Fit Is Everything: Why Wedding Dress Alterations Matter
Finding the perfect wedding dress is only the first step. Even a beautiful gown can look and feel wrong if the fit is not tailored to your body. Professional wedding dress alterations help ensure the gown sits correctly, moves comfortably and complements your shape on your wedding day.
At Rose N Silk, wedding dress alterations can include hem adjustments, taking in or letting out seams, bodice reshaping, strap or sleeve adjustments, bustle creation and other refinements depending on the style of the gown. Careful fitting appointments allow these changes to be made gradually so the final result feels comfortable, secure and natural.
Every wedding dress needs some alteration to make it fit perfectly. “You can splurge on a pricey dress, but if it’s not altered properly it won’t look any better than a gown that’s a tenth of the cost,” says Terry Hall, former fashion director of New York City’s Kleinfeld Bridal Manhattan.
Dress alterations are essential, budget accordingly – expect to spend $150-$1,500 depending on necessary alterations. The whole process can be done in two or three fitting sessions, with the first lasting up to an hour. At Rose N Silk, we offer expert wedding dress alterations services that ensure seamless results at affordable prices.
Types of Wedding Dress Alterations
Basic Hemming
Simple wedding dress alterations start with the hemming the length, adjusting the sides of the skirt and improving the fit of the dress. These basic modifications are essential to make your wedding dress look its best. “Every wedding dress needs a alterations,” says Tina Zimmerman, director of alterations at Kleinfeld. “The alteration ensures that the bride’s wedding dress fits perfectly, meets all her specifications and, most importantly, makes her feel as beautiful as possible.”
A fitted dress should support and shape the bust, accentuate and complement the body shape, and be long enough to cover shoes, but not so long that the skirt becomes a tripping hazard.
Adding Details
If there is enough time and budget available, more significant changes can be made, albeit at a higher cost. Alterations includes adding details such as straps, sleeves, hem lengths, lace, beading, buttons, and a bustle. “Gowns do not come with a bustle,” says Zimmerman. During the alterations process, bustle were made and sewn to the wedding dress “to prevent the train from being dragged behind the bride as she danced at the reception.”
When shopping for a wedding dress, consider the alterations you need and factor the cost into your dress budget.
