Bespoke Wedding & Blessing Gowns

Congratulations on your forthcoming wedding!

Your wedding dress need not be one of the biggest expenses but it is one of the most important and personal decisions for you as the bride. It is the most memorable day of your life, captured on film to cherish, and you will naturally wish to look stunning.

I specialize in producing quality timeless bespoke dresses which fit perfectly and can be contemporary, understated, traditional, fairytale or vintage in style. I take pride in using quality natural materials allowing both beauty and comfort for you on your special day.

You may choose from a large range of fabrics including a variety of silks, satins, linens and laces, beaded georgettes, limited edition designs or fully beaded couture laces imported from Paris. As an ideal option for truly personalising your wedding gown, I can even design and have made your very own fully embroidered and beaded silk.

With over 9 years of professional experience as a fashion designer and image consultant, I will be able to advise you on the most flattering silhouettes for your figure. Using this information and any ideas of your own as inspiration, I can design a range of dresses for you to pick from which complement your figure and reflect your personality and tastes.

The final result will be a beautifully made dress with a professional finish which will hold a deeper meaning for you. The process is a truly luxurious yet affordable experience. 

Having had the perfect dress designed you may wish to wear it for your whole day of celebrations. However, if your occasion calls for a reception outfit as well, I will be pleased to offer you a discounted rate for it.

More often than not, I am finding that brides wish to wear their dress again after the big day. If this is the case, I will take this into consideration during the design process and suggest adjustments that can be made at a later date.

Please do ask if you would like any off-cuts made into a memento like a scented pillow, framed picture or photo-album cover.

To complete the service, I also create coordinating veils, ring cushions, handbags and fascinators or handkerchiefs, ties and cravats for the male bridal party.

“The dress turned out perfect. It was everything I wanted classic, timeless and elegant. There was nothing like having my wedding dress custom designed to fit my style and figure. I recommend the experience to all brides to be! The silk fabrics Charlotte recommended made it very luxurious and comfortable. It was the ultimate special dress for the best day of my life. Can't wait to wear it again for another occasion!”
Julie Perez

“It was exactly what I wanted and perfectly complemented my figure. It is the most beautiful dress I have ever owned and completely exceeded my expectations. I would happily recommend Charlotte to anyone who is looking for something a bit special!”
Kate Ellis

“My wedding was FAB! The dress was gorgeous and my husband (!) loved it too! I was really, really pleased with my dress – it fitted great and was just perfect for the mood of the day.  Thank you once again for all your help and I'll be highly recommending you to all my friends!”
Elizabeth Lowman

Bespoke Bridesmaid Dresses

Your choice in bridesmaid dresses can be an important expression of your friendship with them over the years and a gesture of thanks for their support in the lead up to the wedding.

Buying your bridesmaids a made to measure dress is an affordable yet thoughtful gift and a truly memorable indulgence for them.

The current trend is for brides to opt for individually designed ‘combination’ dresses for their bridesmaids which they can keep as a memento and wear for other occasions. By using the same colour or fabric yet different design, a set of bespoke bridesmaid dresses can look beautifully coordinated. The alternative is for all bridemaids to have the same design which is made specifically to their measurements and fits like a glove.

With either option, our first meeting together would determine your wedding colours, theme, budget and preferences and I would then design the dresses within those parameters. I always ensure that each dress has an injection of something personal to the bride or bridesmaid so that the design is truly unique and carries a sentimental value. Of course every dress is made-to-measure and will fit perfectly.

Each bridesmaid will follow the same perfectly pleasurable process, as detailed below, in order to create their dress and your approval will be sought along every step of the way.

Girls bridesmaid dresses are available from £70. Each girl will receive the same special treatment as your other bridesmaids. I have a range of fabrics which are machine washable yet equally sumptuous, allowing them to play fairies or princesses in their dress long after your wedding day!

“As one of three bridesmaids it was really special to have my own individually designed dress. Charlotte has an amazing eye for what really suits me and for someone who usually has to be forced into wearing a dress, this time they had to force me out of it instead! It was a wonderful experience and I am very proud to know that there is not another dress like it in the world.”
Tamsin Rand

Bespoke Mother-of-the Bride/Groom Outfits

As the mother of the bride/groom, you have a central role as part of the bridal party and will naturally wish to dress appropriately and create the finest impression in front of your children and their guests.

It is no longer essential etiquette for the bride/groom’s mother to wear a traditional tailored suit and hat in matching ‘theme’ colours, unless you so desire. Often it is far more flattering to wear something altogether more fluid and feminine. A popular choice is for a flowing evening dress or top/skirt combination worn with a stylish coat and fascinator ~ ideal for wedding celebrations that run through to the evening.

Drawing on my experience as an image consultant, I can advise which shapes and styles suit your figure and colouring and create some personal designs accordingly. At our first consultation, you will be invited to bring along some images of any ideas you would like to incorporate (they don’t have to be clothing related). I can then use these images as a source of inspiration and design a range of dresses/outfits for you to pick from which complement your figure and reflect your personality and tastes.  All designs will be fully illustrated with fabric swatches. Once you have approved a design to proceed with, I will take your measurements and make a pattern which will fit you perfectly.

We stock a large range of fabrics for you to choose from~ basic cottons, wools and silks to damasks, brocades, imported beaded laces and couture suitings. If you wish, you may even accompany me to London one day to handpick your fabric. Items can also be hand embellished for that extra distinctive flair.

Whether you opt for something classically traditional or a stylish alternative, your outfit will fit you perfectly and allow you to enjoy the wedding celebrations with confidence.

“Charlotte's suggestion for materials/design was perfect for the Italian climate - soft, floaty, pastel coloured which was both easy and comfortable to wear but suitably extravagant for my role as mother of the groom.”
Lorraine Osborne

“My 'Charlotte Keating' pieces make me feel really special! I have a range of matching separates... all have fitted perfectly! They were designed for me to be flattering and fashionable whilst still in keeping with my age. Charlotte keeps my patterns and has just designed a wedding outfit for me for this year in imported sari silk with a few of my ideas and Charlotte's excellent design expertise. I can't wait to get it! I never miss an opportunity to pass on the name of my designer...every woman should contact Charlotte.”
Ella Cowlishaw

“Definitely not the traditional 'mother of the bride' outfit ~, it was absolutely everything I could have wished for to show how proud I was of the gorgeous bride!”
Angela Keating

The Perfectly Pleasurable Process

Initial consultation

During your initial free no obligation consultation, we will discuss your requirements, venue, budget and the service I can provide.

You are invited to bring along magazine cuttings of any ideas you wish to incorporate at this first meeting. By spending the time getting to know you, I will be able to draw on our discussions to inspire a set of designs which will complement your figure and reflect your personality and tastes.

A deposit will be requested if you decide to go ahead.

Design Approval

You will be invited back to see the designs I have illustrated with accompanying fabrics swatches and colour shade cards. I will then work with you to fine~tune the designs further until we have created the dress/outfit which meets your approval.

Measurements

At no later than 12 weeks prior to the big day, I will invite you to come in so that I can take your measurements. Using these, I will create a pattern and make a toile (cotton calico mock-up).

Toile fitting

At this fitting, all minor alterations or variations in design can be made and the pattern adjusted accordingly. This process ensures that the final garment fits perfectly first time made up in the real fabric. After receiving your final approval on the design at this appointment, my machinist will take the greatest care in making up your wedding dress or special outfit resulting in a professional finish.

Any alterations or variations to design after this point will be charged accordingly.

Final fitting & collection

This is the final fitting when you can try on the completed garment before taking it home. Only minor alterations will be made on the spot at no extra charge. At this time the balance will be payable.

Wedding Day

If you would like extra moral support to give you confidence that you look your best, Charlotte would be pleased to come and dress you on your wedding day.

Cancellation

Please note that if you need to cancel your bespoke order at any point, you will be liable to pay for all completed work, whatever stage your order is in the process.