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The Experience

From the first consultation to the final fitting, each Joanna Bell couture dress is meticulously designed, precisely engineered and intricately hand-crafted. Over a series of appointments you will see your dress develop at every stage towards its beautiful completion.


Design consultation

The first appointment is a fantastic opportunity for us to get to know each other, to find out what you like, to talk about the theme of your event and to create that all- important first sketch. We will look at a range of beautiful fabric samples and will go through different shapes and styles of design to see what inspires you. Every single element of your outfit, including the fabric, can be personalised to your exact wishes.

Your Dress: the design process

The Design

Each gown is individually designed to suit your figure, personality and your style, as well as the atmosphere of the occasion. Together we create a design to suit you perfectly, giving you confidence and pride in yourself.

The Fabric

Once the design is developed and drawn, fabric types are considered. We will look at books of sample fabrics, feel the drape and texture of different options and consider colours and finishing touches that might be possible – all contributing factors to the end result. 

The Toile

The next stage is to make a calico toile – the gown in cotton. This allows the dress to be created and the lines defined to complement the body’s curves. The shape is tailored to achieve the perfect fit and finish, checking the design is exactly how you like it. 

At this point all the fabric samples will have arrived so the dress can be seen as a whole and the final choice of fabric chosen.

The Dress

After the toile is fitted and the fabric is chosen, Jo will create your dress. There will be 3 or 4 further fittings before the final check fitting, as close to the wedding or event date as possible, to ensure the dress is absolutely perfect. At each fitting the design begins to come to life and gradually becomes real as the day approaches.


Mother of the Bride or Groom

Whether you are the mother of the bride or the groom, it is a very sentimental day where you want to look the part, whilst also wanting to look yourself.

The design

Your outfit needs to be special, elegant and unique. Jo will develop the design with you, chatting about your preferred styles to help find a design that will emphasise your character, confidence and personality. The fabric choice and design are developed together to suit all criteria.

The Toile

The calico toile is made and a range of samples sourced so that you can visualise the elegance and style of your outfit to ensure it will be the perfect fit and very comfortable for the whole day.

The Outfit

Your outfit will be created in 2 or 3 fittings depending on its style. In the first silk fitting all the details finalised. For the next fitting the length and any additional questions are confirmed, creating the perfect dress or suit for the occasion.

The Bridesmaids

The Bride’s entourage come in many forms and your choice of outfits can be designed and made according to your exact wishes. Whether you choose identical or similar dresses and colours or styles to suit individuals, Jo will help you create the perfect combination to reinforce the beauty of the bride.

  • Bridesmaids 
  • Maids of honour 
  • Flower girls
  • Page boys
  • Groom’s women 

The process for each is individual, each outfit will be designed to coordinate with the bride with all the styles, fabrics and colours blending together and emphasise the bridal party.

The Toile

A toile is made for each dress or outfit to show the style and to achieve similar outfits of very different shapes of person. The fabric is chosen collaboratively with the bride thinking through what will suit the bridesmaids and add to the beauty of her own gown.

The Outfit

The dresses or outfits are created, usually with 2 fittings (depending on the style), allowing all the dresses to be seen together if chosen to by the bride.

The Groom, Best Man, Fathers and Ushers

To finish off the overall look of the wedding, waistcoats, cummerbunds, ties and bow ties can be also hand made.

These can be made in the colour theme of the wedding or in a fabric of the bridesmaid’s dresses, creating a stunning effect for your event that will be treasured in your photographs for years.

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