How to prepare

Schedule your consultation, ideally no closer than 16 weeks before you want to have your dress finalized and hanging in your closet. Recommended first fitting appointment to be 3-4 months prior to wedding. Customization requests need even more time to be worked into the schedule properly therefore call asap for a consultation.  

2024 will be another very busy wedding year and I will book to capacity! Do not delay calling to schedule your first fitting.

Essential items you will need to bring are your dress, exact shoes you plan on wearing and any under garments** affecting the fit of the dress.  Non essential items you may like to bring would include your veil and jewelry. You will be leaving your dress with me for a few months and this will be the perfect opportunity to see everything together one last time.

*Regarding shoes: The shoes you choose to wear on your day determines the length of the hemline and bustle.  If you are fitted with one pair of shoes and later change your mind selecting another pair, your hemline alterations will be affected and may not be exact resulting in additional cost and time to correct.  Even minor heel height differences affect the hem and can be avoided by having the actual wedding day shoes with you for your first and final fittings.

**Regarding undergarments: Most bridal gowns have foundations built into the garment therefore eliminating the need for standard bras, strapless bras, or corsets  Now with this being said, if you wear a C cup or larger bra, you may need to wear a long-line bra or apply boob tape. Crinolines (puffy slips) may be added to a ball gown for added fullness although most dresses have these built in and no additional slip is required unless it is a personal preference.  'Less is Best' is a good rule to follow for shape-wear.

Allow 60 minutes for your first fitting and bring no more than 2 people with you.  You are welcome to take picture/videos.  Please refrain from bring food or drinks with you.  Once alterations are completed payment in full is expect in the form of personal check, cash, Venmo or Zelle.  A complete estimate of charges is provided at the first fitting.

What the process involves

During your first consultation we will discuss your vision for the fit of your gown.  Focusing on all aspects, from shoulders to train I will guide you through each area with a critical eye for fit and design.  I will pin, mark or measure for exacting alterations to follow.  We will discuss and decide on a bustle and even mock up the type you choose, keeping in mind each dress is unique and the gown usually decides on its own bustle.

Your Gown now moves into my work studio.  I believe alterations should never be noticed.  I will make the adjustments and reconstruct your gown showing no evidence of those alterations.  This takes time, attention to detail and an expertise obtaining from years and years of training and experience.  Believe me, this is no Project Runway!  The process I use would be more familiar in the haute couture fashion houses.

At the second fitting, usually 4-8 weeks later, you will once again try on your gown.  For many brides this will actually be the first moment the gown can be seen for its true beauty because the fit is now contoured to its owner.   This is not a rushed appointment.  We will walk through each area adjusted to determine if it can be made more precise.  All details are examined.  If an area is found not to meet our standards it will be returned to the workroom and another fitting will be scheduled, usually the following week.

Once all alterations are completed and the perfect fit has been achieved then it can return home with its bride to await the day.  

Sew Elegant Bridal Alterations

770-906-0947