Getting a Grip on Alterations
Wedding gown alterations can add up to quite a bit of money and that money could well be spent on another area of your day or saved for the honeymoon. There’s no need to worry, though. You can still have your dream wedding dress if you think about the alterations, what they will cost you, and how to get around paying the price.
Hand-stitched alterations cost more than a machine-sewed option so if you are looking to save money go with the latter. The truth is no one is ever going to know that your alterations were hand-stitched except for you. You can’t tell when you are walking down the aisle or visiting reception tables. If you’re keen on hand stitching for your dress at least have your undergarments altered by machine.
If you need alterations in a hurry a seamstress will often charge less than your wedding dress boutique and be quicker too. Just because it’s a bridal gown, doesn’t mean it needs a bridal seamstress to complete the alterations. Any professional in the sewing industry should be able to finish the job. Tailors offer some of the most competitive rates but shouldn’t be used for anything more than basic changes, as they are often not as familiar with women’s clothing.
Ask if alterations are included in the price of your dress. If they are, ask if there is a limit and what it includes. Some shops provide only basic alterations and make up for it if you need something more complicated such as taking the dress up or down a size.
Order a wedding dress on the higher end of the sizing chart rather than the lower end. It costs quite considerably more to let a dress out and make it bigger than it does to make one smaller. Have your heart and mind set on your lingerie, and the shoes you will be wearing. These will all play a role in what alterations you need. If you are planning on losing weight before your wedding, try to be the size that you want to be on your wedding day for the first fitting to avoid alterations later on.
Lastly, whichever type of dress you decide on, and whichever seamstress you choose to use, get all arrangements in writing. Bad alterations can wreak havoc on a beautiful dress and the last thing you want to be thinking about is how much it’s going to cost to undo the damage or even get a new one.
