Everything you need to know about bridal fittings and alterations

Congratulations! You did it! You’ve said yes to your dream dress. You’re in love all over again with the wedding dress you’ll wear as you transform from Miss to Mrs., But the process is not over, yet. It’s time to alter that baby to get a custom, just-for-you fit that will take your wedding day look to a level of perfection.

We sat down with LaTonya, bridal beauty expert, and owner of Elite Secrets Bridal, to get answers to the most commonly asked questions about dress fittings and alterations.

Are alterations really necessary?  Absolutely! Just like an everyday dress, wedding dresses aren’t usually made-to-measure. A bride’s measurements rarely match a designer’s size perfectly. After you say yes to your wedding dress, we compare your measurements to the designer’s size chart and order the closest size. Once it arrives, the dress must then be tailored precisely to fit your shape and form.

How much time in advance should I arrange for alterations? Plan to begin the process of altering your dress 8-10 weeks before your wedding day.

How many fittings should I anticipate? Plan for at least three fittings. There could be more depending on the number and type of alterations needed for your gown.

What should you wear for each fitting? “I highly recommend that brides bring the shoes and undergarments they’re planning to wear the day of the wedding,” says LaTonya. “Having the actual shoes helps the seamstress measure for the hem perfectly. A pair of stilettos will require your dress to be a different length than if you opted for a pair of flats.”

How long do alterations appointments take? Allow an hour for each meeting. As you get closer to the day of your wedding, the appointments will go faster. Therefore, the appointment will be shorter.

Want to look flawless on your wedding day? Still need to say yes to your dream dress? We’ve got you covered. Make your appointment today! We’re waiting to serve you!

Top 7 Wedding Dress Shopping Tips for Curvy Brides

The thought of dress shopping as a curvy bride can be intimidating. Even walking into a bridal shop can evoke anxiety and nervousness. What styles will look best on me? Will the shop have samples in my size? Can I even find the perfect dress?

As a recent bride (my husband and I will be celebrating our 5th anniversary! Yay!) and bridal fashion expert, I can say with confidence that there is light at the end of the tunnel, that will lead you the “say yes to the dress moment” you’ve always dreamed about.

In this post, I’ll be sharing my top tips for shopping for your plus size wedding dress.

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Don’t wait until the last minute. Start shopping at least six months ahead of your big day. You’ll want plenty of time for ordering and alterations. Also, early shopping will save you the headache of having to settle for a short production dress or being rushed to order.

Work with a shop that will treat you right. At Elite Secrets Bridal, we roll out the red carpet, so you have a stellar experience with knowledgeable experts. We love all our brides but pride ourselves on offering gorgeous options for curvy brides. No rude treatment or limited options at ESB!

Plan for your appointment. This is one of the best shopping experiences ever, so take it seriously. Get a good night’s rest before your date. Avoid alcohol and salty foods, too. Most importantly, silence your inner critic and come with a great attitude. Feeling good on the inside will almost guarantee looking good on the outside.

Choose your tribe wisely. Good vibes and positive tribes can take your dress shopping experience to a whole other level. Invite folks that get you and want the best for you. After all, this is the most fun part of the wedding planning process, and a Debbie Downer can ruin everything.

Hire a good seamstress. A great seamstress is your best friend. And, you’re in luck because we have an Ah-mazing seamstress on-site. If your dream dress needs straps or bra cups to help enhance your look, we’ve got you covered. Invest in this worthy service. You won’t regret it.

Have fun! If you take one thing away from this post, having fun should be it! If you aren’t having fun doing this, then you are doing it all wrong. Grab your tribe and live it up! Did I mention we have complimentary champagne for you and your tribe?

If this post has you fired up to say yes to your dress, go ahead and book your appointment with us now. We can’t wait to serve you.

TRAVEL TIPS FOR FLYING WITH YOUR WEDDING DRESS

With all the things to consider for a destination wedding, worrying about transporting your wedding dress shouldn’t add to your stress.

First, remember that you’re not the first bride to travel to her wedding with her dress in tow. And, lucky for you our wedding dress expert, LaTonya, owner of Elite Secrets Bridal is here to help.

A simple but costly option would be to buy an extra ticket for your gown. You can ensure your dress will make it to your destination in mint condition if it’s resting in the seat next to you. The bonus is you’re almost guaranteed an aisle or window seat.

If purchasing a ticket is not an option for you, keep reading for LaTonya’s tips for traveling with your special garment.

Planning

• Check the airline’s guidelines for wedding dress policies or carry-on rules. Some large air carriers will have policies in place for traveling with wedding gowns. Here are links to some of the popular airlines:

American

Delta

Spirit

Southwest

United

• Scope out the plane ahead of your flight for closets or large overhead bins. Seatguru.com will give you an opportunity to view the plane’s layout before your departure date. Check out your carrier to determine if there’s space to hang or store your dress. Some airlines have closets for first-class passenger and pilots—even if you don’t have a first-class ticket, some attendants will allow you to store your dress if space is available.

  Arrive early to make arrangements with the gate agent before boarding begins to increase your chances of securing closet space.

Packing

With all the fabric and possibly a train, packing a wedding dress can be a daunting task. There are two options for packing your wedding garment: in a carry-on suitcase or in a garment bag.

• If you opt for the garment bag, there’s a sure way to hang your dress correctly and avoid getting wrinkles during the flight. First, insert the hanger of the dress into the top of the garment bag and hang it up high so you can gather the dress. Then, take the right side of the gown and the left side of the dress and fold them toward the center. Be sure to have a thick bag to avoid punctures from other items in the overhead compartment.

• If you prefer to use a suitcase, make sure your dress has its own bag. Your wedding dress should be far away from anything that could stain it. It’s best to store toiletries, shoes, and makeup in a separate piece of luggage. 

It’s essential to turn your dress inside out before packing. Turning your dress inside out protects the garment in case anything spills inside of your suitcase. 

When you’re ready, lay the dress out flat on the bed or clean floor. Fold the left and right sides of the skirt into the center. Then, roll the gown, keeping as much air as possible between the layers and of the dress to prevents wrinkles.

Place the rolled dress in a large plastic dry-cleaning bag. Next, tie off the ends of the bag, creating an air pocket around the dress. Place the dress in your suitcase.

• Pack a portable steamer. Although our tips will help minimize wrinkles, we can’t promise that your beautiful gown will be wrinkle-free when you land. Packing a portable steamer will help in the event the worst occurs. Some hotels have steamers, but why take a risk when you can pack your own.

  To guard against water spots from the steam, place a towel or a cotton sock over the head of your steamer before you begin to steam your dress.

Now you know everything about how to fly with a wedding dress! Still looking to say yes to the dress? Join us for our Allure Bridal Trunk Show this weekend (Sept. 13-15th) and save 10% off your dream dress. Book your appointment here.

8 Tips for Wedding Dress Shopping at a Bridal Trunk Show

Wedding dress shopping can be a bit overwhelming.

Not only are there so many choices (so many gorgeous dresses!) but the pressure is on to find a dress you love, look and feel fabulous in, and comes in (ideally!) under budget.

Add a sample sale or trunk show into the mix, and we’re officially bewildered. But fear not, we’re here to help!

What is a Bridal Trunk Show?

A trunk show is a special event in a bridal boutique where they invite a designer to showcase their collection. Sometimes it’s a one-day event, but for particularly popular collections, it could last for multiple days. Often the designers themselves, or stylists from the fashion house will be on hand to help you find the right dress.

Trunk shows are a particularly good opportunity to check out a visiting designer whose full collections aren’t stocked in your city.

8 Expert Tips for Shopping at Sample Sales and Trunk Shows

So, now you know what bridal trunk shows are, how do you get the most out of shopping at one? Here’s where bridal beauty expert LaTonya of Elite Secrets Bridal steps in.

Located in Baltimore's esteemed Mount Vernon fashion boutique district, Elite Secrets Bridal opened its doors bringing to Baltimore’s bridal scene an experience that cannot be found in any other Baltimore bridal boutique. The pedigree of founder LaTonya Turnage, bridal beauty expert, has been fundamental to our philosophy to combine expertise and excellent service with style and grace. Leaving pretense to the side, we focus on bringing the best designer and emerging bridal gowns from all over the world to Baltimore Brides!

1. What Lies Beneath

Feel your best underneath your wedding dress. The appropriate undergarments will not only help you feel your best; they will help your dress look the best. Opt for nude-colored underwear and a great strapless bra.

2. Bring a Companion

Take a trusted friend—someone you trust that will give you sound advice. Honest encouragement and constructive feedback can be extremely helpful and great company can up the factor for your bridal dress appointment.

Leave the whole entourage though. Too many conflicting opinions can leave you confused and stressed.

3. Mind Your Budget

Know your budget! Bridal trunk shows often offer a discretionary discount (usually 10%) off gowns ordered over that weekend.

It’s a great way to spend a little less in the event you find your dream wedding dress.

4. Do Your Homework

Research the designer first – for a trunk show the boutique will primarily present the featured designer only.

Make sure you are interested in their styles and silhouettes to get the most from your experience.

5. Necklines, Shape, and Silhouettes Oh My

There are so many variations to a wedding dress. Have an idea of what neckline, shape and silhouette you like best. Research the different styles, so you’re familiar will the lingo, too.

You will soon find you have narrowed down your style and what is flattering for your figure.

6. How High?

Bear in mind the height of your heels you plan to wear on your wedding day when you begin your dress shopping.

Keep in mind that hems cannot be lengthened, only shortened, so it’s a good idea to take the maximum heel height with you.

7. Ask the Expert

At a trunk show, if you are lucky the designer or stylist may be there in person, take full advantage of expert availability and ask for styling advice.

With their experience and knowledge, you are likely to find that they know what suits you—sometimes better than you! Check out Elite Secrets Bridal’s upcoming trunk shows here.

8. Consider Your Timing

Know your time frame. Some designer dresses need up to eight months to be completed and altered.

Learn beforehand, how long the designer needs for your dress and let your stylist know if you’re in a time crunch.

Put your new trunk show knowledge to the test and join us for the Pronovias show Sept. 27th - 30th. Affordable designer gown for every type of bride. Book your appointment to say yes to the dress. We look forward to serving you!

Our CEO, LaTonya Turnage, featured on Baltimore Bride Magazine

We are thrilled to share that our CEO, LaTonya Turnage, was featured in Baltimore Bride Magazine's new online series, "Ask the Expert." In the inaugural post, our bridal beauty expert shared her story on starting Elite Secrets Bridal.

There were tons of tips for brides about everything from how many people you should bring to your dress appointment (the answer might surprise you), the key to finding the perfect dress and her favorite part of helping a bride: “Once they find their perfect dress and they’re caught in the moment and everyone is crying, we do something special here. While the bride is in her dress, we put on a nice song for her and she’ll do a walk. We ask the bride what song, whether it’s her first dance song or one she’s considering. Everyone in the room is crying and emotional. It never gets old; every time I feel like family.” 

Read all about our expert and see more images at http://www.baltimorebridemagazine.com/blog/2018/6/21/ask-the-expert-bridal-shop-proprietor.

Summer is here and the wedding season is underway. Book your appointment today and say yes to your dream dress. We can't wait to serve you.