FAQS
Answers to YOUR QUESTIONS
About our dresses
We have three options of dresses for you to choose from depending on your taste or your budget:
- A dress from our ready-to-wear collection, made to order in the size of your choice (from size 38 to 44) and that you can order on-line.
- A design from our permanent collections. That is, you choose a dress from the collection, and we make a pattern to your size, with variations of fabrics, lace and sleeves or neckline.
- An exclusive design: It is 100% personalized and unique. A dress that only you and no other bride will have. We can do it either with old pieces or with new fabrics that you can choose in our atelier.
Yes, we have our own workshop located next to the atelier, to facilitate constant contact with the whole team. Each and every step of your wedding dress is handcrafted in our workshop. In fact, your dress fittings will always be supervised by the designer Nina B. and the workshop manager.
Vintage dresses are those that were actually made in the past, usually more than 90 years ago, from the 1920s or earlier. Their main characteristic is that they are unique pieces and that, in many cases, they use materials and techniques that are no longer used today.
A vintage style dress, also called retro or vintage-inspired, is made with current noble materials but with a retro design that evokes the charm of the past.
At L’Arca we have both types of dresses. We restore original vintage dresses and make them as good as new. We specialize in 1920s and 1930s lingerie pieces that are true gems.
We also make vintage inspired dresses that are not antique, but we do adapt and make them using antique fabrics and lace or with patterns that evoke vintage pieces. We also make them with new fabrics for your comfort.
For us there is no such thing as a 100% sustainable dress. We understand sustainability as a way from the conviction that a production model more friendly to the environment and the local economy is possible. We work with antique fabrics and laces and with ancient dressmaking techniques.
You will find information here if you are interested in a sustainable wedding dress.
Practical details
Our atelier is located in the heart of the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, where Nina Balmes, the designer, will attend you personally. In addition, through our website you can see our collections and buy your dress.
We have a wide range of prices. Our dresses range from 800 to 5000 €. The final price will always depend on the format you choose among the three options we offer. The prices of l’Arca dresses are as follows:
- Authentic vintage: from 800 to 2500 euros
- Prêt-à-porter: from 690 to 1890 euros
- Collection: from 2500 to 4000 euros
- Exclusive design: from 3500 to 5000 euros
After the first fitting, we will ask you to pay 40% of the cost of the dress and as we meet in successive appointments, you will pay the rest. If you order online, we have several payment methods available to facilitate your payment: Visa, MasterCard, American Express Cards, bank transfer and Paypal.
Of course we can. We ship it with DHL for international orders. Shipping costs will be added to the total cost of your order. We recommend that you go to the Shipping section to find out how much it will cost.
As you know, this is a delicate garment and it is best to dry clean it, so we recommend that you use the services offered by some specialized laundries.
On-line purchasing
All our garments are made in EU sizes (from 36 to 44). Before placing your order, we recommend that you consult our sizing guide where we explain how to order the three contours: bust, waist and hip. If you are not sure if you have done it right, you can send us an email to [email protected] so we can help you. You will see how easy it is.
Before the appointment
Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance to see our wedding dresses. You can book an appointment here, without any obligation, by calling 933 021 598, or sending an email to [email protected].
In order to have your wedding dress made to measure without rushing, we ask for 6 months in advance. For older dresses, which only need to be adjusted or require minor alterations, it can be done in less than 3 months.
Yes, we make custom wedding dresses, which are designed and made entirely in our atelier in Barcelona. In order to define the design that best suits you, we have a wide selection of sample dresses that you can try on without any commitment to see which one suits you best. Or if you prefer, we can elaborate a unique design with antique pieces, exclusively for you.
To make your custom wedding dress, we usually need between three and four fittings. If you are from outside Barcelona, we try to concentrate the process in fewer fittings to make it more comfortable and less expensive for you.
Although we always recommend that you come to visit us at least once, if you can’t come to our atelier, send us your measurements by email and we will make your wedding dress to measure and send it to you wherever you want… In this case, you may have to look for someone to make the final adjustments in your city.
Let's talk
Ask for an appointment without obligation and we will design your dream dress.
