5 Things You Should Know Before Altering Your Wedding Dress

Brides often have countless questions about wedding dress alterations. So we thought we'd share some top tips for altering your wedding dress.

Dublin by Sottero & Midgley

Almost every single bride will need altering done to their wedding dress in order to make it fit perfectly. But before you hand over your dream gown to an alterations team, have a read of the tips below, and ensure you’re prepared.

Tips on to Know Before Altering Your Wedding Dress

Book all your fittings in advance

Book your fittings with your seamstress in advance. Don’t leave alterations until a week or two before your wedding. Weddings are seasonal, so seamstresses get very busy at certain times.

You should book your first fitting at least 8-10 weeks before your wedding. The wedding dress alterations process is a gradual one, and it will take a few fittings to create the finished look. And be prepared to have fittings during daylight hours Monday – Friday.  Seamstresses need to have fittings, sew, sleep, eat and try to have a social life, just like us! This is especially true during the busy wedding season, which runs from March to September.

Bring your wedding underwear to every fitting

You’ve probably already been told to bring your wedding shoes to your dress fitting. But you may not know it’s also a good idea to wear your bridal underwear. Or at least the underwear you intend to wear on the big day.

If you're planning on wearing a nude strapless bra, it's important to know that your seamstress might be cutting it up and stitching it to your dress.

Shape-wear, is a good option as bridal underwear. It’s a rarity to see a bride without some these days. Even if they are not sucking you in an inch, they can add a very smooth line to the finish of the dress. So if you intend to wear it on the day, make sure you bring this to any fittings.

Jenna from GAIA

Ignore the length of your dress (at first)

As you can imagine, bridal designers have to make their gowns work for brides of all heights, while also including heel height. The best advice we can give, is if you have the shoes you will be wearing on your wedding day with you when you choose and order your dress. You will be able to better work out if you need to order extra length on your dress. This is an option available from some designers, and it will save you a lot in alteration costs.

Be realistic with your goal weight (and leave enough time for alterations)

If you are trying to lose weight for your wedding, it’s important you’re at your goal weight several weeks before the big day. Ideally, you need at least 6 weeks before your wedding, so your alterations person will have time to do the job.

Seamstresses will see so many women of all different shapes, sizes, heights etc. So please don’t give a second thought to what they think, and always be very open with them. Their only interest is in the way the garment is fitting. They don’t care about your size, and how you perceive it, they are there to make your dress fit like a glove and make you feel a million dollars.

R1526 by White Rose Bridal

Bring a friend to your alteration appointments (but not a crowd)

Just as with your wedding dress shopping experience, having someone else with you can help guide your alterations and ensure your bridal fits as it should. However, while your friend’s opinion can be really helpful, having too many voices sharing their thoughts can be counterproductive. Bring someone you trust and who knows your personal style and desired look. This goes for wedding dress shopping too!