Where to get measured and get dress alterations?

boots_babe

Hi everyone,

Trying to find somewhere that will:

a) measure me for a bridal gown I am purchasing on the internet so that I can order the correct size;

and then

b) do the alterations for me when it arrives.

This is proving more difficult than I thought! Searched on yell etc for seamstress, dress maker, dress alterations etc, can't seem to find anything. Thought I'd found one, but when she found out it was the actual bridal gown, and not a bridesmaid she wouldn't do it.

Tried calling bridal shops, but they all say they are so busy they can only do alterations for dresses purchased there (understandable).

So now I'm a bit stuck! Surely it can't be that difficult to find someone?

TIA

flea72

for working out your size, you just go with your normal dress size, so you dont need measuring - if you are buying a made to measure one off ebay tho which needs accurate figures, just get a friend to do it for you - it is very simple

as for alterations, yes you will find it nigh on impossible to get a seamstress to alter the dress, as they are too worried about making mistakes, on something that means so much to someone

do you normally need your clothes altering, as if you are of average height, and fit a dress size normally, then you shouldnt really need to do any alterations anyway

perhaps go to a bridal shop, try on loads of styles to see what you want, and what size you need, and then go to ebay, and see what is available in your size - making sure the person you are buying from, didnt have it altered to fit themselves, as that would alter the shape to theirs, and not yours

boots_babe

Hi flea72,

Thanks for your reply. Although I'm a pretty standard UK 12, the problem is that bridal gowns don't conform to standard sizes in any way. Each designer decides what her bust/waist/hip measurements will be for each of her sizes and that's what you have to work with.

Most people report going up a couple of sizes for a bridal gown (simply because they don't reflect normal dress sizes), but when I tried the dress I want on in a US size 6, it fitted perfectly. But then I also know that bridal shops get tags mixed up (purposely or not I don't know but I could certainly see the reasoning for it if they do, as it means you can't buy from elsewhere too easily!). So I can't rely on buying a size 6 simply because the perfect fitting dress had a size 6 tag on it, hence why I'm so worried

Sorry if I'm waffling now, but it all seems very complicated and I'm a bit stuck as to what to do. Surely someone out there has bought a dress / had one handed down the family and had to have it altered somewhere? Any ideas would be gratefully received as I'm running out of them fast!

flea72

in which case then, you need to know which manufacturer does the dress you want, and what sizings they use - otherwise it doesnt matter what measurements you have, and what the dress size is, if you dont know what youre comparing to, and i cant see a bridal shop, giving you that information

really if you have a set dress in mind, then you are going to have to buy from a bridal shop - which will work out what dress fits your measurements, and then they will buy and alter it accordingly - i take it you are buying made to measure off ebay, and not looking for a 2nd hand dress?

you tend to buy wedding dresses bigger than your normal size, because its easier to make them smaller, should you loose weight before the day, rather than getting something that fits you now, and you put on weight in the meantime, and then you have no seam allowances to work with iyswim

really if you want your dress to fit right, and you have seen it in a store, and already tried it on, i would really just go ahead and buy it, rather than buy on ebay, and hope to get it altered

sorry, im waffling now lol

boots_babe

hi flea72,Thanks for your reply, I do appreciate you taking the time to help. I'm not buying from eBay (I buy lots of stuff on there, but a wedding dress is one thing I wouldn't contemplate). I'm buying from a site called www.netbrides.com. I wouldn't buy off any old site, but these are highly recommended; searching the web gives nothing but excellent reviews from UK users, and they are only about £200 instead of £700 for my dress. They're also an authorised retailer so I know I am getting a genuine article.

They've been very helpful, and have provided the Maggie Sottero size chart for me, so that's not a problem. The problem is that my bust/waist/hip sizes are all coming out at different sizes. I know that you're supposed to order to your largest size as the rest can be taken in, that makes sense. But when your 3 measurements come out as 6, 12, 16 it makes you a bit wary! lol

Oh well, I guess I need to keep looking for a seamstress who does alterations. Someone recommended one to me this evening that they'd used, who were apparently very good. So I'll call them tomorrow and see if they are able to help.

Thanks again for your help.

rainee

have a look in the dry cleaners some do alterations i've managed to find an excellent tailor via word of mouth as my dress from china was slightly too big on the bodice

kittiwoz

My aunt is a seamstress and has made wedding dresses for people in the past so I reckon she would do alterations on one. She is near Rotherham so if that is any good to you PM me and I'll give you her number.

boots_babe

kittiwoz - thanks for the very kind offer but this was from May last year - I finally found someone who was great and pretty cheap too, and had our wedding in February.