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 Process Works
Unlocking the vision you hold begins with a series of consultations enabling us to learn about you.
We learn all the things that keep you awake at night and find the best creative solutions that add value and impeccable style solutions unique and important to you.
The journey begins with sketches and fabrics that tell your story and meet your budget. 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.
She knows what it takes to create the most memorable events."
Stage Two: The Design Process
Designing a 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.
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WE OFFER TWO OPTIONS FOR BRIDES
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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 fit you 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 Three: The Toiling Process
The toiling stage begins with fitting 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 if you live overseas.
The toile is a mock-up of the corset (if required and the basic silhouette, where the lines of the dress are defined to complement your body’s 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 two -three fittings - closer to event date to ensure the dress is an absolutely perfect fit.
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HOW TO GET THE BEST RESULTS:
1. Ask questions and agree a timeline to be absolutely sure that your vision is completely understood.
2. Be open and honest if you are unsure of the design.
3. Be patient and be prepared to attend 2-3 toile 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.
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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.
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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.
The Material Selection Process:
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Stage five:
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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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