Did you know the average couple spends about $30,000 on their wedding? If you don’t have-or want to spend-that much money, you’ll definitely appreciate the tips in “The Wedding Planning Guidebook” that will save you thousands of dollars!

$ Setting your budget-how to make your dream wedding an affordable wedding.
$ Determining when to have the wedding-how choosing the month and time of day can save more than 70% on your facility costs and many other expenses!
$ Buying the rings-how to choose the diamond based on carat, cut, clarity, color and cost.
$ Selecting the invitations-how to save money based on the paper, design (colors, fold, ink), ordering process, method of printing, and timeline.
$ Considering insurance-how spending $150 can save you $50,000!
$ Picking the clothes-how to save 45-50% on the wedding dress, bridesmaid dresses and tuxedos.
$ Making your own centerpieces-show your personal creativity while you save as much as 80%.
$ Saving money on all of these wedding/reception elements: wedding cake, catering, photography, decorations, flowers, music, and more!

But don’t despair. “The Wedding Planning Guidebook“ takes the complication and confusion out of the planning process! It provides you with the information and advice you need to stay organized and on top of every detail, from popping the question to enjoying the honeymoon! This guide offers support and salvation for the busy couple who want their ceremony and reception to be perfect, but don’t know where to begin.

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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!!!…

Today was a very busy day for me,   sewing. Did some organizing too, laundry cooking you name it. And I am finally getting over that stomach ache! Ouch! I did something different today. I left the house and took a break mid day. THAT was so awesome and I plan to do that way more often. Here is why…

Because I work at home, all day,  sometimes 10-12 hours go by each day, fly by and I dont realize there is a life out the other side of my front door waiting for me to enjoy it.

And everybody here has been interrupting me, my attention was captured, I often LOST train of thought, MY thoughts! So I left, grabbed my keys & purse, yelled I’ll be back soon and booked before anyone else un-wisely made the decision to go with me.

I went to 7-11, got coffee & 2 of the brownies I love there, with walnuts. Then I went to the dollar tree store, got Sundays papers 1/2 price, walked the WHOLE store through. Then I went to a thrift store, by then my legs were tired but I pushed through to enjoy MY time. Stopped at a hair salon to make a appointment to get my hair cut. Made a couple other necessary stops too but enjoyed it, un-rushed, no one with me to tend to.

Even saw someone driving a convertible I must have so I took a pic of it ( had my flip camera with me) ….that will go on my vision board tomorrow ( law of attraction in case you are wondering).

And that is what this post is about. Instead of beating myself up inside for not enjoying some outside, I am going to step outside the box and schedule in some ME time…Its a win win!

THIS wedding gown, (she said OFF with the sleeves)
She got this lovely gown on ebay for $75…
(yes alterations will cost just over twice as much as
the dress as it needs a hem & bustle too and take in )…

Where the points are at the top of the bodice will be just the flower border will become a strap…from front point to back point….then I get to add alot of bling jewels all around the bodice top! Same jewels will be at the dropped waist. Nice part is just the very top is loose, the rest fits her perfectly!

Prim Bears all done, here are the last four….Their fur was real suede leather, very hard on the hands for the hand sewing that needed to be done. My new machine said no so I sewed them with a singer featherweight and that part became a breeze…

All of these bears were made from one long vintage coat, you know back when they used real materials..The whisps of fur on their ears are from the coats collar, and the pads of their paws and scarves are made from the coats plaid lining…One old coat became gifts for several people for Christmas=) My client loved them!

Pattern credit goes to Gooseberry Hill 1903 Bear, its a 1991 pattern created by Kathy Pace. 2 Things I altered of their pattern was to shorten the length of the belly area by 2 inches and I shortened the nose by 1 inch. Also I created a 1 inch triangle pattern for the whisp of fur on their ear. I would sew these again and again but not with real leather…That part was hard on my hands, I’m getting older I guess!  However I know I will never loose my love for sewing and creating new things!

Chances are if you email me a question, it is never a silly or crazy one, and its one I would be honored to answer ( if I can).  And many of those questions will end up here. Also I do follow wedding trends, sweepstakes & special offers, so I try to post them here.

This site is for other seamstresses too, even if you don’t sew bridal! There are many other things I sew and will share here. Feel free to comment but please dont spam.

Hoping I can bring this blog back to life and then some, many Blessings, Diana