FAQs
- How much does it cost? Just as in stores, prices vary -the differences are:
- The fit and design will be superior since the dress is being designed for your body and not the industry standard size.
- Your gown will be lighter in weight and constructed from finer fabrics than those in most stores.
- You influence style development and you control the costs and delivery dates. (We've never been late on a dress yet!)
- The garment you design becomes "part of you" as it evolves during your fittings to flatter your figure and reflect your personality. Whether traditional or non-traditional, it is your one of a kind vision of perfection!
And remember: when the wedding is over, the tangibles you bring home will be your ring, your photos, the groom and your gown. Now, doesn't it make sense to design a gown as personal and important as your wedding day?
- Do I have to know what I want?
No. Janice Martin's job as a designer is to help you realize your dream by introducing new ideas, beautiful designs and imported fabrics and laces to you. Details most important to you are incorporated into the design of your gown.
- How long does it take to have a gown designed/altered?
- One week to a year and a half -it depends upon your wedding date and schedule, the complexity of the design, and rarity of the fabric.
- Fittings may be quick and sporadic, or intense and concentrated depending upon your preference and whether you are local or out of state
- Do you work on existing gowns?
Of course! Janice Martin has extensive experience, whether it's restoring Princess Grace's bridal veil for the Philadelphia Museum of Art, fitting an 1880's gown for a contemporary bride, painstakingly recreating a 1958 Priscilla gown, or just tweaking your family's favorite heirloom!
- What if I bought a gown off the rack and
- now I don't like it;
- after four fittings it still doesn't fit;
- it won't arrive on time;
- the wrong style came in;
- the dry cleaner lost/damaged the dress?
Call us! We helped the above brides, we can probably help you!
- What does Janice Martin Designs create?
- We create the entire trousseau, from amazing headpieces and couture bridal gowns to rehearsal dinner dressing, cashmere robes, silk peignoirs, travel and resort wear.
- We design gowns for bride and groom moms, flower girls, graduates, debutantes, bar mitzvah moms, and stage and theater performers!
- We design suits and entire wardrobes for professional women from models to politicians.
- We produce custom garment bags, cashmere throws, hand painted silk pillows, shawls and scarves of every color and variety you could wish for.
- We refer bridesmaids to various bridal stores or catalogs depending upon the need.
- How do I begin? What are your hours and location? Where do we park?
- Call (610) 645-4540 or email us at jm@janicemartin.net to set up an appointment. We will be happy to answer any additional questions you may have, and will look forward to the opportunity to meet you!
- We work by appointment. We are in the office Tuesday through Saturday and generally have evening hours two nights per week. The Ardmore train station is a five-minute walk and Thirtieth Street Station, Philadelphia, is a fifteen minute drive, and Philadelphia International Airport is a 30 minute drive. Ardmore is easily reached from either the Schuylkill Expressway (76) or the Blue Route (476). If traveling on the Schuylkill Expressway, exit onto City Line Avenue South and travel south for +/- three miles. At Lancaster Avenue (Rte 30), take a right. Cricket Avenue is two miles up the road on the left just after the intersection for Rittenhouse Place. If traveling on the Blue Route, exit onto Rte 30 at Villanova. Take Rte 30 (Lancaster Avenue) east +/- 8 miles to Ardmore. Cricket Avenue is on the right soon after you pass the former Ardmore movie theater which is now a Philadelphia Sports Club Gym. Our address is 41 Cricket Avenue and our phone number is (610) 645-4540.
- We have a large parking lot immediately in front of the building.
Reviews
"Your artistry was fantastic. Wearing my mother's dress was like a fairy tale. I felt magical and beautiful all the way through head to foot you outfitted me. My mini-tiara was beautiful Thank you, thank you, thank you! You really know your work and you were really in tune with what I hoped for."
—Barb H.
"You have a great bride-side manner!"
— Yvonne B.
"My mother looked exquisite for our wedding and I had tears in my eyes when I saw her beautiful suit. Thank you for taking such good care of her and for making her feel so special."
—Catherine B.
"Thank you for making the gown of my dreams possible. I truly appreciate the time and attention that you gave me. I will be thinking of you and your wonderful attitude on my wedding day as I put on the most beautiful gown in the world!"
—Peggy K
"thank you for making this very special time in our lives "sew" wonderful."
—Mimi G.
"Thank you so much for your hard work and talent in renovating my grandmother's gown. The transformation into a gown I'll be proud to wear and show off makes me delighted."
—Britt B.
"Have you ever seen a dream walking? Well, that's exactly how I felt as I tried to glide down the aisle when a dress makes its wearer feel like a vision, then it's a perfect match"
—Paula K.
"thank you for making me the "perfect" gown for Justin's Bar Mitzvah. The design was just right for me and made me feel beautiful! The gown is still getting rave reviews from everyone! People have said that they never saw anything like it. It was fun to create it from scratch"
—Bea L.
"I would like to thank you for the exceptional work you did in building from scratch my wedding gown and veils. I truly felt like a Princess on my wedding day" —Heather D.
"I can't thank you enough for all your patience and hard work. The headpiece turned out beautifully and made me feel very elegant."
—Janine T.
"Unbelievable! That was the first thought I had when I looked in the mirror after I put on my wedding gown thank you so much for turning my dream of a wedding gown into an exquisite work of wearable art that made me feel like a queen it exceeded everything I could have hoped it would be."
—Sue C.
"You have great talent which is very obvious in your work. I have to tell you that I received many compliments the day of my wedding and also after the wedding. The gown was a tremendous hit and I am very grateful to you. I loved my gown and really enjoyed working with you."
—Joanna P.
"It was a pleasure working with you in designing my wedding dress. There aren't many people who could have taken an idea and evolved it into exactly what I wanted"
—Susan V.
"I am so excited to share your name I just love everything you have done for me!
—Alexis H.
"Thank you so much for making such a beautiful wedding dress. You would not believe the compliments! I felt very beautiful and very special on my wedding day"
—Heather M.
"Thanks again for making the 'dress fitting' process painless and for helping me feel beautiful and sexy on my wedding day."
—Mercedes H.
"Thanks for everything. Because of you my dream came true."
—Claudia A.
"On behalf of the Philadelphia Chapter of the International Television Association, we thank you for your very special contribution in making the public service announcement on access for people with disabilities possible. Thank you for taking care of the wardrobe for the cast and for the pleasant manner in which you dealt with everyone."
—Pat Burns
Production Manager
"Thank you so much for an awesome segment! It was very informative – our viewers will definitely benefit."
—Sara Slamick
Home Matters
Discovery Channel