Frequently Asked Questions
You’ve got questions…we’ve got answers!
Q
Who do you provide services for?
A
Brides, Bridesmaids, Flower Girls, Mother of the Bride, Mother of the Groom.
Q
How much do your services cost?
A
All wedding gowns are constructed differently. For this reason, I price them differently as I look for the absolute best ways to get your desired look out of your specific gown and I offer a Free Initial Consultation to provide you with the most accurate and fair price for your alterations. On average, my bridal alterations services are in the range of $500.-$750 (not including custom work) with pressing included, but it's best to allow $1000 in your budget.
Q
How many fittings will I need?
A
For a bride, there are typically 4 fittings. However, it is not uncommon to need 5 or more. All others are usually in the 2-3 fittings range. Bridal alterations are not a once-size-fits-all service, so I offer a Free Initial Consultation to answer any questions and develop a game plan. Schedule yours now!
If you are an out-of-town bride, we are able to provide a customized experience to accommodate your special needs and trips in and out of town. We also have saved many days for our share of last-minute/ emergency brides. Just let us know what you need and we’ll do our best!
Q
What can I expect during appointments?
A
We ask that you set aside 1 hour for each bridal fitting appointment.
Your First Fitting (also known as our Free Initial Consultation) should be scheduled shortly after you receive your dress from the bridal shop to secure your slot with Debbie and ensure she has enough time to work her magic. On this day, we go over everything you want, need and wish for your beautiful wedding dress. I then provide my recommendations as well as a quote and we develop your custom plan of action together! The majority of the pinning is done here;
Your Follow-up Fittings are scheduled according to our plan of action and on these days we will do any fine tuning that is required - bring your shoes and any accessories you want to play around with during these fittings;
During your Final Fitting, you will be trying it on for one final time before the Big Day! Any final tweaks are completed and it’s bustle learning time (so bring your entourage). Final Fittings are scheduled 2 weeks before your wedding day to give you a big sigh of relief!
Our preference is that Pickup Appointments are scheduled for no later than the week before your wedding so that you can concentrate on all of your last minute wedding planning details (and avoid any unnecessary stress) on the week of your wedding.
All appointments are fully customizable…want to bring your bridal party to learn your bustle? Let us know!
Q
What is the typical turn-around time for a dress?
A
No two weddings are alike, while one bride may have 2 years to plan another may only have 2 months. In an ideal situation, with more than enough time to spare, I like to allow 8-10 weeks for bridal and 4-8 weeks for bridesmaids, moms, and flower girls. That being said, it's very rare that we can't come up with some sort of plan!
Q
Do you do any custom work?
A
Absolutely! Custom work is my specialty!
I LOVE working with brides to create one-of-a-kind custom gowns, veils and other assorted accessories!
I also love getting the opportunity to work with your heirloom items. Whether that is your grandmother's weddingbdress, your mother's veil or creating something brand new from your dress after the wedding, or starting from scratch to create a bespoke wedding gown...I’m your fairy godmother!
If you are interested in any type of custom work, let me hear your ideas!
Anything else I should know?
Notes from Debbie:
💕 Couture bridal alterations are very different from having a pair of pants hemmed at the dry cleaners. This is not a job that your neighbor's great aunt should do for you because "she is so sweet and did my prom dress." Trust me, I have fixed the work of many of these well-meaning ladies and oftentimes, the poor bride is left with a bill larger than necessary when work needs to be corrected and stress that we all could have avoided - don’t do it to yourself. Cheaper is not always better. I try everything in my power to accommodate budgets of all types and enjoy being able to help brides save money wherever possible - without compromising fit or quality of service and experience.
💕 You have probably found out through your shopping experience that dresses today are constructed with layers and layers of beading, lace, linings and crinolines. Done professionally, bridal alterations require at least 4-5 hours just for fittings! Know that there is much more work done behind the scenes and in between the appointments. Patience and flexibility are of the utmost importance in my process. Even when a gown seems to fit well when you pick it up at the bridal shop, the "perfect" fit is achieved by fine-tuning. This is THE one time that the fit really matters. You will see a common trend in my reviews regarding a "perfect" fit vs. a "good" fit. It is going to amaze you! I know because I hear it EVERY TIME!