So, you have found the perfect wedding dress, but it is not fitting right. Why not take it to a seamstress and let them work their magic? If that is your plan, here is everything you need to know about wedding dress modifications.
All women are different shapes and sizes, which means there is no universal size guide for wedding dresses and often come up differently to the traditional size guide. Wedding dress modifications allow you to take your chosen dress and alter it to fit your body perfectly.
Common modifications include:
Each of the modifications above is targeted at altering the dress to fit your specific body shape and size – as we said before all women are different shapes and sizes. Each bride may need a different combination of the above for her gown.
Some modifications are easier than others. Shortening or lengthening the hem is an easy adjustment, whereas restyling parts of the dress may take more time and skill.
How much does dress modification cost?
6 tips when you are modifying your dress
Weddings are not cheap. In 2019 the average total cost of a wedding was £31,974. It is important to budget for dress modification in your initial dress budget. When purchasing your dress consider the cost and the alterations to work out the total cost.
Do not be stung by a larger bill than you had planned for your wedding dress.
When attending the appointment why not bring a friend? Although we do not recommend bringing the complete bridal squad, bringing the company of a person you trust is beneficial. This can either be a loved one or a close friend. Your mother or best friend always work well.
A loved one can offer advice and support whilst your dress is coming along. If any changes need to be made, they can help discuss through the decision.
With each session, you should bring and wear any accessories you plan to wear on your wedding day. This will benefit you in two ways.
Firstly, it ensures that the alterations being made will allow the most comfortable fit. For example, if you are wearing the same bra the seamstress will have an idea into how it sites and fits your body, meaning they can alter the chest accordingly.
Secondly, it allows you to picture your complete outfit and look for you special day. By getting a gage on your complete look (minus hair and makeup) you can gage whether you need any additional accessories, or whether you are happy.
These accessories can include:
Making sure your wedding dress stays in perfect condition for your wedding day is vital. You want you look to be perfect.
When visiting for alterations to be made we recommend not wearing any make up or other cosmetic products that may damage or mark your dress. You should aim to be as clean and fresh as possible to give yourself the best chance of preserving your dress.
Altering your wedding dress is not a speedy process. You want as much time as the seamstress needs for them to properly to do their job.
When booking appointments pick times that work for you and your accompanying person. Give yourself a 15-minute buffer either side of your appointment.
We recommend not booking during busy times in your day such as during a lunch break or before you have another commitment.
The last tip is sometimes a difficult one to plan for. Ideally when altering your dress try to be as close to you planned wedding weight as possible.
If you are however planning on loosing additional weight, try to work out end, goal weight. By working this out, you can give the modifier a planned weight and waist, hip and chest dimensions.
By planning your seamstress will be able to work necessary adjustments as they alter the dress.
Whilst on the topic of goal wedding weights, it is important to note that wedding dresses often do not follow the normal size and fits as other clothes. Do not be upset if you are a different size than usual. Find a dress that you are comfortable in, that fits your body.
Wedding dress alterations are usually performed by seamstresses or tailors. These professionals can either have their own businesses or will be a part of the bridal shops that sell the wedding dresses.
Many will offer an over the phone quotation, so it is possible to contact a few options to understand the best for you. We recommend using a service close to your home to make it easier travelling to have the alterations done.
Find a list of trusted suppliers on The Wedding Guide suppliers list.
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