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Stages of the perfect gown

Consultation

At the first consultation we will discuss your ideas for your wedding dress and the style and theme of your wedding day, sketch a couple of silhouettes taking into consideration your personality, figure and style so that your gown will reflect you in every way and enhance your best features and make you feel comfortable and confident on your wedding day. We will also look at a wide selection of fabric samples to enhance your particular style.
You will be guided through the choice of different options at every point to help you decide on the final style and fabrics.

Design

The next step is to take your measurements for the paper pattern and toile which is the first sample mock-up of the cut of your wedding gown.
The toile is a very important part in creating your dress because this gives you the opportunity to visualise your wedding gown and to get the fit and proportions perfect. At this stage slight style changes can be made to the gown. Most brides find this to be one of the most exciting parts of having a couture wedding gown made.
At the next stage, alternations are made to the pattern from the amendments taken from the toile fitting.

Refining

At the second fitting, you will fit your wedding dress for the first time. This is normally quite an emotional moment for most brides to be. You will see and feel and move in your dress, and further adjustments are usually made at this stage.
The amendments will be made and the couture detailing will be finished off so all that remains will be for one final fitting. This fitting is when the hem will be taken up and the dress will be finished off. If at any point you require further fittings, these will be discussed and booked accordingly.

Dear Claire
Thank you so much for all you did. I always knew I wanted a gold wedding dress and you matched the perfect colour gold for my complexion.
It was so nice to be a part in creating my dress and you made my dream become a reality. It was truly a day we will never forget. I am so grateful that you came on the day to help dress me.
I really did enjoy the whole experience of having a couture wedding gown made just for me.

Gicintha

Dear Claire,

You really did make me feel so beautiful on our wedding day, I can’t thank you enough for all the work you did.

Cathrine

Dear Claire,
Thank you for all your expertise and guidance. I loved the dress and it fitted like a dream. I’ll miss all the fittings and cups of tea.
Lots of love, Dee

Dee

Dear Claire,
Thank you so much for the lovely dress it was exactly what I imagined it to be. I will definitely recommend you to anyone in the future. It was an experience that every bride should be able to enjoy. The dress fitted me so perfectly and made our wedding even more memorable.
With love, Nicky

Nicky

Dear Claire, Thank You! We are so glad we found you. You were so supportive, creative and amazing in the lead up to our wedding. Ciara and I are so grateful to you; she looked and felt like a princess!

Kirsty

Dear Claire,
Thank you so much for my wedding dress. It was beautiful and just what I wanted – simple and elegant. I am in awe of your dressmaking skills, it was amazing to watch the dress be created. I feel very lucky to have you creating my dress. You were fantastic and it was so enjoyable coming to visit you for the fittings. I really enjoyed our visits and watching the dress come together. You made it a very special and wonderful experience. Thank you again. Lots of love, Jenny

Jenny

Having a wedding dress designed and made by Claire was a dream come true. When I first decided to purchase a Claire Catherine bridal gown, I was not sure what I wanted and I initially took a pile of photographs of dress designs and ideas to Claire, she looked at them and listened to what I wanted and came up with a design which was perfect for me. One of the best aspects of having a couture dress made is the experience of literally seeing the process of dress developing. There were a number of fittings where I stood in front of the mirror as Claire designed, draped, stitched and cut fabric around my body. It was definitely one of the most exciting aspects of preparing for my wedding.

Llyndyn

Having my dress made by Claire was brilliant. I’d enquired at other boutiques but they wouldn’t have been as flexible with fittings and I had a tight schedule. I also loved being able to be involved in the process – choosing the fabric and lace, for example and Claire knew exactly what would suit me and took my own personality and tastes into consideration in creating the right dress for me.
As the gown came together, I was stunned by her precision and attention to detail – even the hand stitching of inner layers that would never be seen was perfectly even. Each fitting brought me closer and closer to seeing my dreams realised. I had heard horror stories from other brides whose dresses weren’t ready on schedule, but Claire was ahead of schedule and was always willing to give me an update. The completed gown was so well suited to me that I felt I was looking at “me in fabric”. I used to go into the wardrobe and just stare at it! You need to feel like a princess on your wedding day, and having a gown couture was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I felt so comfortable and glamorous in it.Our wedding was the most important day in our lives so far and it’s so pleasing that so many of the details of the day were in keeping with its significance – not least “The Dress!”

Kathryn

I tried dresses at loads of boutiques but nothing was quite perfect. Then a friend of mine introduced me to Claire. The moment I walked through Claire’s door, she immediately made me feel as if she had all the time in the world. Claire did not have any preconceived ideas and encouraged me to articulate my views on colour, fabric and shape so that she could create the perfect wedding dress for me. She asked me questions about the wedding and took care to make sure the dress complimented my style. Claire’s patience, enthusiasm and creativity guided me through the various options. She listened attentively and made me feel absolutely fabulous throughout the whole process. During the busy times in the run up to the big day, Claire was absolutely supportive and worked around my schedule whenever possible. I looked forward to every appointment, and Claire could not have made me feel more welcome and confident that the final result would be absolutely perfect. It was not just any dress, every little detail was exactly what I wanted. I loved having it made exclusively for me from scratch, and being able to see it come together step by step.

Nicolette

Dear Claire,
You really did make me feel so beautiful on our wedding day, I can’t thank you enough for all the work you did.
With Love, Philippa

Philippa

About

Claire Catherine Watson
Claire Catherine Watson
Claire Catherine Watson

I have always had a love for sewing and dressmaking as being tall myself, I struggle to find clothes and dresses that fit me properly. I learnt to sew at a young age and went on to study fashion, clothing construction and textiles at fashion college. After graduating and a bit of teaching, I started my own bespoke bridal and evening wear business and was named winner of the 2000 Rhea Award for Fashion Excellence.

I now live in Surrey and teach sewing for beginners to advanced from my studio in Byfleet. In my free time I also create beautiful masterpieces for my clients. Each dress is designed and made by hand often taking over 400 hours to construct with great attention to detail and quality both essential to creating the perfect gown.
My passion is to inspire, design and create magnificent garments for real woman that fits them perfectly, to accentuate their best features and enhance their natural beauty.
It gives me great pleasure to see the joy and confidence in my clients when they are wearing one of my gowns.

29 Rectory Lane, Byfleet, Surrey
07852 953 602
claire@clairecatherine.co.uk

By Appointment Only