Most wedding dresses in a boutique were made for someone else. You try on a sample cut to a size chart, and the work of turning it into your dress happens afterwards, at your expense.
We build the other way round. Lace & Love is a small studio in Israel, and Shany has been making made-to-measure boho gowns here since 2011 — mostly for brides in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. This page is the plain case for ordering from us instead of from a shop.
The price, and what it is actually made of
A designer boho gown in New York, Los Angeles or London usually runs $2,500 to $6,000, and alterations add several hundred more on top.
Ours start at $829. The median gown in the collection is $949, and 54 of our 59 designs sit under $1,000 in standard sizing. Made to measure adds about $100.
That gap has nothing to do with quality. In a showroom you are paying for the lease, the sales floor, the trunk-show fees and the label. Buying from us, you pay for the dress. Look through the collection and check the prices for yourself.
You talk to the person making it
There is no form and no queue. Shany is a third-generation designer, and she is the one who reads your measurements, writes to you if a number looks wrong against the others, and confirms the neckline, sleeve length, lining colour, back coverage and train before anything is cut.
Most of that happens over WhatsApp, which turns out to be the right tool for measuring. A bride in Melbourne can point a camera at a tape measure at nine at night her time and get an answer. Message Shany whenever it suits you.
What the reviews actually say
Numbers first, because vague claims about reputation are worth nothing.
- 5.0 on Etsy, across 213 verified reviews, from 584 orders since the shop opened there in 2016
- 4.99 on this site, across 191 reviews collected through Judge.me
Both are public and both are tied to real orders. Read them rather than take our word for it.
Cut to your measurements — and what that does and doesn't do
We do not make a size 8 and take it in. The pattern is drafted from your bust, waist, hip, height and hollow-to-hem, so the seams land where your body actually is.
That gives you a far closer starting fit than any sample, and it usually removes most of the $300-to-$800 alterations bill that comes attached to a boutique gown. What it does not give you is a dress nobody ever touches again. A hem or a strap may still want a local adjustment once it arrives, and we would rather say so here than have you discover it later. How made-to-measure works.
The fabric
French lace, woven rather than printed or stretched. Woven lace has depth in it, and you can see the difference in a photograph — which matters, since the photographs are the part that outlasts the day. Chiffon and Italian tulle for the skirts, both light enough for a bride who will be in her dress for twelve hours in the sun.
What we never use: stretch lace, polyester satin, mass-produced trim.
Every gown is cut and sewn by hand in the atelier. No cutting machine, no assembly line, no factory. Look closely at the vintage lace gowns or the lace and chiffon collection and you can see where the hours went.
Questions
How long does it take?
Five to six weeks to sew, then three to seven business days by DHL or UPS Express. Veils are quicker, one to two weeks. If your date is close, message us before ordering and we will tell you honestly whether it works.
Will I pay customs when it arrives?
Duties and taxes are prepaid where they are shown at checkout, so the total you see is the total you pay. Some destinations can still apply local charges — ask and we will confirm yours before you order.
How do measurements work if I cannot come to the studio?
Five numbers, a soft tape, and someone to help you take them. We send an illustrated guide, and Shany will walk you through it over WhatsApp or a video call if anything is unclear. She reads every set herself before cutting.
Can I change a design, or combine two?
Yes to both. Neckline, sleeves, back coverage, lining colour, slit — and you can put the bodice of one gown on the skirt of another. Shany confirms all of it with you first.
Where to start
The full collection, or the boho gowns if you already know the look. Or skip both and write to Shany.
