HELP - Dress Alterations!

You should contact your seamstress/tailor and ask them when to start alterations. Be prepared to stop losing weight once the alterations begin. Your dress looks very fitted and you don't want it to be too loose on the big day.

I was told to start alterations at least 2 months before, but I didnt need as much as you so maybe take it in 2 months from now?

@JJ yes! they will be giving me 1 recommendation and I am going to ask around for the area!

Gorgeous! I'm getting married in a Stella York too! My bridal shop was booked with alterations so they recommended some to me that they worked with thankfully. Mine is getting done in a month, but it depends on the tailor. 5 months is definitely enough time to do your research and find one you feel comfortable with. Apparently a lot of them will tell you to not lose more than 5 pounds once they take the dress in after fitting so make sure you're at the weight you want when you take it in. 2 months before should be enough time though

I'd start in August.

I went in for my first alterations appointment May 6 for my July 29 wedding. I had lost about 20 pounds since buying my dress and my seamstress told me we should hold off on sewing anything until my weight stabilizes. She had a bride not tell her she was dieting and she had to alter the dress THREE times! Definitely be upfront, they will appreciate it. I'm going in June 10 to have her do final measurements and start sewing so I'll have to hold back at the gym and just work on toning my arms more

Plus every time they have to re-alter something, it costs more money! I got my Stella York in Feb for my July wedding and I'm adding sleeves. I've had 2 alteration appointments in April and May and the final is in 3 weeks. I agree with the PP, try not to gain or lose once you've had the alterations set. Your dress is lovely!

Wow gorgeous dress!!!

My wedding is one week before yours! I will be doing bridal portraits sometime in September, so the place I bought my dress from suggested starting alterations this month! I have my first appointment on June 22nd!

I just had a pretty big thread about this. My wedding is in 5 months, I was advised to start alterations 2 months before the wedding. Most people have said that you should not lose more than 2 dress sizes unless you have spoken to your seamstress and she's assured you that she can take it in more than that and you're sure that you can cover the costs because it can get very expensive. I'm in this same boat. I was also disappointed to hear from most people that seamstresses want you to maintain the same weight from the time of your first fitting and on. If you're curious about sizes and how many lbs would take off a whole size (as I was) - I have read the bigger you are, the more you have to lose to go down a whole size, possibly 20-30lbs ..but if you're already average weight, then it will probably be more like 10lbs but this varies person to person and since you recently lost weight, you probably know. Whether or not you find my advice useful, I do recommend talking to a seamstress immediately so you can know your options and get a plan in place. Good luck!

I'm getting married in October also, and I was told to start in August.

@Traci - yes. I bought a size 22 gown (street size 16/18 with large bust), in November. It only needed to be shortened. I've lost almost 30 lbs (now size 14 street) and my ballgown just hangs on me. Luckily, we moved our date to November '18, so I'm probably gonna sell it and buy a new one at the beginning of next year. 2 sizes is about all they can alter without ruining the integrity of the design.

I was told bring it in 2 months before

I'm having my first alterations appointment tomorrow (!!!), which is two months out from the wedding. They have me scheduled to come in three times: 2 months out, 1 month out, and two weeks out. Do you have a seamstress yet? Are you going to need to go in more than once?

Not helpful, but I ordered my Stella York in March so I hope it is in soon! Excitement! Following this.

Your situation is so similar to mine its crazy! the sample size 12 didnt fit in store and told me i would be in a size 14 if it werent for my bust, so i needed a 16. Well now i have lost 21 pounds and fit in a 12 and my 16 falls off of me. im planning on losing about 20 more pounds and am scared it will change the shape of the dress or mess it up by altering that much. the place i bought my gown said to allow 90 days for alterations but that they usually had a lot of customers for alterations so it took longer.

Thanks for your help everyone!

I picked up my dress yesterday, and was given a recommendation for a seamstress. Left a VM with her yesterday and anticipate hearing back sometime this week to set a game plan up regarding alterations and when to start them.

The bridal shop told me that it was already going to be pricey to alter the dress and advised me not to lose any more than 10 lbs at this point. I'm 167 lbs currently for reference, and have a rather athletic build because I weightlift.

I wear street size 10 and my Stella York gown was a size 16. I swam in it when I tried it on.

Your dress is gorgeous! I also have a Stella York.

My bridal shop told me to start 4 months out. If you plan on losing more weight, I wouldn't start yet. I would be careful on how much you lose though. There's only so much of a dress that can be brought in so don't lose too much. Congrats on losing that much so far though and good luck with the rest!

Oh I love that

Holy dang, that's a gorgeous dress! I'm worried about my dress when it comes in, as I've recently lost about 20 pounds and have gone from a street size 12 to an 8.

PS - date twin!