What Every Bride Needs to Know About Wedding Dress Alterations

In almost all romantic comedy movies where a woman is about to get married, there is a scene featuring her trying on a host of designer custom made wedding dresses. When she finds "The One", that's where the search ends and the next scene is her looking gorgeous in the dress about to walk down the aisle. Unfortunately, this is far from reality and settling on the design or buying the gown is only half the battle. Alterations are a crucial part of the preparation for the big day. The following reminders will help any bride to be emotionally, financially and physically prepared for this aspect.

Not Always a Perfect Fit

Some brides may think that custom made wedding dresses are sewn by some mythical fairy godmother and arrive into existence in instant perfection. But having a bespoke gown doesn't automatically mean it's going to fit like a glove the first time it is tried on. Dress sizing is pretty general, so even if a bride is a size six it doesn't follow that the gown won't need alterations, even if they are minor ones. Every bride's measurements and curves are unique, which is why it's important to make time for alterations so the designer can make the proper adjustments in the hemline, waist and bust area, for example. Moreover, most brides will diet before their wedding, so it's a given that their measurements will change from the first time they try a dress on to the last fitting. Taking these points into consideration, it's crucial for a bride to make preparations as early as possible. Trying to finalise a gown just two weeks before the wedding is a recipe for disaster.

DIY is Never an Option for Alterations

Speaking of commissioning custom made wedding dresses at the last minute, it is important to note that no matter how tight a time frame is, a bride should never take on the responsibility of doing the alterations to the dress herself - unless she is a skilled seamstress of course. But even then it's still advisable to get a seamstress or tailor who specializes in this aspect to do the job. Most bridal fabrics are delicate and need expert care and attention to adjust them properly. Considering a DIY alteration to save money is not a good idea – bridal gowns are expensive, and often come in multiple layers constructed elaborately. Alterations are a serious business, hence every bride should have realistic expectations.

Alterations Can Take Two Weeks to a Month

Realistic expectations don't stop with how the gown will look during the bride's final fitting. It also means brides should not expect that alterations made to custom made wedding dresses can be done within a few days. The word 'alteration' is more complicated than it seems, and these specialists - especially the good ones - are in high demand and are usually booked weeks if not months in advance. They are also very likely to be working on several commissions at the same time, so brides must account for this. They either need to plan months ahead, allowing a realistic timeline for alterations, or find a tailor who can squeeze them in their very tight schedule and pay a much higher fee.