The Jerusalem Studio: What to Expect at the First Appointment

For many brides the first studio appointment comes with excitement — and sometimes a little apprehension about the unknown. So here is exactly what happens in it, step by step. (Pictured: Lisa, from the 2023 collection.)

How the meeting works

Appointments at the studio are private and arranged in advance. The studio is open Sunday through Thursday, 9:30 to 15:00, and it is not a conventional bridal shop: there is no sales floor, no rack of dozens of dresses, no salesperson walking through a catalog. Each meeting is one on one, with me or with one of the senior seamstresses.

What you can see

In a first meeting, you can look at pieces from the seasonal collections, handle lace samples and base fabrics, and see how the gowns fall on a body. The studio samples are available to try on in studio size; sizing to the bride's own measurements happens in the next stage of the process. Every gown is made to measure — there is no size chart here — so petite, tall, plus-size, and expecting brides all get a full fit.

Moving to bespoke

If nothing in the collection is quite right, the process can move to bespoke. The first step is a conversation where I sketch out the main lines of the dress by hand and review materials. A bespoke commission takes three to four additional meetings, so it is best started at the early side of the usual window — about three months before the wedding, and at least four for brides abroad.

Fittings

Each gown goes through at least three fittings before the wedding date. The first sets the silhouette, the second marks seams and the placement of beading, and the third handles final adjustments. It is also the part I am strictest about: a gown does not leave the studio until it sits on the bride as if it were sewn onto her — because it really was. A bride whose weight changes between fittings (in either direction) need not worry: every gown is built with seam allowances that leave room for adjustment. Just let us know, so we can adapt the schedule.

Pickup

A finished gown is held at the studio until a week before the wedding and is then handed over in person, with storage instructions. It is delivered in a breathable cotton bag rather than plastic, with a recommendation to keep it hanging in a cool place until the morning of the wedding.

Want to see it for yourself? Send us a WhatsApp and we will find a quiet slot together.