Wedding Planner Advice: Avoiding Wedding Dress Alteration Nightmares
Next to the ring, the dress is one of the most important pieces of your wedding day. You spend hours, sometimes months looking for the perfect dress. Or maybe you are wearing your mother or grandmother's dress that had been carefully preserved just for this moment. The last thing you want is something to go wrong with your gorgeous wedding dress. Don't think, "It won't happen to me," because it CAN happen to you — no one plans for wedding dress alteration nightmares. Here is some advice from a wedding planner to help you avoid wedding dress alteration nightmares.
5 Wedding Dress Alteration Tips
Abbie in her beautiful wedding dress from Hyde Park Bridal. Image captured by Julia & Ken Photgraphy.
Get recommendations for a seamstress that has experience with wedding dress alterations. If you've bought your dress at a wedding boutique, you don't have to go with their seamstress. Interview potential seamstresses like you would any other vendor you hire for your big day.
Don't wait until the last minute! We can't stress this enough. Most experienced wedding dress seamstresses are booked out several weeks, even months, in advance. If you decide a week before the wedding to try on the dress you ordered online that fit perfectly six months ago, you will have an alteration nightmare on your hands. Chances are your measurements will have changed since you ordered your dress.
Take the shoes and undergarments you are planning to wear so the seamstress can get the length and other alterations correct. If you take flats to your fitting, then buy heels to wear on your wedding day, your dress will look too short.
If something about your dress isn't just how you want it, say something. Even the best seamstress can't read the bride's mind. Do some research ahead of time on wedding dresses. For example, not all dresses come with buttons, ribbons, or hooks for you to bustle the train of your dress for the reception. If you don't know this and your seamstress assumes you know this, you will have a wedding dress nightmare on your hands on your wedding day.
Well-meaning friends or family might offer to alter your dress for you. Unless they are experienced wedding dress seamstresses, politely decline. You spent a lot of money on your dress, and it would be disastrous if it was unintentionally ruined by someone not experienced.
General Wedding Dress Alteration Timeline
Here's a general timeline to help you schedule your wedding dress fittings in case you run into unexpected snags, you have time to get them taken care of before your wedding day.
5 -6 months before — Start looking for a seamstress that has your best interests at heart. If the interview feels off, keep looking.
3-4 months before — Get started on any customized alterations you want to be done to your dress (change the sleeves or neckline or add detailed embellishments).
2-3 months before — This is when the major alterations should begin. For most brides, this will be the first fitting. Most wedding dresses don't fit perfectly right off the rack. Even if it was close when you ordered it, it's likely your measurements have changed. A small change can impact the way your dress fits.
1 month before — Now is the time to take care of any minor adjustments or tweaks. It's normal to have small adjustments after the major alterations have been done.
2 weeks before — Don't skip the final fitting. Especially if you have been hitting the gym hard, you may have gained muscle or lost weight. It's important to have the final fitting, so your dress looks like you imagined and it makes you feel good.
If you're looking for help bringing your celebration to life, we're here for you! As wedding planning experts, we have helped plan a wide range of wedding themes and styles in a variety of locations. Let's connect and talk about planning your special day.