How a Bride Found Her Designer in Jacksonville: A Custom Wedding Dress by Kobzarina

Every bride’s journey to the wedding aisle begins with countless choices: the venue, the décor, the flowers, the guest list. But perhaps the most emotional and defining decision is choosing the wedding dress. For Megan, a bride from Jacksonville, this step turned out to be the most challenging. She browsed online platforms like Amazon, she visited local boutiques and bridal stores, trying on dozens of gowns. Yet each dress had something wrong — one pulled uncomfortably at the shoulders, another felt too revealing, and many simply didn’t feel like her. That’s when Megan realized that the perfect gown wasn’t something she could just find on a rack — it had to be created for her.

Her search for a designer in Jacksonville began. Megan explored different tailoring shops and ateliers, but many turned her away, saying it was too complex. Finally, she discovered Kobzarina Atelier Tailor Shop, a place that immediately stood out with its European-style elegance. There, she met designer Arina Kobzar, who agreed to bring Megan’s vision to life. Despite initial doubts and many decisions ahead — from silhouette to fabric details — Megan felt for the first time that her dream dress was truly possible.

The Beginning of the Journey

Choosing the Silhouette and Fabrics

When it came to choosing the silhouette and fabrics, Megan realized that she had no idea where to even begin. After all, most brides don’t purchase fabrics themselves — it’s usually the designer who guides them through this process. So she placed her full trust in Arina.

Arina’s first step was to carefully study Megan’s body type to understand which silhouettes would flatter her figure the most. Megan wanted something truly unique, something she hadn’t been able to find in stores. That’s when Arina proposed a bold idea: a complex corset design with an open, oval-shaped back. It would be a challenge to create, but it promised to look breathtaking. Megan immediately fell in love with the concept.

For fabrics, Arina offered several exquisite options she had sourced from Europe. These materials impressed Megan not only with their elegant appearance but also with their luxurious feel and high quality. She could already imagine how beautiful and comfortable her gown would be. With the silhouette chosen and fabrics selected, Megan’s dream dress began to take shape.

From Idea to First Fitting

Megan didn’t come to Kobzarina Atelier empty-handed. Like many brides, she had already spent hours online, collecting inspiration and saving photos of dresses she admired. She brought one of those images with her, and together with Arina, they began transforming that vision into reality.

Once the silhouette was chosen, Arina moved into the design stage with a professional approach. The first step was creating a mock-up of the dress using a specialized, inexpensive fabric. This step was crucial — it allowed Megan to see the shape and fit without risking the costly European materials they had selected.

Megan arrived for the mock-up fitting full of anticipation. Even though it wasn’t the final fabric, the sample looked so professionally constructed that she could already imagine her dream dress taking shape. Excited by the progress, Megan left the atelier with growing confidence that she had truly found the right designer.

With the mock-up approved, Arina began cutting the real fabric, carefully aligning patterns and motifs so that every line would fall exactly where it belonged. During the second fitting, Megan could already see her gown evolving into its final form — elegant, unique, and made just for her.

The Final Result

The final gown exceeded every expectation. On her wedding day, Megan walked down the aisle in a dress that was not only custom-made but also perfectly hers. The intricate corset with its open oval back, the carefully chosen European fabrics, and the flawless tailoring all came together in a breathtaking masterpiece.

Megan’s husband and guests were stunned. Many couldn’t believe the gown had been made from scratch and thought it looked like a designer piece straight off the runway. Megan later left a heartfelt review on Google Maps, writing:

“AMAZING!!! Arina created my dream wedding dress from scratch and exceeded my expectations. Everyone at my wedding couldn't believe I had it made and said it looked designer. She is seriously talented at what she does and made the process smooth and fun! Would highly recommend her to anyone!”

Her words captured not just the beauty of the dress but also the joy of the entire process. From uncertainty in boutiques to the confidence of wearing a one-of-a-kind creation, Megan’s bridal journey proved that sometimes the perfect dress isn’t found — it’s made.

Real Bride Gallery: A Custom Wedding Dress by Designer Arina Kobzar

Image credits: Photographs featured in this gallery were sourced from the public Instagram page of photographer Jessica Lynn on September 13, 2025. All copyright remains with the photographer. Images were publicly available on the specified date.