What to expect at your first wedding dress fitting (from a bridal designer)
Hey everyone! I’ve seen a lot of questions lately about alterations (because each dress's needs are unique!) and thought I’d share a few tips from the perspective of someone who works in couture bridal design and alterations.
What usually happens at the first fitting:
The seamstress pins everything in place so you can see the changes before they’re sewn. Some things, like taking in the waist in the back will feel more secure when they are sewn vs. pinned, but this gives you a good idea of how things will look. This is a great time to let your alteration specialist know if something is too loose or to tight- we're not the ones having to wear the dress all day, and your personal comfort with something fitted may be different than the next bride.
You’ll stand a lot (heels on!), so bring the shoes you’ll wear on your wedding day. Sometimes shoes that 'will be the same size as the ones I am ordering online' aren't. I've seen a heel height listed online be over half of an inch off in real life due to the rubber on the bottom and the padding in the shoe bed not being accounted for. Best practice is to have THE shoes.
Expect a conversation about how you want the dress to feel — sometimes comfort and structure need to be balanced. A strapless dress needs to be tight enough around your waist to stay up so that you're not pulling it up all night while dancing. Sometimes boning is required to keep 'The girls" up in a dress that isn't very structured. These are all things to consider when choosing the type of dress you wear on your big day. Something more structured will give way to a more tailored look/the ability to 'snatch' the waist, while something like a bias cut silk gown should never be so tight it reduces your waist size.
You'll be given a quote for the work, as well as a follow up fitting appointment. Personally, I like to get the follow up fitting scheduled about a month before the wedding just in case anything comes up and needs little tweaks, but I know other seamstresses who do it two weeks from the big day. Just ask your seamstress how they operate and what they suggest based on your alteration needs.
Timing: Most brides need 2–3 fittings spread over 2–3 months. If your wedding is coming up fast, speak up early so they can prioritize. Most seamstresses would rather have more time than less time, and often weddings coming up in under a month can require a 'skip the line' fee in order to accomplish the alterations in time.
Cost: Alterations vary widely, but intricate details (lace, beading, corsetry) usually mean more hours = higher cost. In Seattle, most alterations range from $800-$1,200 for a hem, bustle, and shortening straps and adding push up cups, but if you're needing bodice work like taking in the waist, altering the bust, adding a slit, etc., consider a budget of closer to $1,200-$1,800. If you're adding sleeves. especially lace ones with button closures with the sleeve itself being removeable, that could be $500 alone. It's best to find the closest thing to what you're envisioning on the rack in order to minimize your budget.