Possibly stupid question about alterations...

majesty318

I have my first fitting tomorrow. The dress is already too big in the bodice (bought it off the rack and had to take whatever size they had - it's about 1 size too big). It will also need hemming, and that will not be an easy task since the skirt is very detailed. So even though my wedding is in May, I figured I would start now.

I mentioned to my mom earlier that I still want to lose about 5 lbs and she told me I should not be going to the fitting. My understanding (and maybe I totally madr this up?) is that the first fitting is the FIRST FITTING and they don't expect your dress to fit perfectly after that. So I thought I was basically going to get started with the idea that they would still have to fix some things at later fittings.

My mom said that if I lose weight and they have to adjust the dress further, they would want to charge me twice for the alteration.

Am I totally misunderstanding the idea of first fitting? So confused!

ohmrs2014

Wow my first fitting is in February and my wedding is in April.  I can go in January but I am still losing weight so the latest I can go is February.  I think January is way too early for a fitting, even though its your first.  But I would call the place you are going to for your alterations and explain this to them.  They might tell you to wait as well.

AddieCake

I lost weight twice between fittings. When I went back, they said it needed to be taken in more. And my first fitting was in January for a March wedding. If you go too soon, you might run into the same thing.

vmj23

my dress recently came in and they had me come just to try it on, but they told me not to schedule my first fitting until about 6 weeks before the wedding. 

Senecaf

They can still get an idea on hem length now. And 5 pounds isn't that much to make a huge difference on alterations. I dont know though. I've never had a dress altered.

netskyblue2

Depending on the cut of your dress, 5 pounds MAY not matter in terms of fit.  And it shouldn't matter at all in terms of hemming.  You're not going to grow or shrink between now and then, so as long as you don't go changing your shoes, you should be fine.

majesty318

I kept the appointment and the seamstress didn't think 5 lbs would be a big deal. The biggest deal was what bra I was going to wear! The one I brought ended up making arm fat (yuck). They tried 2 corsets & 3 other bras on me, and ultimately I am going bra-less... which I never thought would happen!

hyechica81

i went for my first fitting more like lets try on the dress make sure everything is ok and it was except a little big in the bust area and the length needs to be hemmed. the long line corset style bra with hook and eye closures was pooping out of the dress so i had to return that we tried on the dress with my normal bra and it worked so they suggested i get a strapless with clear straps my dress has 2 thick lace straps and a jacket.

Fairyjen1

    My mom is a professional seamstress and does wedding dress alterations. For her, first fitting is about 6-8 weeks before the wedding (depending on what else she has going). She would look at you in the dress and measure and pin as required. She does the alterations, then the second fitting is one or two weeks before the wedding where she checks the alterations, and makes any further adjustments if needed. If the second fitting required substantial alterations, she will usually have the bride try on the dress when she picks it up, if possible.  She expects brides may lose weight between the first and second fitting. The second fitting is usually close enough to the wedding that the bride won't lose enough at that point to alter the fit much. I'm sure it's happened, she just hasn't experienced it. 

    It's important to bring your shoes (or a pair of the same height) and undergarments to the first fitting and definitely to the second. A change in bra can alter your figure more than you may think. One of my cousins wore her regular underwear (a sports bra!) to her first fitting and mom made her come back when she had her wedding undergarments. 

   If a bride comes to her in January for a wedding in May she will have them come back later. You don't really know how much weight you are going to lose and it's not unknown for brides to change their mind about a dress, or (gasp) get pregnant before the wedding and need a new one. If she did all of your fittings in January, then you came back four months later to have the dress re-altered she would charge you twice, as if you had brought her two dresses.  Even if you left the dress with her in January she would still have you come in for an extra fitting 6-8 weeks ahead (although you wouldn't get charged for two fitting as she wouldn't start working on it until 6-8 weeks ahead).

  I wouldn't worry about the hem being complicated. A good seamstress will know her stuff and how to deal with all sorts of hem treatments and most likely won't need 4 months to do it. My mom has done some pretty complex alterations and it takes her one to two days, tops. 

  We are making mine from scratch and we won't even start it until 4-6 weeks out. In a lot of cases, though, it's easier to make a new dress than alter an existing one.