The "Forgotten" Wedding Vendor

[VenusElaine]

I am the "forgotten" wedding vendor. I am an alteration specialist. I have inspected and poored over many wedding planners, both printed and online, and seldom see more than a passing reference to my profession.

Many brides purchase their gowns and have their alterations (and it is RARE that none are needed) done in-house. Consultants will persuade a bride to purchase a gown in a totally inappropriate size or style by convincing her that it can be altered to fit her perfectly. YES, but at what cost? I know of no bridal shop that alters at no cost, and would seriously reconsider one that would.

Bridal alterations are a specialized, detailed type of alteration that should not be considered by even an advanced home sewer. Even a "simple" hem may not be simple on a wedding gown. There may be beading, horsehair, a sealed hem. or any combination of the above.

A qualified alteration specialist should tell you:
1. The alterations you need to make you comfortable (this is most important, as you will have the gown on for many hours; standing, sitting, eating, toasting, dancing, hugging, etc,)

2. The alterations you need to make you more beautiful. Every bride is beautiful.

3. The alterations you need to make the gown practical. (It must not interfere with the above two considerations.) Your train must be bustled. Your veil must be removable if you wish.

VenusElaine

[BriansBride07]

thanks for the advice. I will consider asking those questions when I am calling to have someone alter my dress.

[VenusElaine]

BriansBride07,
Thank you for the positive response. If you have not already done so, I suggest you find and schedule your alteration specialist now. "Wedding Season" has grown into the entire year, but June is still "the month". I already have two weddings scheduled for consecutive Saturdays in June.
An excellent reference site for all things "Bridal Gown" is www.leanna.com.
She has suggestions for just about everything you can imagine in reference to bridal and maid gowns, including the alterations for them.

VenusElaine

[shawnsgirl]

Thanks for the advice...the bridal shop I purchased my gown from tried to get me to order my dress a size larger than my measurements in the event I would gain weight. My weight doesn't fluctuate much so I said unless my dress would require a larger size becuase of the designer's sizing no way...I'm figuring they wanted additional $$$ money from me for the alterations...I wasn't about to order a dress a size larger than my measurements state just in the even I would gain weight or unless there was some indication my dress would be a hair to tight. I think the bridal shop was trying to pull one over on me.. thanks for the helpful advice!!!

[VenusElaine]

Good for you! Remember, bridal shops are seldom looking for repeat business. Consultants are often paid on commission. This is not to say that they are all out for a fast buck, but you must be aware and beware:ooh: .
Bridal sizes do often differ from your regular RTW size, but the order should be placed according to your largest measurement on the designer's size chart. You should have the final say as to which size is ordered. It is, after all, your money, and they rarely offer refunds, no matter the reason.

VenusElaine

[MakeMePretty]

Bridal sizes do often differ from your regular RTW size,


I'm sorry if this is a stupid question that everyone already knows the answer to, but what does RTW stand for? I'm trying to learn as much about the wedding industry as I can. Partly as a vendor, but also just because it's so interesting. LOL

[VenusElaine]

RTW stands for "ready to wear". Sorry it took so long to let you know, I'm at work so much this time of year I rarely have time to post. And questions are never stupid, though failing to ask them can be.

VenusElaine

[VenusElaine]

It's time to revive this thread. Any questions about alterations or custom gowns may be adressed here. I will answer as time permits.

Luck and Love to All,

VenusElaine

[Whitewater]

This isn't a question so much as it is a grump, though if anybody has a practical answer I'd love to hear it.

Do the people who design wedding gowns somehow think that nobody under 5'6" gets married?????? WTF is up with dresses that are designed so that they look their best on people who are model height?????

I'm 5'3" and curvy, a la Mae West, and I have the physical proportions of a Barbie doll -- LONG legs, a big chest, wide shoulders and a very small, very short waist. (at least, I do when I'm anywhere near my ideal weight, and the length of my legs won't change anyway!)

Dresses I try on, well, let's just say that the hem of the skirt generally winds up about three feet beyond my shoes. Hemming THAT much ruins the line of the dress and the proportion of the design (not to mention that it ruins the look, because the beading and decoration etc is utterly ruined, or gone all together). RTW dresses always look FOUL on me because of my size. Alterations simply aren't an option when the dress was designed for somebody who's 5'8, 125lbs, and a 36C -- and I'm 5'3", 185lbs and a 40DD.

I cannot for the life of me figure out why the HECK wedding dresses don't come in short-people sizes. Haven't the designers figured out by now that short people get married too???? Would it really be all that hard to design a dress that has elegant lines, and is specifically made for those of us under 5'5"???

I was looking into that red Allure wedding gown (the strapless corsetback with the gold and silver beading/embroidery, that has the huge skirt with all the gathers) as my reception dress . . . . until the only shop that carries it in my entire state (true!) told me that it would be $1200 for the dress and that they would have to chop "at least afoot" off of the skirt, somehow, to make it fit my petite height. That alteration would cost me an arm and a leg because of all the beading and design work that they'd have to undo and re-do.

Yeah, right. I'm already paying somewhere between 800-1000 for my custom wedding gown, I'm not paying $2000 for a reception dress that is going to be ruined by chopping 12-18" out of the skirt, just so that it will fit me.

Sorry. I didn't mean for this to turn into a rant. But I am really getting sick and tired of wedding (and bridesmaid dresses!!! my Deputy MoH is only 5" tall . . . .) gowns being built ONLY for the vertically blessed amongst us.


Whitewater

[dylansmom011908]

Any advice would be great as to how to find a good alteration specialist. I have to admit, this is one vendor I haven't gave much thought to. :bbredface:

Thanks for the information!

[wannabeNurse2]

My sales associate convinced me to buy a size six even though I couldn't breath in it. Go figure I gained weight and now I could really use a size 8. I really wish I would of followed my gut feeling on this and ordered the size 8. Now the dress is here. I tried it on right away. It totally doesn't fit. I didn't gain any weight in my top half which is where the dress doesn't fit. I figured out that the sample had been tried on so many times that it was stretched. My brand new dress isn't stretched. Any suggestions other than getting it altered, which I'm going to do anyway?