A wedding dress consultation is a private appointment to talk through your wedding, your style and your timing with the designer. At our atelier it is with Catherine, over champagne or coffee, and costs $150, credited in full to your gown. You leave knowing whether bespoke or a made to order collection gown suits you, and what the next steps are.
On this page
How does booking a consultation work?
- The fee: $150 AUD for your private time with Catherine.
- It is credited in full to your gown when you go ahead.
- Moving it: you can reschedule free of charge with 48 hours’ notice.
- Where and when: 422 New Canterbury Road, Dulwich Hill, by appointment, Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturday 10am to 3pm.
- Your budget: the booking form asks you to choose $3,500 to $5,000, $5,000 to $10,000, or $10,000 plus, so the conversation starts in the right place.
What happens at a bespoke consultation?
Every consultation is different, but it typically follows this shape.
- Talking. Catherine asks about your wedding: the date, venue, season, size, and what you love to wear and what you don’t. Samantha’s began over coffee with her mother, looking at lace.
- Ideas. You share images and Catherine responds with what will suit your frame and your plans.
- Fabrics. Fabric is chosen together, which helps you picture the gown.
- Sketching. Catherine hand-draws your design. We will explain at your consultation when your sketch will be ready.
- Next steps. Timing and the quote. Every gown is quoted individually, and a 50% deposit begins the design.
Read more about the full bespoke process.
What happens at a collection consultation?
If you are considering the Bridal Couture Collection or the Evening Couture Collection, the consultation centres on the gowns themselves: the looks Catherine showed at New York Fashion Week 2026. Your gown is quoted at your consultation, and we will explain the next steps there. Collection gowns are made to order to your measurements in four to six weeks.
What should you bring, and who should come?
Bring
- Images you love, and a few you don’t. Both are useful.
- Your date, venue and the style of your wedding.
- Your budget, honestly.
- Anything with meaning you hope to include, such as a piece of family lace.
- Shoes with a similar heel to the ones you plan to wear, if you have them.
Who to bring
One or two people whose opinion you trust is plenty. Samantha’s consultation was with her mother, and Taharna’s whole bridal party was designed in one long appointment.
What questions should you prepare?
- Is my timeline realistic for the design I want?
- Which silhouettes suit my frame and my venue?
- Which fabrics would you suggest for my season?
- How many fittings will I need, and when?
- What will my gown cost, and what does the quote include?
- Can you also make my veil, bridesmaids or my mother’s gown?
- Will you help me dress on the morning?
Our guides to choosing a wedding dress designer and the wedding dress timeline help you prepare. When you are ready, book a consultation.
