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Alterations 1.5 Hours Away?

posted 4 months ago in Dress
  • poll: Is 1.5 hours too far?
    Pick someone local. The ambiance isn't that important, and I'm sure it will be fine. : (3 votes)
    11 %
    See if you can get the major work done at the shop far away, and then go local for finishing touches : (6 votes)
    21 %
    Drive the hour and a half! It's worth it! : (19 votes)
    68 %
  •  
    1.
    Member
    318 posts
    Helper bee
    Sunnybrook    June 29, 2013   Virginia

    OK, Bees... here's the thing.  There are lots of strip-mall type alterations places around me, but none that specialize in Bridal wear.  And none that don't have at least one terrible review online.

    But, an hour and a half away is an alterations place that looks amazing.  A really nice website that shows that they care about what they do, and the brides the do it for.  A very nice shop where I wouldn't be trying on my dress under florescent lights.  A responsive seamstress who replied kindly and quickly to my email and is calling me to discuss things further.  And, she's fluent in English (which normally wouldn't be a big deal, but I feel like clear communication is *super* important in this case).

    The catch?  It's an hour and a half away.  Am I crazy to do this?  It just seems leaps and bounds better than more local options.  And I love imagining myself trying on my gown there, and not in a mini-mall behind a shower curtain.

    What would you do?  Thanks!

     
    2.
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    2,301 posts
    Buzzing bee
    ChemistryBride    June 2012  

    An hour and a half is nothing! I drove 3 hours each way to my fittings because there aren't any decenet seamstresses in my area, so I had to drive to my hometown (where I bought my dresses and the wedding was located). I had 4 fittings (last was the week of the wedding) so I made the 6 hr round trip drive 3 separate times before I came home for the wedding. It was worth it to me to make sure I had quality work done on my dress.

     
    3.
    Member
    660 posts
    Busy bee
    lisaelanna    August 6, 2011   Austin, TX

    I drove almost an hour and a half for alterations - you only have to do it a couple times.  And if its that much bigger of a city in that direction you can plan to do a couple other things or visit some other stores while you're there.

     

     
    4.
    Member
    318 posts
    Helper bee
    Sunnybrook    June 29, 2013   Virginia

    @ChemistryBride:  @lisaelanna:  Thanks.  That's really helpful.  Weirdly, my city is bigger... but not huge.  I'm actually surprised that there isn't a great place locally.  I think most people here buy their gown at the local bridal shop, and get their alterations there.  They don't do outside alterations, though.

    Also, I fixed my poll.  :)

     
    5.
    Member
    1,128 posts
    Bumble bee
    Christy42213    April 22, 2013   Maryland, wedding in Rhode Island

    You're not crazy at all.  My dress shop is an hour from my house if there's no traffic.  Since I live near D.C., traffic can make the trip up to 3 hours one way!

    Bridal gowns are verrrrry different from regular dresses.  Go to the place where you know they're not going to butcher it.  I'd definitely drive the 1.5 hours.  Hands down.

     
    6.
    Member Icon
    Member
    2,301 posts
    Buzzing bee
    ChemistryBride    June 2012  

    Def not crazy. I also probably way overpaid for alterations since I got them done at the salon I bought my dress at, but I was really afraid of them screwing it up (my dress had to be taken in like 6 inches) so I wanted someone who had worked on that exact dress before so they were familiar with it. I needed that dress to fit perfectly! lol

     
    7.
    Member
    1,760 posts
    Buzzing bee
    sheepandbear    May 16, 2013   Dallas, Tx

    Mine is an hour and ten minutes away and she is supposed to be amazing. Take someone along for the ride to keep you company. You will wish you had driven the extra distance if you dont like your local alterations when its finishe.

     
    8.
    Member
    2,023 posts
    Buzzing bee
    megz06    July 6, 2012   ND

    Not crazy. I had no choice but to go 1.5 hours away for my dress and alterations (although I didn't need a bunch of alterations).

    There was a bunch of places to shop ther for MOB dresses, but I was willing to go with my mom 3.5 hours away to look for dresses (which she didn't get anything there. It was just a fun shopping day lol), so I say no it is def not crazy :-)

     
    9.
    Member
    659 posts
    Busy bee
    lauraashley09    June 21, 2014   Minneapolis

    an hour and a half is nothing!!!

     
    10.
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    5,797 posts
    Bee Keeper
    MrsWBS       

    well my alterations are 8 hours away, so 1.5 hours is nothing to me. 

     
    11.
    Member
    318 posts
    Helper bee
    Sunnybrook    June 29, 2013   Virginia

    Just an update-  I spoke to the seamstress at the place I want to go to, and she offered to book an entire day with me.  So, basically, I go once, she pins, sews, puts it back on me, pins, sews, etc.  At the end of the day, I leave with a finished dress.  $250.

    I think that's pretty amazing, actually.  Makes me love the place even more.

    Of course, it means I'm going to wait a long time to do the fitting... to account for weight changes, etc.  So I won't really know how my dress fits until 2 weeks before my wedding!  Eep!

     

     

     

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