Buying your wedding dress is one thing. Getting it to actually fit you properly is another. Wedding dress alterations are an important part of the process for most brides buying an off-the-peg or standard-size dress, as it has been made to a set size rather than specifically to your measurements.
At Stephanie Moran Couture, we work with brides in two very different ways. We create couture wedding dresses from sketch, but we also carry out wedding dress alterations for brides who have bought their dress elsewhere.
That means we see the whole picture.
When I’m creating a couture dress, I’m considering the fit and construction from the very beginning. With alterations, we’re working with a dress that has already been designed and made, and finding the best way to make it work for the bride wearing it.
And if you’ve never had a wedding dress altered before, the whole process can feel a little bit of a mystery.
What actually happens at the first fitting? How much can be changed? Will it fit perfectly straight away? When do you need to have it done? And what are you supposed to bring with you?
There isn’t one simple answer because every dress, and every bride, is different. But there are a few things that are worth knowing before you head into your first fitting.
Most wedding dresses will need some alterations…
Even if your dress feels like it fits when you try it on, it has usually been made to a standard size rather than specifically for your body.
You might need the length adjusted, the waist taken in, straps shortened, the neckline tweaked or the bust adjusted. Sometimes it’s just a few small changes that make the difference between a dress that fits and one that feels like it was made for you. And that’s really what alterations are about.
It’s not necessarily about changing the dress dramatically. It’s about refining the fit so that it sits properly on your body.
Having worked on both couture dresses and alterations, I know how much difference those final adjustments can make. A dress can look completely different once it’s sitting in the right place and fitting the way it should.
Your first fitting is about seeing what the dress actually needs…
At your first fitting, you’ll put your dress on, and your alterations specialist will look at how it’s sitting on you. This is where you’ll start talking through what needs changing.
The hem might need lifting. The waist might need taking in. Straps might need adjusting. The neckline might need a little more support. The train might need looking at. You might also discover that something you thought would need changing doesn’t actually need to be touched once the dress is sitting correctly.
This is why it’s important to have a proper fitting rather than simply going by how the dress looked when you bought it.
Alterations aren’t just about taking a dress in…
I think this is one of the biggest misconceptions. Alterations can involve much more than making a dress smaller or, in some cases, bigger. Depending on the dress and how it has been constructed, alterations can include changing the neckline, adjusting straps, adding or removing fabric, reshaping parts of the dress, altering a train, adding lace or making other changes to the design.
Some changes are relatively straightforward. Others are much more involved. And some changes simply aren’t possible on every dress. It depends on the construction, the fabric, the seams, the lace and how much fabric there is to work with.
This is where experience matters. When you’ve spent years designing and constructing wedding dresses, you understand how they’re put together, where you can make changes and when a seemingly simple alteration could actually be much more complicated.
You will need more than one fitting…
Your dress isn’t necessarily going to be completely finished at your second appointment. We work through the alterations in stages, checking how everything is sitting and making further adjustments where needed.
You might have one appointment where the main alterations are pinned, another where those changes are checked and tweaked, and then a final fitting to make sure everything is right before you take your dress home.
The number of fittings you need will depend on the dress and the alterations involved.
Speak up if something doesn’t feel right…
I cannot stress this enough. Your fitting isn’t an exam. If something doesn’t feel right, say so.
If you don’t like the way the neckline sits, tell us. If you’re worried about the straps, say. If you think the hem feels too long, or you’re not sure about something, talk about it. Some alterations come down to personalised preference. Sometimes the answer will be that a particular change isn’t possible or isn’t advisable. Sometimes there will be another solution. But you won’t know unless you ask. Your alterations appointment should be a conversation.
Your dress doesn’t have to be perfect when you first put it on…
This is probably the biggest thing I want brides to take away from the alterations process. Your wedding dress isn’t necessarily going to look exactly how you imagined it would when you first try it on.
That’s what the fitting process is for.
Small changes can make a surprisingly big difference to how a dress feels and looks on your body. The aim isn’t to change who you are or make your body fit the dress. It’s to make the dress work for you.
And when it’s fitted properly, that’s when your dress really starts to feel like yours.
Whether we’ve designed your dress from scratch or you’re bringing us a dress you’ve bought somewhere else, that’s ultimately what we’re trying to achieve. A dress that feels comfortable, fits properly and feels like you on your wedding day.
If you’re getting married and have questions about your wedding dress alterations, or you’re not sure what can be changed, get in touch, and we can talk through what you need. Or, you can get our Fittings and Alterations Guide here.
STEP INTO YOUR BRIDAL ERA WITH CALM, CLARITY, AND CONFIDENCE…
