A BÉACRUZ commission moves through five stages: a private consultation, design development, a toile to prove the pattern, hand construction with fittings, and a final fitting before delivery. Bridal commissions are ideally begun nine to twelve months before the ceremony; eveningwear is typically completed in eight to twelve weeks. Each project is paced individually, and expedited timelines can be arranged depending on design scope and the season's commission load.
The process suits brides, performers, and women dressing for occasions where an off-the-rack option will not do - those who value one-of-one design, a collaborative process, and construction meant to outlast the event. If you are still weighing your options, the honest comparison of custom, made-to-measure, and off-the-rack is the place to start.
Every commission begins with a private conversation - about the occasion, the setting, and how you want to feel in the garment. Some clients arrive with detailed references; others bring only a date and a feeling. Both are the right starting point. Before anything is agreed, you will have a clear sense of direction, timeline, and budget range.
Bea develops the concept into sketches and silhouette studies, shaped around your narrative rather than a seasonal trend. Fabric directions are proposed alongside the drawings - including hand-loomed and heritage textiles such as piña where the design calls for them - so that form and material are decided together.
Before the final fabric is cut, the pattern is proven in a toile - a test garment sewn in inexpensive cloth. This is where fit is resolved: the line of a neckline, the weight of a train, the way a bodice holds you. Changes at this stage cost nothing but time, which is exactly why it exists.
The final garment is cut and built by hand - structured foundations, hand-sewn embellishment, and embroidery where the design calls for it. Bridal commissions typically involve three to five fittings across this stage; eveningwear usually two to three.
The last fitting confirms every detail on you, not on a mannequin. The garment is finished, pressed, and delivered with guidance on wearing, transporting, and caring for it - built to last beyond the occasion.
Nine to twelve months before the ceremony is the ideal window to begin a bridal commission - enough time for design development, sourcing, and unhurried fittings. It is not a hard requirement: a small house paces each commission individually, and shorter runways are often workable depending on the design's complexity and the season's commission load. Eveningwear runs eight to twelve weeks. For a month-by-month picture, see how far in advance to order a custom wedding dress.
Every commission is priced by project rather than from a price list. Bridal work typically begins at a high four-figure or low five-figure level; the final figure is shaped by silhouette, fabrication, the extent of hand embroidery and beadwork, and the number of fittings the design requires. You will have a clear range after the first consultation, before committing to anything.
BÉACRUZ works with clients well beyond New York. Consultations can be held by video, measurements are coordinated with clear guidance, and fittings are scheduled around your travel. The number of in-person fittings is planned at the start, so distance becomes a logistics question rather than an obstacle.
A private conversation about the occasion, your vision, and how you want to feel in the garment. Bea reviews inspiration, discusses silhouette and fabric directions, and outlines a realistic timeline and budget range before any commitment is made.
No. Some clients arrive with detailed references, others with only an occasion and a feeling. Design development is part of the commission - the concept is shaped together during and after the first consultation.
Bridal commissions typically involve three to five fittings, beginning with a toile - a test garment in inexpensive fabric that resolves fit before the final materials are cut. Eveningwear usually requires two to three.
Yes. BÉACRUZ works with clients beyond New York, coordinating consultations by video and scheduling fittings around travel. The number of in-person fittings is planned around your location at the start of the project.
Each project is paced individually. Eveningwear is typically completed in 8 to 12 weeks, and expedited timelines for bridal can be arranged depending on design scope and the season's commission load. The earlier you inquire, the more options remain open.
