If you’ve ever tried on wedding dresses, you’ve almost certainly been told “they can fix that in alterations”.
What you might not know, is that almost every bride needs some sort of alterations to her wedding dress. These changes can range from minor tweaks to full reconstruction or design changes! So we chatted with our incredible in house alterations team to talk about the most common alterations that our brides have done to their dress so that you have a better idea of what to expect!
Adjusting the hem - wedding dresses are generally made in a standard length to accommodate a bride who is 5’10”. So, unless you’re the exact height of the sample size, or the designer offers an option to order the dress with a different hem length, chances are you’ll need a hem adjustment.
Adjusting straps - Straps will almost always be too long, because having them too long is substantially easier to remedy than having them too short. Depending on the type of strap, this could be a simple alteration!
Adding in bra cups - Whether you’re looking to add a little lift, or smooth out the shaping of the dress, bra cups can make a huge difference in the comfort and fit of your dress.
Bustle - This is the term we use to describe the process of getting your train up off the floor by way of attaching it to the back of your dress. Your bustle can come in any number of styles, and is made to be invisible until you need to use it.
Adding a sleeve - If your dress is strapless or comes with thinner straps, and you’re wanting something with a bit more detail or coverage on the arms, adding a sleeve is a great option! This type of alteration falls into the custom work category since the seamstress is substantially altering the design of the dress
Altering the neckline - Sometimes, you find the perfect dress, but you wish it didn’t have quite as deep of a plunge, or vise versa! This is where altering the neckline can be a relatively small change that makes a really big impact on the overall look of your dress.
Taking in/Letting out the sides - The secret to a perfectly fitted dress, is a talented seamstress. When your dress is ordered, it is ordered to fit you as best as the designer’s pattern can. From there, your seamstress can take in or let out sections of the dress to allow it to perfectly sit on your frame.
Lowering/raising the back - With low backed wedding dresses very on trend, sometimes you want to add a little something to your dress to give it even more drama. This could be an option!
Adding layers - If you dream of a giant ball gown, with enough fluff to stand completely on its own, that’s something your alterations team can definitely help with! This also applies if you’re dying to add a layer of sparkle tulle, or maybe even a colored liner to your dream dress.
Custom Accessories - Last but not least, a lot of times, a bride wants her veil or headpiece to match her dress exactly! Your alterations team can often find matching or complimentary lace, tulle, or other textiles to make your accessories look like they came from the same designer as the dress itself! Talk about the icing on the cake!
