FAQ’S About Custom Bridal Design

Your consultation is your opportunity to share your style, taste, and dreams for your perfect dress. Feel free to bring any pieces of inspiration you have collected to help us visualize your perfect dress. You can bring along magazine photos, show us your Pinterest board, and any other ideas you have! Your Designer will sketch your gown while you’re visiting and help you choose the fine design details, such as colors, laces, and fabrics that fit your vision, body, and style.

Not sure what style will look best on you? Don’t worry! Our experienced wedding dress designers will give you expert advice. And, if your consultation is in our studio, we even have sample gowns that you can try on. This consultation is all about you and your vision – we’re here to bring it to life! Your consultation will take approximately 1 hour.

Yes! You can book your virtual appointment on our scheduling page or by calling our studio: 316-706-2914. Learn more about our Virtual Design Process HERE.

Our custom wedding dress design process includes a series of design checkpoints. The first will be a lining or “mock-up” fitting.

Virtual Vanya Brides: we will ship your lining to you, and your designer will virtually help you and a friend pin and mark any adjustments.

Local Vanya Brides: we will meet with you in our studio.

During this fitting session, we will confirm the desired fit and design features. This is the point where we ensure the fit is perfect for your silhouette. We can also make changes to the design features and style lines, however, there may be an additional charge for design changes.

*Please note that once the garment is cut in the selected fabric, very few (if any) changes can be made to design and style features.

We do not charge for alterations unless your measurements have changed after the final fitting, in which case standard alteration rates would apply. For more information about our custom wedding dress design process, click here.

We won’t let your dress leave our studio until you are 110% happy with it!!!

The garment will be custom-made according to the initial measurements taken or provided. If there is an active weight loss plan in place or if a pregnancy occurs, it is necessary to notify our designers as soon as possible. If the garment needs to be significantly altered due to weight loss or gain after the third fitting, there may be an additional charge. If you have notified us regarding any significant measurement changes at least two weeks prior to your third fitting, this additional charge may be waived.

We want you to feel beautiful and loved during our custom bridal design process, and we will work with you to ensure this!

“Made-to-Measure” means we will take your custom measurements at your initial consultation. Then, our expert designers will sew your gown from the ground up, creating a dress tailored for your figure.

Because you will have several fitting sessions, don’t stress if your size fluctuates throughout the process. At each fitting, we will re-measure, pin, and adjust the gown to fit your body. For out-of-state brides, we have a similar process, only virtually. (See our full process page here).

We will schedule four fittings with you where you will meet with your designer and see the creation process of your dream gown. We’ll include you every step of the way! Your designer will send you images, too, so you’ll always know just how your gown is coming along—just make sure your future hubby isn’t around!

We usually schedule these fittings or virtual checkpoints about 4-6 weeks apart. Some of our more elaborate designs will require more than 4 fittings, and we will schedule those at no additional charge.

Our custom wedding dress design process includes a series of design checkpoints. The first will be a lining or “mock-up” fitting. For Virtual Vanya Brides, we will ship your lining to you, and your designer will virtually help you and a friend pin and mark any adjustments. There is no additional charge for shipping—it is included in the price of your custom wedding gown.

During this fitting session, we will confirm the desired fit and design features. This is the point where we ensure the fit is perfect for your silhouette. We can also make changes to the design features and style lines, however, there may be an additional charge for design changes.

*Please note that once the garment is cut in the selected fabric, very few (if any) changes can be made to design and style features.

We do not charge for alterations unless your measurements have changed after the final fitting, in which case standard alteration rates would apply. For more information about our design process, click here.

We won’t let your dress leave our studio until you are 110% happy with it!!!

We suggest ordering your gown at least 6 months prior to your wedding date! Your lining or “mock-up” will be shipped within 4-6 weeks of placing your order. Your completed gown will then be delivered 4-6 months after you order. Learn more about how we ship our dresses here.

We will assist you and a friend virtually with how to take your own custom measurements! Our expert designers will then sew your gown from scratch based on the measurements you have provided us. You can learn how to take measurements in our instructional video: How to Measure for Your Custom Gown, for you to watch here!

The garment will be custom-made according to the initial measurements taken or provided. If there is an active weight loss plan in place or if a pregnancy occurs, it is necessary to notify our designers as soon as possible. If the garment needs to be significantly altered due to weight loss or gain after the third fitting, there may be an additional charge. If you have notified us regarding any significant measurement changes at least two weeks prior to your third fitting, this additional charge may be waived.

We want you to feel beautiful and loved during our design process, and we will work with you to ensure this!

Nope! Your shipping costs are included in the price of your custom gown!

Our Vanya Design Kit is for virtual appointments and includes everything you will need on your end to assist us with creating your gown. You’ll receive a measuring tape, fabric swatches, lace samples, a sketch of your dream gown, and more information about our custom design process!

We will schedule a series of Virtual Checkpoints with you, during which you will meet with your designer and see the process of your gown. You are included every step of the way! Your designer will send you images, too, so you’ll always know how your gown is coming! (Just make sure future hubby isn’t around!)

Generally, wedding gown alterations take 3 to 4 weeks, but they could take as long as 6 weeks during the busy bridal season. It is recommended that you schedule your wedding gown alteration appointment no later than 6-8 weeks before your wedding to allow for two or three fittings.

If your gown requires extensive work or design changes, we recommend scheduling your first fitting as soon as you receive your dress. Don’t worry, if your size fluctuates, we offer a complimentary fit check 4 weeks before the wedding.

Vanya Designs schedules multiple fittings to ensure that your gown fits perfectly so you feel beautiful and confident on your wedding day.

Formal gown alterations usually take 2 weeks to complete, but they could take as long as 3 weeks if your request is for the busy bridal or prom season. We recommend that you book your formal gown alteration appointment 3 weeks before your event to allow for at least one more fitting.

Vanya Designs schedules multiple fittings to ensure that your gown fits well and will feel beautiful and confident on the day of your event.

It is important to bring the undergarments you plan to wear on your special day and your shoes. This would include any shapewear or petticoat/slips. If you don’t have the exact undergarments yet, we have those items available for purchase in our studio. It is important for you to bring undergarments that you feel beautiful and confident in. It is also a good idea to bring a friend or family member who knows you well. You will be in excellent hands with our consultants, but it’s always nice to have the support of a loved one to help answer questions and learn how to take care of those bustles!

As a Vanya Bride for alterations, you get 50% off your steaming/cleaning, and your veil is included with that price! Our standard steaming prices are between $85 and $143, and you’ll receive 50% off that price!

We also offer complimentary steaming for all invoices over $900.

Vanya Designs Alterations Policy: We are committed to working with you to alter your garment to fit your needs. However, Vanya Designs will only guarantee our own work and is not responsible for the garment’s original quality of work. Not all formal wear, brought in for alterations, is constructed to the same high quality. When a garment is poorly constructed, often the alterations are extensive and, therefore, may require additional fittings.

New fittings/alterations may be subject to additional charges. New alterations due to size changes may be subject to additional costs. All new charges will be discussed with you before any new alterations are performed, and you will be held financially responsible for all work Vanya Designs does on the garment you contracted with us to alter.

We do not do the preservation work in the studio. Your gown is sent to the Wedding Gown Preservation Co. in New York, and it is shipped back to us within 6-8 weeks.

The Wedding Gown Preservation Co. has been preserving brides’ dresses for over 100 years. When we do heirloom re-designs, the gowns that were preserved through WGPC are ALWAYS in excellent condition, not yellowed, and the lace is not fragile.

The cost to preserve a new wedding gown is $350. Vintage gowns cost $400 to preserve.
If you’ve had your wedding gown altered with us, we offer $25 off your wedding gown preservation!

If you post a Reel or TikTok on social media documenting your 5-star experience, you will receive $50 off your gown preservation price!

Yes. If you just need your gown cleaned and steamed, we are skilled in the best ways to do that based on your dress style, fabric, & beadwork.

Be careful when taking your gown to a dry cleaner, as sometimes the chemicals can harm certain laces and beading. We have 25 years of experience cleaning wedding gowns, so you can be confident your dress is in expert hands. Contact us for pricing.

Yes. Do you have a gown from your mother or grandmother that needs some TLC to restore its original beauty? We can do everything from repairing or replacing brittle lace to removing most stains or brightening up yellowed dresses. Contact us for pricing and details about your specific dress.

Yes! We require a 50% down payment at your first fitting before work begins. Your down payment is your approval for Vanya Designs to proceed with alterations. Once alterations have been approved, the garment must stay in the studio until all fittings and work have been completed. Because all work is custom, no refunds will be issued for any reason. Final payment is due at your second fitting.

Our rental suits are available on order through Jim’s Formal Wear, which has a warehouse located in Salina, KS. Our rental prices range from $155 to $190, including all you need (jacket, pants, shirt, vest, and tie).

If you order five or more groomsmen suits, the groom’s suit is FREE.

Dress shoes are also available for an additional rental fee of $30. Pocket squares are $10.

If you are a Vanya Bride, Contact Us for your exclusive offers and discounts.

We have a selection of suits available for purchase or rental through our affiliate, Jim’s Formal Wear. If your Groom is interested in having a high-quality suit that he can wear again, we will tailor it in-house to fit him exactly!

Does your groom want a keepsake he will treasure forever? He might want a high-quality Bespoke suit, designed and tailored in-house.

Yes! We offer menswear alterations on suits and tuxedos so he looks amazing on his special day.

A Bespoke suit is a fully custom suit measured, designed, and tailored to fit his unique frame—just like your custom wedding gown. He will meet with his designer and choose fabrics, linings, cuts, styles, and fit for a truly unique design that matches his style and personality.

In a Vanya Designs Bespoke suit, he will be waiting for you at the altar in style! Schedule your Bespoke Suit Consultation.

Definitely not! Together, we will agree upon a personalized design based on our discussion, pictures you’ve shared, fabric samples you prefer, and a sketch of your dream gown. Based on those details, we will provide you with a quote at the initial meeting.

In some cases, the bride may want to change a design element after we’ve quoted the gown. If the design change will add to your price, we will always let you know at the time the change is requested.

Booking Fee: Your booking fee reserves your spot on our production calendar and helps cover the time spent with your designer for your consultation and fittings. Your booking fee is non-refundable.

Because you are a valuable client, as our gift to you, your booking fee will be applied to your invoice when the following requirements are met: The original appointment date is kept AND the invoice is paid in full with cash or check at your first appointment.

Rescheduling: With 24 hours’ notice, you may reschedule your appointment once at no charge.

Price Quote: To request an estimate prior to your appointment, please contact us.

We require a 50% deposit (half down) in order to begin working on your dream gown. After the deposit is received, we will set up a payment schedule on the balance of your gown. Payments will be due at each of your first four fittings, which will be scheduled approximately 4-6 weeks apart.

We offer complimentary steaming on all custom gowns and all alterations invoices over $900.

Nope! Your shipping costs are included in the price of your custom gown.

There is no additional shipping cost for our custom made gowns! Shipping is included in the price of your dress. If you want shipping insurance, that is available at an additional cost.

Our beautiful custom wedding dresses typically ship within 6 months. We’d love to see you in our Wichita, Kansas location, so please stop by! If you aren’t local to Kansas, we are able to provide a virtual experience to help you create the perfect dress for your wedding day.

We accept all major credit cards, cash, checks, Venmo, and PayPal. *A 3% service charge will be added to PayPal payments.

Because your wedding gown is custom and made-to-order, there are no refunds.

Vanya Designs provides an atmosphere of mutual respect, positivity, and inclusivity. Because providing our clients with a positive experience is one of our company values, Vanya Designs reserves the right to refuse service to anyone who becomes abusive or disruptive to our atmosphere. This includes but is not limited to foul language, body shaming, or otherwise inappropriate behavior.

We want every client to leave feeling beautiful, loved, and valued, and will do everything in our power to ensure each person has the best possible experience!

Please be sure to cancel your appointment at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled time. Appointment deposits are non-refundable.

When you arrive for your appointment, please park behind the building on the east side by the railroad tracks. There is a keypad on the brick wall beside the door. You will receive a door code via text message prior to your appointment.

If you have any trouble finding us or accessing the building, please call us at 316-706-2914.
You can also watch this Video on where to park.