Alterations process

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Firstly, congratulations on your forthcoming wedding, and thank you for visiting my page.

Booking your bridal alterations should feel like one of the calmest parts of your planning. My role is to make sure your dress fits you beautifully, comfortably, and exactly as it should on your wedding day.

I ask brides to book in at least 6 weeks before the wedding date. I will then take your dress into my care until the week before your wedding.

This timing is intentional. 

Many brides find their shape changes slightly in the final weeks before the wedding, and keeping your dress with me until closer to the day ensures the final fit is as perfect as possible.

Step One – Book Your First Fitting

Your first step is to book your initial fitting appointment with me.

Appointments are available Tuesday to Saturday at my studio in Henfield.

First fitting

During this appointment, we will assess your dress, discuss any adjustments needed, and plan the alterations required to achieve the best possible fit.

At your first fitting, please bring:

• Your dress
• Your wedding shoes
• The underwear or shapewear you plan to wear
• Any accessories that may affect the fit of the dress (such as underskirts, hoops, straps, sleeves or petticoats)

If your dress requires significant adjustments to the bodice, I will not assess the length until your second fitting. This is because the final position of the bodice can affect the overall length and balance of the dress.

Once your dress has been pinned and the alterations agreed, I will schedule your second fitting.

Please allow up to 30 minutes for this appointment.

Following this appointment, I will send you an invoice for the agreed alterations. A 50% deposit is requested to secure your booking and allow me to begin work on your dress, with the remaining balance due a few days before collection.

Second fitting

At your second fitting, we will try your dress on again and carefully check that the adjustments made to the bodice are fitting perfectly and sitting exactly as they should.

Once we are happy with the fit through the bodice, we will then move down to assess the hem, so please remember to bring your wedding shoes and underskirt to this appointment.

At this stage of the alterations, your dress may look slightly unfinished. This is completely normal. I do not fully finish the dress until I am confident that all bodice alterations are correct, as this can affect the overall balance and length of the gown.

Hems will then be pinned and measured and we will discuss if a bustle is required. Following this, I will book you in for your third fitting.

Please allow up to 30 minutes for this appointment.

Third fitting

This is the appointment where you really see the full transformation and how all of the alterations come together to create your final look for the wedding day.
Your dress will be carefully pressed and steamed, ready for you to take home.

If, at this stage, we find that a small additional adjustment is needed, I always allow time for this. Your dress can be left with me and will be ready for collection again within two days.

Please allow up to 30 minutes for this appointment.

I hope this guide helps you understand the alterations process and what to expect at each stage. 

My aim is always to make this part of your wedding planning feel calm, organised, and reassuring.
If you have any questions at all, please feel free to get in touch. 

Due to limited space in the studio, please bring only one guest with you to your fitting appointment.