Wedding Dress Alterations 101: Ensuring the Perfect Fit for Your Big Day
The perfect fit is non-negotiable, especially for your wedding dress, where alterations are just as crucial as the dress itself. Imagine, your wedding day arrives, and you're draped in the gown you've spent months selecting.
The last thing you'd want is to be preoccupied with a fit that's anything less than flawless.
A wedding dress fitting is a dedicated time you spend with our skilled seamstresses, ensuring the dress is altered to fit impeccably and contour gracefully to your body. Typically, a bride will need about three fittings to achieve the ideal fit. We believe every dress should undergo alterations, no matter how minor, to ensure the best possible fit.
"Even the most expensive gowns can fall flat without the right tailoring," we often say.
This underscores the critical nature of alterations, so be sure to allocate part of your budget to this essential service. Depending on the alterations required, costs can range from 1,000 THB to 10,000 THB.
Expertise in Every Stitch
At Laleda, we have a team of seasoned professionals who will guide you through two to three fittings, with the initial session lasting up to an hour. Our bridal boutique features expert in-house seamstresses familiar with our gowns' nuances, and we're also happy to recommend trusted tailors as needed.
Here's the lowdown on everything bridal alterations, straight from our experts team of dressmakers.
Types of Wedding Dress Alterations
Basic Hemming
Alterations typically start with hemming the length, adjusting the sides, and perfecting the fit. These fundamental changes are vital for your gown to look and feel its best. We believe in tailoring each dress to fit perfectly, align with the bride's specifications, and most importantly, make her feel stunningly beautiful.
A well-tailored gown supports and shapes the bust and accentuates the body's shape, falling just right to cover the shoes but avoid any tripping hazards. Always consider potential alterations when dress shopping and factor these costs into your budget.
Adding Details
With more time and a flexible budget, you can make more extensive customizations such as adding straps, sleeves, train adjustments, lace appliqués, beading, buttons, and creating a bustle to prevent the train from dragging during the reception dance.
Wedding Dress Alteration Tips
Stay on Schedule
To ease the process, order your dress early and leave ample time for alterations. Ideally, purchase your gown 10 months in advance, allowing up to five months for it to arrive. Schedule a fitting two to three months before the wedding and a final one at least two weeks prior.
For significant design changes or life events like pregnancy, budget extra time for alterations.
Be Mindful of Your Anticipated Wedding Weight
Avoid ordering a dress that's too small. It's much simpler to size down a dress than to size up. Structured gowns with built-in corsets are adjustable, and some designers can alter cups if your bust size changes. An A-line dress is forgiving for any weight fluctuations.
Bring Your Wedding Day Essentials to Every Fitting
For a true fit, bring your wedding shoes, undergarments, and accessories to your fittings. The proper undergarments and heels make a significant difference in the tailoring process. Ensure the hemline is adjusted to the shoes you'll wear to maintain the right length throughout the day. And while accessories may not affect fit, they complete your bridal look.
Don't stress about minor weight changes once the dress arrives. Our skilled team can make necessary adjustments, adding panels or fabric if needed.
Go for a Hemline that Grazes the Ground
We advise aiming for a hemline that gently touches the floor, ensuring comfort as you move, mingle, and dance. A slightly dirty hemline after your big day is perfectly normal and can be addressed during dress preservation.
Don't Worry About Weight Fluctuations
Minor weight changes won't be an issue. Our expert tailors will adjust your gown accordingly at each fitting to ensure the perfect fit, whether that means taking it in or letting it out. If significant alterations are needed, we can source additional fabric from the designer and add panels to the dress as necessary.
Too Many Alterations Won't Compromise Your Dress's Beauty
It's a common concern that numerous alterations might alter the original design of the dress, but rest assured, that's what alterations are for. Whether accommodating certain body proportions or scoring a deal on a dress that isn't your exact size, our expert tailors are adept at ensuring that any necessary changes maintain the gown's integrity and style. Always better to opt for a gown that's a size too large rather than too small, as it's much easier for our team to scale down.
Bring a Trusted Companion
Alterations can be a journey, and it’s a good idea to have a supportive friend or family member with you. They offer not only moral support but can also provide a second opinion, help document the process, and share in the joy of seeing your wedding dress come together. They can even help you celebrate the milestones of each fitting with a bit of bubbly or a post-appointment treat.
Trusting Your Tailor
Rest assured that with Laleda, your gown is in the hands of artisans who cherish the art of bridal tailoring. From the moment you step into our boutique until the final fitting, we dedicate ourselves to your bridal vision, ensuring that when you walk down the aisle, you'll be wearing more than just a dress—you'll be adorned in a Laleda wedding dress creation that's been hand-crafted to celebrate you.
With Laleda's commitment to perfection and your unique bridal dreams, together we can help you to tailor not just a dress, but an experience that is truly unforgettable.
Because on your wedding day, you deserve nothing less than a masterpiece.
Frequently Asked Questions on wedding dress alterations
How many fittings will I need?
The number of fittings depends on the alterations needed and if there are any changes in your body size. The first fitting is where the magic starts—pinning and sculpting the dress to your body. By the second fitting, you'll see how the gown will truly fit.
While two fittings may suffice, we recommend preparing for three, to account for the fact that wedding dresses are ordered based on your largest measurement and likely won't fit perfectly at first. Plan your final fitting a week or two before the wedding to accommodate any last-minute adjustments.
When should I schedule my first fitting?
We recommend scheduling your first fitting about 8-12 weeks before your wedding date. This allows ample time for alterations and any additional adjustments.
What should I bring to my fittings?
Bring the undergarments, shoes, and accessories you plan to wear on your wedding day. This ensures we can achieve the most accurate fit.
Can you alter dresses purchased elsewhere?
Yes, our expert tailors can alter dresses purchased from other boutiques or online. We treat every gown with the same care and attention, regardless of its origin.
How long does each fitting appointment usually take?
Fitting appointments typically last 30-90 minutes, depending on the complexity of the alterations needed.
What if I lose or gain weight after my final fitting?
While we can accommodate minor changes, it's best to maintain your weight after your final fitting. If significant changes occur, contact us immediately, and we'll do our best to make last-minute adjustments.
Do you offer rush alterations?
We are usually fully booked with a queue of tailoring & alteration work - but occasionally we are able to provide express / rushed service for small extra fee. Please contact us directly via chat / phone / form for availability regarding this. However, we recommend starting the alteration process early to avoid any unnecessary stress.
What Should I Budget for Alterations?
We will quote the cost to you once seeing the dress and changes required, in most cases adjustment cost would range from 1,000 THB - 5,000 THB but can be as much as 10,000 THB in case of very delicate structured and delicate lace structures where very detailed hand cutting is required.
