Blog Archives

A Guide To Alterations

6/19/2018

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.

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Global Wedding Traditions

6/12/2018

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At BT, we love the "Once Upon a Time" of wedding traditions and have been sharing some of the significance and origins of various "things we do when we get married." Today, with all do respect to the legendary, per se, we're sharing the things we do that extend beyond our current cultures and shores.
So, gather up your mini flags from all nations and start waving them.

Let's begin with Southeast Asia. In the Philippines, couples release doves as a visual wish for a long, harmonious and peaceful life together. That one has made it to the states and elsewhere in the world for sure. They are beautiful and flight brings its own metaphors of new adventure and beginnings.

And from the sublime to the ridiculous ..... in Scotland, there is a tradition called "blackening." Couples are taken out the day before their wedding ceremony, given lots of alcohol and then covered with grease, flour, feathers, dirt, and only the Lord knows what else until they are filthy. Centuries ago, criminals were tortured and killed this way - it was called tar and feathering, because hot tar was used. Now, this ceremony is a fun way to ward off evil spirits before the union. .... and one may assume it wards off hugging others as well.

And with that appetizing image, let's move to food, especially sweets.
In a previous blog, we discussed traditional food, where the wedding cake is mostly featured. In French culture, they love a towering dessert (below, left) made up of small round, cream-filled pastries, known as a croquembouche. Couples and their guests may remove the treats and then dip them into a variety of yummy sauces.

In Italy, confetti (right) doesn't mean teeny scraps of paper thrown at celebrations, but actually candies that are given to guests. I suppose you could throw these at the bride and groom as they leave for their honeymoon, but that could also lead to small claims court.

How about work? Weddings bring their own kind of exhaustion, which is mostly emotional and mental:
"Gotta stand and sit and dance and stand and sit and shake hands and hug and hug and hug."
"Gotta remember vows, timing, details, names of your parents friends from four moves ago."
"Gotta keep up with who has been seen, who needs to sit where, who doesn't like red meat, who doesn't like your Aunt LouLou and maybe remember a speech or two."

Well, sports fans: in Germany, family and friends of the couple break dishes and glass outside of the homes of the bride and groom to greet them the morning of their wedding. From this "night before" wreck grew the traditions of hen and stag parties (our bachelor and bachelorette parties). As far as our researchers at BT could determine, this practice mostly signifies revelry or poor manners, but it does bring the couple together in a first project: clean up!

These Germans are FOR REAL with their work/wedding scenarios. The second tradition worth noting in German ceremonies is when the newlyweds are asked - not long after saying "I do" mind you - to saw a log in half to show their ability to complete a task together. We have to say, like the photo above of dish clean-up, seeing a bride in her gown and up-do, sawing makes for a great juxtaposition.

We'll end in South Africa with a list of items that symbolize a challenge the newly married will need to conquer troubles in life. The traditional South African wedding, incorporates 12 symbolic items into the ceremony: salt, pepper, wheat, wine, bitter herbs, a holy book, a broom, a spear, a spoon, honey, a shield and a pot.
Not bad, especially if they get to keep each item. You can never have too many spears.

All kidding aside, we see more and more brides hoping to include items and gestures that hark back to their heritage. We would love to hear if you've included something atypical in your ceremony or are planning to!

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2018 Prom Highlights - BT Girls

6/5/2018

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The images sent to us of our Bridal Traditions prom-goers.......... oh let us count the ways that we love them. We love the stories behind photos, but these images are just too great not to be given own space sans narrative. Let's just celebrate their beauty, smiles, gorgeous gowns and lovely settings. Makes you want to be young again .... or at least invited to an upscale, fancy-dress party.

This gallery makes us so happy. Thank you all so much for sharing your pics with BT.