Hiring a Bridal Seamstress

Whether you hire a bridal seamstress that is connected with a bridal shop and need alterations or found an independent dress maker who will be constructing or designing your gown from flat pattern, know the ins and outs before you start the process. We have all heard horror stories about the botched gown. Take an extra step to prevent yours from being one of them.

If you have friends or relatives that have recently been married, ask them for recommendations. If they had a positive experience, they will be happy to tell you who helped them. If you are working with a seamstress from the shop where you purchased your gown, ask how long they have been working there. If it hasn’t been long, find out what they did prior to this job. They may have been a seamstress all their life. That is good news for you. If this is not the case, probe a little further.

Find out if they:

Most professionals will gladly give out this information. Anyone in the business will be flattered you had the sense to check out who you are hiring. Remember it is your money. If not beware that talk is not the same as the walk. Anyone can sew. There are all kinds of avenues when it comes to this profession. Some are Quilters, then there are those who do Wearable Art. There is the Tailor and the Home Decorator. They all specialize in different areas. Make sure you are working with someone who is able to alter a bridal gown for fit. This is not a time to hire a hobby player. You want to walk away with a smile on your face not tears in your eyes.

If you are working with an independent bridal seamstress for evening wear(someone not associated with a bridal shop), some of the same questions apply. You may want to call ahead or set up an appointment to find out how they operate. They may send information, give you references or if time permits meet with you. If you meet with them ahead of time, you can

If the work area is neat there is assurance their work ethnics are the same. If not, think about your white gown sweeping up remains. If you are able to see other projects in the works, it is a good sign that others know and trust their skills.

What Time Is It?

Time schedules and appointments can be frustrating. You should phone ahead to find out what works for both of you. Once you have set the appointment, be on time. Some bridal seamstresses charge for late or missed appointments. If you are running late, call as soon as possible to save your drive time and/or added charges. They allot so much time for each client and may not be able to squeeze you in. Appointments are set so they can meet with you at the specified time. If you call last minute you may have to reschedule. Life happens to all of us. If you over or under plan, that does not constitute an emergency for others. Be respectful of others time schedules.

I Forgot My Shoes

When you come for a fitting, bring shoes, slip, under garments and anything else you will be wearing with your gown. A hem needs shoes and slip for the length to be adjusted correctly. Under garments such as Spanx, long line or low cut braziers allow the seamstress to fit the silhouette for smooth lines. Each undergarment takes different amounts of ease so having them for each fitting is essential.

Once the fitting progresses, you should have a gut instinct whether the bridal seamstress knows what they are doing. If you don't trust your own feelings, bring along someone you trust to help you. One person is enough. This is business not a party. If the fitting does not go well, you are under no obligation to work with them. Find a different seamstress.

By taking some of these initial steps before hand you can save time money and have a memorable experience. This is a special day for all involved. Let experts with knowledgeable skills work for you. Special occasion fabrics require different techniques and handling. This is one of those times when spending a little money saves your sanity and frees you of worries.

Bridal Seamstress Back to Seamstress