On your wedding day, you want everything to fit perfectly and comfortably. The fit of your attire is everything, which is why it is important that you schedule an appointment to get alterations. I mean, it’s only right since you spent months searching for the perfect attire, and who wants a wardrobe malfunction on their big day?
When you have your wedding dress fitting, you and your seamstress will discuss any alterations or additions needed to help the dress perfectly sculpt the body. These appointments are essential to ensure that you’re comfortable and look flawless on your wedding day. You should budget for these appointments because, according to The Knot, these appointments can cost up to a couple of hundreds of dollars.
The entire process may take up to an hour and three fitting appointments to get the perfect fit. So, before you break out the fabrics and measuring tape, here are three things to consider when scheduling your bridal alterations.
Types of Wedding Dress Alterations
There are two wedding dress alterations: basic hemming and additional detailing. Simple alterations can be adjusting the gown’s sides or hemming the dress’s bottom. You want your seamstress to make any alterations that will help the dress complement your beauty and help you feel confident and comfortable all night. A well-fitted gown should accentuate and support your body while still being long enough to cover your shoes without your tripping on the hem.
If you want more extensive changes to your wedding dress, you can book an appointment with your seamstress to add additional details. These types of appointments will cost more and take more time. Customizations include adding elaborate detail to the sleeves, length to the train, detailed beading, or a bustle to the gown.
When Should You Schedule Alterations?
To stay on schedule and have less stress about your wedding dress, you should buy your wedding dress early so you can have more time to make alterations or add anything to your dress. You should buy your dress 10 months to a year before your wedding because it takes a while to deliver. Then, you should schedule your fitting and alteration appointment 8 to 12 weeks before the wedding and the final fitting two weeks before.
However, if you’re making major changes to your dress, you should start your alteration process a couple of weeks earlier than average.
What To Consider When Scheduling Your Appointment
Before you begin your alterations, there are a few things you should consider. Below are three things to consider when scheduling your bridal alterations to ensure you have a positive experience.
Bring Your Bridal Accessories to the Fitting
For your first fitting, you should bring the bridal shoes and undergarments you plan to wear on your wedding day. These items will help you envision yourself better and make the appropriate changes since they can impact the gown’s fit.
However, it is okay if you haven’t picked these items yet! Bring things that are similar to what you’re going to wear on your wedding day. You should also bring your jewelry, gloves, and other accessories that will help enhance the overall look and feel.
Don’t Worry if Your Dress Doesn’t Fit Perfectly
Don’t freak out if your dress didn’t fit when you ordered it or when it arrived! There are many ways a seamstress can fix this problem. If the dress is too big, the seamstress can take in the dress, or if the dress is too small, the seamstress can open the seams for more room. If there’s not enough fabric to work with, your seamstress can order extra fabric to add to the dress. Remember not to stress yourself out because there’s always a solution to the problem.
Be Selective About Which People You Bring to the Appointment
If you watched TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress, you would know that you should be very selective about which people you bring to your bridal appointments. Bring one or two of your closest friends or family for an honest second opinion. You should avoid getting too many so that you won’t be thrown off by many differing opinions. However, at the last fitting, only bring one person as if you’re preparing for the wedding day.
