By Vesna, Tuxedos & Suits, Alterations, Tailoring

I purchased my wedding dress from Dublin Bridal and was referred to this shop. I worked in a bridal salon many, many years ago and know that most shops work with seamstresses that are very good and have extensive knowledge of wedding gowns. My wedding was in October and was told that it was important I don’t start the process after July. I made an appointment in July and had my first fitting. Everything was great and I felt like Paulette was very knowledgeable. I didn’t need a lot done to my dress but there were intricate details that would take some time. Maybe I have been out of the game too long, but my total was over $600. I was very shocked and was told that if I didn’t pay in full the dress couldn’t be touched. I didn’t mind paying in full but after we left that day things took a turn. I had a final fitting appointment scheduled for August but after being sick and having some scheduling conflicts it was pushed to September. When I arrived at the shop Paulette brought out my dress in the bag and then she told me, “Sorry to disappoint you but I haven’t even touched your dress.” She told me since it was a busy time of the year, she had so many dresses to do and needed to get them done. Again, I have been in the wedding industry, so I get it and know timelines get pushed but was slightly worried since I was only 3 weeks away from my wedding. She told us to come back a week later and it would be done and ready to go. I also was told for the trouble my dress would be steamed for free, I can’t believe shops charge for this service after you pay so much for alterations. I showed up ready to see the final product and was told that she only was able to do the underlining and some of the bustle had not gotten to everything else. We are now less than two weeks from my wedding, so I started getting worried. She also mentioned she would be hand sewing the lace on the hem back on by hand and I can’t imagine that is a fast process. My worry was that this was going to be a rush job and the final product was going to look that way. My dress still needed the bustle completed, taken in at the bust, the off the should straps tightened, a sash sewn on, hemmed, and steamed. She told us to come back that Saturday and the dress would be completed and steamed and the next time I would try it on would be my wedding day. Guess what? Saturday it was not complete, my Mother who was picking it up was told to come back in a few hours because sewing still needed completed. It is disappointing that my dress had been at that shop for a few months and was ignored until the very last second. I also didn’t like the fact that the last thing I need to be stressing out about as a bride is the only thing, I am wearing that day. I had no plan B. At the end of the day one week from a wedding I think is cutting it too close, what if things weren’t right? It would have given me no time to get it fixed. I kept hearing about other brides, but nothing makes someone feel like they aren’t important like being told other work is taking precedence to yours. And I know its busy wedding season, but it angers me to think I went through the right process of starting early to avoid this and this is how it turned out.

Material is gathered at the sides and looks tacky, the back doesn't zip up all the way, still, after being measured twice at the last two appointments. I needed cups sewn in to the bust and the way she sewed them in they show at the top and pull the dress off my chest. She couldn't make the bust fit my body on a fit and flare dress. The purpose of the dress is to show off my figure but instead she destroyed my wedding gown and now it hides my curves. Stay away from here and stay away from Dublin Bridal!!

I had a wonderful experience at By Vesna! Super polite and extremely talented! I would recommend this seamstress studio to anyone!

Overall, I found By Vesna easy to work with and thought they were reasonably priced. The seamstress explained everything so well at my first appointment and knew exactly what alterations were needed for my wedding dress. However, at my second appointment, a non-seamstress oversaw my fitting. She did a great job at showing my maid of honor how to do the bustle, but there was some extra fabric causing slight folds in the font of the bodice. She assured me those would straighten out when they steamed the dress, but they were still there on wedding day. I wish I had pushed harder to have the seamstress take a second look to make sure my bodice lied completely smooth, but ultimately you can’t really tell in photos and I don’t think any of my guests noticed it.