Made to Measure vs Made to Order: What's the Difference?

When you start shopping for a wedding dress, you will hear two phrases again and again: made to order and made to measure. They sound almost the same, but they mean very different things for your fit, your fittings and your budget.

Made to order

Most designer wedding dresses bought through a boutique are made to order. You try on a sample, choose your size from a standard size chart, and a new dress is produced in the size closest to your measurements. When it arrives, it is altered to fit you - often over two or three fittings, and often at extra cost.

Made to order simply means the dress was not sitting in a stockroom. It does not mean it was made for your body.

Made to measure

A made-to-measure dress is cut and sewn to your own measurements from the start. Instead of starting with a standard size and taking it in, the pattern is adjusted to you before any fabric is cut. The result is a dress that follows your shape from the first day you put it on.

That is the way every Aeternum gown is made. Because the dress is made for you, most of our brides need no alterations at all.

Why it matters

• Fewer fittings. With made to order, alterations are expected. With made to measure, they are the exception.
• A better fit. Standard sizes assume standard proportions. Very few of us have them. A made-to-measure bodice fits your bust, waist and hips as they are.
• Less hidden cost. Alterations to a heavily beaded or layered gown can add hundreds of pounds. Made to measure builds the fit into the price.

Is made to measure more expensive?

Not necessarily. In a traditional boutique, much of the price covers the shop itself - the rent, the samples and the retailer's mark-up. We work directly with the specialist European workshops that make our dresses and meet our brides online, so the price reflects the dress and the craftsmanship rather than the showroom.

How to get the most from made to measure

Accurate measurements are everything. We send every bride a step-by-step guide and recommend having your measurements taken by an experienced seamstress. We then check every measurement with you before production begins.

If you are unsure which route is right for you, talk it through with us on a video call. There is no obligation, and we are always happy to help.

Every Aeternum gown is made to your exact measurements by our European workshops, with free tracked delivery worldwide. Explore the collections or book a video call with Kate.