What to Expect on Your First Wedding Dress Fitting

Congratulations, you now have the wedding dress of your dreams! The hard part is over, but there are some things to accomplish to ensure it fits you like a glove — wedding dress fitting. It’s essential that your beautiful gown fits your figure perfectly. Quite unsure what to expect meeting with a seamstress on your first appointment? We’ve got you covered.

What to Bring?

Going to your first wedding dress fitting is like going to a job interview — you must mentally prepare and gather the requirements to ensure you ace it. Here’s a handy checklist of must-bring items:

• Wedding shoes: If you already have your actual wedding shoes, bring them with you. If not, get a pair of heels the same height as your desired ones.
• Jewelry: You don’t have to wear your real jewelry, but it helps which statement pieces will match your desired dress. You can bring similar items to help visualize your look.
• Makeup remover: Wear as little makeup as possible to eliminate the risk of getting stains on the wedding gown you’ll fit.
• Accessories: Bring or wear the shapewear and undergarments you plan to wear on your big day so you can see the actual fit of the gown.
• Hair tie: Bring one to see what your gown will look like with your hair up and down.

Things to Keep In Mind Before Your Wedding Dress Fitting

Got the goods in your bag? Before you go to your appointment, ensure to make time for the following:

1.Eat Beforehand

Have breakfast or lunch before your appointment to ensure your dress fits once you’ve had your meal on your big day. Eating beforehand also gives you the energy you’ll need for the possible hours of discussion with your seamstress.

2. Be At Your Wedding Weight

Being at your desired weight during the first appointment ensures a more accurate fitting. The seamstress’s goal is to pinpoint areas that need adjustments, such as the waist, length and straps. After your first fitting, plan for two or three more appointments to give your seamstress plenty of time to alter your dress, even if you experience weight fluctuations.

3. Set a Budget

Remember to set a budget before going to a wedding gown shop to help the seamstress or staff choose gowns that fit your budget. An average wedding dress costs between $50 and $1,000 for major modifications, but feel free to go below or above that cost if your budget permits.

4. Bring a Close Family Member and Your Maid of Honor

Your first wedding fitting appointment is not a bridal affair. You’ll only need a few sets of eyes to make it productive. Ideally, you should have a close family member and your MOH to help you with the following:

• Browse and test out accessories
• Take photos
• Give honest feedback
• Reassure you if you’re stressed
• Keep you within your budget

5. Learn to Communicate

Practice your communication skills. Your first fitting is the ideal time to assert what you want and don’t like. Don’t assume that your fitter will notice your concerns and address them. If something feels uncomfortable, let them know. Overcommunication is key to getting closer to your dream gown.

6. Expect to Second-Guess Your Choice

If you’re a plan-ahead type of bride, chances are you already have a preferred design. The reality is that you may encounter other gowns that may leave you second-guessing your idea. Don’t worry — brides commonly doubt their choices as they fit more and more gowns. Remember that the ideal wedding dress is more than just aesthetics — there are also timing, budget, venue and weather conditions to consider.

Plus, you have your tailor, family member and MOH to help you lead you down the right path, so don’t worry! Just remember why you loved the gown in the first place.

How to Test-Drive and Find Your Ideal Wedding Dress

Feeling more confident now? We’re down to the last reminders for test-driving that beautiful wedding dress! You got this!

1. Slouch

This sounds like weird advice, but hear me out — in an ideal world, every bride would want to stand and sit straight, with her chin up and shoulders back. But a perfect posture during your 15-hour celebration is simply unrealistic. Check how you look in your gown while in a slouching position.

2. Walk Around

Go for a nice long stroll and imagine walking down the aisle. Are you taking the stairs on your wedding day? Try going upstairs and downstairs, too.

3. Feel The Fabric

Get a feel for your fabric and the gown’s details. Velvet may feel good, but it might not be ideal for an outdoor ceremony. Do the lace details feel itchy or look cheap? Opt for a dress made with high-quality materials. A dress with a small amount of handmade lace will look more elegant than one covered in cheap synthetics.

4. Try Hugging Someone

If you’re going solo, mimic the hugging gesture to ensure the dress still fits and snug on your body. No bride wants to tear her dress during the best day of her life.

5. Dance

While there’s no need to go full-on dance mode, it’s a great idea to test if your dress feels comfortable while you groove. Simply imagine you’re on the dance floor.

6. Take The Gown Off

Assess how many people you’ll need to assist you with removing your gown. Remember to write instructions for clasps, buttons and ribbons.

7. Raise Your Arms

Your big day will entail a lot of waving, clapping, hugging and dancing. See if you can raise your arms comfortably, especially wearing a strapless gown. 

8. Examine the Details

Do not feel guilty about taking time to examine the gown for tears, loose seams, marks, discoloration, poor lacework or missing beading. Identifying the problems as early as the first wedding gown fitting will give your tailor plenty of time to fix them. 

9. Don’t Settle on Your First Try-On

Success doesn’t come in your first attempt. Just like applying for a job, you’re not assured to get it the first time. Try on many veils and headpieces to find the perfect dress. See if you’ll look better with your hair up or down. 

The Ideal Wedding Dress Fitting Timeline

Here’s an ideal wedding gown fitting timeline to ensure you have a dress that fits:

• First fitting: Eight to 12 weeks before the wedding if you already have a dress. If you’re working with a professional tailor who’ll create the dress from scratch, do it at least 10 months before the big day.
• Second fitting: Six weeks to a month before the wedding. 
• Third fitting: One month or two weeks before the special day.

Happy Fitting

There’s nothing more important than saying “I do” in the gown of your dreams. Make sure to start your wedding gown hunting as early as possible so your dress fits just as you imagined it.