How to Custom Design Your South Asian Bridal
Outfit
Choosing your wedding outfit(s) can be overwhelming. We’ve often dreamt of the moment for years — the perfect setting, partner, and of course, the perfect ensemble. Deciding to custom design one or multiple outfits certainly has its benefits. You get to celebrate your individuality and bring to life a totally unique design that won’t be repeated anywhere else. With full creative control, you have the freedom to piece together your favorite things and end up with made-to-measure styles in the fabrics and designs that you love the most. On the flip side, the process is certainly more time-consuming and can feel intimidating.
We’ve created this guide to help you jump start dreaming up your ideal wedding attire! While we work closely with our brides every step of the way, this post outlines what you can do to prepare for your first appointment.
Step 1: Collect That Inspo
The best way to prepare for the custom design process is to gather ideas about your personal bridal style. If you plan to custom design multiple outfits for various events, take it one event at a time. Consider factors like the weather, the venue, whether you’ll be indoors or outdoors, lighting, and color schemes.
Think about your personal style and how you envision yourself on your wedding day. Do you see yourself as a traditional or modern bride? Do you prefer a trendy, playful look or something classy and timeless? What is the aesthetic going to be for your wedding, and how do you see your attire tying into that? What silhouettes are you typically drawn to that you feel your best in? What fabrics do you love and feel most comfortable in?
Once you’ve answered some of these questions, it’s time to start researching! Page through bridal magazines, Pinterest, and Instagram. Create boards/categories to stay organized, especially if you’re having multiple events. You can even venture out to boutiques to try on different styles and colors if you’re unsure about things. Make sure to take pictures of what you like (and even things you don’t like), so you can bring them into your first consultation.
But remember — we’re here to help you get into the weeds and piece things together. Don’t stress too much about every detail. It’s completely okay to still feel unsure about what you want. The research process is meant to help you start thinking about your preferences and help us get a feel for your personal style.
Step 2: Set your budget
Before your first appointment, determine your budget. Sharing that information upfront helps us guide you towards fabrics and design work that fit within your range, as well as any limitations your budget may bring. We like to think of “limitations” as opportunities to get creative!
A typical [custom-designed] bridal lehenga starts at around $1200. Rest assured, we’re able to work within your budget and make suggestions that will incorporate the elements you love without breaking the bank. If you like a design that’s beyond your budget, we can suggest ways to fit various aspects of what you love into your outfit in a way that’ll work within your budget.
Step 3: Keep an open mind
While it’s great to have an idea for what you envision your dream wedding attire to look like, be open to the process and fluidity that comes with it. Designing something from scratch is very personal and there are so many ways to make your customized ensemble unique and special to you. Once you start working with Almas Tejani, the ideas will be flowing and your vision may evolve.
We also have an abundance of styles and colors in our storefront that you can play around with and try on to get a better feel for things (especially if you’re a visual person). Be open to fabrics, silhouettes, and colors you may not have been interested in before, because you may just find something you like better than your original idea. It happens more than you think!
Step 4: Select your entourage
And keep it small. Having too many opinions can bring about confusion and indecision, drawing out the process. It’s easy for others (say, like, opinionated relatives *ahem*) to forget that the outfit is for you.
Inviting differing viewpoints can become overwhelming, especially when they’re coming from people whose opinions you really value. Choose a small group of individuals who know you really well, will offer an honest perspective, but also support you in staying true to yourself and the design decisions you’ve made. And remember, the ultimate decision of how your wedding attire should look is ultimately up to you!
Step 5: Trust the process (and us!)
Wedding planning is… stressful (to say the least). With so many moving parts, it can be difficult to trust others to meet your high standards. That’s why it’s important to choose a designer with plenty of experience in custom design work. We pride ourselves on having nearly three decades of experience doing so and have built a roster of returning, lifetime clients.
At Almas Tejani, our detail-oriented team ensures our clients are continuously updated on the progress of their designs and we’re happy to answer any questions along the way. We’re hyper-focused on creating stunning, unique pieces with exceptional craftsmanship that can be delivered anywhere in the world.Once you’ve decided on what elements your dream wedding attire consists of, leave it to us to bring it to life!
If you’d like to work with us, and are unable to physically visit our storefront in Houston, TX, you can schedule a virtual appointment to start the custom design process here. Check out some of our stunning brides below who were elated with how their custom designs turned out.
[Insert custom designed bridal pics]
