All You Need to Know About Wedding Dress Alterations
If you’re like most brides, chances are you’ll need at least a few wedding dress alterations to achieve the perfect fit in your dream gown. From adjusting the size to adding or removing features, there are so many types of wedding dress alterations to consider that it’s no wonder there are so many questions about them! Throughout this wedding dress alterations guide, Avery Austin will cover the common types of alterations, as well as the most frequently asked questions about wedding dress alterations. By the time you’re done, you might even be ready for some DIY wedding dress alterations! Read on from start to finish to take it all in, or jump to the topic of your choice by clicking a link below.
Types of Wedding Dress Alterations
Frequently Asked Questions About Wedding Dress Alterations
Can Every Wedding Dress Be Altered?
Is Your Wedding Dress Supposed to Touch the Floor?
How Do You Hem a Wedding Dress with Lace?
How Do You Add Sleeves to a Wedding Dress?
What Happens if You Lose Weight After Your Wedding Dress Alterations?
How Long Before Your Wedding Should You Get Your Dress Altered?
How Many Sizes Can a Wedding Dress Be Altered Down?
How Much Do Wedding Dress Alterations Cost?
Should I Tip My Seamstress?
How to Alter a Wedding Dress Yourself
Types of Wedding Dress Alterations
When it comes to wedding dress alterations, what changes can be made to a wedding dress is going to vary by fabric, style, embellishments, and body type. Even though any one of those variations has the potential to limit your options, there are some very common types of wedding dress alterations. In fact, you may already be at least a little familiar with many of them! Check out the most frequently requested wedding dress alterations below.
- Taken in or Let out: Wedding dresses can be taken in to go down in size or let out to go up in size. It’s typically easier for professionals to size down a wedding dress than it is to size up since how much a gown can be let out depends upon the available seam allowance. Check out the next section with Frequently Asked Questions for more information on just how much a wedding dress can be taken in or let out.
- Hemmed: Since most wedding dresses are designed with a standard length, brides often need the skirt shortened (hemmed) to avoid stepping on their gowns. Did you know that Avery Austin actually offers three different wedding dress lengths? You can choose from petite (56”), standard (59”), or tall (62”), making it easy to minimize the amount of hemming you’ll need!
- Straps or Sleeves Added or Removed: If you’ve got a strapless wedding dress, you can add more coverage or support by having straps or sleeves added. Be sure to check out the Frequently Asked Questions section below for several stylish options! Of course, you could also have straps or sleeves removed to create a strapless style if that’s your preference.
- Trains Shortened or Removed: If you love your wedding dress but you’re not too keen on the train, it is possible to have it shortened or removed through alterations!
- Bustles Added: Perhaps instead of having your dress train shortened or removed, you’d rather keep it for the ceremony but get it up off the floor for your reception. In that case, a bustle is the way to go! If you want to learn more about how to make a bustle on a wedding dress (or even a bustle alternative like a wrist loop), be sure to check out Avery Austin’s Wedding Dress Bustle Guide!
- Bust Adjusted: There are a few ways to approach altering a wedding dress bust, but two of the most common ways are adding or removing bra cups or reshaping the neckline.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wedding Dress Alterations
Ready to learn even more about wedding dress alterations? The FAQs (frequently asked questions) below cover everything from how certain types of wedding dress alterations are done to wedding dress alteration costs. Explore each question and answer combination in this wedding dress alterations guide to fully prepare yourself for your own round of fittings!
Can Every Wedding Dress Be Altered?
Yes! The extent of the alterations that can be done will vary by wedding dress style, but every wedding dress can be altered in some way. In fact, it’s strongly recommended that brides DO get at least some alterations completed to ensure a proper and comfortable fit for the wedding.
Is Your Wedding Dress Supposed to Touch the Floor?
If you will be wearing a floor-length wedding dress, then the front of your gown should be about an inch off the floor (so you won’t step on your own hem) while the back of the bridal gown can touch the floor.
How Do You Hem a Wedding Dress with Lace?
Since lace fabric is delicate and often has gorgeous details woven into it, hemming a lace wedding dress can be a little tricky. If it can be done at all will depend upon the placement of the lace embellishments, as hemming can change the look of your hem or train if there are special patterns or designs there. When it comes to hemming a wedding dress with lace, it’s best to stash the sewing machine and stick to using slip stitches by hand that can be more easily hidden within the lace designs.
How Do You Add Sleeves to a Wedding Dress?
Whether you’re looking to add detachable sleeves or to permanently alter your wedding dress, adding sleeves is a fun way to add a little support, coverage, or classy style. There are even ways to add sleeves to strapless wedding dresses! Here are a few ways to add sleeves to your wedding gown.
- Cap Sleeves or Off-the-Shoulder Sleeves: A simple way to create one of these sleeve styles on a strapless wedding dress is to get matching chiffon or tulle, gently layer it into the width and shape you desire, and stitch it into the bodice. The fabric can be spread over your shoulder to create the lovely “cap” style or draped beautifully around your arms. Even if your wedding dress isn’t strapless, you could still easily pair the off-the-shoulder sleeves with a spaghetti-strap bridal gown.
- Detachable Cap or Off-the-Shoulder Sleeves: Much like the previous option, you can use layered chiffon or tulle, but instead of stitching the sleeves right into the dress, you can add buttons, hooks, snaps, or other ways to secure or detach the fabric. This makes it easy to change up your look between your ceremony and reception by simply adding or removing the sleeves on your strapless wedding dress.
- Lace Cover-Up Sleeves: Start by sheer lace fabric that will beautifully complement your wedding dress. Then choose thin, decorative straps that feature beading or lace appliques. Secure the lace beneath the straps, leaving the rest of the fabric loose and flowing, and sew the straps into your dress. Now your wedding gown has ethereal lace cover-up sleeves that fall like elegant side capes.
- Slip-on Sleeves or Boleros: If adding something onto your dress is not an option for you, there are still ways you can “add” sleeves to your wedding dress! Slip-on sleeves can simply be pulled up your arms without ever being attached, so they’re a perfect match for strapless bridal dresses. The puff style is usually kept in place by an elasticized top. There are also bell-style tulle or lace slip-on sleeves that can easily add bohemian flair to your bridal look. Boleros are also an easy way to give yourself long sleeves, and they often come in a variety of bridal fabrics and hues to go with most wedding dress styles.
What Happens if You Lose Weight After Your Wedding Dress Alterations?
Since losing anywhere from 8 to 10 points can drop you down a whole size, it’s best not to lose any weight after your final dress fitting, as there may not be time for any additional wedding dress alterations at that point. If you’ve just purchased your dress or you still have a few more fittings scheduled before the big day, then there’s a good chance your seamstress can still make adjustments as needed along the way. But if it’s after your final fitting and you’ve lost enough weight to change the way your wedding dress fits, try to see if you can schedule one more fitting (if there’s enough time) before your wedding day. Certain dress styles also allow you to make some size adjustments on your own, like a wrap or corset style.
How Long Before Your Wedding Should You Get Your Dress Altered?
Since wedding dress alterations can take, on average, 6 to 8 weeks to complete, it’s best to schedule your first fitting at least 2 months in advance of your wedding date. While it is possible for a wedding dress to be altered in 1 month, it’s best to give yourself and your seamstress more time than that, especially if there are a number of alterations (or even one extensive adjustment) to be done.
How Many Sizes Can a Wedding Dress Be Altered Down?
Typically, a wedding dress can be altered down two sizes (or up one). Does that mean a size 12 wedding dress can’t be altered down to a size 6? There’s a good chance that six sizes might just be too big of a gap for wedding dress alterations. Making such a change would require completely recutting the gown, and at that point there’s a good chance that the style itself will change, so the look you fell in love with simply won’t be the same anymore. It’s best to go for a smaller size gap right from the start. Of course, that’s not to say it’s impossible to alter a wedding dress down three sizes or more. Depending on the type of fabric, the design details, and the abilities of your seamstress, you may be able to have your wedding gown taken in enough to drop several sizes, but remember that such work would be extensive and expensive.
How Much Do Wedding Dress Alterations Cost?
On average, wedding dress alterations cost anywhere from $150 to $1,000 depending upon the extent of alteration services. At this point you might be wondering why wedding dress alterations are so expensive, and really it all comes down to how involved the process can be. Simple, not so time consuming adjustments are the most affordable types of alterations, while complex alterations are more costly. Delicate fabrics and stunning embellishments call for a great deal of effort, attention to detail, and often hand-stitching on the part of a seamstress. Each professional must consider each and every aspect of the fabric, design, fit, and bridal requests to create a picture-perfect wedding day look. The wedding dress alterations are not typically done just once either. The work is often spread across the course of three to four fittings to fine-tune adjustments that create a beautiful and comfortable look that was made just for you. Of course, the more alterations you need or the more complex the work, the more expensive the fee will be since it will require even more time and effort to complete.
Should I Tip My Seamstress?
Tipping the seamstress who completed your wedding dress alterations is a choice that is entirely up to you. Generally, the quoted price takes into account all of the supplies and labor hours the seamstress expects to use to complete the work, so a tip is not expected. Of course, if you feel your seamstress really made a difference in your wedding preparations or went above and beyond your hopes for your wedding dress alterations, a tip is a great way to show your gratitude and it will be appreciated.
How to Alter a Wedding Dress Yourself
Knowing how expensive wedding dress alterations can be, you might be considering a DIY (do-it-yourself) route. Is it hard to alter a wedding dress yourself? Well…it will depend on your experience and the type of alteration your bridal gown requires. Things like hemming, creating a wrist loop, removing sleeves, or adding straps are usually great options for beginners, but you’ll still want to approach any DIY wedding dress alterations with caution. Formal fabrics are often less forgiving than fabrics for everyday wear, and even a simple hem alteration becomes not so simple if the hem is beautifully scalloped or features other embellishments that could be damaged or completely removed by extensive hemming. Here are a few things to consider before you decide if you want to alter your wedding dress yourself.
- Know Your Fabrics: The way you alter your wedding dress is going to vary by fabric. Silk, lace, satin, tulle, and chiffon, some of the popular bridal fabrics, all have different thicknesses, durability, flow, and textures, requiring different approaches in the way they are handled. Before you dive right into cutting, ripping seams, or sewing, be sure to learn all you can about your wedding gown fabric.
- Consider Your Stitching Method: If you’re hoping you can just hop on the sewing machine and crank things out quickly, you might be pleasantly surprised or thoroughly disappointed. Once you’ve learned more about your wedding dress fabric (per the previous point), you’ll have a good idea about whether you’ll be able to slide that fabric through your machine or if you’ll need a more delicate approach with hand stitching. Lace, for example, is best handled with more care than a machine can offer. If you feel that the fabric can handle being run through your sewing machine, be sure to choose appropriate thread and needle for the job. For example, stretchier material might call for special ballpoint or jersey needles that push through the fabric instead of piercing it.
- Reflect on Your Skills: Have you done your own hemming before? Have you stitched buttons or snaps back onto your clothes when they’ve come loose? Consider your experience as a whole and whether or not you’ve done similar work to the alterations you’d like to do on your wedding gown. If you’ve done it before, then you can probably apply some of that prior knowledge to the alterations on your wedding dress. However, if this is a whole new experience for you, it might be worth a little advanced research and troubleshooting before going right into making changes on your precious bridal gown!
- Give Yourself Plenty of Time: If professionals can take up to two months to complete alterations over the course of multiple fittings, then be sure to give yourself even more time if you would not consider yourself a professional seamstress. More time also means less pressure and less rushing (and you’ve got more than enough on your plate with all of your other wedding prep too).
- Accept Your Limits with Grace: Recognizing that there might be some wedding dress alterations that are beyond your skills or too time consuming among all of your other wedding-related tasks is a sign of strength and maturity, not weakness. Don’t stress yourself out trying to do everything yourself, especially if you simply don’t have the time or experience to do the alterations well. Don’t hesitate to bring in a seamstress to alter your wedding dress, even if it’s just for some of it. Feeling good about adding that wrist loop but hesitant to touch that beautifully scalloped hemline? You do your part, leave the rest to the experts, then don’t worry or overthink it any further!
Thanks to this wedding dress alterations guide, you’ve probably got a good idea of what you can expect after you’ve purchased your bridal gown. If you’re hoping to keep wedding dress alteration costs low, Avery Austin is here to help! Not only can you choose between three customized length options to minimize hemming, but you can also try on wedding dresses at home to figure out the best fit before you make your purchase! Shop the available try at home wedding dresses here, and be sure to chat with one of our bridal stylists for help with any questions you might have along the way.