Choosing your dream dress is one of the most memorable parts of wedding planning. After that, it’s time to make sure your special dress fits you as perfectly as possible. A proper wedding dress fitting can make you feel your best in your gown as you walk down the aisle.
Yet, what should you expect from a dress fitting? And what should you bring to an alterations appointment? Figuring out some of the details in advance can reduce your worries on your wedding day.
When to Start Wedding Dress Alterations Planning
We recommend scheduling a wedding dress fitting about two to three months before the wedding. This will give you plenty of time before your big day while being close enough to ensure your body doesn’t change too much. For brides that rarely experience changes in weight, you can schedule a fitting as early as six months before the wedding.
Since wedding dresses can have intricate designs, you may need to schedule multiple fittings. After each fitting, it will take about a week or two before you can come in for another appointment.
What to Expect at Wedding Dress Alterations
Every wedding dress alteration business is different, but at Memorial Tailors, we always do our best to make the process quick and easy. Before the fittings, you’ll have a consultation with a tailor, where the tailor can look at the dress while you tell them about your preferences.
Then, the tailor will schedule about three to four fittings. Each time you come in, they will take notes on what needs to be altered further while getting necessary input from you. Since the fittings are quick, you won’t have to worry about constantly removing and retrying the dress.
A wedding dress fitting is meant to ensure the dress fits you perfectly so you can look and feel your best when you get married. To help with this, practice different movements while wearing the gown, such as sitting, walking around, and dancing.
At first, the process can sound overwhelming, but doing multiple sessions will make the dress feel like it was made for you.
What to Wear to Wedding Dress Alterations
We advise brides and bridesmaids to wear comfortable clothing that’s easy to take on and off when they come in for a dress fitting. You may want to avoid wearing large jewelry items and accessories that could make it harder to change into your dress (unless you’re planning to wear those items at your wedding).
It’s also a good idea to wear minimal makeup and skip the fake tan for wedding dress fittings. That way, you won’t accidentally get a stain on your beautiful dress.
What to Bring to a Wedding Dress Alteration Appointment
Of course, the most important thing to bring to a wedding dress fitting is yourself, but there are some other things you might want to consider having with you to make the process go as smoothly as possible.
Wedding Shoes and Undergarments
Bring the shoes and underwear that you plan to wear the day of the wedding to ensure an accurate fit. For example, if your shoes have heels, they’ll affect the dress length. If you’ll be wearing a bra, it could affect how it fits on the top. Undergarments could also include shapewear and bodysuits if you like how you look in the dress while wearing them.
If you haven’t decided on your exact shoes yet, bring shoes that are the height you plan to wear so the seamstress can still hem your dress properly.
Wedding Day Accessories
If you already know what accessories you’ll wear on your big day, such as a veil, jewelry, or hair accessories, bring those along too. While they might not affect the alterations, you’ll be able to see how they look with your dress to better decide if they’re the right fit.
To ensure your veil and hair accessories look right, consider doing your hair similar to how you plan to on your wedding day. Of course, you don’t need to spend as much time on it as you would on the day of, but if you know your hair will be up, put it up for your dress fitting.
Hair Ties/Clips
If you’re unsure about the hairstyle you want, you can try tying up your hair in different ways during the fitting to see how it looks. While it won’t give you the exact vision, you can at least see if you prefer your hair up or down. Tying your hair back may also make changing into your dress easier.
A Friend or Family Member
Bringing someone close to you is always a good idea. They can help make the experience more relaxing and fun, and they can offer another perspective for how your accessories look with your dress. Plus, they can take photos to document your wedding dress alterations before and after.
A wedding dress fitting is an exciting step before your big day, so it’s great to have someone to share it with.
Somewhere to Take Notes
You’ll likely want to jot down the details of the alterations along with the dates of future alteration appointments. While you can write it down in your phone notes, it may make wedding planning more special if you have a pen and notebook with you.
How Long Does a Wedding Dress Alteration Appointment Take?
At Memorial Tailors, each wedding dress fitting takes about 30 minutes to 2 hours, but most of them are on the shorter side. The exact timeline will depend on the dress you choose and how much it needs to be altered.
Always Prepare for Your Wedding Dress Fitting
A wedding dress fitting means you’re a step closer to wearing the gown of your dreams on your big day. So, it’s an exciting and crucial experience. To ensure it goes smoothly, plan what to bring to a first wedding dress fitting. This includes anything you want to wear on your wedding day, such as shoes, underwear, and accessories. By properly planning ahead, your wedding dress alterations should be quick and easy.
Are you looking for a tailor to alter your dream dress? Contact us for more information or book an appointment today!