Alteration Tips

When To Start Your Alteration

It’s important to start your wedding gown alterations at the right time (you like it or not) brides tend to gain or lose weight as the wedding day approaches. There are many reasons why we loss or gain weight and these issues will affect the fit of your gown. If you start your alterations too early, and are planning to diet before your wedding, then your gown will be too big and the stress of it all may cause you to gain weight causing your gown to be tight on your wedding day. On the other hand if you start too late, you could run the risk of not being able to find a qualified person to alter your gown in time. The alteration process usually starts about six weeks before your wedding date. My brides have 2 to 3 weeks time span between fittings, or whatever works best for your schedule. At your final fitting, you will choose the date that your dress will be completed, pressed steamed everything will be ready for the big day and your gown is perfect! This usually takes place on the way out of town or on your way to the rehearsal dinner. But if you have extra room in your house you can pick up your gown as early as possible you need to take your gown out from the garment bag and hang it up to allow the train to spread out.

Choosing A Seamstress

Many of the bridal boutiques will offer wedding gown alterations for their customers, but; if you’ve bought your gown online or your bridal shop doesn’t offer alterations, then be sure that you select someone who specializes in bridal gown alteration. Not just any seamstress that your grandmother plays bingo with every Saturday will do. Just because someone is capable of sewing a table clothes or a few seams, it does not qualify them to alter your wedding gown. There are many intricate and complex details within your wedding gown not to mention the delicate fabrics used to create it all the beading and pearls. You do not want the gown of your dreams being sewn by someone with a cigarette hanging from their lips or cats and dogs chewing off the pearls on your train (smelling your gown with the odor of smoke or bacon) while sewing your gown on their kitchen table (exposing it to whatever was served for dinner). Find a professional that worked bridal gown and make sure that you read the consumer’s reviews about them before you leave your gown to their place of business.

What To Have At An Alterations Appointment

Get the most from your Alterations appointment by being prepared. Bring someone with you to help you make decisions as far as altering the dress (shortening train or changing the design), for your initial and final fittings. Find your shoes, they are not as easy to find as you may think! Bring everything you are planning to wear on your wedding day, including your bra or bustier, spanks, slip, shoes etc. If you’re going to have bra cups sewn in make sure your seamstress carries them or purchase your own. When you are try on everything together, it is easier to envision what you’ll look like on your wedding day. Having your wedding shoes on hand is important to get the length of your gown right so you won’t be tripping over it on your wedding day. If you don’t have your wedding shoes yet, then bring a pair that is close to the height you are looking for. Be honest tell the seamstress/dressmaker exactly to what changes you want her/him to do so, your alteration will done correctly once is cut it can’t be sewn back