Wedding Dress Fitting 101: From First Fit to Final Touches

Your wedding dress may look gorgeous on the hanger, but the real magic happens at the wedding dress fitting. The primary goal of your bridal fitting is to tailor your gown through alterations so it fits you perfectly, complementing your body shape and enhancing your best features. You will work with an expert seamstress or alterations specialist during this process. As a recent bride-myself, I can confirm that proper dress fittings transformed how I looked and felt in my wedding dress. "Wedding dress fittings are important because every dress will always need alterations," says Brittany Bergeron, Operations Coordinator at The Bridal Finery in Winter Park, Florida. Your wedding gown will probably be one of the most important dresses you'll ever wear so it's important to tailor it to fit like it was made just for you."

Unlike other dresses, your wedding dress won't come ready to wear straight from the store. Between your dress purchase and your walk down the aisle, there's an entire process to ensure you'll have the perfect fit. From your first fitting to the final try-on, here's what to expect—and what's expected of you—during the next few months.

In this article:

• What happens at a wedding dress fitting?
• Who should come to your wedding dress fitting?
• Your First Wedding Dress Fitting
• Your Second Wedding Dress Fitting
• Your Final Wedding Dress Fitting

What happens at a wedding dress fitting?

At your wedding dress fitting, the transformation of your gown from a beautiful garment to a dress that feels like it was crafted just for you begins. Bergeron explains, "During your wedding dress fittings, your seamstress will help put your gown on and review the alterations needed appointment by appointment, one by one. Typical wedding dress alterations include taking in the bodice and the seat seams to fit perfectly on your body, then taking in the hem of the dress to the correct length, and then creating a bustle so that your train won't get stepped on or torn during your reception. At each fitting, your seamstress will pin your dress to your body to mark the areas the gown needs to be taken in." This stage-by-stage approach ensures that every seam, every hemline, and every contour aligns harmoniously with your form, promising a fit that doesn't just look divine but feels divine, too.

The collaborative nature of these sessions cannot be overstated. Bergeron continues, "Our recommendation is not to be afraid to speak up. If you'd like your dress to be more fitted in some areas, you can absolutely say that! The same goes for the opposite as well. Let your seamstress know you would prefer a looser fit if your dress feels uncomfortably tight. If you prefer a tighter fit, ask for a chair to ensure you can sit down after that portion of the alterations has been completed." Your comfort, style, and vision are paramount, so conveying your preferences and concerns is crucial. In these sessions, your voice plays a key role in ensuring that the final version of your wedding dress not only captivates visually but feels uniquely yours, empowering you to move with grace and confidence on your big day.

Who should come to your wedding dress fitting?

You should definitely plan to bring a relative, bridesmaid or trusted friend to your fittings. According to Bergeron, there are a few significant yet practical reasons you don't want to attend these appointments alone. "The person you bring along will have the ins and outs knowledge of your wedding gown.," says Bergeron. "An example of this is they will know how to zip your gown properly, how to button your dress easily, how to attach/detach sleeves if your dress has them, etc." This ensures that someone other than you understands the "mechanics" of your dress. According to Bergeron, the most important reason to bring someone to your dress fittings is to teach them how to bustle your dress. Considering the complexity of bustles — with Bergeron citing gowns having anywhere from three-point bustles to eleven-point ones — it's clear why such knowledge is indispensable. She also adds, "For extra support, we recommend taking a video of your seamstress showing how to do your bustle so your bridal party can study and perfect it before your wedding day!"

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Your First Wedding Dress Fitting

The first fitting usually takes place about eight weeks before your wedding day. It's important to remember to bring your shoes, bra and bridal shapewear so you can see how everything comes together. This fitting helps your seamstress understand what alterations need to be made. When you have your dress on, they will begin looking for places where it needs to be taken in, let out, shortened, lengthened or altered in another way. "At The Bridal Finery, our seamstress always starts with the bodice, which is the top portion of your dress, to make sure that it fits how it should," says Bergeron. "Once the bodice is perfect, your seamstress will pin your hem."

While your seamstress is busy fitting your gown, look closely at the fit and how the fabric falls. Is there any puckering, bunching or bulging? Speak up if you see anything that you don't like. The seamstress should also be able to tell you why each problem exists, and what can be done to fix it. Before you leave your first fitting, make sure to schedule your next one with the same seamstress.

Your Second Wedding Dress Fitting

You should have a second fitting about six weeks to a month before your wedding. Again, bring along your undergarments, shoes, jewelry and any accessories you plan to wear for your wedding. Your alterations specialist will take the time to evaluate how the initial adjustments look and begin to refine them. If they haven't already, your seamstress will begin to create the bustle at this appointment. "There are different styles of bustles, so ask your seamstress what type of bustle they recommend for your dress," says Bergeron. "You can also ask them to pin different types of bustles so you can decide what looks best." It is also great to ask them how to eliminate any last-minute wrinkles. Should you use an iron? On what setting? Is steaming a better option? And what if you spill something on the gown? Are there certain products you should and shouldn't use?

Your Final Wedding Dress Fitting

Your third and final fitting should be about one month or two weeks before the wedding day. "At your last appointment, the dress should fit just how you envisioned it," Bergeron says. If there are any other adjustments you'd like to make, a seamstress will usually allocate time for this to ensure that you are happy with your dress." It's the last check before you take your dress home, so pay attention to every detail. Remember, the goal of wedding dress fittings is to adjust a gown to your size and tailor it to ensure your comfort and confidence. And take it from some who just recently said "I do," there is nothing more important you can do than invest in a quality seamstress; they're like your wedding dress fairy godmother!