Client Questions

Modest gowns feature full-length sleeves, higher necklines, and non-sheer fabrics while maintaining the same level of couture elegance.

At the studio, modesty is built into the design from the first sketch, not added as an afterthought. The gowns use opaque European fabrics, lace overlays, and careful construction to give complete coverage without restricting the silhouette or movement. Every design is built around the requirement for full coverage from the start, rather than adapted to it later.

It begins with a private appointment at our Jerusalem studio, followed by design, creation, and fittings.

Step one is booking an appointment where we discuss what you have in mind, timeline, and modesty preferences. Next, Amalya sketches an original design tailored to you. Once the design is approved and fabrics are selected, creation begins in our atelier. Throughout the process you will have multiple fittings to refine every detail. A deposit is required to begin, with the balance due before the final fitting.

Couture gowns are made entirely from scratch to your exact measurements, while ready-to-wear is produced in standard sizes and altered to fit.

Every AMALYA gown is couture: hand-cut, hand-sewn, and hand-beaded in the Jerusalem studio for one specific bride. Nothing is pulled from a rack. The silhouette, the fabric weight, the placement of the lace, and the beading are all built around the bride's measurements and preferences, not adapted to a pre-made shape.

Yes. The studio regularly adapts silhouettes to specific modesty requirements while keeping the original design intent.

Whether you have seen a design in our collection or in a bridal magazine, we can modify necklines, add long sleeves, introduce lining layers, or adjust hemlines. Because we construct each gown from scratch, these modifications are built in rather than tacked on. Many brides bring reference images as a starting point for a fully custom modest design.

We work with European base fabrics, imported lace, and hand-selected beads, sequins, and fine pearls.

Designer Amalya Cohen sources every fabric personally from European mills and commissions lace patterns for the house. All beading is set by hand in the Jerusalem studio: Swarovski stones, glass beads, sequins, and freshwater pearls, each element anchored individually. The result is a tactile richness and luminosity that no machine work can replicate.

Yes. AMALYA designs modest evening gowns and special occasion dresses using the same couture techniques.

Our evening wear line follows the same principles as our bridal collection: full modesty, hand-beading, fine fabrics, and bespoke tailoring. Whether it is a mother-of-the-bride dress, a gala gown, or a dress for sheva brachot, we create pieces that are elegant and fully modest. Evening gown timelines are typically shorter than bridal, starting at around 8 weeks.

Yes. We create modest gowns for mothers of the bride, sisters, and wedding party members using the same couture techniques.

Many brides choose to dress key family members in coordinated AMALYA pieces so the overall look of the chuppah feels considered and harmonious. Mother-of-the-bride and sister gowns are typically designed in complementary fabrics and tones rather than identical to the bridal gown. Timelines for these pieces are shorter than bridal, generally 8 to 12 weeks.

In most cases, yes. We source fabrics and laces directly from European mills and can match a specific shade or texture you envision.

Brides often bring a photograph, a swatch, or a description of a color they love, whether it is a warm ivory, a soft champagne, or a specific shade of white. Amalya personally reviews fabric options with you and can commission custom dyeing or special orders from our suppliers when needed. Some rare fabrics may require additional lead time, which we factor into the overall timeline.

Yes. Our website shows a selection of recent AMALYA gowns, and we can share more images during a virtual appointment.

The site shows a selection from the collections, not a catalog; the full picture lives at the studio. In a virtual or in-person appointment we can show additional pieces and discuss which elements you would like to draw from for your own design.

A private hour with Amalya at the Jerusalem studio: your vision, the fabrics, and a timeline.

During the appointment you will see examples of our work up close, handle lace and fabric samples, and talk openly about your modesty preferences, wedding date, and budget.

Most brides come with their mother or one close companion. You are welcome to come together; the studio is yours alone for the whole appointment.

The appointment is personal and private, and mothers, sisters, and a close companion are welcome to join. A second pair of eyes you trust helps you choose well, and our team moves at your pace, with no pressure.

You can book an appointment over WhatsApp, by phone, or by email. All options are on the Contact page.

Appointments are available Sunday through Thursday at our Jerusalem studio on 68 Kanfey Nesharim Street. Our diary is built around private appointments, one at a time, so it is worth booking about a week ahead. You are welcome to write on WhatsApp at any hour, day or night; we reply the next business morning. At the appointment you will meet Amalya personally to talk about your style, your timeline, and your modesty requirements.

Rush orders are considered on a case-by-case basis. The usual timeline is about three months before the wedding (at least four for brides abroad).

If your wedding is less than three months away, write to us directly so we can honestly assess whether a bespoke gown is possible in the time remaining. A compressed timeline reduces the number of possible fittings and may limit fabric and beading options, and that is reflected in the quote. In some cases we may suggest adapting a recent design rather than starting from a blank page, with full honesty about what is possible.

Most brides have 3 to 4 fittings throughout the creation process.

The first fitting involves taking precise measurements and reviewing the muslin or toile. Subsequent fittings refine the silhouette, confirm beading placement, and settle the final fit. For international clients, we work to consolidate fittings into fewer visits. The final fitting takes place close to the wedding date to account for any last-minute adjustments.

Every AMALYA gown is made to measure, so there are no standard size limitations.

Because we construct each dress from the measurements of the individual bride, we do not work from a size chart. We regularly dress brides across the full range of body types and proportions, including petite, tall, plus-size, pregnant, and post-partum brides. The pattern is drafted specifically for you, so the fit is designed in rather than altered afterwards.

Minor changes are expected and built into the fitting schedule. Larger changes are handled at the next scheduled fitting.

Our construction method leaves seam allowances that allow the gown to be let out or taken in by a meaningful amount without recutting the pattern. The final fitting takes place close to the wedding specifically so the gown reflects your body at that moment. If you anticipate a significant change, please tell us early so we can plan the fabric order and beading layout accordingly.

Our European laces and base fabrics are chosen with skin comfort in mind, and fully lined constructions are available for brides with sensitive skin.

The laces we use are woven from fine cotton and viscose blends rather than harsh synthetics. For brides with known sensitivities, we can add a soft silk or cotton lining between the skin and any beaded or textured areas. Please mention any allergies at your appointment so we can plan fabric choices accordingly.

Yes. AMALYA serves brides internationally, with a partner location in Brooklyn, New York for US-based clients.

International brides can start with a virtual appointment, then visit either the Jerusalem studio or the Brooklyn partner for fittings. The studio coordinates shipping for the finished gown and plans the fitting schedule so the number of trips is kept down. Some brides only come to Jerusalem for the final fitting, a few days before the wedding.

Yes. Finished gowns ship worldwide, tracked and insured.

For brides in the New York area, we work with our partner Haas Bridal in Brooklyn, which allows for in-person fittings without flying to Israel. For brides elsewhere, we coordinate a combination of virtual appointments, measurement sessions, and a final shipment timed to arrive several weeks before the wedding. International shipments are insured and tracked.

Have your gown professionally cleaned by a specialist in couture and beaded garments within a few weeks of the wedding, then store it in acid-free tissue in a breathable box.

Hand-beaded couture gowns should never be placed in a standard dry-cleaning machine. We can recommend trusted preservation specialists in Israel and abroad. For long-term storage, keep the gown flat or on a padded hanger, away from direct light and humidity, and check on it once a year to refold along different lines and prevent creasing.

We focus on custom creation rather than third-party alterations, but we do offer modesty modifications to gowns we have made.

If you purchased your gown from another designer, we generally recommend returning to them or working with a dedicated alterations specialist. For AMALYA brides, we continue to support the gown through the final fitting and can handle modesty adjustments, beading repairs, or fit refinements as needed. For inherited or heirloom gowns, write to us to discuss whether a restoration is possible.