The timeline — week by week
Week 1: Initial consultation. The consultation covers the occasion, the aesthetic direction, the fabric selection and the first measurements. An initial design brief is established; fabrics are confirmed. This is the most important session — it sets every subsequent decision.
Weeks 2–4: Pattern work and basting. The cutter drafts the pattern from the measurements and creates the first basted shell — a rough version of the garment in inexpensive cloth that replicates the fit and proportions. For a sherwani with embroidery, the embroidery panels are commissioned from specialist embroiderers during this period; this can take 4–6 weeks for elaborate work.
Week 5–6: First fitting. The basted shell is tried on. Fit adjustments are made to the pattern — shoulder, chest, waist suppression, sleeve length, trouser rise. For a sherwani, the embroidery placement is confirmed on the body at this fitting.
Weeks 7–9: Construction. The final garment is constructed in the actual cloth, with the embroidery applied and the lining inserted. This is the longest phase and the one that cannot be hurried without compromising quality.
Week 10–11: Final fitting and finishing. The near-complete garment is tried on. Minor alterations are made. Buttons, finishing details and pressing are finalised.
Week 12: Delivery. The finished garment is delivered, pressed and ready for the occasion.
When to book — the practical advice
For a standard bespoke wedding suit: book at least 12 weeks before the wedding date. For a heavily embellished sherwani or a complex multi-outfit commission: book 16–20 weeks before. If you are marrying in November, December or January — peak wedding season in South India — add an additional 2–4 weeks to allow for our elevated workload during that period.
The consequences of booking too late are real: a garment that has not been through its proper fitting sequence is a garment whose fit has been guessed at rather than verified. A fitting that is rushed — where the groom cannot return for a second session because the wedding is in three days — is a fitting where problems cannot be properly corrected. Commission early enough that time is never the constraint.