Where the Dream begins...
"Embracing the beauty of the exclusive bespoke wedding dress is an empowering opportunity to embrace one's personality & shine. I’ve been bringing dreams to life through exquisite couture gowns for 40 years.
From celebrities to luminaries, my services are highly sought after by those who desire the very best"
The Bespoke Bridal Atelier Experience
Testimonial
"Cynthia's designs are simply stunning. Her years of experience, passion and love for what she does is so evident. The creativity and attention to detail in each design is second to none. I am so delighted to have had the opportunity to meet and work with Cynthia. After exchanging kind messages on Instagram to phone calls and meeting in person, Cynthia's communication and understanding of a brief surpassed all expectations! It truly has been a wonderful experience working with Cynthia and I very much look forward to working with Cynthia again!" Natalie Stevenson
Stage One: How The Bespoke Wedding Dress Process Works.
Unlocking the vision begins with a booking a 30 min consultation to help us learn about you.
Understanding your needs and what keeps you awake at night is the best approach to designing and crafting a plan that is impeccable in style whilst addressing the needs of your unique body shape and height.
We follow up the consultation with a selection of sketches and fabrics that tell your story and meet your expectations. Sometimes, this takes a few weeks as every bride is different, which we respect. Finding the right materials at the right budget helps to build confidence and trust to move forwards.
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"Cynthia has designed and participated in over 45 published shoots for the wedding and fashion industries and she knows what it takes to create the most memorable events."
Stage Two: The Design Process
Designing a Wedding Dress with Cynthia Grafton-Holt is nothing short of a sumptuous affair with a personalised and distinctive service that is unhurried, highly skilled, and exclusive to every client. ​
WE OFFER TWO OPTIONS FOR BRIDES
​Exclusive Bespoke Couture | Option 1: Brides are given complete carte blanche to choose and personalize every single element of their dress with endless possibilities.
Customised Made -to-measure | Option 2: Draw inspiration from over 30 designs in the studio collections. Mix and match ideas and designs and choose the fabrics trims & laces you love and develop unique silhouettes to flatters your shape.
MODESTY & CONFIDENCE - we work together until the final design is one that will fits to utter perfection.​CORSETRY - Every girl needs a little help! From full-skirted ball-gowns to body-sculpting mermaid designs, our discreet internal corsetry cinches and reduces the waistline by up to 2 " and can be overlaid with oplulent embellishments for a modern look.
Stage Five: Choosing the fabrics and Materials For Your Story.
Finding the perfect fabrics for your Cynthia Grafton-Holt bridal gown, takes place in the background after the initial consultation. Having chosen the design, it is now time to bring all of the elements together.
A selection of swatches will be ordered in from our specialist suppliers around the world. Once they arrive in the studio, we can begin to choose the correct weight and character for the design and also proceed to matching with the perfect trims to complete the story. This process takes a few weeks and requires a trained specialist with extensive background knowledge of textiles and suppliers of the finest fabrics.
After the selection process, a special sample pack of materials and trims is compiled and delivered to your home for final approval. Once approved, the order is placed and delivery to the atelier takes around 7 days. Once the bridal gown is cut, we send out a second pack of larger swatches of fabrics and trims. This is to assist with shopping and planning other elements of your wedding design such as bouquets, shoes, and groomswear, bridesmaids gowns and overall event design.
Stage Three: The Toiling Process
Toiling, is a mocked up version of the design (usually in cotton). This can be fitted in the studio or, despatched for fitting with a local dressmaker/tailor for overseas brides. We mock up every stage of the design to enable you to see the entire design as it takes shape. The silhouette and design lines are drawn unto you to complement and flatter your natural curves. Follow-up toile fittings help to perfect the shape of the gown before the fabric is cut. After cutting the dress there are around three fittings - closer to event date to ensure the dress is an absolutely perfect fit. ​ TO GET THE BEST RESULTS: 1. Ask questions, agree a timeline, voice your opinion and goals to be absolutely sure your vision is completely understood. 2. Be honest if you are unsure of any stage of the design. 3. Make time to attend fittings (or additional fittings) to perfect the design and acheive the accuracy required for a perfect fit.
Stage Three: The Toiling Process
Toiling, is a mocked up version of the design (usually in cotton). This can be fitted in the studio or, despatched for fitting with a local dressmaker/tailor for overseas brides. We mock up every stage of the design to enable you to see the entire design as it takes shape. The silhouette and design lines are drawn unto you to complement and flatter your natural curves. Follow-up toile fittings help to perfect the shape of the gown before the fabric is cut. After cutting the dress there are around three fittings - closer to event date to ensure the dress is an absolutely perfect fit. ​ TO GET THE BEST RESULTS: 1. Ask questions, agree a timeline, voice your opinion and goals to be absolutely sure your vision is completely understood. 2. Be honest if you are unsure of any stage of the design. 3. Make time to attend fittings (or additional fittings) to perfect the design and acheive the accuracy required for a perfect fit.
Stage Three: The Toiling Process
Toiling, is a mocked up version of the design (usually in cotton). This can be fitted in the studio or, despatched for fitting with a local dressmaker/tailor for overseas brides. We mock up every stage of the design to enable you to see the entire design as it takes shape. The silhouette and design lines are drawn unto you to complement and flatter your natural curves. Follow-up toile fittings help to perfect the shape of the gown before the fabric is cut. After cutting the dress there are around three fittings - closer to event date to ensure the dress is an absolutely perfect fit. ​ TO GET THE BEST RESULTS: 1. Ask questions, agree a timeline, voice your opinion and goals to be absolutely sure your vision is completely understood. 2. Be honest if you are unsure of any stage of the design. 3. Make time to attend fittings (or additional fittings) to perfect the design and acheive the accuracy required for a perfect fit.
Stage Four: The Magic Begins...
A Cynthia Grafton Holt Bespoke Couture Dress is created drawing on years of expertise and that of her team of skilled specialists in her atelier. With her team of fitters, pattern-cutters, seamstresses, embroiderers, and finishers you can rest assured that you are in the safest of hands. ​ Cynthia and her team are masters in creating epic flattering silhouettes that look deceptively simple, but, in reality, require supreme skill to achieve; and this skill, is the product of a 35-year fine-tuning journey. ​ Elegant, romantic and timeless style, adorned with exquisite bespoke embellishments, are a Cynthia Grafton-Holt signature and just one of the main reasons she is the go-to atelier for the bride looking for a one of a kind haute couture gown.
Finding the perfect fabrics for your Cynthia Grafton-Holt bridal gown, takes place in the background after the initial consultation. Having chosen the design, it is now time to bring all of the elements together.
A selection of swatches will be ordered in from our specialist suppliers around the world. Once they arrive in the studio, we can begin to choose the correct weight and character for the design and also proceed to matching with the perfect trims to complete the story. This process takes a few weeks and requires a trained specialist with extensive background knowledge of textiles and suppliers of the finest fabrics.
After the selection process, a special sample pack of materials and trims is compiled and delivered to your home for final approval. Once approved, the order is placed and delivery to the atelier takes around 7 days. Once the bridal gown is cut, we send out a second pack of larger swatches of fabrics and trims. This is to assist with shopping and planning other elements of your wedding design such as bouquets, shoes, and groomswear, bridesmaids gowns and overall event design.
Stage Five: Choosing the fabrics and Materials For Your Story.
Finding the perfect fabrics for your Cynthia Grafton-Holt bridal gown, takes place in the background after the initial consultation. Having chosen the design, it is now time to bring all of the elements together.
A selection of swatches will be ordered in from our specialist suppliers around the world. Once they arrive in the studio, we can begin to choose the correct weight and character for the design and also proceed to matching with the perfect trims to complete the story. This process takes a few weeks and requires a trained specialist with extensive background knowledge of textiles and suppliers of the finest fabrics.
After the selection process, a special sample pack of materials and trims is compiled and delivered to your home for final approval. Once approved, the order is placed and delivery to the atelier takes around 7 days. Once the bridal gown is cut, we send out a second pack of larger swatches of fabrics and trims. This is to assist with shopping and planning other elements of your wedding design such as bouquets, shoes, and groomswear, bridesmaids gowns and overall event design.
The Journey from Dream...to seeing Your Dream Dress
Stage Six: The journey from dreaming to an actual dress is an exciting one that requires meticulous planning in advance. In the same way that you plan your daily activities, we plan every aspect of the dressmaking process in advance - which is spread over several months accounting for life events such as holidays - helping you stay on track, plan ahead and keeping you informed of anything that changes - it really is a simple as that! At each appointment we tend to focus on different aspects depending on where we are in the process; however, as we strive to make adjustments and perfect the fit of your gown, there are plenty of opportunities for you to adjust the details as things progress through the stages towards completion.
Stage Seven: The Final Wedding Dress Fitting
Before you know it, the wedding dress journey will be at an end once we begin adding the final touches and finishing the hemline. It is now time to choose the veil length that best compliments your chosen design.
The final dress fitting appointment is the last opportunity to brings someone along who will be dressing you on your wedding day. We will walk them through the dress fastenings and the details of your gown such as, bustling and internal fastenings.
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