Bespoke Hat FAQs
My Bespoke Process in Winchester
I explain how my bespoke process works from your one-to-one consultation through to colour matching, timescales and collection. These FAQs help you understand what happens at each step so you can commission a hat that suits you, your outfit and the wedding setting perfectly. I make bespoke wedding hats in my Winchester studio and guide you calmly from first try-on to final fitting.
Next steps: If you’re considering commissioning a hat, start with my Bespoke Consultation Process so you know exactly what to expect. Then explore my Bespoke Hat Portfolio and use Colour and Outfit Matching to feel confident with your outfit. For general guidance, see Wedding Hat Advice. If time is tight, browse Ready-to-Wear. To book an appointment in Winchester, please use my Contact page.
What does “bespoke” mean at Marvellous Millinery?
Bespoke means that I design your hat just for you, considering your outfit, proportions, personality, and your role at the occasion. I guide you through each decision in a private consultation, so your hat feels uniquely made for you.
Why order a bespoke hat?
A bespoke hat gives you a truly individual design for a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, especially if you are the Mother of the Bride or Mother of the Groom. Customers often tell me that they have found it hard to achieve the right balance of style, colour and confidence from a limited off-the-peg High Street selection, whereas a visit to my studio lets us create something together that complements your outfit beautifully and feels uniquely made for you - so you can feel confident that no one else will be wearing the same hat.
What happens at a bespoke consultation?
I begin with a relaxed, creative appointment at my Rose Garden Studio, where we explore shapes, sizes, colours, trims and finishes together. We’ll refine what suits you, agree on the design, and make sure it feels right for your occasion. To help me colour-match accurately, please bring your outfit or a fabric swatch, and the shoes you plan to wear. Consultations usually last about an hour, and I can see customers seven days a week to fit in with your diary. If you’d like the full step-by-step overview, please read my Bespoke Consultation Process.
How long does the bespoke process take?
Most bespoke commissions take between six and ten weeks. That timeframe allows me to slot you into my making schedule, source original materials, create your design and hand-finish it properly. Please may I suggest booking as early as possible, particularly in spring and summer when demand is at its highest. For planning tips and a sensible timeline, see my Wedding Hat Advice.
What should I bring to my consultation?
Please bring your outfit (or a fabric swatch), plus your shoes and bag if you have them, as seeing the actual fabrics ‘in the flesh’ is very helpful. Information about the plans for the day's arrangements and ideas for your hairstyle can be useful too. If you wear glasses, please bring them along so we can agree on a flattering design that feels both secure and comfortable.
Do you provide a colour co-ordinating service?
Yes. Colour co-ordination is central to what I do, and I help you select the right tones across bases, trims and fabrics. Please bring your outfit or a fabric sample so I can compare colours accurately under natural light in the studio. For more guidance on coordinating tones across your outfit, see Colour & Outfit Matching.
Can you include fabric remnants from my dressmaker?
Often, yes. If your dressmaker can spare a small piece of fabric, I may be able to incorporate it into trims or a hand-covered detail so the hat and outfit harmonise beautifully. I’ll advise what’s feasible once I’ve seen the fabric and design. I am happy to liaise directly with your dressmaker regarding fabric quantities and timings, if you wish me to. Using this service brings your outfit together perfectly because it uses the same material/dye batch, etc. Having said that, I also have a very wide variety of silk, organza, and velvet colour samples in my studio, so that the flowers and trims can be made from fabric I supply to decorate your new hat.
My outfit colour is tricky, can you match it?
Yes, and this is where a bespoke approach helps enormously. Many hats rely on layering multiple tones to create either a strong, uniform shade or a more nuanced “in between” colour, and I also use shade cards and a wide range of silks and fabrics to refine the match. If your shoes and dress are different colours, we can choose a hat shade palette that ties your outfit together, rather than focusing on a single colour. You may also find Colour & Outfit Matching helpful for choosing a flattering shade palette.
How much is the deposit for a bespoke commission?
I ask for a 50% deposit at the time you place your order. This lets me secure the allocated making time in my studio and obtain the raw materials I need for your commission. You may pay by Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, online banking transfer, cheque or cash.
Are Bespoke Orders changeable or returnable?
No. Because I make everything specifically for you, I do not offer returns or exchanges once the deposit has been paid and the order has begun, or after the order is completed. Your hat is made to your unique specification, so it would not suit another wearer.
How is the price of a bespoke hat calculated?
I calculate the price individually, based on the size and complexity of the design, the materials and trims, and the hours of hand-making required in my Winchester studio. Every sample I have is clearly labelled with the price that it would be if you were to order that exact design ‘as is’, but in your bespoke colour choices. I discuss additional options clearly during our consultation, so you can choose a direction that suits your budget. The price confirmed when you place your order is the total cost - there will be no hidden extra charges when you come to collect.