So as the time ticks down. I am starting to panic. I have my dress already. But I have lost over 50lbs since i bought. Which guarantees it will not fit. However David's Bridal will do a size exchange 1 time for free so that is not a concern. But I know that it will need a hem a bustle and probably some adjustment in the bust area.
Because i have heard so many horror stories about Davids alterations. I am really freaking out trying to find someone else to do these things to my dress. I am apprehensive about an outside seamstress because this is my WEDDING DRESS! They mess it up I am screwed.
I have attached a picture of me in the dress. Keep in mind that was when i was 50lbs heavier. Its so beautiful and has lots of lacy detail. This is stressing me out big time.
All the things for the wedding this is what weighs very heavily on my mind night and day for like the last 2 wks. (Because i have to take dress very soon to get size exchange to have back in time for alterations.)
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Re: Alterations???
I'd start asking around to those you know who have had formal wear or wedding dresses altered. Get some recommendations. As with any other vendor, I think its okay to ask your top choices for some preliminary information, such as approximately how long standard alterations will take, price range, how many opportunities you will have to check fit, etc. It may be harder to have a consultation until your gown is in, but you can always ask if that is a possibility.
Next, you have it with you right; have you put it on recently? If it's too big I would recommend the size exchange rather than trying to alter it down if you're going down by more than one size. If you're wary about using David's I would research local seamstresses and read reviews. Meet with anyone before you commit to having them alter your dress and make sure you're comfortable with what they recommend.
The whole process freaks me out seriously. I don't have a lot of money or a large budget for alterations and such. Hence why i have gone so far to lose alot of weight to improve the appearance of the dress. Plus save on having to take it in too much.
Call me crazy or whatever i should've ordered a smaller size then. But i had no idea how much weight i was going to lose. I have always struggled with the weight. I have 2 outside seamstresses. One is a really close's friends wife, and the other is a local seamstress/tailor. Both come with great reviews and have done wedding dresses. I just worry because of all of that lace.
I had an all lace dress, and used a seamstress recommended by my dress shop. If both of the streamstresses have worked with lace, and both have great reviews, I'm not sure what your question is. No dress is going to fit perfectly without any alteration, so unless you want to go without a bustle or hem you're going to have to find someone you can trust with your dress. A professional is just that, a professional. The likelihood that something goes so incredibly wrong that they ruin your irrevocably is so small.
The bolded confuses me so much. The dress in the photo looks like it fits you really well. Good for you for losing the weight, but I don't understand why you thought losing weight would save you money in alterations. If you kept the same dress, you'd have more money into alterations because it would need to be shrunk more. And I doubt any size you exchange it for is going to fit you better pre-alterations that the size in the photo fit you pre-weight loss.
You look beautiful in that dress!
That is what I am afraid of do a size exchange too soon and still lose more. Worst part get too small that wouldn't fit just in case of more weight loss and then i didn't lose any more. I can take by the end of this month or next and determine at that point size exchange to have back in time.
I have just heard so many horror stories about David's Bridal and alterations I am just very weary about this whole process. It makes me nervous, and trust me i have lost sleep over this. Nightmares included.
The reason i felt that losing the weight would help... Because the bust didnt fit right at all. It was smooshing the girls if you catch my drift. So that would have to be let out. But weight loss well that could make things fit the way they should. Plus i would need less to suck me in to wear under the dress.
As it stood they didn't think they could let it out enough for my boobs to fit. Because of that issue its almost better to have slightly bigger and taken in the middle. But because of my struggle never expected to drop this much weight this fast.
I haven't had the dress on since that day. I do not know how loose it is etc. So I am going to my mom's to pick it up and try it on. Then go to a couple seamstresses to see if they are confident to handle the alterations.
I will not lie but this whole part of this process makes me crazy. Finding the dress and everything else was way way easier.
I'm genuinely saying this to try to help lurkers in the future and not to make you feel bad, but it's a good idea to have an idea of what alterations could cost and build that into the dress budget (or buy a cheaper dress) so you're not stressed about that cost.
I appreciate the info. I do have a decent budget for alterations really do. But NOT for David's to charge me twice of what i paid for the dress itself. That is ridiculous. That's why I am a spaz because i do not want to be forced to using David's to do it. I feel for alterations plus the accessories for the dress (slip, bra, garter, etc) should be at my $650 that I have for this or less. So that is my concern they quoted me roughly when i bought the dress almost twice that for alterations on my dress.
Next, it is your call on who you want to do the alterations. I have had alterations done many times at my local David's and been happy with the work done in relation to the price for the work done. The one thing to consider is that David's Staff is specifically trained on altering David's line of dresses. Price it out in the shop, you CAN decide you do not want them to touch it after getting the quote and determining your confidence level in their work versus one of the other options. Remember no matter where you take it, alterations is a process, a nip here and a tuck there will change it so sometimes it needs multiple trips with the final being the steaming out of everything for the big day. Alterations are also one of those "it's your call" type things.
$650 is a reasonable budget, but if you need major changes you might need to budget more for alterations and work to borrow/search for sales on your other accessories that are coming out of that balance.
Get a quote from another seamstress.
So I think many have given you the advice that I would - but I wanted to add that you should always count more for alterations than you first think. Alterations are more complicated than making the original dress. They're small and fiddly.
I work in fashion and am a trained coturé. Generally, when ordering a dress like this - the sales assistant will measure you and then order based on your biggest measurement. So if your bust or hips are bigger than your other measurements then they order the size closest (not sure I'm being clear) That way they can take in the other areas to fit it to your body.
I'm telling you this so you can think about whether to change the size or not.
If you're anything like me you'll have lost more in one area than others - I carry most of my weight in my hips - and even though I've lost a bunch of weight my measurement there actually not that different. (I've lost all my bust
So if I was you I'd look to see what my measurements were now. Is it possible that you might end up still needing the same size? If so then stick with the same. If not then it's worth going down a size. You can generally get sizing from websites.
I say this because if you do need to take in a dress more than one size it can change the shape. - Or it could effect the lace.
I think you should look at what work needs to be done - if it's more than one size then the alterations could cost more and it's worth changing the size.
Secondly, I think you should take the dress to your friend's girlfriend who had good reviews. She's going to have a vested interest in gooding good work and not over charging you. But I'd also go and see the other to get a comparison. Alterations can take time - So If you do end up needing to change the size - I'd make sure you doing it sooner rather than later. Normally a seamstress will do an initial fitting, then you come back to try on the dress and make sure everything is ok. If you had lot more weight then she could alter it again. You should then go back for a final fitting about 2-4 weeks before the wedding itself. If at this time you need more work done its possible but generally at a cost. If its rushed i.e. taking in the dress a lot again then expect to pay again.
I know you can't know how much weight you will lose between now and then - but I'd suggest that once you've started the alterations process to try to maintain the same size. If you want to keep the alterations budget down I'd try to not have any last minute changes - if that's possible
I know this is a really long post but I thought it might be helpful to have more information
Yes 50lbs is a lot which is why the alterations process stresses me out.
You have given me very good advice every one has. I am going to try to get out to my sisters where the dress is being stored right now. (keeping my fiance's prying eyes far away lol) I want to try it on again see where i am at, because you are right losing weight doesn't just come off in one spot. My goal is hopefully my bust shrunk enough to where the dress fits appropriately in that area. (it was a little snug even being my size.)
I have just been so afraid to try it on again. (my own inner demons + plus weight loss) We shall see where we are if it is way too loose everywhere i will take for a size exchange then to the seamstress recommended by a friend.
Thank you all again for all of your advice.
I'd be interested to know how the re-try on went!
I'm crossing my fingers for you!