A MINI GUIDE TO ALTERATIONS | WHY YOU'LL NEED THEM AND IMPORTANT TIMELINE FACTORS TO CONSIDER

january 2022

we're the experts when it comes to finding your wedding dress and leave alterations to the professionals. that being said, we want to give you brief summary of what bridal gown alterations are and why they're to be expected with EVERY. SINGLE. DRESS.



WHAT ARE ALTERATIONS?

alterations are the process of getting your wedding dress custom fitted to you by a skilled seamstress once your ordered wedding gown has arrived. each a&bé location has seamstresses they recommend for their individual markets. alterations are not done in-house, which is typical for most bridal boutiques.

WHY DO I NEED ALTERATIONS?

ever see a bride that’s constantly pulling up their strapless wedding dress? yeahhh, they more than likely didn’t get alterations done, or at least not by a trained professional. alterations are essential to getting your wedding dress perfectly tailored to your body and bridal vision. while we do our best to order your wedding dress in the closest size possible, you’re most likely going to need a hem, bustle and cups installed, and straps taken up. not only that, but skirts and bodices can need adjustments depending on the size range between your hips, waist, and bust. oftentimes, we’re not the same size all the way through and some designers do not offer split size options. a professional bridal tailor is well equipped and eager to check off every adjustment your wedding dress needs so you can look and feel your best on the big day.

WHEN DO I NEED TO START ALTERATIONS?

alterations happen after you pick up your wedding dress from the bridal shop. sometimes you’ll carry the gown home with you and other times you’ll head straight into alterations. this is entirely dependent on how far out you are from your wedding day. pre-covid, alterations usually started 3-4 months out from your wedding day, but due to covid delays, some markets are experiencing alterations timelines that are even longer. with more weddings than ever happening in 2022, give yourself plenty of time for alterations to take place. our bridal shops will talk through all of this in both your initial bridal appointment and wedding dress pick-up appointment, but once you leave, it’s on you to make sure to follow through with their alterations advice!

this leads us to an additional alterations expense some brides encounter. WHEN you get alterations done contributes to your total wedding dress alterations expenses. if a seamstress needs to expedite your fittings it is going to be more costly than a normal alterations timeline. with delays and seamstresses' calendars changing daily, we encourage you to contact your local shop if you are unsure of your individual alterations timeline.