Jun 9, 2002 3 min read

Dear Joy, In last week’s column, you suggested to consult with a bridal shop seamstress about proper fit and sizing when purchasing a wedding gown. I want to emphasize the importance of this advice.

Last year, my daughter shopped around for her wedding dress. We must have visited 20 bridal salons within a 50-mile radius. She tried on dozens of dresses that looked like the ones she admired in some bridal magazines.

Finally, she chose a beautiful gown in a very nice bridal salon. Their seamstress measured her and recommended a size 13/14.

My daughter didn’t agree with her size suggestion since she normally wore a size 10.

At the time, she was about 25 pounds overweight.

The seamstress told her that the gown was only available in junior sizes and that she needed a larger size because she is shaped more like a woman.

My daughter insisted that she was going to diet and ordered the gown in the size she believed she would wear after she lost all of the weight.

Joy, you probably know the end of this story. Of course my daughter didn’t lose the weight. She eats when she gets stressed out, and she gained more weight as her wedding approached.

When the gown arrived and my daughter went for her first fitting, she couldn’t zip the gown up the gown. Six inches of her back were exposed and the seamstress had to order extra material from the company so she could remake the entire bodice and back.

The bridal shop refused to absorb the cost of alterations and materials since my daughter went against their sizing recommendations.

My daughter and I learned an expensive lesson. Kim.

Dear Kim,

Bridal magazines are quite alluring with stylish photographs of gorgeous, thin brides in glamorous gowns, make-up and hairstyles.

But as many brides can testify, the search for the perfect gown can be quite elusive and expensive. The trek from bridal salon to bridal salon can be an exhausting and humbling experience.

“I’m going on a diet so order me a smaller size”, is a common statement heard at sizing time. Are you really going to lose the ten pounds you promised the salesperson or seamstress?

A gown that is too large in the bodice can always be fitted to a smaller size. However, a small gown can not always be expanded. Bridal and bridesmaid gowns do not have large seam allowances to expand the bodice if you don’t reach your weight-loss goals.

When the gown is too small, additional material and alterations are needed to remake the bodice. Unfortunately, that additional cost is always passed on to the customer.

Joy’s Bridal Tip: To avoid the high cost of bridal gowns, many brides shop for gowns on the Internet or at discount houses.

The price-conscious bride may be quite happy with her “cash and carry” discounted gown and veil until she needs a competent seamstress or discovers her gown is a wrinkled mess in the shipping box.

Internet bargain gowns or a “cash and carry” gowns don’t include fittings, alterations, or pressing. So that “bargain” may become quite costly after it is properly fitted, altered, and pressed.

The cost conscious bride shouldn’t count on a local bridal shop to provide a seamstress for her discounted gown.

Since talented bridal seamstresses are hard to find, bridal salons treasure these talented seamstresses and keep them quite busy with salon customers. Outside alteration work and pressing are typically not accommodated.

K. Joy Schaeffer is a bridal consultant. You can e-mail her your bridal questions at bridejoy@yahoo.com.