Spring is a popular wedding season since it symbolizes new beginnings and offers pleasant temperatures. Many people love wearing vintage dresses to spring weddings because they offer a timeless elegance that’s perfect for a wide range of wedding venues.
Finding the perfect dress is a wonderful feeling, but altering vintage wedding dresses for spring can be tedious, so plan ahead when it comes to dress adjustments. Finding a tailor that specializes in bridal alterations is the key to success.
What Defines a Vintage Wedding Dress?
Vintage is a term typically used for anything at least twenty years old but not older than 100 years. If a family member hands down their wedding dress to you or if you thrift an older wedding dress, it may be considered vintage. Many brides love the graceful, romantic, and nostalgic feel of vintage wedding dresses.
Altering vintage wedding dresses for spring can help ensure that these gowns fit perfectly, even though they’ve been around a while.
Vintage wedding dress with floral embellishments (Unsplash)
What to Look for in Vintage Wedding Dresses for Spring
There are lots of gorgeous vintage dresses that are perfect for spring. If you don’t already have something in mind, here are some tips to help you find the perfect gown.
Determine the Era You Love
Vintage wedding dresses can come in a wide range of styles. For example, the 1920s was known for having simple wedding dresses that were mid-length with sleeves. However, the 1980s featured extravagant designs, such as poofy sleeves. Even though those two eras of dresses are very different, they’re both considered vintage. Think about if there’s a specific era of dresses you love to help you narrow down your search.
Look for Flowing, Breathable Fabrics
Since the wedding is in the springtime, you need to get a dress that’s suitable for the pleasant temperatures. Flowing, breathable dresses, such as those with lace, are great for spring weddings. However, spring weather can be unpredictable, so if the event is outside, get a vintage cover up to help you stay comfortable.
Embrace Floral Designs
Floral dresses can be vintage and perfect for spring. Many vintage dresses have flowers in their lacy patterns. Others have colorful flowers embroidered on the otherwise white dress to give it a unique look. If you want to embrace the season your wedding is in, getting a floral wedding dress is a great idea.
Don’t Ignore Simple, Classic Looks
Many vintage dresses have a simple design, featuring a solid white fabric with no lavish features. While some brides might consider these styles too plain, others are stunned by how dainty and versatile they are. They can make the bride look gorgeous while still being comfortable. Don’t be afraid to go with a simple look because it might suit you better than you think.
Black and white photo of bride wearing dress with poofy sleeves (Pexels)
Methods for Altering Vintage Wedding Dresses for Spring
Most wedding dresses need some alterations, but it’s especially common for vintage apparel. A vintage dress might have sat in storage for a while, and sizing standards have changed over time.
To ensure your vintage wedding dress fits perfectly, find a tailor who can alter it with care. Below are some adjustments you might need.
Adjusting the Size
It’s common for vintage dresses to not fit the same as modern dresses. If the dress is too small or too big, a tailor can adjust it by a size or two to help it fit perfectly. During your first fitting, they can look at how it fits you to determine which areas need the most adjusting. In some cases, the dress might fit perfectly in one area but not another, such as the hips but not the bust.
If you’re choosing between two similar vintage dresses at a thrift shop, consider choosing the larger dress. It’s easier to remove fabric than add fabric, so making it smaller will be a more seamless process for your tailor than sizing it up.
Hemming
Even if the dress fits your body type well, the skirt can still be too long. While many wedding dresses purposely drag on the ground, skirts that drag more than expected are easy to trip over. A tailor can hem your skirt to ensure it rests exactly where you want it to.
For the best results, wear your wedding shoes during your fittings. If you haven’t chosen shoes yet, bring shoes with the size heel you’re planning to wear. That way, you’ll know exactly how tall you’ll be on your wedding day, allowing your dress length to match.
Adding or Removing Embellishments
Some vintage dresses have intricate embellishments while others have a simple style. It’s important to wear the dress that you feel the most comfortable in. So, if you feel that your dress could use more or less embellishments, talk to your tailor. They can add or remove pieces to make it fit your expectations perfectly.
Fixing Repairs
Older clothes may have damage that a brand new dress wouldn’t. Whether you got your vintage dress from a loved one or a second-hand seller, check to see if there are any rips, tears, or frays. A tailor can repair these concerns to make the dress look good as new. If the damage is minor enough, some tailors may even offer same day alterations.
Vintage wedding dresses hanging up (Unsplash)
Finding the Perfect Tailor for Altering Vintage Wedding Dresses for Spring
Vintage wedding dresses need to be handled with care. The aged materials and unique embellishments can be delicate, so they require someone knowledgeable for alterations. When choosing the best tailor for altering vintage wedding dresses for spring, find someone that specializes in bridal attire.
If you live in the Houston area, Memorial Tailors offers alterations for all types of clothes. We specialize in wedding garments, so we will carefully adjust your vintage dress to perfectly fit your needs.
