frequently asked questions
When should I start shopping for my gown?
We recommend starting your wedding dress journey 9-12 months before the big day. This gives you plenty of time to work out your personal style and find your dream wedding dress. In saying this, some brides prefer to have their dress locked in over a year in advance, and some start looking under 6 months in advance, so its totally personal preference in what suits you.
Do I need an appointment to try on your wedding dresses?Appointments are essential. To book please click here - our Saturdays appointments are limited and get reserved quickly!
What do I need to bring?
You don’t need to bring anything at all, but if you’d like to be extra organised, we would recommend bringing:
Good underwear (seamless & skin colour preferably)
A heel or type of shoe you plan on wearing with your wedding dress. It doesn’t have to be the ones you will wear but the height will help with creating the over all look.
Most importantly - an open mind. You might be surprised with what you fall in love with.
Can I bring people with me to my appointment?
Of course - everyone is welcome in our Atelier. Bring supportive people who you trust and who’s opinion you value. We suggest 2-3 people to keep it intimate and not too overwhelming.
How much time do you need to make my dress?
We start the dressmaking process 6 months prior to your wedding day, at this stage we take your measurements, we then make your dress and it is finished around 4 weeks before the big day.
What if I have a short timeline?
We will always do our best to help in any situation! Depending on design and fabric availability, we can work with shorter time frames but this sometimes may incur an additional rush fee.
Can I take pictures while I’m trying dresses on?
We are more than happy for you to take photos of your favourite wedding dresses. We also recommend taking a video for easier visualisation. When looking back at your photos and videos, always remember that the samples are not your exact size, so when it’s made for you it will look and feel 100 times better!
How do alterations work?
Our Couture process is inclusive of all alterations and fittings. Our bespoke process where you select one of our samples styles may require adjustments to be done - this is simply charged by the hour and discussed and quoted with you at your fittings. If you have purchased a gown elsewhere, we can also alter it to fit you perfectly! For more information please click here.
What size do the dresses come in?
Our dresses are made to your exact measurements, we cater for all sizes.
Where are the dresses designed and made?
The dresses are designed and made here in Australia, in our Atelier in Hawthorn.
Where are the fabrics sourced?
We work closely with local fabric suppliers who source incredible laces, silks and embellishments worldwide, they keep us up to date with showing us new samples and trends. We also source fabrics directly from Europe and Asia.
How long does the appointment go for?
Our first consultations usually run for about 45 minutes to an hour.
Im really unsure as to what I want and don’t know where to start. Should I still book an appointment?
Of course, our initial consultations are completely obligation free. We have a super relaxed environment where you can take your time exploring different styles and get a feel for different fabrics. We are here to guide you and support you to ensure you feel amazing on your wedding day.
I don’t like traditional dresses, is there anything you offer that’s different?
Of course at By Kinsman, we believe bridal rules are meant to be broken. We work with a variety of textures and styles that aren't traditional. We work with you and your personality to create a timeless wedding dress that is 100% you.
Can I order online?
Of course you can please click here for more information on ordering online.
Where else can I find you?
We are currently taking part in a trunk show circuit please see here.
What is a trunk show?
A trunk show is special event where a bridal boutique hosts a designer’s collection for a limited time. This is a unique opportunity to try on a designer’s full collection that aren’t stocked permanently in the boutique.
I want to become a stockist how do we do this?
Please email wholesale@bkthelabel.com and our team will be in touch.
Who pays customs, taxes and import charges?
We are required by law to declare the full amount on the invoice and the content of the parcel on a customs declaration form and the accompanying invoice when shipping our gowns. Our shipping provider or your countries customs office will contact you to advise you of the required payment, they may hold your order until this is paid.
By Kinsman is not responsible for payment of customs tax and we cannot accept returns due to high import taxes being charged.
We strongly recommend you contact your local customs office for information on the % of these as it varies per country and we can not advise this