A Guide To Alterations

Part of our contribution in the wedding business is understanding ALL of the elements of catering to and dressing the bride, her bridesmaids, the groom and his fellas; we listen and look for details about the theme, location, and party. We want everyone to look the part and have their wardrobe fit well - not just to theme, but actually fit well. Our clients don't simply grab items off a rack or pick them out of a selection and then wander into a wedding setting. We always hope to be helpful in the thought-process, most especially when it comes to how what you've chosen to wear fits you. Alterations are a big part of that.

Once the gown has been selected, alterations are almost always a part of getting the bride from the "Yes to the Dress" moment to the perfect fit. At BT, we've curated not only our best practices, but our trusted resources for brides and we're more than happy to share. 

So here goes with some facts that are tried and true in our experience and are always worth reviewing, even for you brides who've done your homework:

• ​99% of formal/wedding gowns will need alterations to get the right fit.
• Alterations require a bare minimum of 2 fittings; most of the time more depending on the complexity of the alteration. So, be patient if the dress needs more tweaking, and doesn’t fit perfectly at fitting number two or three.
• Communicate clearly to the seamstress of what you want. Ask questions to confirm that both of you are on the same page, and that you understand her particular process.
• Always get an estimate before the work begins. Understand that if you make changes at a later fitting the cost will be more.
• Make sure that they leave the inseam for dresses that are being made smaller! Tell them you DO NOT want anything cut out of the dress unless absolutely necessary. This ensures that the dress can be let back out to original seams if needed. 
  

• Wear the shoes and any undergarments that you will be wearing with the dress. Changing shoes and/or bras will greatly affect the fit of the garment.
• Hold your head up while the seamstress pins your hem! Looking down while pinning will make your dress too short!
• If there is a problem, or something you don’t like TELL THEM. They are not mind readers and can’t fix something they don’t know about. Don’t just assume they have ruined your dress until you ask them about the issue. What is done to one part of the dress will affect other parts, hence the needs for tweaking, and multiple fittings.
• If you need a bustle for your wedding gown, we highly recommend an under bustle or French bustle. They are much more secure and less likely to break. An over bustle is the most common, but they come unhooked, or the button can break off, leaving you with a busted bustle for the rest of the night.
  
• Dresses with lace on the hem are designed, so that they can be made shorter without losing your lace detail, the majority of the time. If a seamstress tells you that it can’t be hemmed you may want to check with someone else, just to be sure. 
  

Put all of this into your pocket and then call an alterations expert who knows what to do. 
Here is our curated reference list:
Sew Fitting - 828-292-9123 for North Wilkesboro
Diana Albertson - 336-905-9214 - Purlear
Debra Brown -336-984-9573 - Mountain View
Elizabeth Guthrie - 336-973-3209 Wilkesboro
Dixie Jarman - 336-877-6878 Blowing Rock

We vetted each of these seamstresses and they all come with references about their workmanship and dependability. That said, BT does not assume responsibility, nor reliability for the work completed or the prices charged by these individuals. ​

Some bottom line advice, buy the dress that you really love and understand that there will probably be some alterations involved. When there are, arm yourself with tips and choose the right seamstress or tailor.