VENT: alterations and long distance wedding...

Re: VENT: alterations and long distance wedding...

• misssunshine17 member

  

  December 2013

  Do the alterations where you live. It seems like such a hassle to plan it anywhere else. 

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• HisGirlFriday13 member

  

  December 2013

  No, sadly. But the woman I used is in PA (not sure where you're getting married) and she is fabulous.

  

  
  

  
  

  I'm gonna go with 'not my circus, not my monkeys.'

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• melbelleup member

  

  December 2013

  I'm near Pittsburgh. I think I have it figured out. If the woman that does it at my store won't do it either at the store or as me as a personal client versus through the store, I'll just use the Pittsburgh seamstress. Only about 20 minutes longer of a drive.
  

  

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• lyndausvi mod

  

  December 2013

  I lived in the virgin islands and the wedding was in NJ.  I bought the dress in DE.   No way in hell I was shipping the dress to and from the virgin islands.  I explained my situation to the seamstress and they really worked with me.  I had my one and only alteration 3 months out with no problem. My sister stored the dress for me.    

  
  

  Another time when living in the islands I was a BM for a wedding in Philly.  Dress was bought in NJ.  Explained my situation to the seamstress.  I flew in on Monday, saw her on Tuesday, dress was done for the Friday wedding.

  
  

  Now I'm lucky because I rarely need more than a hem done, but I've had really good luck.  Both times they seamstress wend out of the their way to help me.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  

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• audubonbride2013 member

  

  December 2013

  I would do the alterations where you live.  My wedding was in the Philly area and I live in the DC area.  I had my dress altered in the DC area and it was so much easier (especially since I ended up having to go for multiple fittings since the seamstress at the bridal shop sucked and kept forgetting to do some of the alterations each time).  

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• melbelleup member

  

  December 2013

  Ugh. I hope I don't have any issues other than this. The only reason I'm even debating about not doing it by me currently is because the alterations person was way rude to me on the phone
  

  

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• easilyunamused member

  

  December 2013

  I hope it works out! 

  
  

  I had to fly into the state I was getting married because I have no wedding dress alterations place where I live. It was about 7 months after I bought the dress and my first time trying it on. I put it on, and it was about 4 inches off the ground! The sales lady was supposed to order an extra long and didn't. I was so pissed but held it together. 

  
  

  The only option was for them to pull a larger dress off the floor of another store. I was upset that I paid for a brand new gown only to have to actually wear a dressed that is used to try on. I had to cut into my vacation to drive back to the store a couple days later. It worked out ok. Well until the wedding and I looked back on the photos and realized it was still a good 2 inches off the floor. Ugh oh well. 

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• melbelleup member

  

  December 2013

  LuvBird29 said:

  I hope it works out! 

  
  

  I had to fly into the state I was getting married because I have no wedding dress alterations place where I live. It was about 7 months after I bought the dress and my first time trying it on. I put it on, and it was about 4 inches off the ground! The sales lady was supposed to order an extra long and didn't. I was so pissed but held it together. 

  
  

  The only option was for them to pull a larger dress off the floor of another store. I was upset that I paid for a brand new gown only to have to actually wear a dressed that is used to try on. I had to cut into my vacation to drive back to the store a couple days later. It worked out ok. Well until the wedding and I looked back on the photos and realized it was still a good 2 inches off the floor. Ugh oh well. 

  OMG! That would suck. Oh well, in the end you got married to your husband
  

  

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• [Deleted User] member

  

  December 2013

  My best friend had a nightmare getting her dress. She went to DB and ordered a dress that was being discontinued. She had to wait a week to see if they would do it which fortunately they did. She ordered the dress in white and it was set to arrive in four months. Unbeknownst to my friend there was another bride that came in around the same time and ordered the same dress but in ivory. 

  
  

  The dress makers switched the names on the dresses. The other bride picked up my friend's white dress and took it home. When my friend went to pick up her dress she realized it was ivory with a white tag and told DB so. Management discovered the problem and called the other bride to bring the dress back. The other bride decided she liked the white better and chose to keep it! 

  
  

  In the end DB management were able to have the dress made again and sent so she got her dress. She was very calm and collected during the ordeal but I know I wouldn't have handled it as well as she did.

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• hlvonb member

  

  December 2013

  melbelleup said:

  Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr I just have to grr somewhere. I'm trying to figure out if I'm getting my dress altered in my home town (PA) (where wedding and dress is) or in my town in NC. I'm going home for Christmas, but won't be home again until April for a bridal shower and Easter.. then again in May for another bridal shower, to get marriage license and my birthday/mother's day... of course the place I got my dress hire out on contract and the woman is only there Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays to pin up dresses (sews from home). I'm never ever in town then (other than Mother's day because I decided I want to celebrate my 25th at home). I called another place which is closer to my home town and they won't do it unless I bought my dress from there. Dandy! I'm crossing my fingers this woman decides she can do my dress on Sat. of Easter either at the store or at her house. Ugh. Oh, and of course my  mom wants my dress done through them and not anywhere near me. Yay!
  
  Any other alterations horror stories?
  

  @melbelleup

  Nothing happened to me (since I haven't had alterations yet) but my sister had a horrible experience. My sisters name is Liese (pronounced Lisa) so the lady doing the alterations confused 2 tickets forgetting that my sisters name is spelled differently than pronounced. So instead of taking the dress in where it needed to be, she let it out.... Even zipped up the dress wouldn't stay on, it literally fell to the floor. We laugh at it now but it was not funny then.
  

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• melbelleup member

  

  December 2013

  hlvonb said:

  melbelleup said:

  Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr I just have to grr somewhere. I'm trying to figure out if I'm getting my dress altered in my home town (PA) (where wedding and dress is) or in my town in NC. I'm going home for Christmas, but won't be home again until April for a bridal shower and Easter.. then again in May for another bridal shower, to get marriage license and my birthday/mother's day... of course the place I got my dress hire out on contract and the woman is only there Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays to pin up dresses (sews from home). I'm never ever in town then (other than Mother's day because I decided I want to celebrate my 25th at home). I called another place which is closer to my home town and they won't do it unless I bought my dress from there. Dandy! I'm crossing my fingers this woman decides she can do my dress on Sat. of Easter either at the store or at her house. Ugh. Oh, and of course my  mom wants my dress done through them and not anywhere near me. Yay!
  
  Any other alterations horror stories?
  

  @melbelleup

  Nothing happened to me (since I haven't had alterations yet) but my sister had a horrible experience. My sisters name is Liese (pronounced Lisa) so the lady doing the alterations confused 2 tickets forgetting that my sisters name is spelled differently than pronounced. So instead of taking the dress in where it needed to be, she let it out.... Even zipped up the dress wouldn't stay on, it literally fell to the floor. We laugh at it now but it was not funny then.
  

  OMG!!! I'd be so upset. We figured out my alterations The seamstress called me on christmas eve.. which was odd but whatever. We're set to do it on my birthday( May 11) when I come home in May, then if need be she can do it the week before my wedding with no issues. So, that's reassuring.
  

  

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• jessiray member

  

  January 2014

  I live in Mi and I'm having all of my alterations done in Pittsburgh, which is where our wedding will be, too. From my experience, they're so happy that you ordered the dress through them that they're willing to be flexible with you when it comes to alterations. At least, they've been really great about everything so far. Good luck!!!

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• melbelleup member

  

  January 2014

  jessiray said:

  I live in Mi and I'm having all of my alterations done in Pittsburgh, which is where our wedding will be, too. From my experience, they're so happy that you ordered the dress through them that they're willing to be flexible with you when it comes to alterations. At least, they've been really great about everything so far. Good luck!!!

  It depends on where. I got my dress through Alfred Angelo's but the people that do the alterations both in Monroeville (where I got my dress) and the one in Pittsburgh are hired out. They do however work opposite days so going to Pittsburgh was also an option for me, but that makes my 20 minute drive one way into an hour and so plus more traffic and I don't know that part of Pittsburgh well so probably even longer lol. I also tried other bridal salons and it was basically could only use their seamstress if you got your dress from there regardless of the fact they sell Alfred Angelo's.
  

  

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