Hi Brides-to-Be,

I recently had an enquiry from a bride asking if I do alterations on wedding dresses not purchased from my boutique. The answer is yes—if I have availability, as my priority will always be the brides who purchased their gowns from Accapella Bridal.

This particular bride reached out just 10 days before her wedding, concerned she may have lost weight since picking up her dress from the original seamstress. I was able to fit her in on Monday morning. When she tried the dress on, she wasn't happy with the excess fabric in the skirt area. She had a sway back, so I adjusted the back panels to contour and shape the dress properly to her body—and she was really pleased with the result.

I completed the alterations by Thursday. She mentioned possibly giving feedback to the bridal shop, but I explained that since they don’t do in-house alterations, it's not really their responsibility.

When I asked when her dress was altered, she said it was pinned in December and picked up in March. That, I explained, was likely the root of the issue. Altering a dress so early before the wedding increases the chance of fit problems—our bodies can change over time!

For my own brides, I follow a much tighter and more effective timeline:

• Pinning: 3–4 weeks before the wedding
• Pick-up: 7–12 days after pinning

This helps ensure the perfect fit without the need for last-minute fixes.

So yes—I do offer alterations for dresses not purchased at Accapella Bridal, depending on my availability. Just know that I take pride in my timing and process, designed to give every bride confidence and comfort on her big day.

Warmly,

Connie  xo