Wedding Gown Alterations FAQs
Is It Easier to Take a Gown In or Let One Out? It is almost always easier for a seamstress to take in a bridal gown which is too large, rather than trying to let out one which is too tight. This is particularly true for any bridal gown which has embroidery on the bodice, because if the side seams are let out, you might be exposing a section of interior fabric which was not embroidered. This is why bridal salons always recommend ordering your gown in a size which is fits your largest measurement, even if it may come in a bit large.
Can a Gown With Straps Be Converted to Strapless? Sometimes. If you are thinking about ordering a gown which has straps with the idea that you will have it altered to become strapless, always consult with the store’s head of wedding gown alterations first. Gowns which already have a lot of structure and boning often can be made strapless, but very soft gowns made from flowing fabrics may not lend themselves to the conversion.
Do I Need to Bring Someone to My Gown Fittings? Yes! Definitely plan on having your mother or maid of honor present for at least your final fitting. The person at your final fitting serves two purposes. The first is to look over your bridal ensemble from all angles, at the wedding gown, the veil, the bridal jewelry and other accessories to make sure that everything looks fantastic together. The second reason to bring a friend or your mom to your final fitting is so that she can get a lesson in how to dress you on the morning of the wedding and how to do your bustle after the ceremony.
How Much Should I Expect to Pay for Bridal Gown Alterations? This depends considerably. The factors are where you are having them done, how much the gown needs to be changed, how full the skirt is, and any special considerations like a lace hem or a beaded bodice (they are more time consuming to alter). If your wedding gown arrives fitting like a glove (which is rare), you might spend $200 having the gown hemmed and bustled, whereas if you need extensive alterations the final bill could run $750 or more. The bridal salon should be able to give you a general idea of their alterations price range when you purchase your wedding gown.
Filed under Bridal Jewelry, Uncategorized | Tags: Bridal Jewelry, wedding gown alterations, wedding gowns | Comment (0)What to Expect at Your Final Gown Fitting
In the final months and weeks before your wedding, you can expect to have several bridal gown fittings. The last fitting usually takes place about a week or two before the big day, and it is the most important one of all. Here is what to expect at your final bridal gown fitting, as well as some tips to make sure that you get the most out of the appointment.
One misunderstanding that many brides have about their final fittings is that they will leave the appointment with their wedding gown in hand. In most cases, the gown will require additional finish work after the last fitting. Unless you have made a special arrangement to that effect, you should plan on leaving your gown to have the final sewing done, as well as to have it freshly pressed in the last few days before your wedding.
Okay, so now you know what will not happen at your final fitting, but what about what will take place? This is your golden opportunity to try on all of your accessories with your gown to make sure that you like the way it all fits together. This is particularly useful for brides who did not have all of their accessories in advance; for instance, if your mother flew in the week before your wedding with her antique lace bridal veil or the pearl jewelry she wore to her debutante ball, this may be the first chance you get to try it on with your gown. It is far better to find out before the day of your wedding that your mother’s pearl bridal jewelry does not look right with the modern chandelier earrings that your chose, or that her veil looks too brown against the white of your dress.
Definitely plan to bring your mother or a friend to your final gown fitting. You will want to have the seamstress give someone a lesson on how to tie up your bustle. Each one is different, and the last thing you want is to have your maid of honor and your mother fumbling around after the ceremony trying to figure out how to deal with your train. Also, it can be helpful to have an objective set of eyes to take a look at your gown to spot anything that needs to be adjusted. After that, it should be just a matter of a few minor tweaks; before you know it you will be picking up your wedding gown just a matter of days before your wedding!
