Welcome
First off, thanks for supporting the indie-designed products industry. I'm
a designer of one-of- a- kind bridal gowns in imported silks and laces.
I also specialize in eco-chic fibers and green friendly alternatives. I
really love the process of creating custom gowns for individual clients and
the whole designed-in-a-studio concept. Like a dress you see in the gallery? Any dress in the collection can be adapted for you.
We (You with me helping) can also customize an existing gown--new or old with your own chosen adornments. I'm known for making the design process here one of the most memorable and educational experiences of your engagement; you’ll actually look forward to each fitting . . .
Turnaround time for a custom made
gown is 10-12 weeks at the soonest and 4-6 months for more intricate designs.
This can also depend on whether you place the order during rush season
(April-September). I'll reiterate here that we definitely need to talk before
you place an order so I have a clear idea of your expectations in reference to
fit and sizing, etc.
*I need your wedding date and deadline at the time
of purchase so we can make shipping arrangements for a guaranteed on-time
delivery.
*Any dress can be lengthened or shortened; sleeves attached or
detached; necklines altered as I try to work any change within the framework of
the posted price points whenever possible.
* Gowns range between $1200
and $3000. Generally we use 100% pure silks and imported laces. Every design you
order is an original made here in the US.
* If you’re far away here’s
what you need to do. Have your measurements taken by a professional seamstress
or tailor. I need to reiterate 'Professional' here. Ideally this is the place
you’ll be having the gown altered after we ship it to you. And please note, you
will need alterations. No matter how beautifully or personally made, anything as
'Red Carpet' as a wedding dress needs some kind of altering to make it really
'yours'.
*I go more by measurements than sizing so here are the numbers
I'll need:
Height and weight.
Bra cup
size
Bust
Waist
Hip
Back Waist Length
Waist to floor
Waist to
ankle
Arm Length (for sleeves)
Arm circumference
*While I do need
measurements, a full length picture of you is worth a million measurements.
Creating the dress and me picturing how you're going to look in it are all part
of my design process . . . .
*Fabric swatches are available upon request.
For international mail be prepared to wait 1-2 weeks . . .
Payment
I accept checks if you are local to the San Francisco Bay Area and we meet
personally. Otherwise I only take Paypal. The good news is, you can use your
Visa, Mastercard or Discover through Paypal.
*Dresses are custom made to
your measurements. Half payment is required at the time of purchase and
remainder upon delivery (shipping not included in this price. See shipping
details below)
*If you're ordering a smaller ready to ship item like a
fascinator or veil, full payment is required at the time of purchase. For custom
accessories (anything that's not ready to ship and has to be custom made for
you) I can do half at purchase and half on delivery.
*Convo or email if
you need to make other arrangements and we'll work out a different payment plan.
I do need at least 1/3 down to purchase materials.
*Please don't ask me
about final asking prices or lowering my price. If you saw the time and sweat
that goes into creating these gowns and/or head pieces you'd understand the
prices are right where they belong.
Shipping
*IMPORTANT: I need your wedding date and deadline at the time of purchase so
we can make shipping arrangements for a guaranteed on-time delivery.
*Note that the shipping price includes handling. That means the price is
also factored by box, tissue, plastic as well as time and care it takes to pack
your lovely . . .
*I do my best to work within your time line yet do realize
once something enters the US postal system it is out of my hands (especially on
international orders). Please understand that I cannot be responsible for the
exact 'When' of your merchandise arriving. Fed Ex and UPS cost extra but can
guarantee a time and delivery date.
DOMESTIC ORDERS:
For dresses,
especially the ones with big crinolines, USPS shipping runs about $65.00 in the
US as long as it is not expedited. Fortunately this includes insurance. The good
news is, no sales tax if you reside out of CA. The slimmer silhouettes are
lighter and run around $30.00-40.00
*For hats and veils shipped in
non-crush boxes, shipping with USPS runs about $15.
*If you want your
head piece shipped in a heavy-duty envelope it runs about $8-10 depending where
you live. Not recommended for net or tulle head pieces that get
crushed.
*If you want overnight or expedited service with UPS or Fed EX
the price is higher but is guaranteed so it minimizes the stress factor on your
end as well as mine . . ..
INTERNATIONAL ORDERS:
*Shipping
dresses and head pieces outside the US requires special handling. Convo me and
we'll discuss the different rates involved.
*Items shipped
internationally go through customs. Delays can happen on either end, whether in
the US or the country of destination. Even if your order is expedited through
UPS or Fed EX, do calculate this possible delay into your time line .
*International tracking gets expensive so I only offer it if you request
it; an additional shipping charge will apply.
*A word about customs. By
law I'm required to abide by the laws of customs. I declare any items shipped
into other countries as 'merchandise'. Buyers are responsible for any and all
duties, taxes and customs charges that may be incurred.
Refunds and Exchanges
Due to the nature of custom bridal, there are no exchanges or refunds unless
there is a flaw or problem with the merchandise.
If a dress does not
properly fit or head piece is not what you expected, please contact me so an arrangement can be made that creates a positive
experience for both of us.
Additional Policies and FAQs
PLEASE NOTE: All dresses, head pieces and veils are created by hand in my
design studio, so no two items are identical. That's part of the charm of
one-of-a-kind pieces! Please expect and allow for slight variances from what is
shown in the made to order photos.
* Once you receive your lovely
headpiece it is recommended that you steam veils and any tulle or net on the
head pieces whether shipped in a box or heavy duty envelope.
* Plan on
having your dress professionally pressed after it arrives and is altered.
Accessories? I’m renowned for my overall look. Most of my gowns have customized accessories. These go from $175-$400.00 and can be recustomized. Yes, any hat or veil you see can be made to order.
If you need any further info or want to place an order shoot an email to amyjotatum@gmail.com or call Amy 415.258.8204
STEPS IN THE CUSTOM DESIGN PROCESS
If you live in the SF Bay Area you'll be able to have your gown fitted personally in the design studio. Here's what you can expect:
Making a gown from scratch requires more fittings than those ordered
through a salon so you'll need to be open to the experience of watching your gown develop from the ground up. In addition, a custom designer or skilled seamstress puts many hours and a high level of craftsmanship for a custom gown
Working with fragile white fabric and delicate lace is indeed an art form. Figure any custom gown created by a designer usually takes four to six months to complete from a listing of your measurements. Since the design process involved with a custom gown is a more direct collaboration between you, you'll have more input with decisions regarding fabric, silhouette and style. Custom gowns are typically 80-90% handmade. This means machines do some of the work like side seams, cross seams, etc. There are however stitches on one-of-a-kind gowns only expert handwork can touch in order to produce that exquisite finish.
STEP 1
The first consultation begins by asking questions about the wedding itself. We'll evaluate all the factors in optimizing your gown design: the scale of the ceremony, the nature of the backdrop, your use of tradition, even the surfaces on which you'll be walking. With respect for cleaning and preservation, sometimes even post wedding plans are made for the gown.
If you've brought any photos, magazine clippings, sketches or swatches of fabric, these are discussed with me, the designer, running a few ideas back. I keep a scapbook for each of my clients starting with ideas you've brought in. Cost of materials, fabrics and a few other details are explored.
STEP 2
After the final sketch is approved, a written estimate follows, complete with fabric swatches and your measurements are taken. For every gown order a paper pattern is made. Think of the paper pattern as a blueprint, a record of all your dimensions. From this, we work out a muslin. The muslin is an actual cotton mock-up and 'living pattern' of your gown's design, fitted exactly to your body. Think of your muslin as the foundation--the groundwork upon which your dress will be built. This is where most of the fine-tuning will be done to perfect that fit before one cut or stitch goes into the true gown fabric(s).
STEP 3
After your muslin fittings, the muslin is laid out on the actual fabric and the gown is made up. Since most of the fitting has been worked out on the muslin, second and third fittings usually follow up with finishing touches like hemline, closures, remaining design details, etc. Be prepared for more than three fittings though. A gown made from the ground up is a work in progress and each step along the way is painstakingly taken, checked and rechecked. We keep in mind you want your gown delivered at least a month before your wedding. Then you can deal with all those other last minute details involved with your wedding.
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