Ebay wedding dress - getting alterations

serious_saver

Well the dress has arrived and it is stunning! However I have also learnt a valuable lesson . . . don't forget cleaning costs! OUCH :eek:

I'm going through the process of ringing round dry cleaners at the moment and although it's still sooooo much cheaper than buying new please learn from my mistake!

On the other hand I have found a local company who hire out wedding dresses. The principal goes like this:

-Bride has very expensive designer dress
-Bride doesn't know what to do with it
-Bride sends it to company
-Company rent it out to other brides who want a designer dress but don't want to pay / are having wedding soon and can't wait / want to hire for many other reasons
-Company take 50% of hire cost owner of dress gets 50%

I sent them an email this evening so fingers crossed they'll like my dress and I'll get some money back towards alterations/cleaning. We're not getting married for another 12 months so it's got to be worth a try right?

serious_saver

So, a little update. I heard back from the dress hire people. They only stock up to a 16 due to a lack of storage space.

The dress is an 18 so they'll only take it after alterations but they were really interested in it because it's such and unusual design and colour.

After checking a few boards and websites about cleaning dresses I've started to carefully clean it myself. I'm just using water and a white cotton cloth at the moment to remove dirt from the bottom and the train. It's working really well although very slowly (because the dress is just so big)

I have found a seamstress after a personal recommendation (I also saw her excellent work at a friends wedding). She'll take it down to a 14-16 and she'll also steam and press the dress. Final alterations can then be done much closer to my wedding date. I don't have a final cost but it will be anywhere between £45 and £150.

Even if I have to get it professionally cleaned after all, it will all come in under £400

cazziebo

I asked about cleaning over on the old style boards. I was advised to put the dress in a white duvet cover and wash it on the delicates cycle. With much trepidation that's what I did. My dress is silk, with beading on the bodice.

Came out absolutely sparklingly perfect. Nervous few hours drying it on the line in case it got splatted by a bird...:rotfl:

serious_saver

cazziebo wrote: »

I asked about cleaning over on the old style boards. I was advised to put the dress in a white duvet cover and wash it on the delicates cycle. With much trepidation that's what I did. My dress is silk, with beading on the bodice.

Came out absolutely sparklingly perfect. Nervous few hours drying it on the line in case it got splatted by a bird...:rotfl:

I read that on one of the boards too. I'm a little scared of the idea but I might bite the bullet and give it a go and hang it from our shower rail to dry. I'm a bit nervous because the dress is such an unusual silver colour.

almond

cleaning dresses
I was told by wedding shop , varnish spray and white cloths, spray
varnish on damp cloth and wipe dress then use another cloth to blot it,
my dd was a dizzy lizzy shop sample and I did it worked out very well,

serious_saver

I just wanted to give an update. The alterations are nearly finished and it looks amazing. The final cost - £60

dinglefoot

Wow, what a beautiful dress It's still a fraction of the original cost as well - fantastic!