Caroline Calvert's Wedding Gowns

Custom & Ready-to-Wear Bridal Fashion

For over ten years, Vancouver's own Caroline Calvert has specialized in apparel design and fitting, creating both one-of-a-kind wedding gowns along with a ready-to-wear line for brides and bridesmaids. Whether a bride walks into her studio with a vision for a designer dress, or wants to choose from a gaggle of gorgeous gowns already available, Calvert is committed to making dreams come true for women on their wedding day.

The 2009 Ready-to-Wear Collection

"Janice" Wedding Gown, by Caroline Calvert

Shown here in gold silk shantung, the "Janice" (style no. 6125) features ruching from the empire crossover bodice down to the bodice and hip. This design also features an A-line flair in the skirt with a chapel length train.

"Kelly" Wedding Gown, by Caroline Calvert

The short and flirty "Kelly" (style no. 2120) features a low-waisted princess seam, trailed by layers of organza and lace. This gown is available in silk shantung (shown here) and silk duchesse.

"Chloe" Wedding Gown, by Caroline Calvert

The simple and sophisticated "Chloe" (style no. 6129) features a sheath gown with silk chiffon overlay. The V-neck empire bust meets a halter-style top, which shows off the shoulders.

"Madison" Wedding Gown, by Caroline Calvert

The most unique feature of the "Madison" (style no. 6123) is the vintage flair of its lace shrug/shawl. A strapless with princess seams and slight mermaid flair, the Madison is shown here in silk shantung and also available in silk duchesse satin.

Bridesmaids Dresses too!

"Nadine" Bridesmaids Dress, by Caroline Calvert

From the Bridesmaids section of Calvert's ready-to-wear collection comes this sassy number - "Nadine" ( style no. 2147). Shown here in purple silk shantung, this dress is available in over 80 different colours.

Custom Gowns & Consultations

Brides who wish to have a custom wedding gown designed just for them must first set up an appointment with Calvert at her Vancouver studio. They bring along photos of styles or designs that they'd like to see incorporated into their gown. Then they talk fabric, fit, colour, and cost with Calvert in order to arrive at a concept that perfectly fits both the bride's body type and budget.

Mya's Custom Wedding Dress, by Caroline Calvert

Mya wore this custom-designed gown with spaghetti strap bodice and bubble skirt for her June 2007 wedding.

Jenn's Custom Wedding Dress, by Caroline Calvert

For Jenn's October 2008 wedding, she asked Calvert for a traditional Korean gown with a modern twist.

Keisha's Custom Wedding Dress, by Caroline Calvert

In August 2008, Keisha wore this strapless silk gown, all decked out in layers of chiffon and lace.

Janelle's Custom Wedding Dress, by Caroline Calvert

Janelle wore this sheath princess seamed dress in off-white silk shantung for her April 2007 wedding.

Michela's Custom Wedding Dress, by Caroline Calvert

Michela is shown here in her custom-designed silk shantung strapless gown with pink crinoline and matching silk flower, worn for her June 2007 wedding.

An Interview with Caroline

We had our own consultation with Calvert to discuss the latest trends in colour, bridesmaids dresses, and how she combines the bride-to-be's vision with her own eye for design!

1. Have you ever felt conflicted between wanting to fulfill a bride's vision for her gown, and wanting to advise her on what you think looks best based on your own design expertise?

   Yes, I have. Having been around wedding gowns and knowing what works, I always let the bride know my point of view and explain to them why I don't think a certain idea would work. The most common mistake I see is the undecided bride trying to do too much with just one dress. In the end, I just want them to feel comfortable and happy with the gown they have chosen. I work hard to make sure they are happy the day they pick up the dress to take it home.

2. What do you find is the biggest priority for clients that order custom couture wedding gowns?

   Is it the one-of-a-kind aspect, or the custom fit? They are looking for a very specific gown, so most of my clients that have a custom dress made are looking for one-of-a-kind dress.

3. Do you think brides in North America will ever break free from the traditional white and ivory gowns?

   Yes, I do. I am designing a green gown at the moment, and do see a big trend in breaking free from the traditional colours of wedding gowns. Colour is great - I hope to see more brides in the future take the leap into a coloured wedding gown. The majority of brides still go for the traditional white or ivory gown, but it is very common now to see a hit of colour, even in the most traditional wedding.

4. For the custom gowns, who is more difficult to design for: the bride that comes in with no idea of what she wants in a gown, or the bride who knows exactly what she wants and already has a very specific vision in her head?

   Definitely the bride who knows what she want is easier to design for, but it's always more fun when the bride is open to suggestions and I get to have some creative input with the gown.

5. Many of the bridesmaids dresses on your site look like contemporary designs that bridesmaids could happily wear after the wedding without looking like they were "in a bridesmaids dress"! Was that intentional when you were designing them, and do you think it is an emerging trend?

   Yes - I try to design dresses that the bridesmaids could wear again. Gone are the days of puffy sleeves and unbearable designs! I think brides today are thinking more eco-friendly, and having bridesmaids re-use the dress fits right in with that way of thinking. Also, with the economy the way it is, it's hard to justify spending money on a dress you are only going to get to wear once.

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