My dress is here! Pics and alteration questions.

[stephbolt]

So much to my surprise, my dress has arrived only 2 months after ordering it. I went on Friday with one of my bridesmaids to pick it up. I love it as much as I remember, but there is a problem. When the salesgirl measured me for the dress, she measured bust/waist/hips. My bust and waist fit into one size, and the hips fit a size bigger (story of my life). Because the dress is an a-line, she assured me it would be better to order the smaller size. So I did, and she was right about that, it fits fine in the hips, and the waist, and the bust. But, it is too tight in the ribcage! I feel like I can''t quite breathe, the fabric is puckering a little, and it gives me a bit of back cleavage. I voiced my concerns and they told me that I might lose weight (in my ribs? I dunno...doubtful) and that it could be let out a bit. I left the store with the dress and took it home to show my mom and FMIL this weekend, and they agreed with the tightness, and also voiced concern that it wouldn''t look right if it were let out, due to the embroidery and the fabric on clothes "just not looking right if they are let out". The embroidery is going to be an issue if it''s being taken in too though. So does anyone have any experience with letting out a dress? I''m going to call the store on Tuesday when they are open and ask if I can come in that night with the dress so they can talk me through how they would let it out, but any experience anyone can share before then would be a great help!

And of course, pics of the dress...

 

[stephbolt]

from the back, can see how it''s smooshing my back a little.

 

[stephbolt]

last one - up close so you can see the level of embroidery that is causing my alteration worries.

 

[cocolaw]

i don''t know anything about alterations, but just wanted to say beautiful dress!!

 

[tyty333]

Your dress is gorgeous! I love all the lace!

 

[JerseyGrl81]

Your dress is beautiful. I wouldn''t worry too much about the alterations. What they can do with dresses is magical. I was really worried that mine was ordered really big. A size 12 when I wear street clothes size 4. When it did come in it was really big, but they did a great job altering it to fit me.

 

[princessplease]

Wow, the dress is AMAZING!!!! You look great!

 

[laughwithme]

You look stunning - and SO happy! Beautiful!

 

[cleokizzy]

hi! i''m no seamstress so i can''t say if it''ll look good if it''s let out but let me just say that THAT is a beautiful gown! i love the over-all lace!

 

[Tuckins1]

Very classy and beautiful dress!

 

[House Cat]

I''m no seamstress, but from what I understand, they will remove the appliques and beading, alter the dress and then reattach them. Keep in mind that wedding gowns very rarely fit a person right off the bat, so they have ways of altering dresses, while keeping the decorative nature of the dress intact.

You are beautiful! The dress is gorgeous too!

 

[DiaDiva]

You look beautiful!

 

[lliang_chi]

I don''t know much about alterations, but I think you can "fudge" the letting out a bit with some beading. it won''t look like an amateur job, if that''s your concern.

LOVELY dress. It''s just perfect for you!

 

[that_someone_special]

OMG gorgeous dress!!!!!!!!!!!! A+

 

[VRBeauty]

I just wanted to say that your dress looks lovely -- absolutely regal!

 

[Londongirl1]

Date: 8/23/2009 8:11:54 PM
Author: JerseyGrl81
Your dress is beautiful. I wouldn''t worry too much about the alterations. What they can do with dresses is magical. I was really worried that mine was ordered really big. A size 12 when I wear street clothes size 4. When it did come in it was really big, but they did a great job altering it to fit me.

Ditto, I''ve just bought my dress which is way too big but I''ve been assured that alterations are not a problem. I''m sure they can let it out

BTW, gorgeous dress

 

[Burberrygirl]

Your dress is beyond gorgeous, you look beautiful! Good luck with alterations, I'm sure it'll turn out lovely!

 

[Deelight]

Without a doubt your dress (and you in it) are stunning

, you will make a beautiful bride

I am sure a skilled seamstress can fix the minor problem

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 8/24/2009 7:06:47 AM
Author: Deelight
Without a doubt your dress (and you in it) are stunning

, you will make a beautiful bride


I am sure a skilled seamstress can fix the minor problem

Ditto!

 

[katomm]

You look so amazing in that dress!!

 

[Nov2109]

Beautfiul dress!

I have the opposite problem, I''m a size 6 and my dress is a 12....everyone has assured me that the seamstresses are amazing and can do magical things!

To make you feel better, my best friends sister was put on medication 3 months before her wedding that made her gain about 10lbs. Her dress was about a half size to small by her final fitting...they let the dress out a little bit and put in a corset towards the top of the dress...at first I was unsure as to how it would look. At the wedding, the corset ties that were added to the top to give her a little extra room made the dress look even more beautiful than the original! Her dress is actually somewhat similar to yours...same style....with alot of detail...beading etc...

After seeing that, I realized that seamstresses really can work miracles, and I''m not so worried about them taking my dress in 3 sizes!

Talk to the dress shop and voice your concerns. if they cant make it right, they''ll have to order you a new one because it was their suggestion to get the smaller size!

 

[PilsnPinkysMom]

As others have said, a skilled seamstress should be able to help

But FWIW- the dress doesn''t look too-tight on you, at all. I kind of see what you mean about the back, but had you not pointed it out, I wouldn''t have noticed. It does not look like you were squeezed or smooshed into the gown.

Then again, it''s important that you are COMFORTABLE on your wedding day, so if that means alterations are needed, then let the alterations commence

You really do look stunning, though! Gorgeous dress!!

 

[MakingTheGrade]

Lovely! And I love your hair and glasses
Best of luck with alterations, I'm sure a good seamstress can work it out.

Although if you're really worried about alterations, maybe consult some shapewear departments? They have shapers/corsets of all sorts these days that might be able to make the dress fit more comfortably.

 

[elrohwen]

Gorgeous! I don''t know that much about alterations, but almost every wedding dress ends up being altered, so I''m sure they won''t have any trouble with yours. I doubt they''d even sell something that couldn''t be taken in or let out at least a little bit because no one would buy it!

 

[Lilac]

I don''t know much about alterations, but just want to say the dress looks gorgeous on you! I know I lost weight before my wedding from stress and just being very busy (although I wouldn''t count on that if the dress is so tight you can''t breathe). It doesn''t look like it needs to be let out too much, and they are professionals so I''m sure they know how to do it and still make it look just as beautiful. Either way, it''s going to be stunning on you!

 

[bee*]

wow it looks fab on you! Absolutely stunning.

 

[katamari]

I actually think any skilled seamstress would be able to alter it, but I also think it fits you great without alterations, too. A personal issue that I don''t actually expect you to answer in a personal forum, but if you have a bra on in this picture, not wearing one would create plenty of room.

Your dress is beautiful, though! Excellent mix of modern and vintage.

 

[stephbolt]

Thank you all so much for all of your compliments. You really know how to make a girl very sure in her dress choice. I kept sneaking peaks at this thread from work yesterday just so I could check out the dress again, I can''t believe I have to wait eight months still to wear it.

I am also feeling a lot better about the alterations thanks to all of you. I don''t think my mom and FMIL realize that every wedding dress is altered, usually by seamstresses who do nothing but wedding gowns, and that it will end up fitting fine in the end. I''m actually thinking that only the bottom layer would need to be let out anyway - the top layer with all the embroidering is all tulle/netting and has more give than the plain layer underneath which is the tighter part. For now I''ll give the shop a call just to confirm that they aren''t worried about letting it out, and then put it on the shelf until early March.

 

[oddoneout]

I want to echo what others have said: beautiful dress but I know nothing about alterations.

 

[Deelight]

steph do you mind if I ask who does that dress, it is really beautiful I think I have looked at it like a gazzilion times