Top 10 FAQS about custom dresses

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Commonly Asked questions

about having your

dress designed

  1. Do you have sample dresses?

    • Yes, we do have sample dresses that you can come and see however they’re all from photo shoots, as brides keep their dresses.

  2. Can I try dresses on?

    • Not here, we absolutely recommend finding a style that you 100% love and fits your body type before meeting with me. This will help to ensure that the finished dress will be exactly what you wanted.

  3. What is included in the quote provided?

    • Everything included for this dress quote; fabric(research and shipping), labour, minor alterations, fittings and taxes.

  4. How involved can I be in the process?

    • You can be as involved as you want, some brides want me to send updates and pictures as I find fabrics and get things done, others wait until there first fitting. Totally up to you, this is your investment so I will provide as much information as I can for you during the process. 

  5. What is the process?

  6. Is there a required deposit? Is it refundable?

    • Yes there are two deposits required; one is for booking the first meeting appointment which is $100 to hold your spot and will be taken off the final payment. The second is 50% of the final payment at the first meeting, this ensures completions and enables me to purchase fabrics for your custom dress. Neither of these deposits are refundable. We do have payment plans available, inquire within.

  7. Do you make dresses for the whole Bridal Party?

    • Yes, we make dresses for you, your ladies, the mother of the bride/groom and the flower girls.

  8. How many fittings will I have?

    • That is dependent on a few things; typically there are two fittings the first and the final pickup, however if weight is lost or something about the dress need to be drastically alter(does not happen often) then there may be 3-6. This is to ensure the perfect fit, when it is custom made it is truly made for you!

  9. What types of fabrics do you use?

    • We find quality fabrics within your budget that coincide with the month your wedding is in, ie; if your wedding is in the summer months we will find light weight satin’s, silks chiffon’s and laces that work well with the style of your dress but won’t make you swelter in the heat.

  10. How long does creating a dress take?

    • Currently we are booking meetings 8 to 12 months out from your wedding date, depending on if they are bulk orders or single dress orders. Everything depends on when fabrics are found, purchased and then scheduling fittings.

I hope these have answered any questions you may be having about making a custom dress your dream dress. If there’s anything else you’d love to know, I’d be happy to help, contact me (Amanda Garrett).

A Real-Life Fairy God-Mother

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Once upon a time, in a cozy house, on a quiet street, in a village on the edge of a booming metropolis, a young seamstress discovered she could perform magic. It was a transformative sort of magic that could make every bride look and feel amazing…

We all love fairy tales and, when I complete a dress for a client, it makes me feel like a real-life Fairy God-Mother! The magic occurs when a bride’s vision comes to life, and fits all of their curves (or lack of them) perfectly. True to the genre, all good fairy tales begin at home. This one is no exception. You see, I struggled with body-image issues for a long time. For years, I suffered from never feeling happy in the clothes I was wearing — literally feeling uncomfortable in my own skin. Everything changed on the day I picked up my scissors, cut into some fabric, and sewed my first dress. I took the pattern and adjusted it to my measurements. There was a moment, just before I tried it on, when I felt hesitant, worried my work would let me down. But the moment I pulled that dress on, well, it was magic. It fit me perfectly and, as a result, for the first time in my life, I felt fabulous! That dress made me aware that having something tailored to my own personal shape made me not only feel more comfortable, but heightened my self-image. Inspired, I embarked on a journey which, with a lot of self-love care, has helped me see an even clearer image of myself. It also gave me a clear vision for my business, to share my joy with the world! I have experienced the thrill of that moment over and over again. My goal has been to elevate and accentuate the best parts of my clients, leaving the rest behind them. Every day, I use my weapons of dress construction to make visions come to life. The ultimate challenge is to listen to an idea that someone has in their mind and translate it, craft it, form it into what I hope resembles their dream dress. Over the years, I have created and altered hundreds, if not thousands, of gowns and there is one thing that makes everything I do worth it: witnessing the ecstatic joy on their faces as they slip into the dress for the final fitting. The transformation into a fairy tale princess is immediate as they turn and spin around in front of the mirror, feeling the perfect fit, beaming with happiness. Dare I say it again? It’s magic!

Each of my clients arrive with a vision, an idea that is pre-existing about how they wish to look. It’s the reason custom-made, tailored design is the perfect solution for most brides, especially after searching and trying on what feels like a thousand ready-made dresses. That’s where I come in! As a crafter, there is nothing more satisfying than starting a project, finishing it runs a close second. The process is stimulating. At the initial consultation we discuss fabric and style. I measure every inch of my client to ensure the gown will fit all those ‘perfect imperfections’ (with thanks to Ed Sheeran for such a great expression). Sketches and cups of tea, and more sketches and tea, until the gown starts to come to life in my mind. There is such delight in sourcing fabric – the satins, the silks, the lace – it’s like a smorgasbord of texture. Then crafting out the pattern, piecing the dress together like a jigsaw puzzle, to ensure a perfect fit. The moment of truth comes as I prepare to cut. Like a carpenter, I measure twice, double-checking pins are secure before I pick up one of the most critical tools in my toolkit – no, not a magic wand – a shining pair of scissors. For me, there is nothing more exciting than pinning freshly cut pieces of fabric together and sitting down at the sewing machine. And this is where I wish I did have a magic wand to wave, or perhaps some sparkles or a puff of smoke because, with a ‘Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo’, the perfect fitted dress has come to life! Exactly what was envisioned, or more frequently, the words are, “Amanda! This is better than I could have ever dreamed!” Yup, I feel like a Fairy God-Mother every time.

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Over the last ten years I have been privileged to create some lovely dresses, but I believe the dress you see here reflects my best work yet. For some reason, I just feel creatively connected to this one. It highlights my skills. The style is based on a pattern that I have altered many times and followed once before, however I have never created one quite like this. My husband says it’s his favourite and he has seen more wedding dresses than any other man I know. Each piece of fabric that I cut, each layer upon layer that was sewn together felt effortless. It was almost magical, as if I was achieving the vision towards our first fitting on some sort of a creative energy high like no other. My client arrived for her fitting. She loved it! She was delighted to see her vision becoming a reality. Each lace appliqué was hand-sewn and took several days. With the kids and other obligations in my life, there were moments when I felt I would never finish the bodice! But as each day passed, I grew more excited to continue. The final result was such an achievement. It is an honour to provide a service that fulfills dreams. To say that I enjoy ‘crafting’ is a gross understatement. Each piece that I alter or create to fit the bride’s size, personality and style allows me to share my magic with the world. My goal is for everyone to feel beautiful and confident on the day of their wedding and beyond.

And so we draw to the end of the fairy tale. The little seamstress who discovered she could perform magic feels most days like a real life fairy godmother, making each clients dress visions come true. And, as she creates their dreams, she is living her own. Dreams that are so big and beautiful, there are times she has to pinch herself to believe they’re true. And somewhere, behind a pile of fabric, surrounded by needles and pins and scissors, she is grinning from ear to ear, because she is living ‘happily ever after’.

A dream come true

“I showed Amanda what I wanted in my wedding dress and she worked so hard to get every detail to perfection! She was lovely to work with and is so talented. She also made my garters and veil, my mom's Mother of the Bride dress, the dresses for my bridal party, and face masks for the bridal party and groomsmen. I highly recommend her if you want a custom bridal experience. She will make your dreams come true!”

Wedding and Bridesmaid Dresses created by Amanda Garrett from A.M.E.G. Designs

Photography by Maranda Elysse Photofraphy

Today's Bride Fall Photo Shoot

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I have been reminiscing of all the styled photo shoots I was a part of back in 2019 and most of them we’re featured. This one though still makes my heart sing a little louder because it was my first published in a Magazine. It definitely was a pinch me kind of moment when Beth from Beth Jacob Events messaged and gave me the news. We do these shoots to give you inspiration, to continue our creative work and to showcase what we have to offer. Working together, networking and making magic, oh my is it beautiful! So having one of these not just on an amazing blog like Today’s Bride but in their magazine is still like living a dream. I was gifted an entire box of them and have been giving them out to my brides ever since.

Boho is still a BIG deal on the wedding theme roster so this shoot will be completely inspiring for you. The fresh and bold colours can be spring, summer or fall and Willow Springs Winery is such a stunning place. The weeping willows are so whimsical and dreamy so what better place then here to have an incredible, unforgettable day. I am in love with every detail of this shoot, those peach place card holders are brilliant and that Pink Suit jacket is perfect!

When making your choices decide whether you want something fresh and new or simple and elegant. Taking looks from other decades and making them modern is a fun way to create something original for your wedding day. I also suggest having a planner throughout the process or just for day of, you can often find that they will offer a plan that works well for you to relieve some of the stress. Planning a wedding should be fun, let it be!


A Pink Wedding Dress

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This was the second wedding dress that I ever made and how much FUN! This two in one twirling ruffle and cocktail style was perfect for this bride. AS I tell a lot of my brides with custom you can do anything and this shows you that 100%! She wore this one for her at home wedding from city hall to love with family. It was such a pleasure to be apart of this because I’ve known Meghan for such a long time and for her to help support my beginning is amazing! You can see in these fantastic shots shes absolutely stunning.

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A truly special experience

“Amanda takes all the ideas you throw at her and brings it to life. The finished product was even better then the vision I had in my mind! I was so happy with this beautiful dress but even more happy with all the time spent with the designer. She's a one of a kind soul and those are the people you want creating for you!”

Looking for a custom dress or accessory? Let’s chat!

Your Designer,

Amanda Garrett

www.amegdesigns.com

Wedding Accessories

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A few years ago now, I had the amazing opportunity to work with such a wonderful bride. Her dress needed some alterations and she wanted to add some accessories that made her feel so incredible on her wedding day. She had been nervous and had some doubts about the dress before the alterations. When your body changes during and after pregnancy, it can be hard not to worry about how clothes look on you now compared to what that used to be. Let me tell you though, my biggest goal is to help you look and FEEL absolutely beautiful inside and out. After altering and adding a fabulous sash to her dress, as well as, making a hair piece to complete the ensemble. She was absolutely stunning!

There are times where I end up doing alterations for other members of the bridal party and for this one I altered the sister of the grooms dress who was also a Bridesmaid. I love so much when I can be apart of making more than just the Bride happy. When every women I provide my services for can dance the night away at the wedding too! Take a look at how wonderful and happy both Bride and Groom were on the special day. You can also peek at the Bridesmaid dresses they were really stunning as well. Ahh, don’t you love reminiscing about the things that just turn out so well!

Photos captured by Picture Pro Studios

You can see more stunning photos of this wedding and more in their Galleries :)

Looking to have your dress altered perfectly, I am here for you Contact me!

Want something custom, I’ve got your back for that too, let’s get started!

Your Designer,

Amanda Garrett

www.amegdesigns.com

Summer Wedding in Caledon

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I created a dress for a rustic stylized wedding shoot. A great collaboration of local businesses coming together thanks to Michelle Liane, an amazing photographer that brought her vision alive with through local businesses. The shoot was fantastic, set in Caledon, ON, she used the elements of the earth, and with the help of the wind shot some beautifully breath taking pictures. From the moment this dress was together, I fell in love! Every time I walked into my living room and saw it, this rush of excitement went through my veins. From start to finish this was a fun, whimsical piece to create. Thank you so much Michelle Liane Photography for including me in this fabulous experience.  I am so proud to have been apart of this and so excited that we were featured on The Bride Link blog. 

Beautiful work by;
Photography: Michelle Liane
Photography Assistant: Catherine Flanigan
Model: Rebecca Quinn
Dress Designer: AMEG Designs
Jewelry: Sanči
Hair Stylist: Lilian Wilson
Makeup Artist: Sarah Saccomanno - Makeup Artist
Florist: Raindrops on Roses Floral Design
Cake: Lipstick Baker Custom Cakes

If you're planning a farm/barn wedding, this dress would be the perfect style for the event! I find that elegant and simple is the way to go when it comes to these types of venues. SOME great venues in the GTA are; 

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Est. 2018

This Brand new Venue is a fabuslous desitination for your dream wedding. It has an abundance of beautiful settings for enchanting, rustic photographs. With it's high ceilings and clean canvas you can let your imagination run wild with this stuff 4300 sqft historic barn. Rainbow Valley Wedding Barn - Caledon, ON

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Fantastic Concept

Basically a one stop wedding shop, I love this! Providing all services under one roof or where ever you would like for that matter. However I love their little venue, super intimate and would be the perfect setting for a small wedding. It could even still be amazingly rustic if you wanted it to be. All you would need is a custom dress from A.M.E.G. Designs and the Coach House Weddings - Mississauga, ON

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The Dream

This one is beautiful for sure, you can choose from several areas to have your wedding and show case you in your perfect and elegant gown for your fabulous photos. Again making it as rustic as you wish. Fantasy Farm - Toronto, ON

Want to book for 2019 for a rustic style wedding dress or whatever you hearts desire? 

Contact Your Designer Amanda Garrett, it would be my pleasure to make all your dress dreams come true!