Adding Sleeves to Wedding Dress?

Hi there! Yes, you can certainly add sleeves to your dress but it will be a bit of work. I think you should take out the cups and get the bust taken in. Since the seamstress will have to open the lining to do that anyway, s/he can add illusion netting to the décolletage, as well as a sleeve. It’s a beautiful dress and it fits you perfectly otherwise. Congrats!

Yes you could, but it might be more cost-effective (and easier) to find a topper.

Hi Carmen

Congratulations on finding your dress! It looks beautiful!

If you’re interested in adding sleeves, I would bring it to a seamstress and discuss your options with them and see how much work it would involve.

Alternatively, as the previous poster mentioned, you could add a dress topper. This wouldn’t require any alteration work and could be a more cost-effective option.

Do you have a seamstress picked already for your other dress alterations?

View Quoted Comment Thank you!! And I haven’t picked anyone out yet because our wedding is so far off. We aren’t getting married until next August, so I wanted to wait a little while.

I private messaged you because I did this! My dress store ordered the fabric and they're adding the sleeves for me! The picture I sent you is with fake sleeves they had me try on but they're similar to what I am doing.

View Quoted Comment It'd like to see your sleeves, please. My seamstress wants $1000.00 too put sleeves on my strapless gown. I may leave it strapless, wear opera length gloves, and/or just get a stole, but in December, I may need more. Lol!

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That makes sense

When you do decide to start the alternations and find a seamstress you would like to work with, I would definitely discuss it with them and see what can be done! They're typically experienced in making big alterations like this and in the best position to advise if it will work!

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Okay I will PM you the same links to the picture I have before and after I tried on the fabric for my seamstress.

Sure! I'd look into adding cap sleeves. You can also have cups sewn in. If you stick with no sleeves, you can sometimes have an "internal corset" added as an inside layer, to help hold everything up.

View Quoted Comment I think I’ve found a local place to do it. They specialize in customization, so I just need to reach out.

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That's great news! Let us know how the consultation goes

Something like bolero , you can find not expensive ones and take it off if you want later. Check on wish.com or aliexress .

I had sleeves added to my dress...they came out beautiful and I could actually unsnap them if I want to go back to strapless. My seamstress only charged $100 for the sleeves, adding the belt a small hem and bustle.

Hey Carmen!! How is your dress looking? Was your seamstress able to add sleeves to your dress? It's so beautiful!!

View Quoted Comment Hi! I still haven’t gotten my dress altered yet. We are getting married August 2020 and I’m working on losing a significant amount of weight. So, I’m not really sure when to reach out to a seamstress.

I sew and have done a number of dress and dress pant alterations (I would never touch my own dress though because I would be a nervous wreck). You can add sleeves but it will run up and my one concern would be tying it all together because of the binding on your dress and the difference in fabric you will be bound to see. I would definitely look into a seamstress asap to give them ample time to find the perfect things to add to make it all flow better. Also gives you time to get the money for the alterations because again it could be quite costly... Otherwise its a beautiful dress and I think you look beautiful in it. I love your skirt on this dress is so dreamy!!!! You also look so happy!

I had swag sleeves added to my dress that were removable with snaps. They came out beautiful and I was able to remove them for dancing.

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Hey!!! Would you mind sending me how your dress looks with sleeves? I want to do something similar but I'm curious to see how it looks before committing to buying the dress!

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Okay PM you