In follow up to my recent Wedding Gown Care blog posts, I've been asked several questions about wedding dress alterations...as well as Bridesmaids Dress alterations.
Can you complete a wedding dress or bridesmaid dress hem in a week?
My answer is ABSOLUTELY YES! As a Certified Wedding Gown Specialist in Birmingham, Alabama, we are committed to getting what you need, when you need it...including a wedding gown hem. This assumes an initial fitting and a final fitting without complicating factors like excessive layers, beading issues or other significant structural changes in the bridal gown. But please call for an appointment for a fitting at 205.588.4120 and make sure we know when it's needed at the time you make your appointment. But we can do it and we won't gouge you with extra charges for a rush job.
Shoot...we can do it in a day if you really need it that quick!
How long will it take to size a wedding dress?
My answer is...it depends. It depends on the wedding dress, the number of fittings required, how available you are for the fittings and the type of changes required with the bridal gown. A simple wedding dress with a hem and/or sleeve change along with a change in the bodice and waist will usually take a minimum of two weeks (this assumes 3 fittings at one week apart). But again, this is with a simple wedding gown. It can...and often does...take longer. See my earlier post about beads, layers, etc.
(C) 2009 - 2010 Champion Wedding Gown Specialist. All Rights Reserved
One of the challenges for a destination wedding is making sure the wedding gown arrives safe and sound. I was recently asked about what's the best way to protect the beading on a wedding gown when packed in a suitcase.
First of all, I strongly recommend that you carry your wedding dress on the plane with you if you are traveling by air. To carry on the dress, the suitcase you are using must fit in the overhead compartment so be sure to size the suitcase before your flight. If you decide not to carry on your wedding dress, you need to have Plan B ready...what will you do if your luggage does not arrive at the wedding site with you?
A suitcase will work fine to transport a wedding dress. We even offer "carryon" boxes with handles that will work fine...both going to the wedding and returning. You can get these at our shop in Birmingham.
You will want to carefully pack the gown, cushioning each fold with plain white tissue paper. This will help prevent heavy creases that can result when packing the wedding gown in a suitcase. I also recommend waiting until close to leaving to pack the gown. The less time the gown spends packed in the suitcase, the better.
Watch out for the beads on your wedding dress...make sure they don't get caught in the the lid of the suitcase when you close it.
When you arrive at your destination, unpack your gown immediately so the wrinkles will begin to fall out. You most likely will require a wedding gown specialist to steam and/or press the wrinkles out of the gown...so be sure to plan for this after your arrival at your destination. You can always try the steam in the bathroom approach to getting wrinkles out but if that doesn't work, a wedding gown specialist is your best bet.
For a beaded gown, the best way to protect the beads is to place the gown in a cotton or muslin garment bag. If you don't have one, you can always wrap it in a white sheet. These don't take up much space but will help reduce the stress of beading rubbing against the side of the suitcase. Pack it carefully and you AND your wedding dress should arrive in good shape.
We stock muslin garment bags and "carry on" size cases at our shop in Birmingham.
(C) 2009 - 2010 Champion Wedding Gown Specialist. All Rights Reserved
Choosing the right size wedding dress will save you money and time. I don't mean the "right size" dress will fit you perfectly off the rack, since this almost never happens. I do mean you should select the size that will minimize wedding dress alterations. And don't get me wrong here...I'm in the wedding dress alterations business. But there is no point in spending money if not absolutely necessary.
Not the same size.
Many brides, for whatever reason, insist on ordering a bridal gown in the same numeric size as their everyday clothing. These same brides are shocked to learn that their wedding gown alterations can cost hundreds of dollars.
Three Tips For Buying Your Wedding Dress
Here are three tips from our dressmaker and a Birmingham wedding gown alterations specialist to help you choose wisely. These ideas apply equally to bridesmaids dresses as they do to wedding dresses.
First, be prepared to order a size you might never have considered. Formal bridal gowns are designed to fit close to the body with little margin for error. The waist and hips are usually easier and less expensive to alter than the bust, so bust measurement is generally used to determine correct size. Dress styles vary, however, so it is wise to consult with an wedding dress alterations specialist before deciding which size to purchase. She might see that a particular style is easier to alter in one area than another. She may also direct you to a more flattering style of bridal gown for your figure. Don't feel insulted if she suggests a larger size. Professional wedding gown specialists really do want to get you into the optimal size so they can alter the gown to your satisfaction. If the size tag bothers you, the wedding gown alterations specialist will be happy to cut it out of the dress!
Second, be sure to try on your dress with the undergarments you plan to wear with the dress. Undergarments make a big difference in the fit of a bridal gown, and you will need those same undergarments for your alterations fittings. If you change bras or crinolines after ordering your dress, you may find that you need more alterations than you anticipated, although sometimes you may need fewer alterations, e.g. a fuller slip may make a hem unnecessary if you are already tall.
Finally, remember it is not about the size of the bridal gown; it is about the fit. Wearing a size 10 if you are a size 12 will not make you look smaller. Wedding gown specialists know that you look your personal best in a gown that fits you perfectly.
Follow this wisdom from an experienced Birmingham wedding gown alterations specialist and you'll look better...and save money.
Our wedding gown alterations specialist is available by appointment in Vestavia Hills on Rocky Ridge Road and in Hoover at Highway 280 to help with your wedding dress and bridesmaids dress alterations needs. Call us at 205.588.4120 for more information.
Next to you and your bridal shop, we're more interested in how you look in you wedding dress and your brides' maid dress than anyone else! We specialize in last minute and emergency wedding dress alterations in Birmingham, Alabama.
Find us on the web at www.ChampionWeddingGownSpecialist.com.
(C) 2009 - 2010 Champion Wedding Gown Specialist. All Rights Reserved
Anytime you plan a destination wedding, be sure to consider the needs for transporting your Wedding Dress. The same holds true for your Bridesmaid Dresses as well so these tips will work for both the Bride and the Bride's Maids.
The last thing you need for your destination wedding is to arrive safe and sound...but without your Wedding Dress (or your Bridesmaid Dress). Talk about stress! So if you plan on flying to your destination wedding, I urge you to pack your Wedding Dress as a carry on item. If you don't have the right size suit case, I have high quality boxes with a handle that will fit in the airplane overhead compartments. Anytime you plan on transporting a bridal gown on a plane, plan ahead and avoid a disaster.
Yes, this will cause wrinkles that will need help. But with airlines today, there is really not an alternative if you want to carry your Wedding Dress on the plane. The airlines won't allow you to carry on a full-size "hang-up" bag like they used to (even if your gown could comfortably fit in one).
If your wedding gown is going to be boxed for just a few hours, you may find that 15 to 30 minutes of steam in a closed bath room will release many of the wrinkles and save you some money. You could also take a hand steamer with you...but be careful...don't get a silk gown wet. And sometimes the hotels in a popular destination wedding location may have the capability to help with this. Just keep an eye on your gown.
But if these alternatives aren't available or don't work and if the wrinkles are persistent, take your gown to a qualified wedding gown specialist once you arrive. Make the arrangements with the wedding gown specialist before you arrive and be sure the specialist knows when you need your gown back.
If you are driving to the destination wedding site or if you drive to a cruise ship to go to your wedding, you can carry your wedding dress with you. Layer it between two cotton sheets pinned on the edges and lay the gown across the luggage or in a back seat...wherever there is room. Cruise ships usually have the ability to help with wrinkles in your gown...but I wouldn't depend on the cruise ship for a proper cleaning. There is a big difference between cleaning a wedding gown and cleaning towels and sheets. The cruise liners do a great job with cleaning linens!
Let me know if you have any questions about this. You may call me at 205.902.1093 (my cell phone) or reply to this post. You may also reach me at
david@ChampionWeddingGownSpecialist.com
www.ChampionWeddingGownSpecialist.com
I'd love to hear from you.
(C) 2009 - 2010 Champion Wedding Gown Specialist. All Rights Reserved