change my mind about a detail?
- Where is the gown made, and by whom?
- If my body changes before the wedding, what will adjustments cost?
- Do you offer help on the wedding morning, and is it included?
- Can I see gowns you have made at a similar price?
If you would like to talk through your budget in person, book a consultation in our Dulwich Hill atelier, or read more about custom made wedding dresses in Sydney.
