Wedding Gown Alterations

Appointments are not required; however for bridal parties larger than (3) can call ahead to schedule an appointment with one of our in house tailors to insure all their needs are met.

What to Bring to your fitting:

• Dress – all parts. Although it is common to have your dress a single piece, there are occasions when there are multiply pieces (train, bustle, shawl, veil, etc…).
• Shoes – this will establish the exact height and make sure the finished hem will be at desired height.
• Under garments which will be worn with your dress. As the shoes are important to the finished hem, so are the undergarments to the overall perfect fit. There could be a difference of up to 2 inches in the hemline or waist when foundation garments are worn.
• Make sure that you don’t have makeup on for your fitting as you would like to keep your gown clean and stain free as possible.

Who to bring to your fitting:

The bride can easily be overwhelmed with a crowd discussing the appearance of her gown at her fitting. The entire purpose of the fitting (alterations) is to transition a gown into your personal bridal gown. For this reason less is more. A bride should plan to bring her mother, and or a trusted relative as an extra set of eyes. The bustle and train will need to be adjusted by the maid of honor…so she would be another good person to have on hand to understand how your gown works.

Common wedding gown alterations:

• Length – Regardless how many layers your gown has, making sure the length is correct so that you will not trip when making your grand entrance.
• Waist – To be a princess for the day requires that your gown is form fitted. This gown should extenuate your figure.
• Straps – Verifying that your gown rest properly on your shoulders and is positioned right. Necessary adjustments will be made to provide the desired “V” line.
• Train – Tailoring your train to your desired length. Some brides prefer detachable trains. This allows them to have the elegant appearance during the ceremony and the freedom of movement during the reception.
• Bustle – In order to create a cleaner hemline, a bustle will make dancing and walking easier. The purpose is to elevate the elegant train off the floor. Despite the fact that many bridal gowns have bustles, most gowns don’t come with bustles. This is a feature that needs to be addressed during your fitting as each bride is different heights and the bustle needs to be tailored to your specific height.

Tips when purchasing your wedding gown:
As each bride is unique, so is each gown. Don’t expect to find the perfect dress that will not need any alterations. Just as the perfect pair of jeans needs some type of alterations, your wedding gown which is much more of a prize possession will definitely require some type alterations.

It is always better to take in seams then to let out or have to add material if the gown is too small.

It is not recommended to purchase a gown that is one size larger than your own. From an alteration perspective, the gown can in most cases be altered. However, a larger gown is cut proportionally larger in all aspects. So, if you only take in the waist, the rest of the garment will not be a perfect fit. To the contrary, there are gowns that are manufactured to span a wider range of sizes. For instance, dresses that have zippers are made for a particular size where corset ties can span multiply sizes.

It is best to find a gown that is close to your size.

When should you schedule your fitting?
There is not a straight forward answer…it depends.

We generally recommend that as soon as you get your gown; bring it in for an initial fitting. This would establish what areas of the gown will need to altered and if there is anything special you would like done to personalize your gown. The tailors at Kyrou Tailoring will discuss your
concerns as well as provide their expert opinion and recommendations.

Weddings are a joyous occasion, however, can be a stressful time in your life. It’s not every day you get married. Stress has a way of fluctuating your weight. We recommend brides have their wedding gown brought in for a fitting (2) weeks minimum (but not greater than 4 weeks). This will insure that there is adequate time to make necessary alterations and the fit will be perfect.

If there are major modifications needed on your gown (other than general hemming, straps, and waist) please bring it in for a fitting to discuss with one of our tailors. All brides’ maids can have their dress fittings all at the same time, or at their convenience.

Bridesmaid’s tips

Check with the bride on the desired length. All bridesmaids should have dress hems the same length from the floor or in respect to distance from the knee.

Advantages of getting your entire wedding party alterations at same place (Kyrou Tailoring)
Insures quality and cost savings (ask us about bridal party discounts).

Uniformity with hem lengths as well as style of finished hem for Bridesmaids
Guaranties all garments will be perfect fit and ready for engagement/ceremony.