Congratulations on your engagement and the arrival of your dream dress. Right now your gown doesn’t fit well; in fact, it may be way too big or too small. Don’t worry – making it fit just right is our job, you get to enjoy the process and leave fussing over your gown to us.
Try to set your appointment 6-8 weeks before your wedding. If you have special circumstances such as wanting to lose weight or you are pregnant, let us know when you call so we can plan your fittings accordingly.
When you come to your first fitting, bring your gown, the undergarments you think you’ll be wearing and the shoes you will be wearing for your wedding. If the undergarments you bring don’t quite work, we can sew in inserts or you can try your gown on with a bustier or shapewear we carry. As for the shoes, we will be pinning your gown up according to the shoes you are wearing, so be sure they are the ones you plan to wear for your wedding.
It is customary to pay for half of your alterations upfront and the remainder at your final fitting. We have different packages you can choose from and, of course, you can choose individual alterations or add to packages.
Your first fitting will take about an hour. First, we will get some basic information from you such as your wedding date/venue and email. You can tell us what concerns you about your gown and then you can put it on. We’ll take a look at each part of your gown taking notes of alterations needed. Before we start pinning, you can decide on which package/alterations you’d like and then we’ll start. The hem (shortening your dress) will take the longest. We wait to have you put your shoes on until this point so your feet dont get tired.
Once the hem is pinned in place, it is time for the fun of designing your bustle. We have a
blog post just on bustles, but just know we will show you different options and let you choose what you like.
You are welcome to bring family and friends with you for your fittings. This makes the time so special. Our recommendation is to limit it to 2 guests as brides can get overwhelmed with too many opinions. Our desire is for you to enjoy this process and leave your gown in good hands. Check out our blogs on the final fitting and the bustle.
The bustle:
The long train flowing behind your wedding gown will look beautiful as you walk down the aisle. However, at the reception, it would be close to impossible to dance with the train, so we design what is called a bustle. Typically, under the train there is a satin ribbon loop. This is not the bustle, it is only to loop over the hanger when hanging your dress up. Gone are the days of looping a ribbon over your wrist and trying to dance!
Your bustle is your personal preference. Some gowns just naturally look better with a French Bustle (or under bustle) and some with an American (or over bustle), but it is your choice to decide which style you like and what looks best on you. We will show you different styles (if you want) or we can pin it as we think the bustle will look the best and you can give us feedback . It is typical to have some of the train still sweeping the floor, but how much is up to you.
For more involved bustles, we have different ways to help you know how to connect each point. We will show you this at your final fitting and let your guest videotape the process. If we are not delivering your gown to your venue, we will send you home with your gown bustled so you can remember how to do it.
The bustle is a gorgeous look to the back of any gown and will free you up to enjoy your reception without the fear of someone stepping on your beautiful wedding gown.
Final Fitting
You made it! Your wedding is a week or two away and you are headed in for your final fitting. This is a great time to bring your jewelry and veil to see everything together. Don’t forget your undergarments, shoes, and final payment. If you are having LHB deliver your gown to your venue, you will need to pay your balance at this fitting.
This is the most fun fitting -especially if you chose the _____ package as champagne is served! Be sure to bring whoever will be bustling your gown between the ceremony and your reception. This is the fun fitting where you try your gown on with your jewelry and veil if you’d like and feel free to take pictures. We will teach your guest how to bustle your wedding gown up. They are welcome to video the process so they can bustle it after the ceremony. Remember, LHB offers on site services if you’d prefer for us to be there to do the bustle and help with any bridesmaid gown emergencies. We also offer mobile steaming for the whole wedding party.
Once all the pictures have been taken and the gown is bustled, you may take it home or have LHB deliver it to your venue. Remember, because you used LHB, no one with your wedding party will have a rush fee if they suddenly need something done to their gown.
Congratulations and we wish you a beautiful wedding day and an even more wonderful marriage!!