Finding the perfect wedding dress is hard enough for a bride, but not being prepared for what comes after buying the perfect dress is another source of stress. If the bride doesn’t follow a strict timeline of what to do before their big day, it will be even more difficult to make that dream wedding day a reality. It’s important to make sure brides don’t wait too long for alterations to their gowns as they take time and can’t be rushed.
However, brides and grooms can take a few simple steps to ensure they don’t miss the alteration deadline and avoid unnecessary stress. Make finding the dress a priority, and the rest will fit the timeline.
Find the Dress
The most important step is shopping wedding dress early enough to be changed in time. The key to shopping for clothes is to look for key details that are not easy to change, such as sleeves, fabric, and train length. A bride can make these non-negotiables to narrow down the clothing choices.
Ideally, the bride and groom should shop for clothes about eight months before the wedding day. With five months left, the bride has to shop for lingerie, hair accessories and shoes. The bride must have her first fitting with three months remaining and her second fitting with six to eight weeks remaining before the wedding.
Find a Good Tailor
Finding a good tailor is very important for a wedding dress to look perfect. Many wedding dress boutiques provide alterations, but if brides want to find a tailor on their own, they should find someone who specializes in formal wear.
The best way to find a professional tailor is to read reviews and ask the right questions. Reading reviews is very important and should be done extensively. Once the bride is satisfied with her choice, it is important to ask a few questions during the consultation. Some questions that the bride and groom can ask include:
- How many years of experience do you have?
- How much does it cost?
- What amount is required for deposit?
- How many fittings are needed?
- What’s your schedule like?
Installation
Pas is where the magic happens. That’s where the tailor or fitter takes the bride’s measurements to alter the dress to fit their bodies. Typically, the first fitting takes about an hour, as the bride will meet with the dressmaker, and they will begin assessing the gown and figuring out what needs to be altered.
The bride usually needs about three fittings before the gown is ready to wear, but each session after the first will be shorter as the gown is nearly finished. Brides should bring shoes, underwear and any accessories they plan to wear to make them fit.
Easy fix
Despite what many brides think, some easy fixes are possible in the early stages of the makeover process. Some simple solutions like shortening the strap or changing the closure from zipper to button or vice versa are easy fixes.
It is best for brides to ask their tailors and work with them to see what is possible early on. The tailor will tell the bride and groom what they can and cannot do in the early stages. Brides need to keep asking questions without hesitation because their dream dress can be done as long as it fits within the timeline.
Go Solo
Lastly, the bride can always decide to go for it go solo to their outfit outfits. It’s fun to bring family and friends to the start of the process, but going alone might be better as the bride is more focused. Inevitably, if the bride and groom go to the fitting alone, they are more relaxed and can pay attention to all the details during the fitting.
If a bride decides to bring a friend, make sure they know how you want the dress to fit beforehand. Try to keep groups to a minimum, inviting only family or bridesmaids. At this stage, opinion on the dress itself should be limited to give the tailor and the bride a chance to work out the details.
The fit of the dress is important
The bride should take fitting and dress alterations as seriously as possible. This is an important aspect of buying a wedding dress and will make any bride feel like a true queen. Making sure to find a dress and alter it from the start will save the bride a lot of money, stress, and hassle.
