Congratulations on finding the perfect dress for your big day! But finding the perfect dress does not always mean it’s going to fit you perfectly too. And really, if you’re spending that much on a dress, you want it to look spectacular on the day—think Meghan Markle at the #RoyalWedding!

But an ill-fitting dress will make your gown look cheap, and will take away from the beauty of the event.

Whether your dress needs to be trimmed, or just needs a few nips in the waist, here are our top tips to remember when it comes to bridal alterations:

Budget in the cost of alterations:

Rarely any wedding dress is made-to-measure. Yes, even if you have the perfect model proportions, your dress will probably still need to be fitted and altered! Knowing this beforehand will allow you to include the alteration costs in your wedding budget and avoid any nasty surprises when the bill for the gown comes in.

Schedule Multiple Fittings

You will need at least three wedding dress fittings to make sure everything fits exactly as it should.

Ideally, your first fitting should be scheduled three months before the wedding, with the second a month before and the final fitting just two weeks before the wedding.

At the first fitting, your dress is very likely not to fit you very well – and that’s okay! Tell your seamstress or tailor exactly what you want, and if the gown still doesn’t fit at the second fitting, be vocal! Usually, the dress comes home with you at the third fitting, so this is probably the last chance you have to make any changes you might want to make.

Bring Your Bridal Accessories with You at Every Fitting

This includes the shoes, the undergarments and the jewelry you plan on wearing on your big day. This will ensure your dress is the correct length and the fit it needs to be to accommodate your accessories, with the added benefit of giving you a complete look over at the overall image you’ll present on your big day.

Bring a Buddy Along

It’s never a bad idea to get a second opinion about something as important as this! However, be selective about who you choose to bring and make sure they have an eye for style. Taking your maid of honor and mom to the final dress fitting is also highly recommended to ensure they know how to correctly handle your dress on the wedding day.

About Sterling Cleaners

With over 7 decades of experience, Imperial Valet offer wedding gown alteration service in Washington. Lead by our supervising tailor who has been featured in “The Washington Post” and “The Washington Times”, our expert team of tailors are dedicated to giving you the fitting and alteration experience you deserve.

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