Welcome to a New Chapter of Bridal Beauty

Today, our entire team at the Bridal Alterations Studio London would like to share a few insider secrets for Perfecting Your Bridal Look.

There are multiple ways of looking at Bridal Beauty and what this means for different brides. For some, it is about achieving the ‘Perfect Pinterest Wedding’ on the tightest budget possible; whilst for others, it is about the quality of the experience and the entire journey from the moment ‘She said Yes’.

The journey from Miss to Mrs should be the happiest time of a couple’s life with a focus on creating lifelong memories. But, this journey can be marred by the stresses and anxiety of not taking the time to understand the process of the different stages and, from overspending due to a lack of knowledge.

Real bride getting into her restyled heirloom wedding dress

“Understanding the Importance of Seeking Professional Advice Before and After Buying Your Gown“

Purchasing a wedding dress is a huge investment. Whether you choose to spend a little or a lot depends on your purse strings and resources but, the fact remains, that it is a big investment that must be done with thought and consideration.

As a team, we invest a great deal of time helping brides-to-be resolve their problems partly because they do not understand how the industry works, and as a result, they end up spending a great deal more than they had planned. This isn’t fair practice on anyone – it is just the way the industry works. The fashion industry relies on the emotional connection and the attachment that is made whenever the Dream wedding Dress is found. The woman buys with her heart. She falls in love with the gown and places an order. However, the gown is made in a factory abroad, so you won’t have control over sizing. It is only when the wedding dress arives in store or is delivered (as an online purchase), that the real fitting issues arise. Although many bridal boutiques offer alterations, there is an additional charge for the service. If you purchased your gown online, the onus is on you to seek professional advice and services specialising in Wedding Dress Alterations for help with perfecting the bridal look.

A bride in her wedding dress before and after alterations

Reading Bride, wearing her Stella McCartney vintage lace wedding dress, before and after alterations.

The bride above wears a Vintage Stella McCartney wedding dress she had fallen in love with. Despite the gown being several sizes too big and far too long, she bought it anyway. After several months of searching for someone she could trust to alter her gown professionally, she found us. The Bridal Alterations Studio Team set to work by unpicking the entire gown and preparing it for a complete recut. Once this was done, the wedding dress was re-made so that the final result was in keeping with the original design.

Cynthia was the most skillful reassuring person I could have hoped for. she transformed my Vintage Stella McCartney Wedding Dress, so that it fit me, (a decidedly petite bride) beyond perfection and, I had the best time ever in her tranquil studio space. she is like a surgeon with the level of precision and detail that she brings to her work.
I cannot recommend Cynthia highly enough.
Ho-Yi Tang

Always Get a Second Opinion If Unsure about The Fit of a Gown

Try your dress with a trusted friend who understands your goals and style. Sometimes, a second pair of eyes can help you realize that minor adjustments can make a difference. If you both agree that professional guidance is needed, seek out a skilled bridal dress alterations service near you. Avoid waiting until the last minute; plan for at least two fittings to ensure your dress fits perfectly.

Wedding Dress Alterations Are a Common Problem

New brides-to-be often dont realise that wedding dress alterations are part of the process for the majority of brides. Brides who are small and petite or, brides who are taller than average will need to enlist the help of a specialist bridal dress alterations studio who can help them to resolve any of the fitting issues that arise – dependant on the design.

REAL BRIDE | Tall bride from Norwich UK. Wedding dress restyled from a strapless gown into a gown with sleeves. The upper bodice was remade to include internal corsetry for an improved fit.

Because the process for ordering and taking delivery of a wedding dress is around 20 – 30 weeks, it is a good idea to secure your bridal gown alterations in advance to ensure there is space in their diary to do the work. During the summer months, every wedding professional is working non-stop having been booked up many months in advance – so do not expect to book at the last minute. Approaching a professional wedding dressmaker early will build your confidence. Every issue you are facing with your dress is fixable and a skilled professional should be the only person you approach – not the shop assistant. A skilled wedding dressmaker will ask all the right questions and help you to find a solution to the problem you face. Here’s how to proceed:

Understanding What Bridal Dress Alterations Are Necessary For A Perfect Fit And Why You Need Them.

Aleaxndra Grecco Wedding dress resytyled at the Bridal Dress Alterations Studio London

REAL BRIDE | Cirencester Bride. Alexandra Grecco Wedding Dress required a complete unpick, recut and remade. The volumne of the skirt was overwhelming and the bodice being too large resulted in a saggy top that gaped. The brides small height of 5ft 4″ meant that the entire wedding dress was around three sizes too big and far too much volumne for her height.

REAL BRIDE | Richmond UK Bride in her bridal jumpsuit that was professionally altered to keep the proportions of the design for her small height.

The Top 5 Dress Fitting Issues You Must Pay Extra For.

Shoulder straps are too long because you are shorter in the body than the average height of 5ft 7″

2. Fitted Strapless Fit and Flare designs that fit on the hips but is too big across the chest and gapes at the cleavage causing it to slip down the body.

3. The hemline needs shortening but there is a decorative scalloped lace edging.

4. There is not enough structural support under the bust so the dress feels loose.

5. Additional corsetry is needed for support.

Beautiful black bride in the bridal suite of luxury wedding venue in Hampshire UK, wearing her couture bridal gown by Couture-Designer-Cynthia Grafton-Holt.

REAL BRIDE | Beautiful bride wearing her bespoke couture, blush silk, tulle and beaded lace wedding dress | Handmade wedding dress.

A perfectly fitted wedding dress is often described by brides as “fits like a glove“; this means the dress is snug in the right places whilst allowing them to breathe, move around freely and, most importantly eat and drink.

Shortening the hemline is important so that the bride is able to walk with her head held high and without having to lift the gown as she walks. It is also a trip hazard if the hemline is touching the floor. The perfect length should be ‘grazing’ the top of the toe.

Shortening the shoulder straps helps the gown to stay in place and feel comfortable. Often, when the shoulder straps are too long, this can affect the fit through the body and cause the neckline to appear as though it is gaping. Staying in place is also crucial for those picture perfect moments. Nothing ruins a photograph more than when bra straps slip out of place.

If the neckline is low-plunging and the dress back is also low, a quick fix solution is to use body tape (surgical kind is best) to secure the necklines (front and sides of bust) in place.

Adding a bustle at the back hemline, shortens the length of the train off the floor so it is easier for dancing. There are many alternative styles of bustling – HERE is a helpful video to help you understand more.

Bridal Dress Alterations Studio bride wearing her restyled family heirloom wedding dress

REAL BRIDE | Buckinghamshire bride Jade, inherited a silk satin family heirloom wedding dress. The original gown was unpicked and the fabric reused to create a modern gown with new lace design for the upper body and sleeves.