My dress is in... Now what? ....Update in comments.

I picked up my dress. And in early may I will go for first fitting

Oh!?! So you actually take your dress home when it comes in? See, I was under the impression the store keeps it there until the dress is completely finished.

Some places will

keep the dress in storage for you. Just ask her bridal boutique.... mine will keep it for all of my fittings and until 2 days before my wedding so I don't have to worry about FH seeing it. Edit: they are also going to steam it and keep it out of the light so the colors don't fade

I think mine keeps it until you've paid the whole balance. BUT I am particularly anxious about leaving it there because I have heard horror stories of salons closing w/o notice and brides being left without dresses that they've paid for. Mine will be coming home with me!

OMGosh i would die if the salon closed down w/o notice. This one is one of the popular one in Toronto and has been around for decades, so I don't see that happening.... but never say never.

Does anyone think if loosing weight while the alteration process is happening would be bad?

I just don't know what they do if I come back say for the second or even third fitting and the dress is too big?

My dress came in around Thanksgiving. The bridal shop owner told me it was way too soon for alterations so she still has it, although I did go in December to see it and try it on. I have my first alterations appt scheduled at the end of March, so I'll have to pick it up by then. You probably have until April before you have to do your first fitting, although it's prom and wedding season so you might need a little more time. Ask you alterations person what they recommend.

ETA: I was also advised to lose any weight before the first fitting and no more after that.

@Jacqui76 Thanks that's really good advice.

As soon as they told me it was in I was like wait wha? now??? It's not a bad thing, I'm just the kind of person who likes to get things done. So yesterday I was in a bit a tizzy thinking omg I have to do this now I haven't lost all the weight I want what am i going to do!?!

@jacqui76 that is really great advice about the weight and the fitting schedule! I'm jotting that down! haha

My dress stayed at the boutique until my alterations.

I guess it's different for every salon then. I'm going to give them a call and ask them whether I take the dress home with me or they keep it

Mine came early as well. But, unless I went with the salon for alterations, I had 2 weeks to pick it up before they charged an additional fee (and I wasn't allowed to go in on a Saturday).

So I tried it on, paid for it in full, and took it home in mid October. I recently took it to my seamstress (not at the salon) for fittings at the beginning of this month.

Exciting that your dress came in! I had to finish paying for and pick up my dress within 14 days. I had my consultation with my seamstress yesterday, and we're starting alterations mid May. She told me it would be best to be at or close to my ideal wedding weight at that first fitting. So, I only have 3 months... Ah!

Ladies thank you for all advice!

I don't need to loose like 20 pounds or anything. I just want to tone up my body and loose a few inches. My goal was to loose 10 pounds, mainly I wanted to turn the fat into muscle. So far I've lost 2 pounds and my percentage in body fat has gone down a little.

It's happening very slowly but I think its better then loosing it super quickly and gaining it all back!

I got my dress from a small bridal boutique so they actually charge a monthly fee to store it there - I'm going to pick it up today and my parents will be holding onto it for me until my fittings (my first one won't be until end of March/early April)! I'm HOPING to lose some weight by my wedding and my final fitting is a few weeks before so you should have some time too!

You can go try it on now, but I'd wait for your first fitting until 6 weeks out.

I took my dress home as soon as it came in, and then went back to the store for my alterations appointment (which was about 5 days later). Find out how long you need for alterations. Keep it hidden at home, and go in for alterations closer to your wedding date.

You can still try it on when you pick up and get the staff (if you are altering it at the boutique) to give you a quick idea of what alterations you may need. But definitely don't get it altered now. Try to wait a bit

My friend bought her dress at a local boutique, and she kept her dress there and it caught on fire! Luckily her dress was okay but could you imagine!

I'm trying to lose more weight before my dress comes in. I purchased my dress yesterday, and it should be here no later than June. My dress is staying at the salon and being packed in a wedding dress suitcase for my DW. ETA: auto correct

The store I bought my dress was kind of strange. You had to have the balance paid in full at least a week after it arrived, and then they said they would hold it for a month, and after that charge a holding fee. So I just brought it home, and will get it altered soon. (They don't do the alterations at the salon I purchased my dress from though)

I figured I would put an update here just incase anyone runs into the same issue I'm having. I called the salon and spoke to the lady who works there and she said if I'm still trying to loose a little weight/inches then she recommends coming in for a "try on session." So I'll try the dress on and they can also get started on taking up the hem, it will also let the seamstress and myself see where I need to lose or not lose.

So if anyone is going through the same thing maybe you can opt for that and then when your ready make your first alteration appointment after that.

Thanks for all the helpful advice ladies!