Wedding Dress Alteration - Disappointed and Heartbroken

Wow I totally see what you're saying. The edge is super jagged. I'm sorry you are experience this and hope they fix it!

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I actually had another dress that got messed up by a seamstress so I feel your pain. Are you wearing a veil? I feel like a long veil with some kind of lace trim would cover the hem of the dress. Even so, I don't think other people will notice.

Ugh, I'm so sorry. This is the last thing you need right before your big day! Honestly, I would go in tomorrow, see what she's done, and if you're still displeased, see if you can find a last-minute seamstress to fix it the way you want it

I would make them fix it! its your special day and it needs to be treated as such!

Thanks, everyone! I tried really hard not to be too blunt or rude with her (I know she took time to work on it) but also like, was trying really hard from crying lol.
I think it was just really hard for me to see something so precious and perfect in my eyes to being altered in something "less than" what I had loved about it and essentially kind of made it feel even cheap and not the quality it was when I had brought it in.

Not to mention witnessing how they were handling the dress (letting it drag everywhere) was really disheartening as well.

She is working on cleaning up the edges and we'll see how it goes. The other thing I was worried about it since it is hemmed to my height, I'm nervous her "cleaning" up the edges will make it shorter. So I'll just have to see and go from there.

But I do have a long veil, so hopefully, that helps too.

View Quoted Comment Did she cut the extra material inside yet? Normally a seamstress will not cut the material until after he or she is sure it fits correctly in case they need to let it down a bit. Hopefully that's the case here! Sorry your alterations didn't come out like you expected. I had issues with mine as well that I didn't notice until I put my dress on on my wedding day and I won't lie, it definitely made me sad! Even if no one else noticed.

Is it sewn yet? It looks like the raw edge was top stitched, rather than turned under and sewn down. The sad truth is that the more smooth and unfeatured a dress is, the more sheer perfection is required in altering it. It shows everything. But that looks really amateurish. Can you go to the bridal salon and look at the hem on the original dress, to see how it compares?

I agree the edge looks like it was the original raw edge that was top stitched or serged to prevent fraying. It should not be hard to do the edge where you cannot see the stitching and honestly wouldn't take long to do. If she can't get it the way you like I am sure another seamstress could fix it easily in the time frame you have. I worked in a sewing shop in college and was definitely at a beginner level and even I feel I could handle a task like that unless it was a super delicate material.

I think she has cut the extra material. I was supposed to pick up the dress today and I'm so glad I tried it on beforehand.

It is sewn but I'm not sure what type of stitching she did. I think that's what she's going to do next (folding the edges down and sewing them so they'll be cleaner). But if I'm completely honest, I don't have much faith in what she's about to do after seeing the craftsmanship this turned out as and just really worried since she's cut out about as much fabric as she can – it's the perfect length now (maybe even a millimeter too short), so I'm just going to have to wait and see tomorrow, unfortunately.

I've had really bad experiences with tailors for other dresses and found that if they debate with you and try to rationalize how it looks, that is the best they can do. Ive also cried in front of them so understand how upset you might be! Do you have any photos of the original dress? I would show them to her, tell her how unhappy you are, and demand a refund. Then research other seamstress' in the area and see what they can do. You still have a few weeks so it's not too late!

I know exactly how you're feeling. I'm not happy with the work that was done on my dress and it feels horrible. it makes you doubt how you'll actually look and feel on your big day. I'm sorry this has happened to you, hopefully she will be able to fix whatever you need!

I honestly don’t see much jaggedness on the edges. It does look serged to prevent fraying, but I bet if you steam it, it will even out to what you want. Also, nobody will notice those micro details of your dress unless they are bent down to the ground with their eyes on it.

I’m sorry this experience is stressful for you, especially that close to the wedding.

I do agree with pp that nobody will notice this. Your train will be that straight only when you’re taking your pictures & during ceremony, if you have someone to fluff up your train. When you’re walking it will not be laying that flat & even if it was, somebody would have to come down really close to it to notice anything. It’s true that with “simple” materials like crepe & satin every stitch shows more than when you have elaborate details, lace etc.

I’d try not to stress too much about this & would probably not continue fixing the dress further, especially if you might lose length & dress becomes too short (you don’t want that). Your dress & you will look gorgeous & I guarantee nobody will notice the stitching 🙂

I hope this turns out okay when you go back! I would be upset too if I saw them handling my dress that way, you spent a lot of money on it!

View Quoted Comment

I'm a sewer and I TOTALLY agree with Jennifer in that it looks like she cut it with normal scissors, and then top stitched it. She should had turned the fabric under and done a blind stitch/ sew it down. If she can do that, it will also help prevent bunching when you are walking, and it won't look jagged etc.

Is this a seamstress at your bridal salon or someone you found elsewhere?

That said, yes, you are right to be upset, hopefully she will fix it. If not, I agree with others that a long veil will help distract from it. I don't think any normal guest would notice it either way. I know that doesn't fix it, but try not to get too worked up and let it ruin your day.

I hope it turns out okay for you, please let us know the update

View Quoted Comment Janet, I'm so sorry!! I know this is stressful. I do hope it its done to your satisfaction. Your gown should have never been handled that way! I do believe your veil will cover anything you are concerned about. Also, when I go to weddings, I'm usually looking at the bride's face and overall look. I promise no one will notice what was done, but you. They'll see your radiant, glowing face.

Thank you, everyone, for your helpful words/support.

I picked up the dress today and they were able to fix the hemline. It looks much cleaner now and I'm really relieved because we're about 3 weeks out from the big day. Even the seamstress was like "This looks much better!" which honestly didn't help me feel better since I feel like it's their job lol.

I know it would be one of those things that really I notice and nobody else will, in the grand scheme of things, but also I know my dress didn't look like that when I fell in love with it/purchased it.

I left yesterday feeling like I really didn't want to make a big deal out of it, but the more I thought about it, the more upsetting it was to me (a combination of the finished product and how they were handling the garment).

I purchased my dress at a boutique out-of-town (2 hours away) and took it to an alteration place locally that seemed to have good reviews from past brides and bridesmaids. I'm not sure how to have avoided this since other people seem to have good experiences with them but mine gave me a lot of anxiety and stress that I hadn't anticipated initially.

But hey! It was a learning experience of some sort and now we can cross this off the list

Fixed hem