So, finally, the quest is over! Which quest? Well, the quest for your perfect wedding dress! So, now that you have found ‘The One’ wedding dress and have finally had the ‘big reveal’. We can assure you that you might see that there are a few tweaks here, and nips and tucks there that definitely need to be made before your wedding day so that you achieve the ideal fit for your wedding day bridal look!
Saying yes to your dream wedding dress is just the beginning. Or we say is just the initial step of securing the perfect designer wedding gown for your big and special day! We completely understand what an overwhelming moment it will be when you realize that the wedding dress that you ordered through your favorite designer boutique or designer online doesn’t fit like the glove for the first time you try it on at your home! Well, it does seem like a big thing but trust us, it’s nothing that brings those stress lines on your beautiful and radiating face and forehead to notice! You don’t need to feel discouraged about the whole situation of your wedding dress not fitting you the way you have always envisioned. Because it is very rare for a bride to find her a wedding dress that fits her perfectly and doesn’t need any tweaks whatsoever! So, just be cool and chill about it! Well, it's no big deal when we say that your wedding gown might require some minor alterations to bring out the best of your well-toned figure. Because if your wedding gown is not fitting the way you have always wanted it to, alterations are the next step in the wedding dress experience and something that nearly every bride must endure! Want to know why? Well, your body is unique, and just like you, we also want your wedding dress to fit like it was just made for you and only you! No matter, whether the alteration takes place in the waist, or a bustle needed to be added, or you want to hem the skirt a few inches once you have found your perfect wedding shoes, everything will be accommodated as per your requirements and needs while you go for the alteration of your wedding dress!
Our romantic modern-day brides are very much encouraged for making alterations in their wedding dress because they feel that fit is everything! This is why when it comes to wedding dresses, alterations are also everything! After all, your wedding day is the one and only day when you will be flaunting your expensive and stunning designer wedding dress that actually took on months to find. And we know that the last thing that you need on your wedding day or in your wedding photos is some wardrobe malfunction!
Well, talking about the wedding dress alteration process, there are times that brides feel it somewhat intimidating and stressful. Because there are times when our modern and glam brides never set foot inside of a tailor shop wedding and they don’t know what to expect during an alteration process. So, before you break out the measuring take, here is our special blog that will guide all the soon-to-be brides about wedding dress alterations!
Before we take you further and tell you all about your wedding dress alterations, here is a head-up! You will typically need three fittings before your wedding dress is ready to be worn on your wedding day! Every wedding dress should be altered, even if it’s only a little, just to ensure a proper and graceful fit! Completely depending on what your wedding dress needs during the alteration process, you can expect to spend somewhere from $50 to $1,000 on your wedding dress alterations. The entire alteration process is usually completed in two to three fittings, though the first fitting usually lasts up to an hour!
Alteration in the Hemline
Well, talking about the hemline of the wedding dress, it is common that all the wedding dress designers and manufacturers make the hem of the wedding dress extra long so that it perfectly fits the tall brides who wish to wear high heels on their wedding days! So, during the wedding dress alteration process, hemming is the very first step! If your wedding gown is too long or wide in some areas, you can simply ask your tailor to take it up and alter it so that it can give you a better fit that flawlessly shapes the bust, waist, and hips!
Shortening the hem of the wedding dress is the most common alteration that every bride makes in her wedding dress. Depending on the layer of the hem and if there is any kind of lace that is needed to be taken off before or needs to be added back to the final hem length, the cost of hem alteration can vary from $50 to $300. There are various kinds of hem lengths for different styles and a bride should consider keeping the length of hemline long enough to cover her wedding shoes or heels (whatever she is preferring for her wedding day look), but not too long that she might trip over it while walking down the aisle!
Adding a Bra
Getting sewed a bra into your wedding gown will eliminate the need to find the perfect brassiere for your wedding day! An already sewn-in bra will not poke out or slide down as you will move, which definitely makes it a great option for all the brides out there, especially for those birds with large busts! A bra sewn-in to your wedding dress will not only save your time (lingerie shopping) but will also give an elegant and classic character to your wedding dress!
Adding a Bustle
The majority of brides do not realize that bustles are not sewn into the wedding dress during the designing and manufacturing process! So, if you are planning to add a bustle to your wedding gown for your wedding reception, you will have to have one added in during the alteration process! You can simply ask your tailor to add a bustle so that you can preserve your wedding gown from dragging on the ground at the wedding reception. It will also save your wedding dress from being stepped on and tripped over! Take it from us; if your wedding dress has a train, you surely need a bustle! There are multiple styles of bustle that you can add to your wedding dress including the American, Austrian, French, Ballroom, the train-flip, over-bustle, and waterfall bustle.
Well, bustles are also known as train loops (those cute little ribbons). And, there are basically two types of train loops:
•The long train loop, which a bride can hold in her hand when she dances the night away with the love of her life during her wedding reception.
•Then there are short train loops that are buttoned right under the hips of the bride.
Alteration around the hips and waist
For us, every bride and her body is unique and beautiful, so it’s kinda hard for the wedding dress designers and manufactures to create a wedding dress that gracefully fits every body type. That means, during your wedding dress alteration process it is very common either to take the dress in or out on the side seams! Well, it is always advisable that when you are on your wedding dress shopping, always consult your sales assistant about how much it is possible to alter the dress size! Because it is important to make sure that your wedding dress is well-fitting especially on the waist, bust, and hips. As the enchanting look of a wedding dress comes from these angles! These are the key points to gaining the perfect silhouettes for your wedding day! Well, you don’t need to stress about taking your wedding dress in or out as it is generally easy to take the dress in because then you don’t have to worry whether the old seam will show or not!
Alteration around the chest
Many bridal boutiques feature wedding dresses that are quite generous when it comes to chest size. Well, if your wedding dress is giving you a loose fit around your chest, then you need some alteration there also so that the neckline won’t make a gutter whenever you will look down! Alteration around the chest region is a little bit tricky than the ones mentioned above in this blog, but is also very doable! So, don’t hesitate to ask your seamstress to give it a fit because it is one of the most expensive garments that you will be wearing in your life and also very special too!
Altering the straps
Many wedding gowns are made with a little longer straps so that they will easily fit a wide range of brides. But if you want your wedding dress straps short or shorter, you can always ask your seamstress for this alteration. In fact, getting your straps altered will nearly cost you around $20 to $50. Well brides are in for flaunting their well-toned biceps and shoulders, and collar bones can go ask for a strapless wedding dress!
Adding a waist stay
All the brides who are unaware of the term ‘waist stay’, allow us to enlighten you with it. A waist stay is a soft ribbon or an elastic band that directly goes inside the wedding dress and fits snug to the waist! We will always advise all the brides, especially those who are going for strapless wedding gowns for their wedding day to get it added if it does not have it! The waist stay works like a miracle. It will always keep your wedding dress on the point and in the right place as it will restrict your wedding gown from sliding down! Adding a waist stay to your strapless wedding gown means you don’t have to worry about more yanking your strapless dress up! Getting a waist stay added to your bridal dress is an easy alteration and will cost you around $25 to $40!
Getting the neckline altered
When it comes to wedding dress alterations, the neckline alteration request is the most common that almost every seamstress receives after a bride says yes to a wedding gown. Neckline alterations are one of the easiest alterations and thus make a big impact! For neckline alterations, it can work both ways. You can either have the neckline opened or closed, depending on your choice you can choose to have one of the alterations in your wedding dress neckline. Well, talking about the cost that goes into neckline alteration, it completely depends on the style or design you want to have in your wedding dress. Having inspiration pictures ready when you are meeting your seamstress for your neckline alteration will be definitely helpful!
Wedding dress back alteration
Regardless of the style of your wedding dress, it is surely possible to get the back of your wedding dress altered! Getting the wedding dress back and closure altered is one of the most common requests that most brides ask to change in a read-made dress. If you want a backless style for your wedding dress when some of the material is taken away, you can surely have that and flaunt your back on your wedding dress in the most graceful and elegant way. Well, it is also possible to create for example a lace back to a strapless wedding gown. Well, this kind of back alteration is a favorite amongst our classic and modern brides as it needs some designing eye to make a plan for the back with the bride and also leaves a great impact! So, if you are going for your wedding dress back alteration, then here is a tip, make sure that you have inspiration pictures ready with you when you consult your seamstress. Well, let us tell you that this wedding dress alteration is a bit expensive, so be prepared to pay something between $150 to $200.
Closure alteration
Have you always envisioned having a long line of satin-covered buttons instead of a zipper for the back of your wedding dress? Or always dreamed of having a corset back? Well, whatever you have thought and imagined you can easily get the closure of your wedding dress altered and get it designed as per your desires! Closure alteration is surprisingly the most common alteration brides ask for and guess what, it is not even a difficult alteration, all you need to do is ask your seamstress, what is possible for your closure alteration!
Addition Pizzazz
There are times when a bride just can’t find the perfect wedding dress on the rack. Because there are some brides who want to make changes to their wedding gown to transform it into the dress of their dreams! So, in that case, we recommend our brides to buy a wedding dress that is as close to her dream wedding dress as possible, and then consult a seamstress for all the alterations and additions! Well, all these changes can range from minor to extensive, and a major overhaul of an existing wedding dress may include adding sleeves, beading, buttons, lace appliques, trains, fuller hem, and much more! It’s your wedding day and your wedding dress, so you don’t have to compromise on your style if you are not getting a made-to-measure gown for your big day! Well, talking about the charges, then you just have to keep in mind that certain significant changes to the overall look of your wedding dress can dramatically increase your alteration bill! Just an advice, if you are going for these kinds of alterations. Discuss all these additions with your tailor prior to ordering your wedding dress so that you can have a rough estimate of the alteration cost before the actual process. As it will help you in budgeting correctly!
Wedding dress alterations can be classified into two categories: those you absolutely need to get done and those that alter the dress to a style you like better! Both are important because your wedding dress should be perfect for you. There is absolutely no need to settle with a dress that isn’t exactly what you want and usually after a well-done alteration you get the dream dress moment again as the dress now fits you like a glove.
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