Wedding Dress Alterations 101
One of the most talked about things in your bridal appointment is alterations! Why? Because regardless of what designer or size you buy, you are sure to need at least a few wedding gown alterations. While we don’t offer inhouse alterations, we wanted to make sure you have all the information you will need after (or before) you say yes to your wedding dress!
For 99% of brides, your wedding gown will need alterations. And this is for a few reasons: First, every body shape is different. Second, gowns are cut to a series of sizing and height - not custom cut to your measurements. Even if the sample size fits perfectly, you will most likely still need a bustle, the hem shortened, or adjustments to the straps/sleeves, as these are standard alterations for a wedding dress. Also, if you’re worried about getting a strapless dress because of all the pulling, a good tailor will ensure a perfect fit! Let’s dive into a few reasons why you might need wedding dress alterations.
Each designer has their own size / height chart. This is important because our bodies are all made differently and you might be a certain size in one designer and another size in a different one. The style of dress you choose (fitted or ball gown) will also play a role in this. You may need the bust taken in a bit to accommodate your hip measurement or vice versa. Most wedding dresses aren’t made to your custom measurements, so it’s best to get the size that fits you closest and then have your tailor make alterations for it to fit your own body.
You may be purchasing a sample dress. If this is the case, your dress may need a little more alterations. The dress may be a few sizes larger than you need it or the zipper or closure needs fixing.
The most common wedding dress alterations are the straps, the hem, and the bustle. Because the dresses are based on size charts, they are made for those on the taller end. This means you’ll most likely need to shorten the length and take in the shoulder straps quite a bit. More on the bustle later in this post!
Wedding gown alterations timeline
Our preferred seamstresses recommend at least a month’s time frame for your wedding gown alterations. Now that doesn’t mean you wait until 4 weeks prior to your date to start alterations. First, you’ll want to decide if you are going to do Bridal Portraits and discuss the timing of those with your photographer (link photographer blog eventually). From there, you’ll count back at least 4 weeks to begin. Another thing to consider is seasonality; for example, prom season is March and April so there will be lots of people getting dresses altered at the same time and appointments may fill up quickly.
Because dresses can take anywhere from 4-18 weeks to arrive, you’ll want to take that into consideration as well. Read our post here about when to start shopping for your wedding dress.
The cost of altering your wedding gown
As mentioned above, most dresses will need hemming, a bustle added, and the straps taken in a bit. This cost of all of this will depend on what needs to be done to your dress, the fabric, and the difficulty of the project. For example, a gown with a lace hem will need to be taken off by hand before hemming, which will cost more than a simple hem on a crepe gown.
While we don’t have a magic number for you, $200-400 is a great range to budget. This is especially important if you’re buying a sample gown that needs to be altered a few sizes. If you’re purchasing a wedding gown “off-the-rack”, you’ll want to keep in mind that tailors prefer to only take a dress down 2-3 sizes. So if you’re an 8, you may can buy up to a 12 or 14; and the same would go for losing weight. We always recommend ordering the size you are currently (think of all the fun showers and parties with delicious food!), and taking in too many sizes can alter the dress and add to the cost.
What is a bustle?
A bustle is used after the ceremony and formal pictures to pick your train up off the ground for the rest of the evening. There are two most common bustles - The American (over-bustle) and the French (under-bustle). You’ll see Sam wearing our Emily ball gown, which has an American bustle that comes all the way to the waist-line of the dress. Not all American bustles will be at the waist as it truly depends on the type of dress.
Photography: Katie Jaynes Photography
Hair and Make-up: LR Weddings (@_beautybybrooke3 and @madisonmotes.hmu)
Venue: Iron Oak Barn
Carly’s Harper gown is a fitted dress with a French bustle. It lifts the train under the gown so there’s no tripping. A ballgown can have a French bustle, however, an American is a little bit harder on a fitted gown. Make sure to take a photo or video of the tailor explaining the bustle so your planner, maid of honor, or mom can help on your wedding day!
Venue: @therutherfordgvl | Website
Photo: @heygeorgiabuckner | Website
H/MU: Three Eleven Co.
Florals: @racheldeneroydesigns | Website
Our preferred list of wedding gown alteration places in the Anderson Area
A good tailor or alterations place is good to have for all of your clothes, but definitely wedding dresses. Your dress may have a ton of lace, layers, and / or beading so using someone who is familiar with those aspects is crucial. If you grew up in the age of “What Not To Wear”, you’re familiar with Stacy London talking about good tailoring. It truly can make your wedding dress look custom made for you because it is tailored to fit you. Our bodies aren't all the same, even if everyone is the same size, so good wedding dress alterations are key to ensure a perfect fit.
Here are some of our most recommended alterations in Anderson.
Staar Tailors (Anderson/Spartanburg)
Anderson: (864) 367-0022 507 N Main St
Spartanburg: (864) 587-2033 8027 Warren H Abernathy Hwy
Alterations Unlimited
Anderson: (864) 375-0808 1301 N Main St
How to prepare for your alterations appointment
Before you head to your wedding dress alterations, you’ll want to make sure you have these things with you
The exact undergarments you’re planning to wear
The exact shoes you’re going to wear
These are crucial to have so they can get your dress alterations and hem length just right! You may also want to have an idea of the type of jewelry or hairstyle you’re wanting in case that impacts your neckline.
Okay, did we take the fear out of alterations for you? Are you ready to start shopping for your wedding dress? We’d love for you to book an appointment with us and we can walk you through specific alterations for your dress!
