What to Bring to Your Dress Alterations Appointment

A successful alterations appointment is crucial to ensuring your wedding dress fits perfectly on your big day, and knowing what to bring to your dress alterations appointment can make all the difference!

At Lace Envy Alterations we understand that your fitting can feel overwhelming, which is why we want to guide you so you know exactly what to bring to your alterations appointment. This will make the process go more smoothly and more enjoyable for you!

Your bridal dress fittings should be a part of your overall wedding memories and not an added stress. That’s why, in this blog, we’re going to walk you through everything you need to know and bring to your dress alterations appointment to help ensure that your gown fits like a dream and that you feel your very best on your wedding day!

1. Your Wedding Dress

Okay, so this may seem obvious, but don’t forget to bring your wedding dress to the appointment! Sometimes in the hustle and bustle leading up to the big day, the simplest things can be forgotten, so don’t forget to bring your beautiful wedding dress.

Be sure your wedding dress is clean and free of any wrinkles prior to your bringing it in. If you bought your dress from a bridal boutique, that’s great! Check with your boutique associate to make sure it’s been properly steamed or pressed before they hand it over to you for alterations.

Remember, your alterations appointment is all about making adjustments to your wedding dress, so having it there at your alterations appointment is vital!

2. Shoes You Plan to Wear on Your Wedding Day

Having accessories that you will be wearing on your wedding day is very helpful to bring to your wedding dress alterations appointment. One very important accessory is your wedding shoes! These babies play a huge role in the fitting of your dress, especially when it comes to the hemline!

When you have your shoes with you for your alteration appointment, we will know exactly where the hemline should fall. This will allow the seamstress to tailor your dress to the proper length. It is very helpful that you have your wedding shoes purchased prior to this appointment. Other shoes, while boasting the same length heel, may be slightly different and can alter the fit and hemline of your gown.  

If you don’t have your wedding shoes yet, there are ways around this. Try to bring a pair that is not only similar in heel height but also in style, emulating your wedding shoe as closely as possible for an accurate fit.

3. Undergarments You’ll Wear on Your Wedding Day

To ensure the most seamless fit and accurate alterations – be sure to bring all of the undergarments you’ll be wearing on your wedding day to your wedding alterations appointment.

Undergarments, like shapewear or a bra, can greatly impact the fit of your wedding dress. So if you plan to wear a strapless bra, or specialty wedding day shapewear, be sure it’s the exact one you’ll be wearing on your wedding day.

Your wedding dress alterations appointment is like an undergarment dress rehearsal and it is very helpful for the seamstress to take these items into account during your fitting!

4. Accessories You Plan to Wear on Your Wedding Day

Accessories like a veil, jewelry, or a sash can affect how your dress both fits and looks on your wedding day. So, bring along any of these accessories to your bridal dress alterations appointment as well. This will allow your seamstress to discern whether or not she needs to adjust the neckline or add additional hoops or loops. Or, if you’re adding a belt it may be fitting for the dress to be sewn on to your dress so it stays in place. Little details like this make a big difference!

At Lace Envy Alterations, our goal is to ensure your dress not only looks perfect, but perfect with all of your accessories. So, be sure to bring anything that will be part of your wedding day look. There is no such thing as bringing too much or being overly prepared here!

5. A Trusted Person to Help with Decision Making

It doesn’t hurt, if it is possible, to bring along a trusted friend or family member to your alterations appointment for moral support and feedback. Having the opinion of someone you really trust will help you make decisions that may come up during your alterations appointment like choosing between two different style suggestions. Your friend or family member can also provide reassurance during the fittings which is such a big support to the appointment.

It is important to keep in mind to have someone there with you who understands your vision and taste, like a maid of honor or sister or your mother. Someone who will know to keep your interests and visions at heart.

We understand that some brides prefer to keep this once-in-a-lifetime experience private, and that is no problem. It is perfectly fine and welcome to attend your alterations appointment on your own and make all of these decisions for yourself, too!

6. A List of Specific Alterations You’d Like

Bring a list! It is very easy to think you’ll remember all the points on the spot, but just in case, it’s best to have the specific alterations you’d like or questions that you have handy and written down with you. This way, you don’t risk forgetting anything. Your list might include things like shortening the hem, tightening the waist, or asking what kind of bustle is best. While our seamstress would likely suggest these alterations, knowing exactly what you want ahead of time is a great starting point.

If you’re unsure of what specific alterations you’d like, do not worry!  Our seamstresses are here to help you throughout the process and will guide you based on your body type.  

Pro Tip:  If you’re unsure of alteration terminology, bring in photo inspiration for ideas and bring them along to easily communicate exactly what you’re looking for!

7. Inspiration Photos or Design Ideas

Bring along any inspiration photos or design ideas you have in mind for your wedding dress. This can include details like custom sleeves, straps, neckline changes, or veil ideas.

Having visual references makes it much easier to communicate your vision and helps your seamstress understand exactly what you’re hoping to achieve.

If you’re thinking about adding custom elements or making design changes, these photos will be incredibly helpful during your alterations appointment.

8. A Positive Attitude and Patience

This appointment is leading up to a big day and, as a bride, there is a lot on your plate. At Lace Envy Alterations we make the experience as stress-free and enjoyable as possible. With that in mind, it is still super important to arrive at your alterations appointment with an open mind for what is best and a positive attitude. We are here to help you!

Sometimes, multiple fittings are necessary and that’s okay! Not to worry – it is better to be safe than sorry, as they say. Things like this are put into place to ensure everything is just right for you on your wedding day. Your patience leading up to this point is key! So, remember that our seamstresses are here to do whatever they can to make your dress fit beautifully and comfortably, too! They’re a member of your bridal team and want to ensure a flawless fit on your wedding day!

9. A Calendar for Scheduling Additional Fittings

As mentioned previously, alterations often require more than one fitting appointment. So be sure to bring your planner, or your phone calendar, or have your availability dates handy, so you can book all of your future appointments at your first fitting.

Also, be sure that you have plenty of time before the wedding to schedule any possible additional follow-up fittings. Then, we suggest allowing for at least two to three weeks before the big day for the final fitting. This will ensure that any last-minute adjustments can be made before your wedding day, just in case!

10. A Positive and Flexible Mindset for Any Necessary Changes

At Lace Envy Alterations, we are on your bridal team! It is helpful to understand that alterations may involve unexpected adjustments or changes throughout the process as the seamstress works on your dress. This is why we have multiple fittings in place prior to your big day.  

And, while your vision and ideas are of the utmost importance to us, having an open mind and being open to suggestions that may improve the fit and overall look of your dress are all with your benefit in mind.

Our seamstresses are alteration experts!  Trust in their expertise – she will work with you to get everything just right. As we said, we are on your bridal team and want only what is best for you for your wedding day!

Bringing the right items to your alterations appointment will ensure that your wedding dress will fit you just perfectly for your special day. So please use this blog post as a guide and a checklist so you have all of the essentials to make your bridal gown alterations appointment a complete success, leaving you with a flawless fit and look.

Remember, with the right preparations, your alterations appointment will go smoothly and be a fun process too!!  We want to set you up so you feel confident and beautiful on your wedding day!

Are you ready to schedule your dress alterations appointment?

We’d love to hear from you!  Reach out to us at Lace Envy Alterations to start the process of making your wedding dress the absolutely perfect fit.  Inquire today and let us help you create the gown of your dreams.