Wedding Dresses in Cornwall: 7 things you should know before altering your wedding dress.

What every bride should know before her first wedding dress fitting.

Every bride wants a perfectly beautiful wedding dress that fits like a glove, right? Finding the perfect wedding dress in Cornwall doesn’t always mean that it fits you flawlessly, especially when you are trying them on. Many of my brides come into the boutique with a vision, but surprisingly some wedding dresses fit them differently from what they envisaged. The main intention is to find the wedding dress shape and style that suits you and your body!

Most bridal boutiques in Cornwall stock a selection of sizes for you to try on during your appointment. As we can’t stock every dress, in every style, be prepared to have an open mind as some dresses will be pegged in so you can get an idea of how it will look, and others may be a little small. If you are like most brides, you may already know that your dream gown will need some type of wedding dress alteration. Every bride will need them as It's very unlikely you will slip into a wedding dress in Cornwall and every detail is a perfect fit. As woman, we all have different shapes so getting alterations with a professional seamstress is absolutely crucial.

Before you head off to get fitted here are 7 things you should know before altering your wedding dress.

1. Book all your fittings in advance

Book your fittings with your seamstress in advance, don’t leave it until a week or two before your wedding. Weddings are seasonal, so seamstresses get very busy. You should book your first fitting at least 8-10 weeks before your wedding, it is a gradual process and can take a few fittings to create the perfect finished look. Be prepared to have fittings during daylight hours Monday -Friday. Our seamstress need to have fittings, sew, sleep, eat and try to fit every bride in! 

2. Take your wedding underwear to every fitting

You’ve probably already been told to take your wedding shoes to your dress fitting. But you may not know it’s also a good idea to wear your bridal lingerie. Or at least the underwear you plan on wearing on the big day. Shape-wear, is also a good option. It’s a rarity to see a bride without some these days. Even if they are not sucking you in an inch, they can add a very smooth line to the finish of the dress. So if you plan on wearing it on the day, make sure you take this to your fittings.

3. Your wedding dress probably needs to be altered no matter what. 

Most wedding dresses are made in generic sizes, so very rarely does a bride’s body match a designer’s dress perfectly (for example, your gown might fit like a glove in the hips, but too loose in the bust). After you find your wedding dress, the bridal shop in Cornwall compares your measurements to the designer’s size chart and orders the closest size of the gown. Once it arrives, the dress must then be tailored precisely to fit your figure.

4. Ignore the length of your dress (at first)

As you can imagine, the bridal designers have to make their gowns for brides of all heights and include heel height. The best advice we can give is if you have your shoes you will be wearing on your wedding day with you when you choose and order your dress, some styles may have the option to order in with different lengths, this will save you a lot in alteration costs.

5. Be realistic with your goal weight (and leave enough time for alterations).

If you are trying to lose weight for your wedding, it’s important you’re at your goal weight several weeks before the big day. Ideally, you need to leave at least 8/10 weeks before your wedding so your alterations can start. The main goal for us is to ensure your wedding dress fits like a glove, makes you feel a million dollars and you love your reflection!

6. Don’t freak out if your wedding dress doesn’t fit perfectly at first.

During your first fitting, you get to try on your actual wedding dress for the first time (woo hoo!). But don't panic if it doesn't fit perfectly—this is totally normal. Be direct with your seamstress about how you envision your dress looking and feeling, and if there are any significant changes you want to make, such as adding straps or altering the neckline. Most importantly, don’t be afraid, be honest, and ask questions!

7. Speak up if your dress still doesn’t feel right at the second fitting. 

Your seamstress will do everything in her power to make sure your dress fits, but you're the one wearing it, so speak up if something doesn’t feel right. Whether it's a zipper poking you, a strap falling down, or not enough support in the bust, being vocal will help you avoid having to book more fittings, which will ultimately allow you to stick to your dress timeline.

Getting your wedding dress altered can feel like one more tedious task on your long wedding checklist. A wedding dress is often the most beautiful gown a woman will ever wear, and one of the few that will be tailored to fit her exact form. Each alteration appointment gets you closer to that moment when you walk down the aisle looking like a princess!

For more details get in touch via our contact page and chat with Caroline on dress alterations and fittings.