Dress is here - Now What?

NYE * Bride

Hi ladies! I am VERY excited, as I received a call this morning that my dress is in, almost 4 months earlier than I was told.  Unfortunately, I still have a little over a year to go before the wedding.When should I begin alterations?  I am NOT taking the dress home, they are storing in at the bridal shop for me.  I definitely don't want to start too early, although I have weighed the same amount for 2 years.  Thanks!

AlexiaANDRobert

I started my alterations 4 weeks before the wedding. It depends on what needs to be done so ask the seamstress how much time they need for whatever you want done. GL!

Brie2010

Don't start alterations until about 8 weeks before the wedding.  Body sizes and shapes can change and shift a lot over  the course of the year, even if you're not planning on gaining or losing any weight.

ExpatPumpkin

Ditto everyone else. Wait until a month or so before the wedding to start...

TiDa2009

I just had my first fitting last week which was about 5 1/2 weeks out.  

scoetto

My dress came in April for my ceremony in October. I went & tried the dress on, and then took it home with me until September.  We did fittings 4 weeks out as well.

AlexiaANDRobert

Oh, I bought my dress in February and brought it home that day (off the rack), I didn't put it on again until two days before my first fitting.

janedoe1113a

I've been told 6-8 weeks in advance.

skippylouwho

One caution about storing your dress there, a friend had her dress altered and the store offered to store it there until the wedding. 2 days before the wedding she went in to get it and found they'd sold it off the rack to someone else. The store then told her she could have any dress in the store and they would altar it immediately.  She was furious, rightly so, and picked the most expensive (certainly not the prettiest) dress in the store.    Granted, I've only heard of that happening once but once is enough to scare me.

Kimerly14

I am getting married on November 14.  My first dress fitting was October 17.  Don't have the dress altered until 4-5 weeks before the wedding due to body gain/loss.

NYE * Bride

Thanks for all the tips! Skippylouhou, that is awful.  I would be so upset.  Something to consider.  I'm not sure where I would store it then honestly.  My apartment is big enough, but I have a puppy who chews, etc. and although we are pretty responsible, he has gotten in and destroyed sweaters, etc.  Although I'm sure the dress is in a garment bag, I'd be very nervous. My family lives 2 hours away, and all smoke, and I don't want to dress to pick up any scents. Thanks again!

september's bride

NYE - I may be late to this, but a good idea is to go in to see your dress sometime in the near-ish future to at least get a good look at it and try it on. When you're there, ask the sales consultant what they think you need in alterations at that time. Then, if they tell you that you need 4 weeks to get it all done, bank on 6 (just in case things change) and schedule your fittings in your head for 6 weeks out.This is what I did on the advice of my bridal salon, and it was a great idea. It gave me an indication of when I should start thinking about alterations, and the extra two week buffer I gave myself was good, since I had dropped a bunch of weight and needed a few extra nips and tucks.