That's why we've put together a handy guide to wedding dress alterations, including a checklist of questions to ask your seamstress. Photo by Hannah McKernan Photography via hannahmckernan. While we're bursting with advice and opinions on wedding dresses and wedding dress shopping , we're far from sewing experts, so naturally we needed a little help putting this feature together.
At this point, we've got to say a huge thank you to seamstress extraordinaire Anna O of Anna O Alterations in Dublin for filling in the blanks, and helping us better understand the alterations process. She believes that wedding dress alterations should be a fun and stress-free part of the wedding planning process and her studio really is a little oasis of calm in the city!
Heed this advice, and you'll soon be rocking a wedding gown with an effortless, impeccable fit! But first, we need to address a rather pressing question;. From May 17th, , alteration services are permitted to operate, but, as you might expect, demand is high. If you're looking to have a wedding dress altered in a hurry, the best thing to do is get in touch with a few seamstresses check out our handy list here to find out when or not they can accommodate you.
Before we launch into our guide, we wanted to take a moment to talk about the golden rule of wedding dress alterations, or indeed any alterations - when you bring a garment to a seamstress for alterations, it should be slightly too big for you , rather than too small.
This is required to achieve a really precise fit. Altering a dress that is too small for you is a more complicated job, one that the seamstress sometimes can't perform. This might seem obvious, but we sometimes hear from brides who are a little panicked that their boutique ordered a dress that is too large for them - don't worry, this is a very necessary part of the process! This depends on the kind of wedding dress you've chosen.
Most bridal boutiques will have a list of recommended alterations services that they can provide, while others will have an in-house seamstress who can do the alterations for you, although you shouldn't feel obliged to use their services.
If your dress is from the high street or a ready-to-wear retailer like Net-a-Porter, you'll have to find a seamstress yourself - we've got a handy list here for Irish brides, but if you're based elsewhere, it's worth asking married pals for recommendations.
If you're having your gown custom made, alterations should be included in the service, and will be done by the designer or one of their staff members.
As a general rule, aim to have your initial alterations appointment six weeks before your wedding date , or, if you're getting married abroad, six weeks before you fly to your wedding destination.
And remember this isn't a job for your local dry cleaner, unless they know the intricacies of formal eveningwear. Wedding gowns have so many complex details—boning, hems, bustles and so on—that it's best to find a professional who's seen and worked on such gown components in the past.
When you head to the tailor or salon, bring more than just your gown just like you did to go wedding dress shopping —take your undergarments, shoes and accessories to fittings as well. With all of the pieces in place, it'll be easier to envision your overall wedding day look.
Your undergarments and shoes will ensure the proper fit and length of your gown, and your hair accessories or veil will help you maintain the right overall balance. If you don't have the exact shoe you'll be wearing, bring something similar in height. While you might have legions of bridesmaids, it's not a good idea to bring everyone to your fittings, but you'll definitely want someone to come with you. Consider inviting your mom, another trusted relative or friend to accompany you to your fittings for their reliable opinion and another set of eyes.
And because your maid of honor will need to know how to do the bustle, it's a good idea to bring her to your last fitting so she can learn how your gown works from the pro. Whether you found your gown at a couture salon or a bridal sample sale, the options for alterations are nearly endless. Many tailors who have worked on bridal gowns are used to reworking fabrics and opening up hems, and can practically redesign a dress. This is particularly common when a bride wants to modernize her mother's gown—a seamstress can use the same fabric but create an updated style.
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Wedding Cakes. Wedding Rentals. Beauty Services. Wedding Bands. Photo Booths. Bar Services. Also, if you plan to have part of your dad's shirt or grandfather's shirt or handkerchief sewn into your wedding dress, make this clear to your seamstress or tailor! They'll be experts at where to place these special items and make sure that they're presented prominently without altering the look of the gown.
Some bridal salons, seamstresses, and tailors charge for alterations on wedding dresses per service, while others will provide you with a flat rate for the alterations. You may also want to ask your bridal salon what specific alterations you want or need before you purchase the frock just to ensure you know how much to budget for dress alterations.
As we mentioned, there are a wide range of prices when it comes to your dress alterations. Like all parts of wedding planning, it's important to stay informed of costs so that you not only know what to budget, but you also know what to expect for each service.
Most dresses will need to be hemmed, have the sides taken in, and have a bustle added If you have a lace dress, this cost can easily increase! While this may seem like a lot of money for some sewing, your seamstress and tailor spend hours making sure your wedding dress has the perfect fit. Not only do they take the time during the fitting to measure, pin, and mark, but the work itself can take multiple hours to ensure it's done right and look professional and pristine.
If you entrust your seamstress with one of the most important gowns of your life to make sure it's absolutely perfect, you'll be likely be pleased with results — and therefore pleased with how you look in all of your wedding photos for years to come!
Find more wedding fashion inspiration and advice , and browse hundreds of wedding photos in our photo galleries to see the wedding dresses chosen by real brides. For those who would like a general idea of a typical timeline for wedding dress alterations, see below: The General Timeline for Wedding Dress Alterations Months Out: Purchase Your Bridal Gown Find and buy your beautiful wedding dress. As you're dress shopping and planning your alterations, keep the following in mind: Changes in the timeline.
There will be a wide range of prices. Don't be afraid to spend on alterations. You Might Also Like. Wedding news.
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