Here is all you need to know when it comes to wedding dress alterations

You're not quite ready to walk down the aisle once you've found your dream bridal gown, there’s just the small matter of alterations first.

Wedding dress alterations are a fundamental part of the bridal buying journey. Finding ‘the one’ is not the end of the process. To make that dream wedding dress fit like a glow, you need some expert alterations.

Nearly all bridal gowns will need some level of alterations (like raising the hem or tightening the straps), and while your wedding dress may only need a few minor adjustments, having it properly tailored can make all the difference. Trust us, take your gown to a seamstress who specialises in bridal alterations, and you will not be disappointed.

Now, it’s worth pointing out that, on your wedding day, you won’t be moving about with the same ease that you do in your gym gear. You’ll be travelling at a slower pace and taking extra care. That being said, you shouldn’t feel confined by the dress. Otherwise, you won’t be able to fully enjoy the fabulous day you’ve got planned. That’s where our wedding dress alterations checklist comes in!

Think of this wedding alterations checklist as a simple set of instructions to help you test-drive your wedding dress during the alterations process. That way, you can avoid any discomfort or wardrobe malfunctions!

The golden rule of alterations is that you should start with a garment that’s too big for you, and a seamstress will then take it in. During fittings with your seamstress is when you’ll achieve that perfect fit. But what exactly is a good fit? Well, stick with us because we’ve got that covered too.

How to Move in Your Wedding Dress

To achieve the right fit during wedding dress alterations, you’ll first need to figure out how mobile you want to be in your bridal gown. This varies heavily on the type of day you’ve got planned. Most weddings require very little strenuous activity beyond dancing and hugging. But even those actions need to be accounted for.

If you’re having your ceremony in a forest or trekking up a mountain for wedding portraits, however, you’ll want a bit of extra room in your dress. Before your fitting, have a think about what you’ll be doing on the day. Especially think about what you’ll be doing in the lead-up to your wedding portraits, as this is when your dress needs to look its best. Now you’re ready for your fitting!

What to Bring to Your Wedding Dress Fitting

Here’s a handy list of items you need to bring with you:

• Underwear. Wear a good quality strapless bra and underwear in a colour that’s close to your skin tone.

• Shoes. If you’ve already got your wedding shoes, take them along. If not, bring a pair with a very similar heel height.

• Any accessories you’ve already purchased. Hair accessories, jewellery, or even a veil.

• Make-up remover if you need to remove yours. We recommend wearing as little as possible and make sure to ditch the fake tan, too!

• A notebook and pen or somewhere to make quick notes. You’ll have to write down details of further alterations and collection dates, etc.

  
  

The Essential Wedding Dress Alterations Checklist

There are a few moves you need to pull during your wedding dress fitting to guarantee a great fit. Note that we aren’t using the phrase ‘perfect fit’ because honestly, it doesn’t exist. A skin-tight wedding dress looks spectacular, but isn’t practical. A loose wedding dress doesn’t look great either, but is a dream to wear. You’re seeking that sweet spot in between.

But don’t go flailing about in the dressing room just yet. Make sure the person who’s doing the alterations is happy for you to move about and take it nice and slow. There may be pins or temporary stitches in place, and it’s best not to damage the dress at this stage.

• Walk around. Go for a nice long stroll around the room. Keep in mind whether you’ll need to walk up steps on the day or climb an incline to reach a special wedding portrait location.

• Note your temperature. If the fabric loses or retains more heat than you imagined, you’ll need to take extra precautions against the elements.

• Slouch. In a perfect world, you’d keep your shoulders back, your chin up and your stomach tucked in for the duration of your wedding day. But, realistically, you’ll let that perfect posture slip at some point during a 15 or 20-hour celebration.

• Sit down. You’ll have to sit for a significant portion of the day, including the ceremony and the meal, so you must feel comfortable in doing so.

• Mime hugging someone. There’s no need to lock the person doing your alterations in an embrace (although you wouldn’t be the first one!) Instead, mimic the gesture, then try it again as if you are straining to reach a tall person or bending down to a short person, or child. Trust us, this is an important one to get right!

• Dance. There’s no need to break out some late night moves! But if you’re expecting to stay in your dress for the whole night, it’s a good idea to test things out by having a brief bop.

• Raise your arms. You’ll be surprised how often this is required on your wedding day, between waving at guests as you travel to the ceremony, to raising the roof on the dance-floor.

• Mime getting in and out of a car. It helps to practice entering and exiting a vehicle, particularly if you’re planning an unusual form of transport.

• Figure out your bathroom plan. You’ve got to be wearing the dress to figure out how to use the bathroom in it!