—Guide · Atelier Anna · Russafa, Valencia
What can be altered on a wedding dress you bought?
A dress bought off the rack rarely fits perfectly straight away. Here are the most common alterations, the ones that need extra care, and how to plan the fittings before the wedding.
The most common alterations
Shop dresses are made in standard sizes and almost always need a few adjustments to look as if they were made for you. These are the most frequent:
- Length. The hem is adjusted to the height of your shoes, so the dress neither drags nor falls short.
- Sides and waist. So the bodice fits closely without pulling or creasing.
- Straps and neckline. So the dress stays in place and doesn't move when you dance.
- Sleeves. Shortened or fitted to the arm.
- The train. A discreet bustle so that, after the ceremony, you can move and dance comfortably.
What needs extra care
- Letting a dress out. Taking a dress in is almost always possible; letting it out depends on the seam allowance inside.
- Lace and embroidery at the hem. They are worked very carefully so the lace pattern is not lost.
- Delicate fabrics. Silk, crepe and tulle each have their own way of being worked. With more than 30 years of made-to-measure dressmaking, we know how to handle every fabric and detail.
How the fittings work
First appointment
We look at the dress with you, you try it on and we talk about the adjustments it needs. We give you a personalised quote when we see it.
Alterations in the workshop
We carry out the alterations in our Russafa atelier.
Fittings
You try it on again and we fine-tune the fit until it is perfect.
Bring your wedding shoes (or a pair of the same heel height) and the underwear you will wear on the day to every fitting, so the fit is the real one.
How far in advance?
The sooner the better, so there is time for the fittings without rushing. Tell us your wedding date when you book and we will plan the fittings around it.
Evening and ceremony dresses too
We alter wedding, evening and ceremony dresses even if we didn't make them. If you would rather have your guest or mother-of-the-bride dress made from scratch, see our bespoke guest and mother-of-the-bride dresses.
Would you rather have a bespoke dress?
If you don't have a dress yet, you may like to design one from scratch: see our bespoke wedding dresses and the guide when to order your wedding dress. Everything about alterations is on wedding dress alterations.
