Below are 5   main reasons not to wait until the LAST minute to have your wedding dress tailored for alterations.

1: Cost ~ The cost of having your wedding dress altered seems to go up proportionately with the season, and how far in advance you book your seamstress. In many USA states it is stated on many bridal store sites that a percentage “rush fee” will be added to your bill if you come in less than 12 weeks before you need your dress. If the store states it you may be lucky because you will “know” what you are paying. In other cases, the tailoring cost just seems to grow larger and larger as the wedding gets closer and closer.

Here I will tell you upfront if there is a rush service fee. Do know if you bring me a pair of pants to hem at the last minute ( days before your wedding) I do charge near double than if you had brought them to me weeks ago! Remember I am taking care of many brides each week along with my families needs…Every moment counts & cost here!

2: Flexibility ~ What if something goes wrong and you are left with only 10 days to get a new wedding dress? Wouldn’t you have rather had 3-4 weeks to know? This exact thing happened when a bride’s mom called me on a Thursday morning saying that her daughters gown was altered by the bridal shop she bought the gown at, and the bustle wasnt done, the gown didn’t fit right, there is no eye for my hook, one of my bra cups was sewn on backwards and my gown doesnt zip and my wedding is next weekend and the bridal shops only seamstress is ill in the hospital!

3: Gown Cleaning  & Pressing time ~ in many cases the bridal boutique where you bought your dress will offer complementary pressing following alterations. Whether this is the case or not, remember there is a turn around time for the dry cleaners as well. You do not want to put the time-crunch on your wedding seamstress or tailor just to get to the final pressing. Luckily here at MarylandSeamstress, you can get your gown altered, cleaned and steam pressed, whatever you need!

4: Wedding Gown Photography & Pictures ~ Alot of brides have pictures done weeks or a month or two ahead of their wedding as a photo shoot. That isnt going to happen if your gown isn’t ready! Make sure you allow time for every event of your wedding….

5: Availability ~ Dont just assume that I or any other Gown Alteration Specialist is available at whims notice, especially during Prom & Graduation season (Feb-June).

Quite often I am booked up and unable to help. Now I personally only do Clothing Alterations here in Maryland so I can help more clients with alterations, however Maryland had 2 bridal seamstress retire last year, so that makes us few left that much busier! I as well as many other seamstress schedule months ahead. Waiting till 2-3 weeks before your wedding to get alreations done puts our tight scheduling out of whack. Believe me, we charge for that rush service because most of us stay up late night ( overnight) to stay on schedule.

After all is said and done, it is up to you the bride to determine when the best time to get in for alterations on your wedding dress.  I request 3 months but do accept gown in with less time to alter. However I do at times charge a rush service fee….Make the decision that makes you feel most comfortable and that limits your stress level! God bless and hope this helps!!!…

1. Search on the internet or Bridal Magazines first, as there are so many wedding dress styles available, those avenues will save you gas money as  you decide what style you like best.  First, you have to know what suits your body shape….

2. Also, consider the color of your gown. You can stick with tradition and go for white, but if you want to add some color to your gown, then by all means, find the perfect color for you. Today, a number of modern brides are choosing ivory wedding dresses instead of  white ones. You can choose your dress color according to wedding theme, wedding season or what flatters your complexion the best.

3. Determine what your Wedding budget is. When researching various wedding dress styles, you can telephone the manufacturer to learn where the dress are sold locally, and then go to the store to try them on. Call those shops ahead too, to make sure they still have that gown style in their shop.

4. Find the right wedding dress length. Wedding gowns can be short or long depending on the type of ceremony you’re having and where you’re planning on having it. There’s a very basic rule when it comes to choosing the perfect wedding dress length, and it’s to base your dress length on how formal the ceremony is.

5. Choose right fabric for you & your wedding. There are so many different fabrics to choose from. You don’t want to feel uncomfortable on your big day. A way to familiarize yourself with these fabrics is to ask your wedding planner or the bridal boutique owner to help you distinguish between the different fabric types available, or read up here on this blog for fabric choices. And also, don’t forget that season is a important factor for choosing right fabric. Keep in mind the fuller the wedding skirt, the heaver the gowns are! That crinoline is decievingly heavy and on some gowns can be cut away by your seamstress.

6. Make an appointment to try on Wedding Gowns &  bring a female friend or two…. or even relatives who will gladly accompany you on your trips to the bridal shop. You’ll want to choose people that pay attetion to details and have a sense of style theirselves…She will give you some useful advice when you are trying on the wedding dresses.

7. Wedding dresses should be ordered 9 months to a year in advance. The manufacturers often take 16 to 20 weeks to make your dress. You also need to allow transportation time and time to have alterations done. If you shop at the last minute, you will risk major disappointment. You will either have to buy off the rack or pay the manufacturer extra for rushing your dress.

8. If you need a gown in a hurry, consider buying a sample off the rack or try eBay & Craigslist. Also there are several sites that sell gowns another bride has worn once, or bought & never wore. Buying these gowns can save you some serious money. Becareful though! If you buy a gown that need to be let out, and it was previously altered, some seamtress cut away excess fabric. Keep the height of the gown in mind too, has the length been previously altered and will that work for you…

9. As you some for gowns, also work on the gown acessories you will wear, such as jewelry and veils or other hair pieces.
You’ll want to try all on together to make sure the shades of colors match. Often a gal comes to my shop and they bring their veil in for the final fitting, and to their horror the gown is not the same color as the veil. I make veils here, so do consider not buying a veil till after you have brought your gown here. Of course the bridal shop will try to upsell you a veil for hundreds of dollars. All of my veils are under $100 and most are $20-40, custom made. And you will recieve the correct color & style!

10. Your wedding family….After you have chosen your gown, then it is time to consider what the rest of the wedding family will wear. Guys will need shirts that generally match either the color of your gown, or the color of your bridesmaids gowns. Flower girls will match you in color. Moms need not to clash with each other, or you or your bridemaids. Its best to develop a family tree of sorts to map it all out. All in all, dont stress, make a list and check it often (one bride somehow bought 2 flower girl dresses for one girl! I ended up buying two from her at a huge discount to resell to others). Have fun in the process, whatever you choose!

In order to choose right and perfect bridesmaids gowns, you should consider below points…..

1. What’s your unique Wedding theme?
Do you have a particular theme in mind?

For instance, if you had a Shabby Chic Or Winter theme for your wedding, you might want to have like minded  dresses for your bridesmaids.

2. Plan your bridesmaid dresses based on your budget!
You should select bridesmaids gowns that are not only complementary to your Bridal Gown & overall wedding theme, but you also need to consider whether your choice of dress is also affordable for your bridesmaids, who often don’t have the same budget as you do for your dress.

If your bridesmaids cannot afford a fancy dress, consider paying for them yourself – or split the cost, rather than force them to forfeit their role in your wedding.   More than one wedding has been ruined because of hurt feelings, and it’s easy to overcome them if you show a little sensitivity to your bridesmaids’ needs.

3. Plus-Size bridesmaids? Skinny or Large chested.
Sometimes your bridesmaids have figure issues that you may or may not have.   In those cases, you should try to ensure that they look their best in the bridesmaids gowns  you choose for your bridal attendants.  That said shop around to find gowns that work for everyone. Perhaps you pick the color and allow them to pick the style…
Slightly overweight bridesmaids will feel uncomfortable in tight bridesmaid dresses that don’t complement their figures — and your tomboyish friends won’t want to wear lilac ruffles and frills.

4. Alterations…Nearly everyone needs some sort of alteration. maybe the Halter strap is too big or the gown needs a hem. Keep these in mind when buying your gown especially if online….You may need measurements to properly size your gown. These are things I can help with, or if you are not local to me, another alteration specialist can help you….

So to sum this up, some planning ahead will create a wonderful bond between you and your brides maids as well as  beautiful Wedding Pictures & memories as well…And remember enjoy the process!