When to Order Your Custom Wedding Dress: The Complete Timeline
Order a made-to-measure wedding dress 4–6 months before the wedding: most of our gowns are made in 8–12 weeks plus 1–2 weeks delivery. See the order-by date for your wedding month.
Order a made-to-measure wedding dress 4 to 6 months before your wedding. Most of our gowns are made in 8–12 weeks and delivered 1–2 weeks later, so they reach you 9–14 weeks after you order: order them at least 18 weeks (just over 4 months) ahead. The most detailed designs take 10–14 or 12–16 weeks to make: order those at least 22 weeks (just over 5 months) ahead. Every product page shows that gown's own production time.
How long does it take to get a wedding dress?
A made-to-measure wedding dress isn't pulled off a rack: it is cut and sewn to your 21 measurements after you order, so the time you need depends on the gown. These are the production times published on our product pages, plus delivery by DHL Express or UPS Priority:
| Production time on the product page | Share of our gowns | Door to door | Order at least |
|---|
| 8–12 weeks | about 4 in 5 | 9–14 weeks | 18 weeks (about 4 months) before |
| 10–14 weeks | about 1 in 5 | 11–16 weeks | 20 weeks (about 5 months) before |
| 12–16 weeks | about 1 in 30 | 13–18 weeks | 22 weeks (about 5 months) before |
"Order at least" keeps about 4 weeks spare for delivery and any small adjustments you want. It is the same rule as the wedding date check on each product page: enter your date there to see the last day to order that gown.
The production weeks start once we have your measurements. If you choose Reserve & Measure Later (you have 30 days to send them), count the weeks from the day you send them.
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Order-by dates for your wedding month
The latest day to order and send your measurements for a wedding on the 1st of the month. A wedding later in the month gives you a few more weeks. When the order-by month comes after your wedding month, it falls in the year before.
| Wedding in | Most gowns (8–12 weeks) | 10–14-week gowns | 12–16-week gowns |
|---|
| January | Aug 28 | Aug 14 | Jul 31 |
| February | Sep 28 | Sep 14 | Aug 31 |
| March | Oct 26 | Oct 12 | Sep 28 |
| April | Nov 26 | Nov 12 | Oct 29 |
| May | Dec 26 | Dec 12 | Nov 28 |
| June | Jan 26 | Jan 12 | Dec 29 |
| July | Feb 25 | Feb 11 | Jan 28 |
| August | Mar 28 | Mar 14 | Feb 28 |
| September | Apr 28 | Apr 14 | Mar 31 |
| October | May 28 | May 14 | Apr 30 |
| November | Jun 28 | Jun 14 | May 31 |
| December | Jul 28 | Jul 14 | Jun 30 |
How is this different from a bridal salon?
A salon gown is usually ordered in a standard size and then altered to fit over several fittings, so salons plan the order and the alteration appointments together, many months before the wedding. A made-to-measure gown is cut to your measurements from the start, so there is no sample size to take in. That is why ordering 4 to 6 months ahead works: leave a few weeks at the end only if you want small adjustments.
The timeline, month by month
6+ months out: explore and shortlist
Browse silhouettes, save favorites and set your budget. Use our silhouette guide and AI Bridal Stylist to narrow down your style, and our wedding dress fabrics guide to match the fabric to your season and venue. For a full planning checklist, from research to the wedding morning, see our month-by-month wedding dress timeline.
4–6 months out: measure and order
Place your order and submit your measurements; our tailors review them before production begins. The measurement form asks for your heel height, so choose your wedding shoes, or at least their heel height, before you measure. You can pay in full or in 3 interest-free monthly installments; the gown ships once all installments are paid.
Ordering earlier is fine too: your gown simply arrives sooner. Because it is cut to the measurements you send, measure at a weight you expect to keep until the wedding.
1–4 months out: production and accessories
Your gown is hand-cut and sewn in our European atelier: 8–12 weeks for most designs, up to 16 weeks for heavily beaded or layered ones. Use the time to choose your veil, shoes and jewelry.
1–2 months out: delivery
Your finished dress ships 1–2 weeks after production. Try it on as soon as it arrives, hang it for 24–48 hours to release packing creases, and book a local seamstress if you would like any small adjustments.
Final 2 weeks: steam and breathe
Steam the dress, keep it in its garment cover away from sunlight, and relax.
What if my wedding is in less than 4 months?
Message us with your date and the dress you love before you order. Faster production may be possible for some designs, and we'll tell you honestly whether we can make it work. The wedding date check on each product page shows straight away whether a gown fits your date.
Planning a destination wedding?
Use the same timeline and add the time you need to travel with the gown. Lace and tulle hide creases better than satin or Mikado, and chiffon and crepe stay comfortable in the heat; our fabrics guide compares them.
Three tips to stay on schedule
- Decide on the silhouette early. It's the longest part of the decision; everything else moves quickly once it's settled.
- Take your measurements carefully. Accurate measurements the first time avoid back-and-forth. Our guided tool walks you through all 21.
- Don't crash-diet before measuring. Measure at a weight you can realistically maintain — a made-to-measure dress fits the body it was measured for.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I order my wedding dress?
4 to 6 months before the wedding: at least 18 weeks (just over 4 months) ahead for most of our gowns, and at least 22 weeks (just over 5 months) for gowns with 10–14 or 12–16 weeks of production. The wedding date check on each product page gives the exact last day.
How long does a made-to-measure wedding dress take?
9–14 weeks from order to your door for most gowns (8–12 weeks of production plus 1–2 weeks of delivery), and up to 18 weeks for the most detailed designs.
Is 9 or 12 months too early to order?
No. Your gown simply arrives earlier. Measure at a weight you expect to keep, and store the gown in its cover until the day.
Can I pay in installments?
Yes. Pay in full, or in 3 interest-free monthly installments with the first one paid when you order. The gown ships once all installments are paid.
Ready to start? Browse the full collection or read how made-to-measure works.
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