The majority of wedding dresses come in standard sizes. And while you may love the overall shape and look of the dress, it will almost always need to be moderately altered to fit your body comfortably. Fortunately, alterations are just another part of your wedding dress shopping experience, and the process doesn’t have to be a headache.
From having the funds to alter your dress to your liking to finding the right seamstress, this is your guide to wedding dress alterations to ensure your big day goes off without a hitch.
Set Aside an Alterations Budget
Wedding dress fitting days have become pre-wedding celebrations for many brides-to-be. While your dress may already be costing you a small fortune, it’s wise to portion off some extra money for alterations and preservation of your gown (the cleaning and processing of your dress so that it maintains its quality for years to come).
Alteration costs can vary significantly depending on the dress, its fabric, and its design. Professionals typically avoid quoting exact costs without first seeing the dress and understanding its manufacturer or designer.
To avoid surprises, set aside a reasonable portion of your dress budget for alterations—consult with your seamstress early to get an accurate estimate. If you’re fortunate enough to require minimal changes, you can always use any leftover funds for other wedding needs or your honeymoon!
Timing is Everything
Remember that wedding alterations take time, and starting early is key to ensuring everything is perfect for your big day. Experts recommend beginning the alteration process 4–6 months ahead of time. This allows ample room for multiple fittings, adjustments, and any unforeseen challenges..
Managing time for wedding alterations is as important as choosing the perfect venue, especially if you’re planning a celebration in a different region from where your seamstress is located. Whether your venue is in Southern California, the bustling Bay Area, or a scenic destination in another part of the country, ensuring your wedding attire is ready well ahead of time is key to avoiding unnecessary stress.
For example, if your seamstress happens to be in San Francisco and your wedding venue is somewhere in Irvine, make sure your alterations are finished at least two weeks before your special day. This buffer is particularly useful when coordinating across regions, where travel schedules, shipping logistics, or unexpected delays could disrupt last-minute plans.
Furthermore, regional differences in climate or venue type—like breezy outdoor weddings in coastal areas versus elegant indoor ceremonies in urban settings—might call for specific alterations to your outfit.
Planning for these details in advance ensures your attire is perfect, no matter the setting. By addressing these factors early, you can enjoy your wedding day with confidence and ease.
Choose the Right Seamstress
Choosing the best person for the job takes a little work. Not only do you want a perfect fit, but you also want to make sure your dress is preserved for years to come.
You may want to consider using your wedding dress vendor to make the alterations for you since they often offer this as an additional service at a lower cost.
However, sometimes, it’s worth looking for someone who can express the vision you have for your dress. Here’s how you can find a true professional:
- Look online for positive reviews.
- Choose a seamstress with years of experience with different types of dresses.
- Look out for pictures of brides in their final dress fittings.
- Narrow your selection down to seamstresses that fit your budget.
- Ask your seamstress or drycleaner about the long-term preservation of your dress and how you can ensure it will not suffer wear and tear.
- Speak to seamstresses about regular cleaning of your dress and how to store it to keep it well preserved and intact.
Consider Underwear and Accessories
When fitting into your altered dress, bear in mind that your underwear and accessories will play a part in how it looks and feels. Your underwear will affect the overall shape of your wedding dress. Your shoes will contribute to the look of your hem and may even affect your bridal train if it’s being extended or shortened.
Jewelry, belts, and hairpieces will also play a part in how the dress fits. Bring all of your accessories to your fitting to ensure you’re happy with your overall look once the dress is on.
Be Clear About What You Want
Good communication with your seamstress will serve you well when it comes to fitting a wedding dress over and over again.
Tell them how the dress makes you feel, what you see when you look in the mirror, and what aspects you want emphasized.
Prioritize Comfort
How you look on your wedding day is obviously important, but how you feel also counts. If your dress is uncomfortable, your face will show it and so will your body language.
When fitting your dress, be sure to move around in different positions each time. Sit down to see how comfortable it will be, and kneel occasionally to ascertain the stretchability of the dress. Standing in different ways will also give you a good idea of how comfortable you’ll be after hours wearing your dress on your big day.
A Wedding Dress Emergency Kit
A wedding day emergency kit will contain several items that may come in handy if anything goes wrong with your dress. These fashion ‘fixes’ should be kept on hand so that you can quickly make some alterations if needed.
Your kit may include:
- A comb
- Pins
- Hair clips
- Double-sided tape or velcro
- A small sewing kit
- A small face mirror
- Fashion tape
- Face masks
- Bandaids
Talk to your seamstress and ask them what other small items you can carry with you on your wedding day to make last-minute changes.
But also, be careful not to do anything that will negatively affect the quality of your dress since you’ll want to keep it for years to come.
Be Open to Compromise
You may not always get everything you want in your wedding dress, and remember that your seamstress has limits to what they can do. While you should always aim to get your dress exactly as you want it, be open to compromising certain aspects.
Final Thoughts
Congratulations on your big day! With your wedding dress ready, you can now focus on the festivities and the honeymoon.
Minimize your stress by having this plan in place in case you need any alterations so you can enjoy your day without a hitch.
Written by: Victoria Riddler