Here's the thing. Many people think going the custom made route will help save them money. That's not always the case, and in most cases it will cost them more depending on the fabric and labor. First, know the type of fabric that you want. From there, you can design the bridesmaid dress knowing how well the fabric will drape, stretch, and sew.
For the bridesmaid dresses that I'm working on, I knew that the glitz sequin fabric had stretch as well as the charmeuse lining. With that in mind, I was able to design a fitted garment that draped in the back and became flowy from the knee down. With the weight of the fabric and its stretch, I knew it was capable of doing these things, and the bride approved! If you don't know much or anything at all about fabric, ask the seamstress or designer who is making it for you.
To find the total of what a custom made dress will be, add together the cost of the fabric(s) and supplies needed. After that, find out how much the seamstress/designer is charging per hour for labor and approximately how many hours it will take. Most seamstress/designers charge between $14.00 and $25.00 an hour for labor, and will factor in the cost of the fabric for the total amount of the dress.
