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Wedding dress Fittings: Do’s and Don’ts

Shopping for your wedding dress is only half the work. Alterations are the next essential step to get your dress ready for your wedding day.

Although wedding dress alterations are not as complicated as wedding dress shopping, they present their own set of challenges. Preparing for the task in advance will help you get the best results. From our experience of many years in providing alteration services to brides, we have compiled this list of the important do’s and don’ts to help you ensure your alteration services progress smoothly. Take a look at what they are.

DO select a service that specializes in wedding dress alterations

It isn’t wise to entrust your wedding dress alteration to anyone other than a professional seamstress who specializes in wedding dress alterations. Unlike regular dresses, wedding gowns are complex garments. Not all tailors are adept at handling the complexity of such garments. They may also not have the tools to handle this task. So, you risk the outcome unless the dress has a simple silhouette and or simple details when you ask a regular tailor to do your alteration.

DON’T forget to check reviews

Wedding dress alterations are expensive. However, if the task is done well, it is worth every penny you spend. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Before you finalize a person for the job, make sure you check their reviews. Experienced and professional alteration services will have happy customers who provide good feedback. Also check around for recommendations from family and friends. Finally, don’t be hesitant to ask for samples of previous work from the alteration service provider, if you are unsure.

DO set aside enough time to complete all the fittings properly

Rush jobs often result in poor results. So, set aside enough time to properly complete your alterations. You will usually need two to three fitting appointments to complete the task. Make your first appointment at least six weeks before your wedding date. Schedule the rest of the appointments after consulting your seamstress. Make sure that your appointments are spaced well, so that your tailor has enough time between sessions to complete the intended tasks on time. Follow this wedding dress shopping timeline on the Knot for best results. 

DON’T forget to factor in the budget for alterations

When you plan your wedding dress budget, don’t forget to include the cost of alterations. The expenses will depend on the size of dress you buy and the changes you desire. Some types of alterations are more expensive than others. For instance, custom changes like extra embroidery, moving of the hemline to another height or adding extra fabric to a dress can amount to a decent amount. Account for alterations into your planned dress budget, and you needn’t worry about your dress costing more than you anticipate.

DO schedule your final fitting closer to the wedding date

Your wedding dress is supposed to be perfectly fitted to your exact measurements. It is highly unlikely that you will retain the same shape or weight throughout your engagement, especially if you intend to lose weight in time for the wedding. Although you should schedule your fitting sessions weeks early, plan the last one just a week or two before your wedding day. This will allow your seamstress to fit the dress to your exact measurements so it drapes perfectly on your special day.

DON’T get the size wrong

If you are on a major weight loss program, it is important that you switch to a maintenance program at least two weeks before your wedding day. Accept how your body is at the time, and have your dress adjusted to the exact measurements. It isn’t likely that you will lose considerable weight during the time left. And if you do, you won’t look great in a dress that just hangs loosely off your frame. So, once your last dress fitting is done, say goodbye to your weight loss plans as well.

TIP: When you go dress shopping, never select a dress that is smaller than your actual size. Although you are sure to lose weight and fit into it in the months that come, it is a risk. If you do, your tailor can take in the extra inches and make it fit you correctly. However, if you don’t lose weight as intended, it is extremely difficult to add extra inches to a gown. This can ruin the finishing of the dress and hence isn’t advisable.

DO take the suggestions of your professional seamstress seriously

Your tailor will have had enough experience in carrying out alterations. So, she ought to give you the best possible advice regarding custom changes and size alterations. Go with her suggestions and don’t compel her to make changes she thinks aren’t possible. Remember that your seamstress can weigh several factors like fabric quality, placement of embellishments, your body type etc to figure out what changes are right and what aren’t. Accept her suggestions and choose to do alterations that she thinks will fit you best.

DON’T rush with custom changes or they can end up as a mess

It is possible that you want to make your dress truly unique through custom changes that alter the appearance of the dress entirely. If you decide to do this, remember that this usually involves more work than regular dress fittings. Discuss the necessary time with your seamstress and schedule your appointments accordingly. Make sure you leave enough buffer time before the wedding day to make sure the dress is ready and complete with all necessary alterations in time for your wedding.

DO remember to wear your wedding shoes to your alteration session

One of the things you should get right at your wedding dress fitting is the hemline of the dress. A hemline that is too long is an invitation for disaster. It can cause you to trip and fall, apart from making your dress look less than perfect. On the other hand, a dress that is too high ruins the entire bridal look. A floor-length gown should simply graze the ground as you walk. The height of your heels affects this greatly. Your dress can end up being too short or too long depending on the heel height. So, wear them to your dress alteration session.

Make sure you go shopping for your shoes soon after you complete dress shopping, so they are ready to try on by the time of your alterations. If the original shoes aren’t available, at least wear a pair with the same heel height that you intend to wear on your wedding day.

DON’T take too many people with you when you attend your fitting session

You may be tempted to invite your friends, bridesmaids and family to your fitting session. However, this isn’t a great idea. Not only can this be a distraction, it will also spoil the surprise of how you will look as a bride. Ask just a bridesmaid or your mother to come along to your alteration. Entrust the task of learning how to bustle your dress to this person. You can communicate what you want with your tailor on your own, and leave the rest of the work to her to handle.

DON’T hesitate to speak up your mind

Although you may not know much about wedding dress alterations and the details it involves, you should openly discuss your ideas with the tailor. Be flexible with your ideas and let her make suggestions that you may not have thought of. If you aren’t happy with the suggestions your seamstress makes, discuss this with her. This will allow her to make other suggestions that appeal better to you. In either case, open communication will allow you to clarify your doubts and find a dress that fits your vision perfect.

DO make sure you can comfortably move in your dress after it fits correctly

Alterations are intended to make sure the dress fits you closely. It should match your exact measurements, so the dress drapes on your figure without any bits hanging loose or bulging anywhere. While the dress ought to fit you like a glove, it is nonetheless necessary that you be able to move around in it. It shouldn’t be too tight that it stifles your movement. You should be able to walk, turn around and dance in it. Make sure this is possible at each of your dress alteration sessions. This is very important especially if your dress silhouette is a snug-fitting one like the mermaid, that tapers towards the feet and constricts free movement.

DON’T forget to check how the overall look comes together at the final session

Make sure that the big reveal on your wedding day is perfect, by checking it out for yourself at your fitting session. Book your hair and makeup trial on this day. Head to your bridal boutique after getting your hairstyle and makeup done as you would on your wedding day. When you try your dress on, you can see how the overall look comes together. This gives you the opportunity to tweak or change your style if you deem it necessary.

DO learn how to bustle your dress during the fitting

Bustling your wedding dress is a complex, but essential part of your wedding day. Ask your maid of honor or another bridesmaid to understand how to do it correctly after the wedding ceremony. For this, ask her to accompany you to one of your fitting sessions. Your seamstress can demonstrate the process and teach her how to do it correctly. If there are any questions or concerns, this opportunity will also allow you to clarify it and get it done without issues on your wedding day.

DON’T forget to wear the right undergarments to your fitting session

If your wedding gown must fit you exactly, it is important that you wear the same undergarments to the fitting sessions as you would on your wedding. Find perfectly fitting, functional undergarments that create the right silhouette, for this purpose. Make sure that it doesn’t show from beneath the white color of your wedding dress. It is advisable to pick nude colors for this. Wear it to your fitting sessions, so your seamstress can alter the measurements correctly based on this factor.

DO find a reliable pressing and steaming service for your destination wedding

If your wedding is at a faraway destination, you will have to travel with your gown. Handling the gown during the journey can cause wrinkles, especially if the fabric is stiff and structured. Locate a reliable steaming and pressing service at your destination. They can get the wrinkles out and refresh your dress after the long journey. If you are lucky and the wrinkles are minimum, you can get them out by hanging it in a steamy bathroom.

TIP: If you must travel with your wedding dress, choose one with lightweight, breathable fabric that does not wrinkle easily. Also keep the embellishments to a minimum to avoid the chances of damage to it. For more ideas on how to pick the right dress for your destination wedding, take a look at this article on the Brides website. 

DON’T forget to check your dress for any signs of damage that need to be addressed

Take a close look at your wedding dress before the conclusion of every session to make sure it is free from damage. If you find any stains, tears, frayed threads or embellishments that come off, have the damage rectified at your fitting session. Don’t overlook this step at this stage. It will not be easy to have it fixed if you discover such damages later, if you find it on your wedding day.

Tailors specializing in wedding dress alterations have the expertise to do dress alterations. Stores like Best for Bride that offer custom wedding dress designs will have seamstresses with experience in custom stitching of wedding dresses. This will help greatly in ensuring a better finish for your completed wedding dress. Check out our alteration service at Best for Bride and the price rate for each change at this link to our website. 

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The Definitive Step-by-Step Guide [2024] to Preparing for Your Wedding Dress Shopping

The Definitive Step-by-Step Guide to Preparing for Your Wedding Dress Shopping

Wedding dress shopping is one of the most exciting wedding planning tasks for a bride. We like to think of it as a wonderful and unique journey where brides explore diverse options and finally find a magical dress that transforms them into the beautiful brides they always wanted to be.

However, the path to finding this one and the only perfect wedding dress is not simple. It is fraught with challenges and the options are endless. So, it is essential to plan for the task and avoid drowning in the endless variety of dresses presented to you.

This is where we will help you!

This step-by-step guide will prepare you for your impending wedding dress shopping and the task will not overwhelm you.

Over the next chapters, we will tell you what to expect at each stage leading to wedding dress shopping. We will also tell you how to navigate potential issues so you can enjoy the shopping experience, just like you deserve to.

Let us begin!

Continue reading The Definitive Step-by-Step Guide [2024] to Preparing for Your Wedding Dress Shopping
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What to do with your wedding dress after the wedding

Your wedding dress is one of the most important dresses you will ever wear in your life. This dress has more meaning than just a piece of fabric. It is also a symbol of happiness and unity. Your bridal dress is also a reflection of your personal taste, who you are as a person and perhaps even your love story. Apart from all these factors, your wedding dress is very expensive.

So, isn’t it quite sad that you will wear it just once in your life?

You may not find it easy to decide what to do with your dress after your wedding day. With so much money and emotion invested in making this choice, you may not think it apt to just leave it as such. So, we have rounded up all possible ideas on what you can do with your wedding dress once the big day has come and gone.

But before we proceed further, I must touch upon the importance of having your dress professionally cleaned and preserved. You should do this soon after the wedding day. The only exception for this is if you plan to trash your wedding dress.

Unless you have it cleaned immediately to remove dirt and stains, you risk the following:

  • The damage from stains that occur on the wedding day in it can become permanent. It will not be easy to restore the dress to its original condition once this happens.
  • Your dress will have picked up dirt, grime and sweat over the day. This can sink into the fabric and spoil its pristine look. It can also result in mildew and mold, if left untouched for long.
  • Creases and wrinkles affect your gown when you wear it or store it. You should have these removed promptly if it isn’t to set in permanently
  • The longer you leave your dress outside, the more susceptible it is to environmental conditions. The white color will yellow. Also, the dress is prone to new stains unless it is isolated and boxed.

For more information on the importance of professional cleaning and preservation of the wedding dress, visit this section on our website

Now that we have covered this aspect, let us take a look at the various options available to you after your wedding day is over.

Save it as an heirloom

Vintage wedding dress trends keep returning to the wedding scene. So, it is highly likely that your daughter, grand daughter or even great grand daughter will someday seek a dress like yours. Save your wedding dress in pristine condition, and it will come in handy in such a situation. Even if the dress isn’t used as such, it is possible that your future generations may re-purpose parts of the gown to make their own wedding dress. Whether it is worn in its original form or customized into something modern and chic at the time, it will once again find use.

The downside of saving your wedding dress for this purpose is that there is no guarantee your dress will be used. It depends on whether your children will even consider the option. If your daughter chooses to buy a new wedding dress, just like you did, saving it carefully would simply be a big waste.

Save it for your future vow renewal

Many couples decide to celebrate their marriage years after they are married, with a vow renewal. You may like to reuse your wedding dress on such a day. This is an apt occasion to relive your wedding day and deck yourself up as you did when you were a bride the first time. However, it isn’t necessary that your dress will fit you in the future. If you don’t change size significantly, you could wear your wedding dress once again with some alterations.

Nevertheless, you can even use parts of your wedding gown in a new dress for the day. All you need for this is a talented seamstress who can convert your dress into something else. Are you having trouble thinking up interesting ideas on how to achieve this transformation? Here are some stunning ideas on the Good Housekeeping website . There are more ideas here as well, on the Cosmopolitan to inspire you.

Sell your dress

Wedding dresses are expensive. If you never intend to use it again, it is sensible to sell the dress after your wedding. This will help you recoup a part of the money spent on it. There are many websites that allow you to list your dress online and sell it through them. Improve your chances of making the sale by having it professionally cleaned and restored to mint condition. Also, make sure you capture amazing photographs of the dress and add all relevant details to the listing.

Put up your dress for sale promptly after the wedding and improve your chances of making a sale. The longer you wait, the more likely its price will go down. For more advice on how to sell your dress online, visit this article on the Daily Life blog. 

You can also discuss this option of selling your dress with the boutique that you buy your dress from. If the shop has a dress rental service, it is likely that they will be ready to buy back the dress after your wedding at a reduced price. With this option, you needn’t search for another buyer, since the sale is guaranteed.

Trash the gown

If the money you spent on it doesn’t matter, trash your gown. This trend is supported by a relatively new style of wedding photography called the Fearless bride or rock the frock. Here the photographer will use a location that is entirely different from the typical wedding day scene. This could be a marsh, beach, field or outdoor location. The photographer aims to shoot photos that fit into the fashion photography genre. The pictures will look amazing, unique and one-of-a-kind. Your dress will become wet or dirty during the course of the session. So, it may be impossible to restore it to the original condition after the session. Because of this, it isn’t a good option if you wish to keep your dress for later use.

The photos are however worth the effort. In the hands of a talented photographer, these photos will be at a whole other level and much better than regular, wedding photos in every way. Take a look at this article to see what you can achieve with this idea. 

Donate your dress to a worthy cause

You can make sure that your dress lives on and is used by another bride when you donate it. There are many organizations that are ready to accept used wedding dresses. They may donate it to a bride who needs one for her wedding day. Or they may sell or auction it and use the proceeds for a worthy cause. Either way, you will contribute to a good cause. You may feel this is the right thing to do.

If you are unsure of whom to contact for this, take a look at this article on the Babble website.  Their suggestions include organizations that not only cater to needy brides, but also those that turns donated wedding dresses into beautiful burial grounds for infants who passed away. Take a look and we are sure you will find the choice that appeals to your ethics.

Transform it into a christening gown

If there is a baby on the way, or even if you intend to have children someday, you can save your gown and convert it into a christening dress. Just like your wedding, your child’s christening is a momentous occasion in your life. This is an amazing way to give your wedding dress a new purpose. With the help of a good seamstress, you can have your wedding dress transformed into a grand christening gown for your little bundle of joy.

There is another good aspect to this idea. Unlike when you hold on to your dress hoping your future daughter or daughter-in-law will choose the dress, you can take the uncertainty out of the equation in this case. After all, you have the freedom to make decisions for your baby. So, you can most definitely dress your child up in a converted wedding dress and make it part of a happy life occasion.

Use the fabric in customized lingerie

There are better chances of you using your wedding dress again this way. Companies like Impish Lee specialize in this type of work. Book a consultation with them to discuss your options for the garment so close to your heart. They will help you decide on a style that works best for you and suggest how to transform your beloved dress into the chosen design in the most efficient manner.

You can also use the extra fabric and embellishments like trim, lace or ribbons in something entirely unique and new. Once the blueprint is ready, their experts will complete the task of bringing the design to life.

Use the fabric in stunning throw cushions

Here is a great idea to keep your wedding dress within sight all the time. Throw pillows are a popular décor accessory. You can use them anywhere in the home, from the bedroom to the living room and even the patio. Your wedding dress has beautiful fabric that can be designed into throw pillows. The netting and inner layers can also be used as the filling.

The best part about this idea is that you can do this project yourself. It is relatively simple and you can easily complete it within a few days.

With the embellishments and ample fabric that goes into most wedding dresses, you will have plenty of material to get creative. Moreover, do it right and you could even make them family heirlooms to pass on to your children. Or gift them to your loved ones as a special gesture of thanks. You can also use the same idea to make beautiful pillows instead of cushions. If you do not have the time or aren’t confident in taking up the job yourself, get it done by a professional. We are certain you will love the results.

Make a pretty patchwork quilt

If you loved the feel and look of your wedding gown, keep it close to you forever by having it made into a patchwork quilt. This is a project where you will have to invest more time and effort. You should also have a good idea of what you are doing, if you have to succeed at it.

You can use your wedding dress immediately after the wedding, or keep it till later to have this done. You can even add your wedding photo, initials, invitation or other details into the quilt by having it printed onto the fabric. If your wedding dress was a ball gown or heavily layered style, you could get up to two quilts from it. With this you gain a valuable décor piece that has a sentimental value attached to it. Don’t you think the idea is wonderful?

If a quilt doesn’t catch your fancy, you can do something on a smaller scale. A tote bag or clutch are such options. You just have to give it some thought and the ideas will keep coming.

So, which of these options will you choose for your wedding dress?

For more interesting ideas and valuable wedding advice and fashion updates for the modern bride, keep visiting us here on the Best for Bride blog.

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7 Important Thing to Consider While Choosing Your Wedding Dress

Cheers to all the gorgeous brides-to-be!

It’s never too early to start looking for your wedding dress. Your marriage is once in a lifetime experience, and you have got every right to make it the best day of your life. A perfect bridal dress is never found just like that, you have to do extreme research to find one for you.

  1. Research and Know What You Want

Before marching ahead, sit back and have a deep thought on every wedding dress, you ever liked. Looking back will give you a clear view of your perfect day picture. It is necessary to know your desire at the very first stage of wedding dress shopping. Check all your favorite bridal store’s online website to pick your preferred styles. Also, have a look at the most popular bridal dress trend to ensure if you are not missing any new trend. Give a good shot of time to every bridal magazine’s and shows to collect images of every single dress that you liked.

Now, get photocopies of the selected styles and attach it to the board. Find out the common love between them. Make a list of everything you want in your wedding dress. Initially, when you began, you had no idea, but now you have a clear image to relate. So give yourself a well-done pat and let move to the next step.

  1. Be Open to all the Suggestions

It is commendable that you have cleared the first step exceptionally well. It is time to make your first Wedding dress appointment. Select your favorite wedding store to try on your dream dress. It is not necessary that you will get your dress on your first-day shopping. So be calm and open to every suggestions that your dress consultant has to offer. At times, experienced advice is more eye-opening than self-realization. Explain the consultant, the look you are expecting so that she/he can assist you better. You will be surprised to see how many dresses look absolutely stunning on you.

  1. Choose a Perfect Size

Bridal dresses usually come in one or two sizes higher than your regular dress sizes. This might sound a little troublesome, but your size will be kept as the top secret between you and your consultant. So don’t pick a dress that is not of your size. If you are planning to lose some pounds just inform it to your designer so that there are no last minute edits in the dress.

  1. Pick The Right Time For Wedding Dress Shopping

You might be very excited, but it is not recommended to shop too early for your wedding dress. A season before your wedding date should be perfect. But if you are shopping from Kleinfeld, it is never too early. The logic behind choosing the right time for your wedding dress shopping is that you don’t end up picking something out of trend. So, make sure to pick the right time of the year so that you look the most stunning bride.

  1. Don’t Exceed Your Budget

A wedding is definitely an important day of your new life, but it is the starts not the end so plan wisely your budget. There will always be something more pleasing and attractive in the bridal store. Like every other thing, every gorgeous gown has an expensive price tag. You might not want empty your pocket just for a day. So you must stick to a pre-decided budget. You will definitely get your perfect dress in your budget so don’t get distracted with extravagant dresses in the store. You will get the wow feeling with your perfect dress. So have patience and take your time to find your dress.

  1. Dress Fabric and Elements

Once you have visioned your wedding look, you can try on varies style to check out their appearance on your body. If you are curvy or petite, there will be different style complimenting you. So before any judgment, compare all the other styles, fabrics and embellishments. You must consider your wedding theme and location as well. Find a dress that goes perfectly with the wedding theme and venue. Too traditional length might cause you trouble walking and traveling to the wedding location, so keep your entire wedding day schedule in mind while choosing a dress. Check out complimenting accessories and veil to complete your wedding day look. This is the best time to pick all the elements to complete your bridal look because later you might get too busy with appointments and preparations.

  1. Go With The Wedding Theme

Every wedding has a theme, you must have one for your wedding too. Wedding themes make things less complicated as you will have a clear idea. You will be the showstopper at your wedding. Therefore, your dress has to be fabulous. A right look with the right theme can intensify your entrance up to thousand times. Hence have your wedding theme planned before heading to the wedding gown store. It takes through planning to have a perfect wedding so start early as much as you can.

Conclusion:

2018 has witnessed some of the unusual bridal looks and styles. There are so many new extensions in the bridal collections like the cape, hand gloves, colored dress, pant style wedding dress, pearl elements, and so much more. Therefore, you ladies are so much in luck to choose from the entirely new bridal collection. A bride is always an angel to her husband and family. So please, don’t pressurize yourself. You will be one of a kind bride anyway. Wishing you all a great wedding dress shopping experience.

Hope you enjoyed the above list of important thing for a bridal dress shopping. For any feedback, drop a comment here. Enjoy shopping!