Tips for altering your wedding dress

So, you’ve searched high and low and you’ve finally found the wedding dress of your dreams. One thing off your wedding checklist, right? Don’t forget about the dress just yet – you’ll still need to get it altered to fit you perfectly. Even the most gorgeous dress can look bad if it’s not fitted to your body correctly. Whether you need simple hem alterations, or something a little more restructured, here’s our top tips for getting your wedding dress altered – whether buying new or a preloved wedding dress.

Don’t assume you don’t need alterations

Even if the dress looks amazing on the first try, don’t shrug off the idea of getting it altered. Wedding dresses aren’t made-to-measure, and if you’re buying preloved it might have already been altered to fit another bride. Getting your dress altered to perfectly fit your shape is a sure-fire way to ensure you look your best on your big day.

Schedule more than one fitting

You might think you only need one dress fitting, but we’d recommend three. You’ll need to time this well to ensure your dress will fit you perfectly on your big day. Schedule your first fitting with your seamstress two or three months before the big day, the second around a month before, and the third around two weeks before – and then you’ll get to take the perfect dress home!

Bring accessories to your fitting

Don’t forget what accessories and underwear you’ll be wearing on your big day will impact the fit of your dress. Bring these along to your fittings, as anything from heel height to shapewear can drastically impact how much altering your dress will need. Don’t forget about jewellery too! Your necklace might impact where you want your wedding dress’ neckline to fall.

Budget for alterations

Many brides will have a budget for their bridal look, but fail to take into account the additional costs of alterations. Each little alteration can add up, so shop around and find a price that suits you. Some seamstresses will charge per alteration, from seams to hemline alterations, and some will charge a flat fee. Depending on how much your dress needs altering, these prices can add up. If you’re looking to drastically change your dress, this can cost hundreds of pounds, so be aware when setting your dress budget and factor in these costs.