5 Fitting Tips For a Custom Wedding Dress

If you’ve opted to have a custom wedding dress made for your big day, congratulations! It’s a decision that’s not only practical but says you have a personal sense of style, good taste and class as well. How does it accomplish all that? A good fit is the real key.

Here are five dos and don’ts to make sure your fitting sessions are productive, useful and will result in the gown of your dreams.

1.Do make an appointment, unless they tell you it isn’t required.

It takes time to take initial measurements and fit clients for their custom wedding dress. With a scheduled appointment, your dressmaker won’t need to feel rushed and pressured if there is a long line of brides-to-be waiting their turn. Rushing can lead to mistakes and a bad fit. Make time for all your follow up fittings too; don’t just squeeze them in your lunch hour or after your workout. After all, it is the most important outfit if your life…

2. Do purchase all the undergarments and shoes you plan to wear and bring them to the fittings.

No matter how light or delicate your undergarments seem, they will definitely affect how your gown fits, hangs and drapes on your body - so it’s important that they be the same as what you will actually wear. In case you haven’t found the shoes of your dreams yet, make sure the ones you bring will approximate the heel height of the shoe you will eventually wear.

3. Do tell your designer about anything that may cause changes in your body’s shape between the fitting and the wedding day.

While no one really like having to make major adjustments and alterations on a custom wedding dress, your dressmaker or designer knows that these are a fact of life. With sufficient forward notice of any major changes– losing or gaining weight, pregnancy, even surgery– that are about to happen, he or she will be able to make the necessary adjustments. Remember, though, that a dress cannot be made drastically bigger after it’s been cut without changing the design too much.

4. Don’t move too much while being fitted, but do move around to check comfort and fit.

Your dressmaker may ask you to move a little while you’re being pinned and measured, but unless you’re told to do so, it’s best to stay still. Too much movement can cause imprecise measurements, uneven areas and weird fitting parts. However, after the gown is pinned and sewn, do move around and see if there are any trouble spots. Try to approximate whatever movements you will need to make on your wedding day (walking, dancing and sitting down), and point out areas where your movements are hindered.

5. Schedule your final fitting around two weeks before the event.

Two weeks is perfect because you’ll be close enough to the weight and shape you’ll be on your big day, yet far enough to for any adjustments and alterations to your custom wedding dress if needed. Many brides-to-be lose or gain weight because of stress in the final three weeks before the date, so this allows for any changes that might have occurred.