Post # 1
Member
3415 posts
Sugar bee
- Wedding: September 2014 - Lodge
I bought a sample at a salon. I fell in love with this stock photo and hunted until I found a salon that had this sample. Long story short they had a sample sale the weekend I went, it fit perfect, except a little tight in my thighs which are my problem area, I wasn’t concerned though because I have been exercising and toning up. Sooo here I am almost 4 months after first trying on the sample and I know when I go back to try it on again its going to be too big. Since Jan I’ve toned up a lot and the jeans that were fitting me at that time are now falling off me.
My problem is I want this dress to be more mermaid than fit and flare. I’m afraid that if I have to take it in too much the applique on the lace won’t line up and will look cheap. I have about 19 months till I get married but it’s haunting my dreams…literally. Last night I had another dream that my dress was too big and alterations were horrible. I haven’t tried my dress back on yet. For one thing I’m a little scared but also the shop is over an hour away and right now my schedule is tight so making a day to get there is hard right now.
Can someone please reassure me that their lace alterations were perfect and maybe post pictures if you have them. Thanks so much. Here is my photo from when I purchased my dress.
Post # 3
Member
6574 posts
Bee Keeper
My lace dress alterations were great. I picked a seamstress that is pretty much a local legend about 3 hours from me. I actually made the drive 3 times, 3 hours each way, for alterations because she’s apparently a miracle worker.
I did not need the length fixed, as I ordered it in the appropriate length from the designer. I did need the straps taken up a bit. She also did some alterations to the back of my dress, making it more of a “V” instead of straight across to make it more flattering. She changed the zipper that was on it to an invisible zipper, and when she did that she also let it out a smidgen on each side.
I wore Allure 8634 http://allurebridals.com/store_productdetail.aspx?pid=40d9i3264977gid7b6cg
I think it’s just key to get an awesome seamstress.
Post # 4
Member
3415 posts
Sugar bee
- Wedding: September 2014 - Lodge
@starfish0116: Can I ask how much your alterations were? I know obviously each seamstress chanrges differently, and areas make a difference too. I don’t know why I’m freaking out over this right now.
Post # 5
Member
6574 posts
Bee Keeper
@NurseMandie: I want to say that I paid around $450? It was going to be a bit more, but my bustle changed and brought the price down. She normally charged $10/point for the bustle. Because my dress was 2 layers (champagne underlay and lace overlay) she was going to do 6 points – 3 on the bottom layer, and 3 on top lace layer right over top of the bottom layer. After she started working, she decided to actually tack the top/bottom layer together at the “point” because she was worried if someone stepped on my dress I’d lose the top layer points and not the bottom. So in the end instead of $60 for my bustle is was $30.
She also did a few more things that I listed, like adding a cup to one side (one boob bigger than the other…lol) as well as taking a little lace from altering the straps and adding it to the “V” in my dress to try and make it a tad more modest.
Post # 6
Member
3078 posts
Sugar bee
I had my dress taken in and she added a bustle and my dress turned out perfect! She also softened the neckline a little bit.
Post # 7
Member
4436 posts
Honey bee
Your dress will look gorgeous as a mermaid! I’m going to have my dress (already more of a mermaid than fit n flare) taken in more around the thighs and bum to be super-fitted, maybe a bit more crinoline added, possibly bustle for the sweep train and probably shortened a bit. My dress salesperson said to budget $300-400, but she said only in very rare, extreme cases would the cost be more than that.
Post # 8
Member
3415 posts
Sugar bee
- Wedding: September 2014 - Lodge
Thanks ladies. You’ve eased some of my fears :). UGH this dress is causing more stress than I ever thought it would lol.
