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Custom Design Services

The Secret Boutique offers a custom design service for bridal and formal wear gowns...

You have ideas, you have even been to bridal salons but you just can not seem to find the "one" -that perfect gown that will reflect how you wish to look on one of the most important days of your life.

Many brides have "ideas" of what they want their dream wedding gown to look like but can not seem to find exactly what they are looking for. This is why we have created a custom design service where we will create a unique and a one of a kind gown just for you! This design service we offer allows you to be as creative as you wish with ideas for your gown and makes the design process a very fun and enjoyable experience. Custom designed wedding gowns start out at $1000 USD. Custom designed corsets start at $200.

How the process Works:

1.) Contact us

Contact us by phone or email for availability. Our services book up fast for an entire year so it is essential you contact us early to secure the timeframe needed to make your custom made gown.

2.) Ideas

Gather your ideas (photos) and decide on a budget for your bridal gown. Custom made gowns start out at $1000 USD.

You may also browse through our "Custom Design Ideas" area under Customer Services to get ideas on silhouettes, styles, embroidery designs, etc. for ideas for your gown.

3.) Consultations

Designer Jade Locke and you will have several consultations and talk via phone and/or thru emails about who you are, how you vision your wedding day and what you need as far as a gown. She will discuss these ideas until you feel comfortable and she feels she can work up a design for your dream wedding gown. If she feels that she can not work with your ideas throughout this part of the design process she will be honest with you and lead you to perhaps another designer who can.

"I am a very open minded designer who listens to you and gets to know you so I can understand what you are envisioning for that special day."-JL

4.) Deposit

Once you have decided on a bridal gown design a deposit on your gown will need to be made in order to start the custom design process. An estimate will be made and sent. A deposit of 50% is required in order for any work to begin on your gown.

You have 14 days to cancel your deposit and have your deposit refunded in full after 14 days your deposit is forfeit should you choose to change your mind or cancel your custom made order.

For all custom made gowns over $1000 a welcome packet will be sent along with sketch(s), fabrics swatches, embroidery design samples, measurement charts, etc… Welcome packets are sent to you via snail mail for you to decide on the colors and details of your gown. Generally welcome packets will take 3 weeks to arrive.

5.) Gown Details & Measurements

You have decided on your gown and fabric(s). Now we need your measurements! Once you have paid the deposit for your gown we will send you a detailed measurement sheet and instructions to be filled out by a seamstress and signed by you and returned to us via snail mail. We always recommend having a professional seamstress or tailor take your measurements. The Secret Boutique can not be held accountable for inaccurate measurements submitted by the client so please measure carefully!

In order for us to begin any work on your gown a deposit of 50% of your balance must be paid to begin the process.

6.) Muslin Bodice & Fitting

Once your deposit has been made and your measurements have been taken a "toile" or muslin mock up bodice will be sent to you in order to see how your top is fitting and if any changes will need to be made to the fit or style of your bodice. You will just need a friend, a fine tip permanent marker, and some safety pins for this process. Instructions on how to fit your muslin will be sent to you as well. You will then send your "toile" back to us.

Sending a muslin mock up bodice to you helps us make sure your gown will fit beautifully. If you decide to make dramatic style changes at this time additional charges may incur and an additional muslin mock up bodice will be sent until you are satisfied with the fit and style of your bodice.

7.) The Gown & Shipping

We have received your toile, now we can get started on the actual gown! We will email you pictures of your gown when it is finished. Once the gown is finished we will also send you a final invoice for the remaining balance to be paid. We will not ship gowns until the balance is paid in full!

We prefer to ship gowns via UPS and require signature confirmation and insurance. (When paying with Paypal make sure your address has been confirmed.)

Please keep in mind UPS will not allow for signature confirmation on PO boxes.

8.) Your Gown Has Arrived!

Once your gown has arrived you will need to immediately try it on (you will need a friend to help you into your gown) and have it pressed. Instructions for how to care for and store your gown will be included in your package along with a garment bag and an extra swatch of fabric. Please contact us and let us know that your gown has arrived safe. We want you to be happy with your purchase and would love to hear feedback on your custom made gown.

9.) Enjoy your beautiful new gown!