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How many fittings did it take for your alterations?

How many visits did you make to the store/seamstress to get your alterations taken care of? Was it as simple as going there and having the measurements done and then voila it is great the next visit or did you have to go back multiple times?


I need to have mine taken in around the bust area a little but that is it, no hem or bustle to worry about.  There is a place I am considering but it is on a different side of town (35 min drive), but I know it has good reviews, my mom has talked to the owner, plus they sent a $50 coupon which would be nice.  I'm also looking at places closer to my house though I am hoping to get recommendations from friends and I have a feeling it will be more expensive (my side of town usually is).  If it is just a 2 visit thing I'd be ok with the drive but if I need multiple visits that might be a deal breaker just because of convenience.

Re: How many fittings did it take for your alterations?

  • I had 3 total visits. First when the dress came in. Second to try it on (it fit perfect). The third was because I decided to change the belt sash I added on. 
  • I met the my alteration lady and she pinned my hem and my bustle (that is all I needed to have done). Then I went back again to make sure all was good.  And it was.  So it only took me two visits.

    On average I think alterations can take anywhere from 2-5 visits depending on what all you need to have done and if your weight fluctuates.

    Personally, I would rather drive 35 minutes 2 or 3 times to a shop that has really good reviews then pick something where I am unsure about their services just because they are closer.

  • Satuday will be #5.  Its been a process, but I'm REALLY tall and they're building up the bustline, so its quite a bit of work.

    It all just depends on what you need done.
  • When it came in I just went to try it on, but it was too soon to start alterations.  First fitting they marked where they needed to take it out, second fitting they did the hem, third fitting the bustle and a 4th fitting just to make sure everything was perfect. 
  • I think I had four visits. But, I'm glad I did. Some alterations I didn't like and had to have changed, and there was a defect in the dress we didn't see till the third fitting, but was able to be worked out.
    "There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness." -Friedrich Nietzsche, "On Reading and Writing"
  • Yikes, a ton.  Because they couldn't get my dress right.  :(  Hopefully I'm an anomoly.  Tips: make sure the person/place has good reviews, and if they struggle early on, take it somewhere else immediately.  Or you'll be like me, two days before wedding and they're still working on it.  :(:(:(
  • I'm guessing 2-3?  I just dropped mine off with the seamstress on Tuesday, I tried it on to show her what needed to be done, and I go back on Feb 6 to try it again.  It's too big around the bust so she's gonna take the top in but if it still isn't right she'll have to add darts which would mean another visit later. 
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  • I went once, then came back and everything was just right. 

    I had the straps & bust taken in, and that's it. 
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  • I went once to the store to pick it up and try it on.

    My first fitting they just measured what the hem would be.

    My second fitting they had the hem tacked up, but not yet sewn, and we talked about altering my long-line strapless bra so it would be totally hidden, and not show under the dress. I think they did the bustle this time, too.

    My third fitting the hem was sewn, and the bra was pinned I think, and we just talked about my boobs a bunch hahaha.They also needed to fix one of the buttons for the bustle because it wasn't even. 

    My fourth and final fitting everything was sewn in and final.

    And I went back a final time to pick up the dress, after it had been steamed, just a couple days before the wedding. 


    So I basically had no alterations...just a hem, a bustle, and my bra sewn in (and they sewed down the cups and the back where it would have shown), and it still took a number of fittings. It was like 20-25 minutes away, but they were all on Saturday mornings so it was no issue for me. 
  • I had two. One to cut out a bunch of tulle and add cups. Then it was hemmed on the second one. I went back a third time to pick it up.
    Anniversary

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  • One to drop the dress off, one to see how they did on alterations and one to pick it up. 
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  • 3 times, and the shop was 45 minutes away. Worth every minute.

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  • First time was to take measurements. Second time it fit perfect (straps were taken up, sash was sewn on, bustle). They stored it which was awesome so I went a 3rd time to pick it up. That drive is nothing to me, I drive further than that to work daily lol

                                                                     

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  • Once to drop it off and get everything figured out, once because she wanted to make sure she was on the right track, and once to pick it up.  She bustled it, took a bit off the hem in front (I didn't wear heels), and added some tulle to the bodice so I didn't have cleavage.

    My seamstress was in the town where my (then) FI lived, and where we got married - so I had a three hour drive (each way) anytime I went to see her.  Your 35 minutes elicits a pat on the head and an 'aww, honey' from me.

    **The OMH formerly known as jsangel1018**
  • One time they pinned the hem and bustle (that is all I needed done). I went back the next time to pick it up and have them show us how to bustle the dress. We noticed that the buttons for the bustle weren't even (1 inch apart to the left of the middle and 3 inches apart to the right of the middle). So we went to dinner and came back an hour and a half later after they fixed it.
  • jenna8984 said:
    First time was to take measurements. Second time it fit perfect (straps were taken up, sash was sewn on, bustle). They stored it which was awesome so I went a 3rd time to pick it up. That drive is nothing to me, I drive further than that to work daily lol
    Yeah I've driven longer than 35 minutes for a good steak.

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  • thanks for all of the opinions, I appreciate it.  I am leaning toward the place further away bc I know it has good reviews. 
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