Getting The Wedding Dress Gown Alterations Done 60-90 Days Before The Wedding Reduces Stress
Since 2005, Touch Of Class Bridal & Alterations has helped over 1000 brides with designer wedding dresses, custom wedding dresses and bridal alterations.
There are many different things that can create stress during the wedding planning process.
So we wanted to share some tips on one of the most important areas, where a lot of stress can be avoided.
This key area is the wedding dress…
As a seamstress with 25 years experience, Mari (the owner of touch of class) has witnessed plenty of bridal meltdowns.
Many brides come in with a wedding dress that arrived late.
Other brides receive their wedding gown in the wrong size, or the alterations where done incorrectly and needed to be redone.
To help brides prevent stress Mari always recommends getting the bridal alterations done at least 60-90 days before the wedding date.
Brides can always come in again for a free final fitting and re-check just weeks before the wedding if necessary. What usually causes brides a lot of stress right before the wedding date, is the bridal fittings and alterations. While it is often not realized until later, many brides end up getting their bridal alterations done at overbooked and busy wedding dress stores… and bridal boutiques.
First one of the most common stress inducing items are the unexpected surprises and difficulties that often arise…
Many brides discover that they were completely taken off guard by the extremely high prices of wedding dress and gown alterations which were not adequately explained up front, during the wedding dress purchase at a retail bridal chain store or bridal salon in phoenix.
What is even more surprising is the sheer number of brides that discover this information less than 3-4 weeks before their wedding. The reason this occurs is many brides are forced to order their gown less than 6 months in advance, while others order 6-9 months in advance.
By Working With A Timeline Brides Can Both Save and Look Fantastic On Their Wedding Day
When their wedding dress arrives, it is often too close to the wedding date.
When this occurs, the boutique or wedding store informs the bride that in order to get the bridal alterations done, the bride must come in for a fitting asap.
Next, the schedule is checked and brides often find that they can only get in for a bridal fitting 2-3 weeks later. This is because the store has already many other customers that have booked an alterations and fitting appointment.
Keep in mind that at this point, detailed information on the cost of bridal alterations that are highly relevant to a brides wedding budget, have NOT even been discussed.
What often happens next is a comedy of errors, surprises, disappointments and a roller-coaster ride of uncertainty…. which leads to stress… The uncertainty comes from a bride finally getting in for a fitting less than 2-3 weeks before her wedding date. Most stores will quote alterations prices for adjusting the bustline,neckline,waistline,hem length, shoulder,straps etc for a gown.
Since the wedding date is different for each bride, some brides that have creative ideas simply cannot have certain alterations done in time for their wedding without paying an additional “rush fee”
For example, a store may require a rush fee to add sleeves and a corset in addition to doing a standard hem for $250.
Ironically, the time pressure that many brides discover themselves succumbing to, is the very thing that almost forces brides into not only paying a rush fee, but also paying full retail price for the alterations.
A typical ballgown or mermaid dress style needing a bodice (size) adjustment, hem, multiple point french bustle and corset could cost as much as $600 for alterations at many busy retail bridal shops and wedding stores.
The other thing that is also peculiar, is the fact that many brides are willing to pay the full asking price for bridal alterations. This is because many brides feel they are out of time and must make a decision. Many stores attempt to steer a bride into doing the alterations right then. Or, many stores steer brides away from doing the more elaborate alterations ideas the bride originally had.
This is because with the wedding dress arriving late, many stores cannot guarantee to complete the alterations on time.
When it comes to ways for brides on a budget to plan their wedding,while reducing stress, one of the most important things is to properly budget for the total cost of the wedding dress.
A Busy Bride Can Reduce Stress By Getting Her Alterations Done 60-90 Days Before The Wedding
And one of the best ways to ensure a bride can truly get a picture perfect wedding gown that fits, flatters and is within budget…
Is to create a wedding time-line…
A wedding time line helps the bride to plan her wedding with her dress alterations being done in plenty of time for the wedding date.
A timeline also ensures that each step of the wedding planning process is handled at the correct time.
The reason a timeline is so important, is it can prevent a bride from attempting to accomplish important dress related tasks right before the wedding day.
(during the last 30 days before the wedding date).
Certainly, bridal alterations are often done during the last month, simply because busy stores cannot get new customers in for a bridal fitting fast enough. (due to overbooking and high volume)
Another reason is many wedding gown orders arrive months late, or the dress is in the wrong size etc…
These situations all require alterations be done as quickly as possible.
Should a bride feel rushed during her bridal fittings? Should brides feel pressured to pay too much for alterations just to get the wedding dress done in time?
Time stress from deadlines certainly becomes evident when brides unfortunately experience bumps along the road. This is because preparing their dream wedding dress for their wedding, requires using a time-line to ensure the dress is ready on time.
Many brides dresses do arrive on time and many stores do an excellent job.
But sadly, many brides trust the timeline given by a well-meaning store or boutique… And unfortunately, the recommended timetable given, was not enough to cover unforseen circumstances.
These unexpected additional surprises come in the form of errors with the dress alterations and fittings just before the wedding… For example, a recent bride shared the story of how her dress arrived late… Her wedding shoes were dyed the wrong color and her wedding gown was too tight, even though she ordered it in the size the store recommended…
There Is A Way For Brides To Know The Cost Of Alterations Up Front - Visit Touch Of Class Bridal & Alterations 
Next, when she arrived for her alterations appointment she was told the alterations would cost over $500
She was also told that nothing could be done to the dress in the hips and derriere, because of her body type (as a full figured woman)…
The store would add a corset which is more forgiving on the waistline for a bride to let the dress out…
But the hips the back of the gown would need to be left tighter .
When this bride confronted the seamstress as to why the dress couldn’t be let out, she was told that the dress silhouette really wasn’t designed for her body type… (her rear was too full figured!)
The bride couldn’t believe her ears. The store basically said she had a big b**** !!
The bride then was quoted $185 to add the corset to the dress and $220 for a hem, $50 for the rush fee and $20 for the fitting fee…
She also wanted to ad some sleeves to add support in the bustline and add a sweetheart neckline too…
But with the alterations bill already at $475 she was feeling sticker shock.
She felt the angry that the store never mentioned how expensive their alterations were… She had already paid the $25 for her bridal fitting…
The seamstress asked her what do you want to do? “We need to know today…”
“Or we cannot guarantee that the corset or the hem alone will be done before your wedding in 3 weeks” The bride inquired if any discount could be offered… since the store dyed her shoes the wrong color…
The answer was “No” and in fact, while looking at her receipt, it appeared the store had added another $15 for additional shipping costs. This was to re-ship her wedding shoes. She had just dropped off the shoes before her fitting, due to their mistake… This bride then informed the store that she would take her dress elsewhere for bridal alterations…
With her phoenix wedding day less than 3 weeks away, this bride visited our store. We did the hem for ($120), let out the beaded bodice & hips for ($85) , added sleeves ($30) added a corset ($80) and added a sweetheart neckline ($35) for a total of $350 with no fitting fees and no rush fees. So this bride got her original ideas implemented and actually saved over $125 including fitting fees.
She also had 3 additional custom wedding gown alterations done. (let out bodice and hips, add sleeves and add sweetheart neckline.)
These additional alterations were really necessary to make the dress comfortable for this bride. And she was ecstatic that there was no hurried fittings, pressure tactics, or high prices with extra rush fees.
Brides That Plan Their Wedding With A Timeline From Touch Of Class Bridal Prevent Stress
We didn’t insult this brides intelligence by telling her that the gown couldn’t be altered because of her voluptuous figure.
She looked magnificent in her gown once the bodice was let out and the corset added. Her Maggie Sottero Mermaid dress had a beautiful hourglass shape.
A bride should never have to listen to unkind remarks about her body shape at any store, this was totally unprofessional.
This bride personally attested to the fact that she would be leaving a negative review for the very popular and busy store.
She felt she was left with no choice because she was treated poorly.
The store had talked to her in a way that made her feel as if she was naive and uneducated when it came to bridal fashion…
She was always waiting to to talk to someone about her dress.
She reported that she felt rushed and under pressure at her fitting.
She felt pressured to accept the price with the wedding so close. She was asked to purchase wedding accessories too at full retail prices.
She felt she the store was implying she should just do less alterations and “settle’ for what was recommended by the “experts”.
She also felt that the seamstress was growing impatient with her line of questioning and repeated attempts to get a discount.
Even though her intuition told her that she didn’t like being “talked down to” by a know-it-all store seamstress, she politely continued listening and attempted to explain that her dress was too tight in the hips and rear.
She was informed that she had to make a decision today or her alterations wouldn’t be completed in time for the wedding. She repeatedly had to wait on hold on the phone to speak to a manager about her wedding shoes being dyed the wrong color… And she had sensed a condescending tone when she stated that she thought the dress shouldn’t be so tight in her derriere…
This bride has two masters degrees and didn’t appreciate being treated like a naive person. In total, there were a comedy of 7 errors in relation to the wedding dress order and alterations in this example.
1. The dress arrived two months late.
2. The dress arrived in the wrong size.
3. The wedding shoes were dyed the wrong color shade.
4. The wedding dress alterations prices were never quoted during the dress sale.
5. The wedding dress alterations couldn’t be done because “her body was the wrong shape for her gown” (lie)
6. The wedding dress alterations required a rush fee, even though the store ordered the gown late.
7. The store didn’t really want to do the corset addition unless she paid $180 plus $50 rush fee.
A Wedding Timeline Should Include Ample Time For Bridal Alterations.
This bride was discouraged from doing certain custom alterations, likely because the store didn’t want to undertake them.
Many stores already have an overbooked bridal alterations department.
The only way the store would do the corset alone was for $230!
With a total price of $475 (high retail alterations pricing) for just a hem ($220), corset addition ($185) Rush fee $50) and Fitting Fee ($20)…
One would think the store could afford to offer a discount for messing up the wedding shoes…
But in fact they charged for additional shipping… which the bride refused to pay.
This bride also reported being left standing in the store while the clerk went to help another client, never to return.
With less than 3 weeks before her wedding date this bride was stressed and uncertain she could find another store to do her alterations.
She visited a bridal boutique that couldn’t even get her in for a bridal fitting in less than 3 weeks and required an additional $20 fitting fee just to look at her dress.
She visited another store that stated since she didn’t buy her dress there, they couldn’t help.
Finally she called an independent designer and seamstress… (Touch Of Class Bridal & Alterations)
We advised her that we could help with a free consultation and free bridal fitting.
We also stated that although normally alterations should be completed 60-90 days before the wedding date, (to prevent stress), we would be happy to get all of the alterations done, in 10 business days or less.
We also stated there would be no rush fee (unlike the store). We then informed the bride that while most stores do not offer any written guarantee that a wedding gown will arrive on time, or that alterations will be completed on time… We do offer a written guarantee of completion for both gown orders and bridal alterations.
This way her dress would be guaranteed to be ready before her wedding date… This put her at ease… The moral of this story is not to impress readers with our pricing or guarantee… This true story is shared to impress upon brides the importance of purchasing a wedding dress with a store that has a realistic time-line.
In addition, purchasing a wedding gown from an independent bridal store that understands the importance of using a reasonable wedding time-line for the bridal alterations, is equally important.
Touch of Class Bridal & Alterations always recommends that brides get their alterations done at least 60-90 days before the wedding. This is where choosing a store that respects a brides ideas, budget and time-line becomes important.
Bridal Alterations Should Be Properly Scheduled In The Wedding Timeline 60-90 Days In Advance
As a designer and seamstress Touch of Class always used a time-line to help prevent stress for brides.
We offer a written guarantee of completion and do not require brides to wait for gown order for up to 9 months.
Touch of Class Bridal & Alterations offers both custom wedding dresses as well as off-the-rack designer label wedding dresses.
We only offer designers that we respect and recommend for quality.
Only the best designers with the highest quality materials and gown construction are recommended.
Whether a bride purchases a gown from Touch of Class or elsewhere, we are happy to do the bridal alterations for 50-70% less than retail wedding stores and bridal shops in phoenix.
Regardless of where a bride purchased her wedding gown, there is never a fitting fee…
And the prices at Touch Of Class Bridal are 50-70 less than retail bridal stores (due to lower overhead)
Since most brides are concerned with looking their best before the wedding, many brides actually wait for alterations until less than a month before their wedding date.
Most brides start losing weight, working out etc… up to a year before their wedding.
So brides need not worry about losing too much weight during the final weeks before their wedding.
Touch Of Class always offers a free final fitting and re-check before the wedding anyway.
By getting the alterations done at least 60 days before the wedding, brides can prevent time pressure and surprises at the last minute with the wedding dress alterations.
This way the wedding dress hem, bustline, bodice and bustle points are all addressed in plenty of time before the wedding. By working with a local independent designer and seamstress, brides can actually have a gown made in less than 90-120 days. This is instead of waiting 6-9 months for a gown order at a retail store.
The final example of the kind of preventable stress that occurs when a bride has her fitting and alterations done only weeks before the wedding day, is the example where bridal alterations are initially paid for, and then not fully completed before the wedding date.
This tragedy adds insult to injury, and usually occurs when a store oversight or mistake in protocols is made in regard to the wedding dress. The alterations may be incomplete, or in some cases completely overlooked and not even started when a bride arrives at her final fitting!
With the wedding date now less than 1-2 weeks away, many brides encounter stress that is just too much….
And they suffer a sort of breakdown in the store…
Touch Of Class Bridal Offers Designer & Custom Wedding Dresses
Since many stores cannot guarantee a completion date, many brides are shocked when this occurs.
And once a mistake has been made, many stores simply can’t re-schedule the bride in time for the wedding…
Excuses regarding the wedding dress arriving late in the first place from the manufacturer, in the wrong size… etc… are often cited…
But the result is the same… and does little to remedy the stressful situation that ensues right before a brides wedding…
A recent article in Phoenix bride and groom magazine shares the true story from a phoenix bride that had to purchase a second wedding dress.
This was because her wedding dress alterations could not be completed on time.
Touch Of Class understand that the wedding dress on the bride is the focal point of the wedding.
So why do so many stores have excellent service during a wedding gown sale…
Yet after the gown order, brides are often repeatedly stressed out at stores?
Aren’t bridezillas really justified for blowing up, when multiple things outside of their control were caused by a store?
Why do so many brides encounter a wedding dress order arriving late?
Why are many bridal fittings rushed? Perhaps the seamstress is just so overworked that they tell a bride not to do certain alterations…
Why do things go wrong right before the wedding?
The answer is: The lack of a realistic wedding planning time line, that properly includes the wedding dress alterations.
Brides should never take the risk of ordering a wedding dress, unless the store can guarantee it will arrive at least 90 days before the wedding, counting any potential mistakes or holdups…
A bride should be able to follow her own unique vision for her wedding theme. If that means a bride want to add flowers, sashes or a corset to her wedding dress, she should have sufficient time to get custom wedding dress alterations done. In addition, any store seamstress should offer a written guarantee of completion and promise to get the work done on time.
A seamstress should always be patient and friendly, and never try to impose their own ideas on a bride that are motivated by their own ulterior motives… (i.e. trying to dissuade a bride from getting what she wants, simply because an alteration has a higher degree of difficulty, requires more skill, or more time for completion.)
Since 2005, Touch Of Class has interviewed hundreds of brides. Many have shared their wedding dress story about a particular bridal store alterations department…
They shared their story, because they were desperately seeking to create a happy ending to what seemed like an unreal, unbelievable comedy of errors… Only it wasn’t funny… It was emotionally and physically exhausting to undergo the repeated worry, anxiety and stress… None of which was expected, or their own fault…
Touch Of Class Offers A Wedding Dress Timeline Including Bridal Alterations
Many of these brides expressed concern because they were either misinformed, or surprised when the expensive cost of bridal alterations was sprung on them.
And this repeatedly occurs during the last crucial weeks before their wedding.
Again, these brides chose to stand up and spend hours of additional time, to finally find an independent designer and seamstress.
They found the higher level of service and better pricing that they knew existed “out there somewhere”
While this all may seem over-dramatized…
The sad reality is, we’ve interviewed hundreds of brides that have succumbed to time pressure.
This time pressure was not the result of their own initial wedding planning…
It was the planning and lack of fulfillment at a store that they purchased their wedding gown at… that was the culprit.
As a result, many of these brides paid way too much for their wedding dress and alterations.
Many brides find that looking back in retrospect, they felt cheated out of some of the joy they could have had, before their wedding day…
If only they had found better service through a company that had protocols in place to ensure a brides total satisfaction….
The number 1 reason many of these brides were disappointed later was they felt they had a seamstress and store that was not very supportive of their ideas.
The number 2 reason many brides are disappointed both during and after their wedding day is because of how comfortable they were in their wedding photos… If the dress alterations were done incorrectly, or certain alteration were avoided in the interest of saving time or money… the result can be a bride whose wedding dress doesn’t fit and flatter in the wedding photos.
The facts show that many brides are discouraged from doing certain alterations and modifications to the wedding dress. This often results in a wedding dress that is loose in the bodice, bustline or hips that needs to be “tugged” to stay up!
The other extreme is a dress that is so tight in the bust, waist or hips that a bride is uncomfortable in the wedding photos and videography of the wedding.
Bridal Fittings Should Include Ample Time For Brides To Share Ideas - Touch Of Class Bridal Offers 45-60 Minute Free Fittings and Consultation.
Since the bride is the focal point of every wedding, the alterations and wedding dress experience, should never be left to chance.
Each bride should feel excited and be treated with the utmost care and planning during the wedding dress fitting experience.
With this in mind, it is shocking that more brides are unaware that they had other options when purchasing a wedding dress…
Many brides report that they wish they knew that they had the option of purchasing their wedding dress from an independent designer.
Brides can verify that we offer lower pricing, more individualized attention and a written guarantee of completion date…
Many independent designer also offer both custom wedding dresses as well as designer off the rack labels for less.
This blog post is designed to stress the importance of finding a store that understands that a wedding timeline can enhance the wedding planning process.
By using a time line brides can plan to get their alterations done in plenty of time before their wedding.
With the timeline offered free by touch of class, brides will also learn to start shopping 12-18 months before the wedding date.
Brides should include visiting at least one independent wedding dress designer as a dress source option…
This will ensure that brides review prices at an independent designer that also covers the cost of bridal alterations before they purchase any wedding dress.
This fact, prevents any hidden surprises and stress after a wedding gown purchase.
Touch of Class Bridal & Alterations provides brides with a written quote for a wedding dress including the cost of alterations from an expert seamstress, instead of a salesperson that does not know bridal alterations and gown construction. A designer and seamstress knows how to fit each bride properly for her desired silhouette on her wedding dress.
The fact is that brides can get a wedding dress through an independent designer, including having their bridal alterations done for 50%-70% less than in-store bridal store prices. Busy stores often wait for gown orders to arrive and brides are scheduled for preliminary bridal fittings and wedding dress alterations too close to the wedding date.
With this in mind, brides often are not cognizant that following a bridal stores instructions, to have their fittings and alterations done less than a month before the wedding is NOT a good idea.
http://www.touchofclassalterations.com offers phoenix wedding dresses,bridal gowns and alterations at up to 70% retail stores…
A free bridal fitting and consultation, also saves brides money. Alterations fitting appointments are scheduled with an online scheduling system. The system ensures 45 minutes minimum, is earmarked for each bride, so fittings are never rushed.
Touch Of Class Bridal Is An Independent Designer That Helps Brides Plan Their Wedding Timeline With Respect To Bridal Alterations and Budget
Brides also gain valuable perspective by working with a local designer and seamstress.
Why? Because only a designer has extensive knowledge of wedding gown construction and the latest bridal fashion styles.
Just knowing that the alterations will be completed on time with a written guarantee, is one of things that makes brides more comfortable.
And brides receive the lowest possible pricing and the patient, friendly service that Mari and her staff at Touch Of Class Alterations offer.
At Touch Of Class Bridal & Alterations bridal fittings are never rushed.
And brides never have to wait after arriving for their bridal fitting, which is guaranteed to be on time.
The Touch Of Class Alterations Article on “Creating A Wedding Time-line” can be found on this blog…
For more information on Touch Of Class Bridal & Alterations…
Please visit us at the Touch Of Class Bridal & Alterations
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