Business Details
30 Years
experience
Your Custom Wedding Dress in Melbourne
Bernadette Pimenta has been crafting couture wedding dresses in Melbourne for over 27 years. Our team specialises in creating bespoke bridal gowns, mother of the bride attire, and evening wear tailored to individual clients. With a focus on luxury fabrics and meticulous craftsmanship, we offer one-on-one consultations to ensure every detail reflects the client's vision. Our process includes multiple fittings and hands-on design collaboration led by Bernadette herself, who brings decades of industry expertise to each creation. We serve brides across Australia and internationally, offering virtual appointments for remote clients.Our commitment to quality extends to using premium materials like Italian silks and hand-embroidered laces. The studio's reputation as an iconic Melbourne atelier is built on a foundation of personalised service and artistic excellence. By prioritising comfort and fit alongside aesthetic beauty, we ensure clients feel confident on their special occasions. Our dedication to exclusivity means every gown is a unique expression of the wearer's personality and style.
Services
Custom Wedding Dresses
Mother of the Bride Gowns
Evening Wear
Sample Sale Dresses
Bridal Consultations
Details
- Year established: 1996
Highlights and features
- We offer 27+ years of experience in couture bridal design
- Our team provides hands-on, one-on-one design collaboration
- We use premium Italian silks and hand-embroidered embellishments
- Our process includes 5+ fittings for perfect tailoring
- We serve international clients with virtual consultations
Services
Custom Wedding Dresses
Our custom wedding dresses combine artistic vision with technical precision to create unique bridal attire. Each gown undergoes a collaborative design process with multiple fittings to ensure perfect fit and finish. We use premium materials like Italian silks and hand-beaded embellishments to craft garments that reflect individual style while maintaining timeless elegance. The process typically takes 6-8 months, allowing for meticulous attention to detail in our Melbourne atelier.
Mother of the Bride Gowns
We create sophisticated mother of the bride gowns that balance elegance with comfort. Our designers work closely with clients to select appropriate fabrics and styles that complement wedding themes while avoiding colour conflicts with the bride's dress. Each garment receives the same couture treatment as our bridal collection, with multiple fittings and custom detailing to ensure a perfect match for the occasion.
Evening Wear
Our evening wear collection features custom-designed gowns for special occasions ranging from galas to christenings. The design process focuses on creating flattering silhouettes that highlight individual features while incorporating luxurious materials and intricate detailing. Each piece undergoes the same rigorous fitting process as our bridal collection to guarantee comfort and confidence during evening events.
Sample Sale Dresses
Our sample sale collection offers immediate access to previously tried-on gowns at reduced prices. These one-of-a-kind pieces maintain the same quality standards as custom orders, featuring premium fabrics and intricate detailing. Available in sizes 8-14, these gowns can be altered in our studio for a perfect fit, providing an accessible option for time-constrained brides.
Bridal Consultations
We offer comprehensive bridal consultations to guide clients through the design process. These appointments include fabric selection, style discussions, and body shape analysis to create garments that enhance natural beauty. Our hands-on approach ensures clients receive expert guidance while maintaining creative control over their final design.
People
Bernadette Pimenta
Lead Designer
With over 30 years in fashion, Bernadette is Melbourne's iconic bridal designer. She personally oversees every aspect of gown creation, from measurements to fittings. Her expertise in fabric selection and custom design has made her a sought-after couturier for brides seeking unique, high-quality garments that reflect their personal style.
Questions
What makes custom wedding dresses special?
Custom gowns offer perfect fit, unique design, and premium materials tailored to your vision. Each detail reflects your personality and body shape.
How long does the gown creation process take?
Typically 6-8 months for custom orders, allowing time for design development, fabric sourcing, and multiple fittings to ensure perfection.
Do you cater to international clients?
Yes, we offer virtual consultations via Zoom or FaceTime for overseas clients, with gown delivery available worldwide.
Can sample sale dresses be altered?
Yes, all sample gowns can be altered in our studio to achieve your perfect fit before final purchase.
What styles do you specialise in?
We create modern romantic designs with textured fabrics, plunging necklines, 3D florals, and statement backs while maintaining timeless elegance.
How do you ensure proper fit?
We conduct minimum five fittings during the process, adjusting every detail to guarantee comfort and confidence on your special day.
Reviews (5)
Natalie Georgiou
Nov 12, 2021
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Bernadette is highly skilled at what she does and you know right away you can trust her to create the perfect wedding dress for you. I felt honoured because Bernadette made my sister's wedding dress and a few years later we came back to her and asked her if she would be willing to re-design the same dress for my wedding. She said yes right away and all it took was a few pictures of styles I liked and she was able to bring it to life! I loved my dress and felt like a princess in it. Thank you Bernadette!
Elly Macdonald
Jul 09, 2021
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Wow, where to begin?! I first met Bernadette 9 years ago when she made my sisters wedding dress and knew instantly that I wanted her to make mine when it was time. From the very first visit Bernadette listened to what I wanted and created a masterpiece that was nothing short of amazing. Her keen eye for detail made my dreams a reality. Thank you Bernadette for making my dream gown x
Daniella Kotzen
May 24, 2021
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Bernadette created not only one but two perfect gowns for me with the gorgeous fabrics that she chooses from france! I could not recommend her enough! She made the process so easy and was so accommodating and gave great advice! I got so many compliments on the night for both the dresses! They both fit perfectly and the construction was perfect!
Taryn Silver
Mar 10, 2021
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The dress that Bernadette created for me can only be described as a work of art! The whole process of working with Bernadette (especially through Melbourne lockdown) was very special. I felt and looked beautiful - thank you Bernadette for making my husband's jaw drop - and making my flowergirls believe I was a princess!
Anthea M.
Aug 18, 2020
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As someone who hates dressing up, hates being centre of attention and is stressfully fussy, wedding dress shopping was not a fun time for me. It wasnt until I put on one of Bernadettes dresses that I felt it was possible to find something that I could picture myself wearing. Even then, I told Bernadette I like the top of one dress, bottom of another dress and the material of a third, to which she replied of course! You cant possibly doubt her talent and knowledge, so I had complete confidence in her and valued her guidance. And she delivered! The dress was exactly what I had envisioned
