Alterations by Lucy
for the love of sewing
Appointment Tips
1
Timing Is Everything
It's important to time your alterations right. Bring your gown in too early, and you might not end up with a proper fit. (You may lose or gain weight after your gown is altered, which could affect the dress' overall look and fit.) Bring your gown in too late, and you run the risk of not allowing enough time to have all the changes made. We recommend allowing 8 weeks from the time of your first fitting to your last, for brides as an ideal timeline to make all the alterations. And 6 weeks for bridesmaids and mommies. (If you would like to do your fitting earlier or closer we will accommodate you.) Also keep in mind that the amount of times you need to go for fittings depends on how much you're getting done to the gown. On average, most brides go for two to three fittings.
When you're ready for alterations, don't just bring your gown, also take your undergarments, shoes, and accessories to your fittings as well. With all of the pieces in place, it'll be easier to envision your overall wedding day look. You should have your undergarments and shoes on hand in order to obtain the proper fit and length of your gown. If you don't have the exact shoe you'll be wearing, bring something similar in height so you don't wind up tripping over your dress on your wedding day.
We do provide special undergarments for purchases. We also have some shoes on hand in case you forgot but we don't have every size. We will accommodate as best as possible, but unfortunately if we can't will have to reschedule your appointment.
What to Bring
Alterations are done right in our store by expert seamstress Lucy. We do have alterations hours when Lucy is available for fittings. Please check out our store hours for alterations and you can schedule an appointment for a fitting during those hours.
First fitting appointments on an average take one hour for a wedding gown and a half hour for a bridesmaid or special occasion dress. The dress will be fitted and pinned to show you the best alterations for an ideal fit. For long wedding gowns with a train, you will be shown bustle options. During the appointment, the fees for recommended alterations will be discussed so you can agree upon the look that best suits your needs and budget. You will receive a copy of the alterations ticket, pay for the alterations, and schedule your pickup fitting appointment.
Second fitting on average are a half an hour. You will try your altered dress as well get informed on any instruction on how to wear the dress properly. If no other alterations has to be done, then you will return on your pick up date.
On your pick up date your dress will be steamed and pressed and ready to wear for your special day.
2
Appointments
While you might have legions of bridesmaids, it's not a good idea to bring them all to your fittings. You might want to have your mom, another trusted relative, or friend accompany you to your fittings, just for another set of eyes and another reliable opinion. And because your maid of honor will need to know how to create the bustle, it's a good idea to bring her to your second fitting so she can learn how your gown works.