Why Do Wedding Dresses Take so Long to Make?

When it comes to the production of a wedding dress, the phrase "good things take time" couldn’t be more accurate. Many brides are surprised to learn that the journey from initial order to a completed gown often takes 8-9 months, but there’s a reason (actually, several!) behind this timeline. Let’s take a closer look at what goes into creating the dress of your dreams and why this process is worth the wait.

Made-to-Order Production

Unlike off-the-rack clothing, your wedding dress at The Veil Collective is made just for you. Once you place your order, we work closely with renowned designers who craft each gown based on your size, style, and specific preferences. This approach ensures you’ll have a dress that’s tailored to your vision, but it also means production doesn’t start until we’ve finalised every detail together.

Design, Customisations and Alterations

Our bespoke experience is unmatched with many TVC brides taking advantage of our vast experience and ability to customise their gown to be uniquely theirs. Whether it’s adding sleeves, changing the neckline, or incorporating extra embellishments - we can go to the extent of creating a full bespoke gown with our in-house design team. These adjustments require time to design, approve, and execute in collaboration with our designers. Once the gown arrives, final alterations with our seamstress also play a crucial role in ensuring it fits like a glove, a process that can take several weeks.

Global Production Timelines

Many bridal boutiques (us included!) work with ateliers located internationally. Coordinating production across different time zones, shipping completed gowns worldwide, and clearing customs are all factors that contribute to the overall timeline. We plan for these logistics, but they’re another reason why the process takes several months.

 Demand and Production Scheduling

Bridal designers often manage hundreds of orders at any given time. To maintain quality and meet deadlines, each gown is carefully scheduled into the production pipeline. This means your dress isn’t made in isolation but as part of a carefully managed workflow designed to ensure every bride gets her gown on time.

The Importance of Perfection and Meticulous Craftsmanship

Each piece of fabric is cut, stitched, and adorned by skilled artisans who pour hours into ensuring every detail is perfect. Depending on the complexity of your gown, some elements may require weeks of dedicated effort to complete. And perhaps most importantly, wedding dresses are subjected to rigorous quality control standards. Every stitch, seam, and embellishment is inspected to ensure it meets the designer’s quality standards. This meticulous attention to detail is what ensures your gown looks flawless when you walk down the aisle, and it’s why designers won’t rush the process. 

For TVC designers specifically, many of our gowns are ordered with custom measurements and a custom hem length, which means upon arrival in the boutique, these measurements need to be checked and cross-checked to ensure they are as anticipated. It is how we achieve our distinguished sizing methods that reduces the quantity of alterations needed post-production!

When Should You Order Your Dress?

With all these factors in mind, it’s best to start shopping for your wedding dress at least 10-12 months before your wedding date - if time allows. This gives you plenty of time for browsing, ordering, production, and alterations without feeling rushed. If you’re working with a shorter timeline, don’t panic! We offer rush options and off-the-rack sample designs to accommodate those who are getting married in a matter of weeks.

The Wait Is Worth It

While 9-10 months might feel like a long time, the result is a one-of-a-kind gown that’s made just for you. Every bead, stitch, and seam is crafted with love and care to ensure you look and feel amazing on your special day. After all, perfection can’t be rushed and your dream dress is no exception.