About this vendor
deMelis Atelier is a bridal alterations studio specializing in wedding gowns and special occasion
attire. Our services also include vintage gown remodeling, wedding day dressing, cleaning & preservation, and more. We have you covered, literally!
Details
Business Attributes
- Woman-owned Business
Fashion Services
- Alterations
Awards and Affiliations
2025 'Best of Weddings'
Best of Weddings
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
Reviews
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5
out of 5.012 reviews
Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
I can not praise Melissa and her team enough!! From beginning to end, my experience with deMelis Atelier was truly a joy. Melissa is so kind, funny and most certainly talented! My ...
mother and I entrusted the team with her 1989 wedding dress, with the desire to modernize it while still maintaining the classical romantic feel. Melissa made my wedding dress dreams come true! She put me at ease, answered all our questions, and even educated us about the incredible history of unions when she spotted the little tag tucked away! My personal favorite touch was how she repurposed fabric to construct the bow of my dreams, I truly felt like a princess and it was all thanks to Melissa and her team 💕
I am so happy that I trusted Melissa and her team at deMelis Atelier for my wedding gown alterations! The whole experience was so enjoyable. Melissa made me feel so comfortable dur...
ing every appointment, and produced excellent work. She did a hem, a bustle and had to adjust the bodice of my gown as I do have a shorter torso and unconventional frame (due to scoliosis). Not only did she make my wedding dress fit me like a glove, but she also re-created my mother’s wedding gown into a cocktail dress which I wore for my rehearsal dinner. She is a true master at her craft! From the very first email communications, I knew I was in good hands. Even on the day of my rehearsal dinner when I had some questions, the team answered my messages and eased my concerns. Highly recommend Melissa for your alterations!!
Melissa is wonderful to work with. She is truly an expert in her field. Melissa came up with the perfect idea for my gown to make sure I could have the gorgeous dramatic train for ...
the ceremony and pictures, but lose some of the weight of the dress for dancing while bustled. Melissa made some of the layers of crinoline detachable so that I could have my train, but also dance comfortably while bustled. She also made a beautiful bustle for my bow that she attached to the back of my gown. The seatbelt Melissa put in my strapless dress was so secure, I danced the night away in my gown and it felt so secure the whole night, even through our complex first dance. Melissa listened to my feedback and made everything exactly how I wanted it to look. She made sure I was absolutely comfortable with everything before the end of my final fitting. She was so patient and kind throughout the whole process. She made sure that I felt comfortable asking questions. She took the time to get to know me and was genuinely excited for me! I loved working with Melissa!
I cannot say enough wonderful things about Melissa!! She is AMAZING!
The way I found my dress was unconventional- I bought it secondhand off of someone across the country and hope...
d it fit! I knew I had come across the right person after I saw Melissa’s posts about secondhand and slow fashion. It’s not always possible to ensure that the vendors you choose for your wedding offer excellent services while also matching your values, but with Melissa, I knew I couldn’t find anyone better. I appreciate her dedication to sharing education within her industry and to brides and her focus on sustainability.
Melissa’s space is beautiful and welcoming. She is an absolute professional, extremely down to earth, and so fun!!! Since I didn’t get to try on my dress in a wedding boutique when I bought it, my first consultation with Melissa was the first time I really got to see it on. She made me feel extremely comfortable, listened to every concern, and provided advice that went beyond the dress, including where to place my veil and what shapewear to buy!
Melissa is extremely talented at what she does, I truly don’t think you could find anyone better. If you’re planning your wedding and wondering if you should reach out, choosing to work with Melissa of deMelis Atelier is a decision that would be impossible to regret! You're not only getting the highest quality services, but you're also supporting a wonderful business and incredible person. I wish I had an excuse to come back!!
From one of the very first emails—complete with a Bravo reference—I knew Melissa was the perfect match, and she absolutely was! Saying she’s good at what she does doesn’t even begi...
n to cover it.
I had my eye on my wedding dress long before my now-husband and I even met. It was a beautiful, form-fitting gown that embodied all my wedding dreams. But at my first fitting, I was worried—it felt much snugger than I remembered when I picked it up from the dress shop. Melissa listened to my concerns, reassured me they were just minor tweaks, and promised it would be no problem at all.
At my second fitting, the dress was much more comfortable, and I finally felt like a bride. As an extremely Type A wedding professional myself, I was initially nervous about having my final fitting the day before the wedding. But after working with Melissa, I had complete confidence in her and her team. Sure enough, at my final fitting, the dress fit like a glove, it was the most incredible feeling.
While I was soaking in my "bride" moment, Melissa was still focused on the details I wouldn’t have even noticed. She asked how I felt and if I needed any final tweaks. I told her it was perfect. That’s when she pointed out a tiny bump on my hip that she insisted on fixing before letting me leave—and I truly appreciated that level of attention to detail!
My hem and bustle were absolutely flawless. As a wedding professional, I’ve seen so many broken bustles needing last-minute safety pin fixes, but Melissa’s work was rock solid. I’ll forever be grateful for her skill, care, and dedication.
If you’ve read this far, take my advice—call her now! She was one of the most important parts of my day, and I’ll always be so appreciative of her work!
Melissa and her team are absolutely fantastic. Melissa is so incredibly talented. She has a great eye and such attention to detail. She was so much fun to chat with during my appoi...
ntments. I always felt so relaxed and at ease. My alterations appointment felt easy and stress free, and I knew my dress was in the best hands. She altered my dress flawlessly and it fit perfectly on my wedding day! She helped us make a video of how to bustle my dress at my final appointment which was so helpful on my wedding day! I would highly recommend Melissa to anyone!
I will echo the other reviews and emphasize that Melissa and her team is the best!!!
Melissa is so talented - the second I met her and she started pinning my dress, the depth of h...
er experience was clear and I knew I was in good hands. She is also the ultimate hype woman - I walked away from each of my appointments feeling even more excited for my wedding!
Melissa and her team is patient and kind, eager to help make your experience the best it can be. I had been debating whether I wanted to slightly change the neckline to my dress. At first, I decided against it, but at my second appointment, I mentioned to Melissa that I was still thinking about it. She instantly got out her tools to simulate the change I wanted to make, talking through what she could do. I decided to make the change and am so happy I did, and am so glad that Melissa talked me through the options. After my second appointment, I had an idea about how I was hoping to use any leftover fabric from my dress. I acknowledged that it was probably too late to do anything, but the deMelis team quickly answered that they could make this happen. These are the kinds of things the deMelis team does to go above and beyond.
I'd also stress that Melissa is an incredible resource. She is more than a seamstress - she has so much knowledge on all things wedding, from the best spandex to wear to the stain remover you should use if god forbid anything gets on your dress. Melissa will not only make sure you feel confident in your dress, but will make you feel prepared for whatever comes your way on wedding day.
I'll end by mentioning how thoughtful the entire deMelis team is. I brought different family members to each of my appointments and the deMelis team was so kind to everyone, making sure everybody was comfortable. All goes to say, if the deMelis Atelier team is still available for your wedding date, go ahead and book them right away!!
Photos in Review Shot by Courtney Cania Photography
Melissa and her team at deMelis Atelier are an absolute gem! I cannot say enough wonderful things about her incredible talent. Her attention to detail is impeccable. It was so exci...
ting to see the work done on my dress throughout the three appointments.
Melissa and her team at deMelis Atelier are an absolute gem! I cannot say enough wonderful things about her incredible talent. Her attention to detail is impeccable. It was so exciting to see the work done on my dress throughout the three appointments.
Not only is her work exceptional, but she is also an absolute joy to work with. She has a gift for making her clients feel confident and beautiful. Unfortunately, I have had a negative experience in the past with a seamstress making comments on gaining weight.
Melissa is the opposite - working with her was a blast, and I always looked forward to seeing her and she took away the stress of wedding planning!
I highly recommend Melissa and her team at deMelis Atelier to anyone in need of alterations or custom sewing, especially for your wedding day!
Melissa and the entire team at DeMelis Atelier are WONDERFUL. Truly excellent craftsmanship and they are kind, transparent, and honest. My dress was incredible intricate and fragil...
e, but I felt so comfortable throughout the alterations process. My dress fit like a glove on my wedding day and I felt so beautiful! I cannot recommend them enough - truly excellent work!
I cannot recommend Melissa highly enough! The bridal shop where I purchased by wedding dress directed me to Melissa and said that she was the absolute best at her craft in the area...
. She exceeded my expectations and I was so thrilled with the alterations that she made to my dress. I looked forward to all of my appointments with her, she made every visit so fun and relaxed, which helped me feel comfortable and confident. I highly recommend booking her as soon as you can!
Melissa and the rest of her team at deMelis Atelier are truly the best in the business! They did the alterations for my wedding dress and reception jumpsuit for my wedding in June ...
2024. All of my fittings were not only productive, but so much fun! Wedding dress fittings were certainly a loaded subject for me - my weight fluctuated quite a bit leading up to the wedding due to the stress, and I certainly wasn’t feeling the most confident before my wedding. However Melissa immediately put me at ease with her fun and kind demeanor, and I enjoyed every appointment! My dress turned out so beautifully - they did some basic alterations like hemming, but also raised the waistline to line up with my natural waist. I felt so confident and beautiful in my dress on the actual day thanks to Melissa and her team at deMelis!
Melissa is literally the boss lady of alterations. Her team is the best of the best. Working with her was a wonderful experience. She always made me feel beautiful and comfortable ...
in my dress. Any concern I had about how I would look on my day quickly vanished away when trying it on at the second fitting. Her shop the cutest and exactly the vibe you want when going to an alterations appointment. I would recommend Melissa and her team always!!
Contact
415 Killingworth Rd Unit #9, Higganum, CT | Connecticut
deMelis Atelier/ The Stitched Collective