— Your wedding gown is the most important dress that you will ever purchase. Naturally, you want it to be perfectly fitted. This is where expert alterations come in! Here is a brief summary of what to expect when it comes to couture bridal alterations on your existing off-the-rack wedding dress.

The first thing to understand about wedding gowns off the rack is that almost all of them will require some alterations. At the bare minimum, you will need to have the gown hemmed for your shoe height and have the bustle put in place. Most brides will need quite a bit more than that, from having the bust adjusted to taking in or letting out the waist, to smoothing out all of the little bubbles and ripples that are a natural part of the way fabric lays on an individual body (as opposed to the mannequin’s body). An average bride will need only one fitting, but if you are making significant changes, please expect to need more.

At the fitting, be prepared with your well-fitted undergarments and the heels that you are planning to wear with the wedding dress.

You will definitely want to bring along your mother or bridesmaids to this fitting so that they can receive instructions on how to help get you into the gown on the wedding day, as well as tips on bustling. This is also your chance to see your entire bridal ensemble together, so be certain to bring your heels, veil, headpiece, and bridal jewelry.

In the end, your wedding gown should fit like a glove, and looks as if it were made just for you. This way, when you wear your very own custom fit wedding gown down the aisle, you are sure to feel fabulous!