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6 Tips to Get The Perfect Fit

Seeing your gown for the first time after months of anticipation can be like falling in love all over again. Unless you purchase a completely custom gown, most are ordered in your closest size, not by your exact measurements, and require some tailoring to fit your body like it was made just for you.

Check out these 6 tips for the perfect fit.

1. Get Recommendations: Most bridal salons offer their recommendations for a tailor or have one in-house, but it’s always best to do your research in advance. Find feedback online, ask to see samples of the tailors work, or talk to brides they have worked with in the past.
2. Give Yourself Time: If you have several fittings make sure you leave enough time between fittings and your wedding date should any mishaps arise.  Schedule your final fitting (which should only be minor alterations) within two weeks of your wedding so your measurements are as close to exact as possible.
3. Make it Snug: It’s hard to define whether it’s the stress of the big day approaching or the multitude of last minute to do’s but most brides shed a few pounds right before their wedding.
4. Bring Everything: You want to have everything you will be wearing on your wedding day to ensure accuracy in your fitting. Even the smallest undergarment change can cause the dress to lay differently.
5. Get Hooked!  If you’re wearing an undergarment for support, see if your tailor will attach it to your gown. The extra tacking can ensure that the two stay in place together. If you’re going bra-less, make sure the gown has structure built in or ask if you can add cups in.
6. Do the Bustle: If you have a bustle on your gown (most do) makes sure it’s secured well – The weight of the bustle alone can be up to 4-5 pounds of fabric, all anchored to one tiny hook and they do rip off occasionally.

Tips on Wedding Dress Alterations

It’s seldom that the wedding gown a bride has bought will fit her at the very first try. Every bride wants to look breathtakingly beautiful on her day. So it’s essential to take professional help to get that perfectly fitting wedding gown that looks as if it was made for her only! Whether the bridal dress needs only minor adjustment or a major one, in almost every case, wedding dress alterations will be required to some extent. So it is imperative to give as much importance to its alteration, as to its selection itself.

Here are some tips about bridal alterations which you may find useful:

1. Where to go: It is advisable to take the precious wedding gown to somebody who has years of experience in restyling and alteration of bridal gowns. Usually professional bridal alteration shops are the best option since they have the expertise and the experience.
2. Alternation work: There are mainly three types of alterations done – hemming, bodice alterations and shortening of sleeves. Normally alterations of wedding dresses are based on three fittings. Shoes, head dress and the other accessories should be bought well much in advance before going for the wedding dress alterations.
3. Cost: The cost of altering it depends upon the style of the dress and the complexity of work. It is advisable for the bride to get an estimate of the total cost of alteration. Rush services generally cost double.
4. Deadline: The wedding dress should be given for alterations at least 6 or 8 weeks before the wedding since it’s a complex and time consuming work. The deadline has to be there to complete the job.

You can always rely upon newly married friends to give you recommendations to help you choose the best bridal alternations shop. Word of mouth really helps. Alteration of a wedding dress is a work of art, which requires a great deal of detailing and precision. Do your homework!