Helpful Tips for Brides-to-Be ✨

Every so often I have brides come to me with dresses that weren’t purchased from my boutique. Recently, a bride fell in love with a gown she bought off the rack in Canberra while visiting her bridesmaids. She came back to me asking if I could alter it to make it truly hers — and of course, I said yes.

When she tried it on, the dress was about three inches too big and not as structured as it should have been to really support her shape. I explained that I’d need to add boning to the side seams and centre back so it would sit like it was made for her. The bride was told her dress was already structured, but I could see it wasn’t enough for a secure, flattering fit. Ideally, I would have also boned the plunge neckline for even more support, but that would have meant removing and reattaching all the delicate beading and floral appliqués — a very costly process.

The bride also really wanted off-the-shoulder straps. The sales assistant told her they could be made from the hem, but with only 8 cm available, that wasn’t enough. To create a proper curved strap, you need at least 20 cm of fabric. Luckily, as a boutique seamstress, I had extra lace straps in my studio that matched perfectly. I cut flowers from her gown, and appliquéd them onto the new straps so they blended seamlessly.

The result? A gown that looks like it was designed just for her. Both the bride and her mum were so grateful, saying they could see how much attention to detail I put into every stitch.

💡 Bridal tip: Always check that your bodice has proper structure before buying off the rack. And remember, alterations can be more costly when a dress hasn’t been sold or fitted correctly from the beginning — especially if you didn’t purchase it directly from my boutique, where I ensure every dress starts off with the right foundation for the perfect fit.

(See photo for the strap pattern and final result ✂️👗)

Connie xo