My Mother's Wedding Gown Becoming My Own

So I've decided to go wear my mother's wedding gown and have it altered to become my own. Her dress is beautiful. She remarried several years ago and her dress was strapless and gorgeously embroidered with lace and pearls with a beautiful not-too-train. She's going to ship the gown to me this week and I'm nervous and anxious because I'm still trying to find local gown specialists who will be able to alter this dress to fit me...and I'm not quite sure what my vision is for my gown. She's kept it perfectly preserved and is so excited to be passing this down to me... and while I'm excited too....not to mention saving some money by not buying a gown out right.... I'm super nervous.