8 Alteration Tips to Avoid Wedding Dress Disaster
One of the biggest moments of wedding planning is finding THE dress, but having that dress altered properly will make or break its beauty and your confidence on your wedding day. Follow some simple tips to make sure your dress fits like a glove.
Close your eyes and imagine…the seats are full, the string quartet plays the very song that played as your mom walked down the aisle toward your dad. You link arms with him, and the doors open.
But one step into your big debut, the dress shifts. And with every step, it shifts slightly more. Instead of reveling in the moment that you’ve dreamt of since you were a little girl, the terror sets in that you’re about to expose yourself to 150 guests watching your every move.
Don’t let this be you.
Use these alteration tips to ensure that your wedding gown fits perfectly for your grand entrance.
Don’t forget your shoes!
While shopping for a wedding dress, it’s not completely necessary to have your wedding day shoes with you. Usually bridal boutiques have shoes to borrow while trying on gowns. BUT it is 100% necessary to bring the shoes you plan to wear on your wedding day to EACH alterations appointment.
A tailor will need the shoes that you plan to wear on your wedding day to ensure that the gown is the PERFECT length.
It’s nearly a science.
Stepping on your gown as you walk down the aisle (and worrying about tripping) would be a nightmare, right? So, it’s very simple, don’t even bother making an alteration’s appointment until you have the shoes you plan to wear on your wedding day, but don’t wait too long.
Tailors need a lot of time to alter to perfection.
Bringing your wedding shoes and veil to each alteration’s appointment is crucial to guarantee a perfect fit.
2. Wear or bring your undergarments and accessories (veil especially).
The undergarments that you plan to wear on your wedding day are a crucial part of the tailoring process. It’s a known fact that different undergarments produce different results, and with the vast amount of bra options available (strapless, minimizing, padded, full coverage, and more), your tailor NEEDS to fit the dress while you’re wearing the correct bra EACH time you have an appointment.
And look, not to bring up the elastic elephant in the room because we all do it, but…SPANX. Brides, it’s okay if you want to wear them, but PLEASE wear them to each fitting.
Having an incredible fitting gown is part of looking and feeling your best on your big day, and the tailor cannot possibly fit the dress correctly without the undergarments you plan on wearing on your wedding day - including those spanx.
3. Pay for an experienced tailor
Yes, alterations can be time-consuming and expensive, and with the other pressures of managing the wedding prep, you may want to rush or find a cheap option, but please don’t make this mistake. Your dress will definitely “pay” for it. Or you may want to eliminate the pressures of securing a good tailor, scheduling, and budget all together by hiring a Wedding Planner.
While it can be tempting to find a tailor who is quickly available in a world filled with instant gratification, take the time to line up an experienced tailor.
Look online for tailor options, read reviews, ask friends and family for their experiences and reviews, and ask the bridal boutique where you bought your dress.
Don’t settle for the first person until you’ve fully researched and feel confident that he/she will have impeccable attention to detail, experience specifically with wedding dresses, and 5 star reviews. Altering a wedding dress isn’t an easy job.
In my personal experience, I’ve seen brides add lace overlays, remove full trains, add buttons, take away buttons to add zippers, and other specifications that you can’t even imagine. Your tailor has to be able to bring your vision to life, so choose someone with the ability to do so.
And honestly, think about it, if everyone in town is booked, and you choose the tailor that is readily available, ask yourself why that tailor is so readily available.
Good tailors are hard to find and book quickly, but a perfectly fitting dress is worth the research.
4. Don’t Wait to Schedule Alterations
As soon as you purchase your wedding dress, the next step is finding a tailor for your alterations. Great tailors are hard to find and book up quickly, so lock down the best one in town (even if it costs a bit more).
I already know what you’re thinking…but I want to lose at least 20 pounds before my wedding so my dress can’t be altered yet. I get it, BUT even if you plan to shed some weight before the big day, your tailor will meet with you multiple times throughout the process. If you lose weight, that’s EXACTLY what alterations are for!
No matter what, get alterations scheduled ASAP.
5. Don’t Go Solo
Find the person you trust the most. Scratch that…find the person you KNOW will tell you the TRUTH no matter if you want to hear it or not. That’s the person to bring to your alterations appointments.
It’s incredibly difficult to judge a look in a mirror, so having a second set of eyes and ears at the appointment will help you not only decipher if the alteration plan is a good one, but will also advocate for your vision if you feel uncomfortable doing so yourself.
Not everyone enjoys speaking up, so if that’s you, bring the person who will do it for you.
6. Remember the Bustle
If you plan on commanding the dance floor all night without the annoyance of stepping on your dress (or others stepping on your dress), make sure the tailor knows that you want a bustle.
Believe it or not, there are a few bustles to choose from depending on the style dress you purchase, and your tailor should communicate those options with you. If he or she doesn’t, let that loud cousin you brought with you speak up and ask.
There are even bustle options if you choose a long veil. Choosing a veil that is the length of your train or even longer is a gorgeous look, but the tailor will have to know if you plan to wear the veil during the reception in order to plan a bustle for the veil as well.
7. Budget for Alterations from the start
This is perhaps one of the most common mistakes brides make. While the dollar amount may vary, reserving between $500 and $700 is a safe range.
For a closer estimate, factor in the material of your dress, such as breaded laces, silk dresses that are trickier to work. The more complex your alterations are, the more expensive it will be.
When in doubt, go to a few tailors, voice your alteration ideas, and ask for an estimate.
8. Communicate with the Tailor
When you’re busy organizing the wedding, it’s easy to forget to call for updates on the progress of your alterations. Now, don’t call every day for months, but it’s okay to call intermittently to ask for updates and to set future appointments.
I know how it is, if it’s not in the calendar or buzzing as a reminder in your phone, it doesn’t happen. Call your tailor, book out appointments, and add them (with reminders) to the calendar
Now close your eyes and imagine…
You step into the ceremony space draped with flowers and lit by the flicker of candlelight. You lock eyes with your groom staring as you glide down the aisle in your beautifully fitted gown.
For more tips on wedding and event planning, follow me on Instagram @fabsterlingevents or on Facebook at Sterling Event Services.
