You’ve got the dress – woohoo! Two expert seamstresses tell us why a bridal alterations specialist is your new best friend to make your gown fit perfectly
All Sewn Up will go above and beyond to ensure your dream dress fits like a dream too
So, you’ve had the ‘yes’ moment and are now beyond ecstatic at having found the wedding dress of your dreams – but what if the hem needs taken up, or you need to tweak the fit?
The good news is that there are experts out there who specialise in refining your look, and who can deploy their incredible skills to make your gown appear as if it was crafted with your precise measurements in mind.
Who is All Sewn Up?
All Sewn Up is a wedding dress specialist in West Kilbride, Ayrshire, offering bridal alterations, wedding dress aftercare, bridal accessories and flower girl dresses.
Owner Jane Robb has clocked up over 30 years’ experience in the field, and her colleague and assistant manager Ainslie McDonald has been helping brides (and mums, bridesmaids and wedding guests) tailor their wedding looks since 2016.
Where should I start with wedding dress alterations and fittings?
Ainslie’s first piece of advice is straightforward, but could save a lot of angst (and cash) further down the line. “I cannot stress enough how important it is to do your research,” she says.
“You need to make sure that you’re entrusting your dress to someone who knows what they’re doing. Going cheap isn’t always the best and it’s actually harder for us to fix other people’s mistakes."
"I’ve known brides who have ended up spending more money in the long run as they’ve had to pay twice to get their dress fixed."
All Sewn Up's owner Jane Robb has over 35 years' experience in the fashion industry
How soon before a wedding should you get your dress altered?
Once you've bought your wedding dress, Jane recommends getting yourself in for a consultation: “Brides tend to allow ten to 12 weeks to begin with, on average, although we do have people booking our services a year in advance. Say you’re getting married in May; ideally, we’d see you in February, March and April to really make sure everything is as it should be.”
Can a wedding dress be made bigger?
Another cost-saving tip is to be realistic about what size you buy, believes Jane: “Our advice to brides is don’t buy a dress that’s too small. It’s much easier to take something in than it is to try and make it larger,” she explains.
“In some instances we’ve been obliged to change a dress that zipped up into one with a lace-up back instead so that it would fit the bride. That takes a lot of work, so the costs do add up when this happens. Worse, though, is that it can change the whole look of your dress.”
Jane and assistant manager Ainslie, who also runs her own bridal dressing service
What wedding dress customisations and personalisations are possible?
Seamstresses as skilful as those at All Sewn Up can do remarkable things with delicate bridalwear. “We have worked some miracles over the years,” smiles Jane. “We really can do jobs of all sizes. We can add sleeves, make jackets, remove details, make the sleeves you have detachable... We’ve done it all!”
Discover other wedding dress boutiques and specialists on Tie the Knot Scotland's online directory
What can I do with an old family wedding dress?
And if you’re looking to redesign a family heirloom to wear on your own special day? All Sewn Up can help there too. “The most recent instance of this was when we used lace from the bride’s grandmother’s dress to add detailing and sleeves to her own dress,” says Ainslie.
How much do wedding dress alterations cost in the UK?
When you’re setting a budget for your gown, it’s worth bearing in mind that the dress you find will almost inevitably need altering.
“It’s hard to give exact costings as dresses differ so much, but we do recommend you allocate a portion of your budget for alteration costs. Even if a dress is made to measure, the chances are it will still need some finessing. That’s where we come in!” smiles Jane.
