How to Get a Wedding Dress Ready for Alterations

Finding the perfect wedding dress may seem like a daunting task. Not only do you need to choose the right style, color and design, but you may also need to have alterations done a few weeks in advance to adjust the fit of the dress for your body type. There are some smart things you can do to get your wedding dress ready for alternations and ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible, whether you are having the alterations professionally done or doing them yourself.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Verify the delivery date of your bridal gown if you order it from a store to be sure that you will have it in time to get it ready for alterations. Ask the bridal shop to confirm the delivery date in writing when you order it. Though it might not be possible to determine the exact date it will arrive, the store should be able to give you an estimate within a timeframe of 1 to 2 weeks.
2. Choose all of your accessories, including your bra, underwear and footwear, at the same time that you purchase your wedding dress. It is helpful to coordinate both the style and fit of all of these items in conjunction with any necessary alterations. Having a good idea of the way your undergarments fit you and the height of your wedding shoes will help you determine how much alteration work is needed.
3. Examine your wedding dress closely for any defects, both on the outside and the inside lining of the gown. Look for any flaws in the embellishments on the dress, such as trims, embroidery and beading. These imperfections can usually be repaired as part of the alterations, but it is important to bring them up to the salesperson as soon as possible, especially if special fabrics or other products will be needed to fix them.
4. Purchase thread that closely matches the color of your dress to use for alterations if you will be doing them yourself. If possible, take a small sample of the fabric of your dress with you to the local craft store, so you can visually compare the materials. Never order thread online for bridal alterations because it is almost always impossible to tell the exact color when viewing it on a home-computer screen.
5. Remove the dress from its packaging if it is wrapped or folded. Get it ready for alterations by allowing it to hang freely and uncovered on a wooden hanger--using the loops inside the seams and not the shoulder straps of the dress--in a closet or other safe place where no one in your house will accidentally touch or damage it. This will allow any wrinkles to fall out of the dress naturally, letting the fabric fully extend to its actual volume and length and making it easier to measure and alter.

Tips & Warnings

• If possible, use a credit card to pay for your wedding dress to protect yourself if there are any problems with your order. If necessary, you might be able to stop payment for the dress by contacting your credit-card company.
• Request the style number, color, designer name and the price of the dress upfront and in writing. This information will usually be included in a written contract between you and the store, but it is a good idea to request such a document if it is not the store's regular policy to provide it. Get the price in writing, including the amount of the deposit if you are required to put one down, ensuring that you will not be charged a higher price for the dress when it arrives.