If you have friends who've recently got married or if you've ever looked into custom designed gowns, you have probably already heard the name Noccé. Pronounced 'No-Chay', the word was created to mean couture for an elegant evening and that's what they offer to Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge and area brides - only without the designer price. At local shows, through photos of past weddings, and from visiting their gown shop, The Ring has had the opportunity to see first hand, the beautiful custom creations that Noccé Custom Gown Design produces for their brides.

We sat down with designer, Ileana Poessy, and her daughter Axel to learn more on the ins and outs of their custom design gown service. "What we like most about the business is the fact that we are allowing someone to get exactly what they want, their ideal dream dress," Ileana explains. Having someone take your description of what you are looking for and turn it into a reality - within a reasonable budget - is a huge draw for local brides. If you have a photo or idea of a dress you'd like to duplicate, can't find what you're looking for, or have unique sizing issues, you'll love this option. Axel understands the need for their services in the wedding gown industry for these and other reasons, "I'm a very picky person myself, so I understand!"

The advantages of getting what you want

Inside Noccé's studio, you'll find racks of both in-progress and ready-to-pick-up gowns, bolts of gorgeous fabrics, favourite gowns on mannequins, a comfortable dressing room and waiting area, photos of past gowns and weddings, thank you cards from happy brides, and trendy décor. It's here that we learned from this dynamic mother-daughter duo that what they do is their passion. Ileana has been a seamstress for over twenty-six years, and owned a women’s fashion shop in both The Dominican Republic and Miami before calling Kitchener her home. Beautiful clothes and their creation has always fascinated and excited her. As a small child, she would watch her grandmother create an exquisite wedding dress from a few yards of silk or satin using her love for designing and dressmaking. Working with beautiful fabrics became an ambition she has never regretted.

Her first love is bridal gowns and the one-to-one rapport she has with her customers. She told The Ring, "I like to think my creations give a bride the confidence to know she looks beautiful on her wedding day."

The two work great together and compliment each other's strengths. “Ileana is a very personal, thoughtful, warm person. She is always going out of her way for people to make them happy,” says Axel of her mother... and we couldn't agree more! Axel likes to focus on the marketing and promotional aspects of the company since earning her Business degree. This leaves her mother all the time and resources needed for the master to design her dresses.

In a separate room off of the meeting and gown area is Noccé's large sewing area. When Ileana isn't meeting with brides, this is where you will find her. And because of such high demand over the last two wedding seasons, you'll likely also find several seamstresses working beside her on gowns for upcoming events.

For example...

Designing gowns for K-W, Cambridge and area brides for thirteen years, Ileana has definitely had some unique and diverse requests. One couple planned their wedding for Halloween and had Ileana design an all black gown to match the occasion, along with red bridesmaid dresses. Another request was for a Victorian era gown which was designed based on pictures the bride brought to Ileana. She also designed a drawstring purse to match.

Noccé was approached recently by a bride in a panic. She had found out that she was pregnant after she ordered her gown. By the time she had picked up her gown, she was considerably larger than the size she ordered originally. This young bride left her gown with Ileana that day. Ileana took the gown, removed the back, added a corset-style back (that can grow), added shape to the front that minimized size, and had the gown completed for pick-up the next morning. Value to the bride, one week before the wedding? Priceless.

But it's not just local brides who are loving Noccé as Ileana and Axel told us that they've had brides come to them from as far away as England and Vancouver and from all over Canada. A bride from the Phillipines took the material from the bridesmaid dresses that Noccé made and sent it to her grandfather in the Phillipines. He custom-made shoes to match the gowns!

Or, you can bring the culture to you - like the highland themed wedding that Noccé designed dresses for. "The flower girl's dress was designed to look like a tutu with the tartan as a band around her waist. Adorable," says Ileana.

Within the budget?!

The biggest surprise we encountered during our interview with Ileana and Axel was how incredibly affordable custom-designed dresses can be! Noccé designs and makes bridesmaids gowns and mother of the bride/groom dresses for approximately $185 to $200. Bridal gowns can be created from as low as $600 and a high-end gown would cost up to $1400. Ileana says that most brides end up paying an average of $800 for their wedding gown. Veils and headpieces to compliment your gown can be custom made as well for $80 to $160. Flower girl dresses have been a popular request recently.

The creative process

The first step in the custom design process is to research, dream and imagine. Really decide what elements of dresses draw you to them - is it the same neckline that you like, or perhaps a particular type of fabric... this is the time to dream about what your specific dream dress would be. Next, give Ileana a call to book your free consultation. This is normally done at least six months ahead of your wedding date in order to give Noccé enough time to design and produce your dress without the unneeded stress of a short deadline.

Feel free to bring in photos of other friends or family members dresses, or use magazines to find samples of what you like and don't like in a dress. In fact, Ileana prefers this. A picture says a thousand words... you'll sit with Ileana to discuss each aspect of your potential dress, it's fit, style, colour and fabric type.

Axel and her mother like to keep up on current trends and fabrics so they keep in touch with the fashion industry by purchasing their items from Toronto. They even have sample fabric swatches from their distributors so you get to see and feel it while making a decision.

Speaking of trends, Ileana and Axel noted that more and more brides are choosing the bridesmaids' gowns colour and then leaving it up to the bridesmaid to choose their own style. This way the gown fits each girls' personality and body shape. "Brides are still incorporating lot of colour into their wedding gowns," adds Ileana. In fact, recently they designed and created a wedding gown with an ocean blue front panel and corset back and ocean blue bridesmaid gowns to compliment it.

As well, Ileana finds that she is designing flower girl's dresses to match the bride's gown and not the bridesmaids' gowns. However, they've recently really expanded their flower girl dress lines and can defintiely create them based on the bride's gown, the maids' gowns or something completely different.

Ileana told us in a recent interview that she's been creating a lot of maternity bridesmaid gowns these days, and she highly recommends a custom gown for a woman who is pregnant because then "there is no worry about ordering the right size or having the alterations done too early."

Tips from the experts...

When you have people who have been in the industry for their whole lives, you can't pass up expert knowledge! Axel and Ileana strongly recommend wearing your shoes and lingerie with each fitting (they usually only require two fittings) as well as any crinoline. This will ensure that you achieve the overall look you are striving for each step of the way. If one piece of the puzzle isn't just perfect... the heels on the shoes are too low, the bustier shows on the sides of your dress... you'll have time to correct it rather than realizing it the morning of the wedding. All alterations are included in your quoted price unless it’s something drastic and requires a lot of additional work. Even then, Ileana stresses that their alteration charges are very minimal.

Altering gowns purchased elsewhere

If you've purchased a dress somewhere else and are simply looking for a place to do alterations, Ileana will be happy to give you a quote on the work that you'd like to have done on your gown.

Details, details, details

• It is recommended by Noccé that you book 6 to 9 months ahead of your wedding, if possible, to ensure that you have enough time for all the designing, sewing and alterations - however Ileana invites all inquiries and will accommodate you if there is enough time.
• A 50% non-refundable deposit is required upon placing your order.
• Your balance is due when you pick up the dress or dresses.
• Noccé can make ties for the groomsmen to perfectly match the girls' dresses.
• Noccé can make your crinoline, veil and/or headpiece for you as well.

In other words...

"I’d like to thank you for making my dress, especially on such short notice. I had a fabulous time, mostly thanks to you. I received countless compliments on my dress – and have been told the pictures don’t do it enough justice. You are an angel in my eyes! Thanks again – the best of luck to you!" - Julie

"Thank you so much for the amazing wedding dress that you brought to life! You have been such a blessing to me. Nothing I saw came anywhere near my dreams, but thanks to you, you made possible far more than I had imagined. My wedding gown was gorgeous – everyone loved it (and Ricky did too!). You have a real gift Ileana, and thanks to your talent you contributed greatly to making me a beautiful bride!" - Esmeralda

"A world of thanks for making me such a lovely wedding dress. Everyone thought it was gorgeous and that it suited me well. You did such a wonderful job and worked so hard (even despite my pickiness!). Thank you so much for all your hard work, your warm service and patience. I wish you luck in all your future endeavours. Thanks again for everything – I absolutely loved the dress!" - Karen

"First, I would like to say THANK YOU SO MUCH for the great job you have done on my wedding gown. When I tried on the dress on my final fitting I was left without words… it was absolutely gorgeous. You can just imagine how I felt on my wedding day when I put it on and I was all done up! It fit like a glove, and I truly felt like a million bucks! Thank you, thank you, and thank you! You made this experience really easy for me." - Shawna

"I wanted you to know how absolutely perfect my dress was. I never in a million years thought I would be having my wedding dress made ... but it all seemed so right! I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to ensure that every detail was perfect. Your service and personal touch is second to none. You gave me great relief and I really appreciate your efforts and hard work. Thank you with all my heart!" - Leah

Contacting the designer

If you've got more questions for Ileana or you'd like to set-up an appointment of your own, you can give them a call at 519-578-5896. If email is easier for you, you can contact them at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . They can meet with you seven days a week in their Kitchener location - just give them a call to set up an appointment. For more information and pictures, take a look at their website at www.nocce.com.