The Ultimate Guide to Bridesmaid Dress Alterations and Care
Alterations are a great way to ensure your bridesmaid dresses are a perfect fit. While sometimes you will get lucky and have a dress fit perfectly off the rack, in most cases you’ll want to get a few small alterations done. Even the slightest tailoring can make a big difference in overall fit — it’s no wonder celebrities rely on tailoring to get a figure-hugging fit on the red carpet. Whether you’re looking for hemming or full-body alterations, your seamstress can work with you to ensure a custom fit on the big day.
After the wedding, you’ll want to make sure you properly clean and care for your dress to avoid any damage. Proper care will ensure you actually can do as the old bridesmaid dress adage says and “shorten it and wear it again.”
Hemming a bridesmaid dress:
The most common alteration needed for bridesmaid dresses is a hem. Most dresses are cut at one consistent length across size variations to ensure ladies of all heights can wear the dress. After all, you can always hem a dress that’s too long, but you can’t add fabric to a dress that’s too short.
This standard alteration is to be expected from most bridesmaids. Before you go to your alterations appointment, pick out which shoes you will be wearing to the wedding and bring them along to ensure the perfect length. You can work with your seamstress to decide on the perfect length that you feel comfortable in.
How many sizes can you alter a bridesmaid dress?
The general rule of alterations is that dresses can be taken in up to two sizes and sometimes can be let out up to two sizes as well. You want to avoid taking a dress in more than two sizes so that you can keep the general structural integrity of the dress. Certain elements may be lost if you try to completely resize a dress. It’s important to note that these kinds of alterations are usually the most costly, as they require taking out and reformatting the entire body.
Letting a dress out in size will depend on the seam allowance. Every garment has a certain amount of extra fabric sewn in at the seams, known as a seam allowance. This will dictate how much a dress can be let out to fit a bigger size. Your seamstress can work with you to determine sizing when letting a bridesmaid dress out.
Cleaning and caring for polyester bridesmaid dresses:
Being a bridesmaid can often come with many stain-inducing moments. From cake cutting to working up a sweat on the dance floor, you’re likely going to leave the wedding with a few stains and spots on your dress. Chances are your bridesmaid dresses are made of polyester, so they should hold up for gentle cleaning. The garment tag should include personalized instructions for washing the dress. As a precaution, always patch test on a non-visible part of the dress before cleaning to ensure there is no color fading or damage before you wash the whole dress.
You have a few options for cleaning polyester bridesmaid dresses. The easiest way to clean them is to hand wash them at home. Apply stain remover where needed and let it soak in. Then, submerge the dress in a bucket or sink filled with cool water and gentle detergent. Hand wash the dress and rinse, then hang it to dry. You can also opt to dry clean the dress if the garment tag allows.
Alterations for post-maternity bridesmaid dresses:
Shopping for bridesmaid dresses while pregnant or postpartum can be a challenge. Luckily, Azazie has a wide selection of maternity bridesmaid dresses in addition to free custom sizing to make the process easier. If the wedding is shortly after your delivery date, you can expect to be close to the size you were at five months pregnant, so try to order your dress or at least take your measurements around that time frame. If the wedding is a few months after delivery, you can wait to shop until after you give birth and make any necessary alterations accordingly. Flowy, loose silhouettes and empire waistlines are comfortable and easy-to-alter choices if you want to play it safe.
Options for affordable bridesmaid dresses:
It’s no secret that agreeing to be a bridesmaid for a friend can often come with a big financial responsibility. However, there are plenty of gorgeous, stylish bridesmaid dresses on the market at a reasonable price point. Azazie offers an abundance of stylish and affordable bridesmaid dresses, with many styles costing under $100. In addition to their wide range of styles, Azazie offers free custom sizing to minimize alterations expenses.
Azazie also offers At Home Try-On if you’d prefer to try on a few dresses in the comfort of your home before making a decision. Select any three dresses from our bridesmaid, junior bridesmaid, or mother-of-the-bride collections for only $20, then try them on at home and choose your favorite. When it comes time to make returns, be sure to send them back within seven days of delivery. You will also get to enjoy 10% off the full amount of whichever dress you select. It’s like having a bridesmaid dress boutique at home!
When should I get alterations?
Experts suggest scheduling your bridesmaid dress alterations between six weeks and one month before the wedding to ensure the most accurate fit. However, this doesn’t mean you should call to schedule your appointment six weeks out. Wedding season gets busy fast, so be sure to call a month or two in advance to be sure your seamstress can get you in for your first fitting six weeks to one month before the wedding. Allowing ample time for any alterations and adjustments is best for creating a seamless (no pun intended) process.
