Custom Designed Bridal Gowns & Heirloom Gown Alterations | Denise’s Bridal
Step into the Atelier at Denise’s Bridal for a custom designed gown that is fitted, tailored and styled just for you. Bring your ideas and/or heirlooms and we will create the wedding dress of your dreams.
the designer experience
Welcome to your local Design House & Atelier.
Right here in Clarkston Michigan you can experience the process of couture fashion with custom designed formal wear, bridal gowns and bridal accessories.
Take a peak inside the atelier of a Haute Couture design house in cities like Paris or Milan and you will find yourself amongst design boards, patterns, piles of fabric, spools of thread and tailoring equipment. This is the design atmosphere inside every designer’s workshop, formally called an Atelier. When clients step into an Atelier for a custom design piece, they are fitted, tailored and styled for their one of a kind garment. Custom work is the design process that turns your dreams into reality. Denise has brought this designer experience to Clarkston, Michigan.
With 35 years of custom designing, tailoring and alterations, Denise has mastered her craft. Specializing in the wedding industry, you can set your expectations high, because she has the knowledge, expertise and attentive service every bride deserves.
Look behind the scenes at real design stories
where Magic Happens and Memories Are Made
something Old something new
Meet Beth & Austin.
Beth purchased her gown & veil at Denise's from the Chariot Bride Collection. Beth also had an heirloom treasure, her mother's bridal gown. She wanted to design it into something special for her wedding day. Beth stepped into Denise's workshop and they began the process of transforming Beth's mother's wedding gown into this beautiful bridal jacket. With great attention to detail and a skilled designer's eye, we were able to take advantage of every inch of fabric.
Custom clutches were designed for the bride and the bridal party. These special gifts were adorned with the bow, lace & trim pieces. Even the zipper was used to embellish a clutch, all repurposed from the mother's wedding gown. The couples wedding day bulletin read: "In tradition of 'Something old, something new' the Bride walks down the aisle adorned in her Mother's wedding gown which was transformed into her bridal jacket as an heirloom of love."
"This dress would be perfect if only..."
Jess and her Mom started with the idea of possibility wearing her Mother's wedding gown & veil. Unfortunately, Jess could not "Say yes to (her mother's) dress"
So Jess began shopping the Chariot Bride Collection. She selected her "almost perfect wedding dress". The bodice was too long, the skirt was too full and there was just too much tolle but she loved the design. We began the process of custom tailoring her bridal gown to meet and exceed her expectations.
At the conclusion of the custom tailoring process, we realized that her Mother's veil complemented her dress. A heart warming finishing touch was being able to wear her Mother's veil on her wedding day.
As you can see, Denise can deconstruct, reconstruct and re-design any wedding dress to your heart's desire! The Clarkston atelier, "Where Magic Happens & Memories Are Made".
Heirloom Treasures... A mother's wedding gown
Ashley, her Mom, Aunt and girlfriends came into Denise's Atelier with a treasure box; inside was her Mother’s beautiful wedding gown. Ashley put it on... we began the process of designing a wedding gown that filled her heart's desire. The first step was removing the sleeves. At the next bridal fitting we discussed the need to remove the collar and illusion on the front and back bodice. She was then fitted, tailored and sculpted.
Ashley wore the original slip to give the soft fabric its shape.The champagne ribbon was added for detail and woven into the bodice lace. Ashley wanted buttons on her bridal gown so the back of the dress was reconstructed to achieve this for her. The finishing touch was a french style bustle, which brought up the train for the bride at her wedding reception.
Honoring the Family traditions
To honor family tradition, Mercedes was to be fully covered during the ceremony while inside the church. When her Mom realized that Denise has created HEIRLOOM TREASURES for other brides using their mother's wedding gown, they both became excited with the possibility of design something special for the bride to wear on her wedding day.
This design project evolved after Mercedes choose her bridal gown at Denise's from the Chariot Bride Collection.
It is always amazing to see these design ideas & custom styling pieces come together. Mercedes was able to honor family tradition by wearing a custom designed jacket made from the train of her mother's bridal gown.
"Where magic happens and memories are made..."
Custom Heirloom Designs & Bridal Accessories
Heirloom pieces are some of my personal favorites. Magic happens and memories are made when brides come in with their special requests.
This purse was created from Grandma's wedding gown, Mother's wedding gown and trim from the Bride's Christening gown. Three ribbons were attached inside the purse which were embroidered with the names and wedding dates of the 3 marriages to create and preserve a multi generational heirloom that could be treasured for years to come.
A fabulous concept for any bride, whether it is made as an heirloom treasure or simply a special gift for herself.
Custom Designed
First Communion Dress
Natalie's christening gown was designed and created using her Mother's wedding gown.
The train was cut at hem length and attached as a peplum overlay on the skirt. The sleeves were kept as the original style, tailored to fit. Pieces of trim from the wedding gown was used to finish the neckline, add a collar and finish off with a belt at the waistline.
A total princess!
CUSTOM Bridal Gowns
Goth with glam
The Teggerdine Wedding
Alli came in requesting a one-of-a-kind custom gown to express herself and her fiancés unique wedding style. When I asked what she had in mind she replied with "I want a wedding dress that is goth with glam".
Before coming in, she searched many bridal shops and scoured the internet for wedding gowns to fit her unique bridal style but she could not find her dress. When Alli met Denise, she had many photos in hand and shared her ideas for a custom bridal gown. Denise and Alli worked together until they achieved the wedding gown of her dreams, perfect for an October 30th wedding!
Alli shopped the fabric stores finding the specific fabrics, tolle and trim she had in mind. She also found a strapless black formal gown at the local Clarkston thrift store to use as inspiration. Denise combined all of Alli's choices to design her Goth With Glam style bridal gown. Take a look at a few photos as Alli expresses sheer joy (AND BEAUTY ON HER SPECIAL DAY!).