Anyone else demoralized after first fitting?

Wedding dresses are very standard shapes. It's perfectly normal that it fits you great in one place and not so much in the other.

It could simply be your shape, and that's okay! I have super square shoulders, so even things that "fit" will sometimes feel like saran wrap because my shoulders are just not the shape that clothes for women are made for. I generally have to wear men's shirts because women's shirts are never wide enough in the shoulders.

Don't let the first alteration fitting get to you. My dress was a literal bag on me when it came in, and it had intricate beading all over. I couldn't see how they could possibly salvage it. But they did. It was perfect.

Were you happy with the solution the seamstresses offered?

I'm so sorry. That must have been disappointing. I think I would certainly look into a backup dress, just to feel like I had SOMETHING I liked if you're short on time - taking IN isn't too difficult, but letting out can be hard since you're restricted by what fabric there is in the seams, and depending on HOW small the areas are, I wouldn't be 100% confident they can do it. That said, I'm an anxious person on the whole, so prefer to be 'safe than sorry' as it were.

Hi Kelly! I'm so sorry to hear you had a disheartening experience!! I'd try to stay positive, especially because the seamstresses said they have ideas on how to fix this!! (I got a few flat "no"s when making alterations requests, so they will definitely say no if it's not feasible!)

But to Rosie's point as well, if it will ease your anxiety to check out some retailers that can get your dresses quickly as a back-up then I'd do that! (Check out the wedding dresses on Nordstrom, BHLDN, ASOS, and Revolve!)