Dress Alterations/Body Alterations
August 14th, 2008 @ 11:29 am by Mrs. Shortcake
I had my first dress fitting yesterday. It was so wonderful to see my gown, all lovely and new (and wrinkled, bah), and intact.
I had my bustle pinned into three French points:
(the left half of the dress is bustled only as an example)
…which I think looks quite elegant.
Luckily for me, because I am tall, I didn’t need any hemming. However, there were some alterations that were unexpected - I’m having almost two inches taken in on both sides of my waist! I posted before about how walking everyday to work was causing weight loss.
I have a tendency to shed pounds when I’m stressed. I know that as the wedding approaches there is the possibility that I’m going to lose even more weight as my stress increases, so I’m really concerned that on my wedding day, I’m going to look like a bejeweled bag of bones. Now that I’ve had my first fitting and my dress is being taken in so much, I’m worried that if I try to maintain or gain weight, I’ll eat too much and not fit in my newly altered dress!
I want to look beautiful and healthy on my wedding day, and not like some praying mantis in a petticoat.
Is anyone else having concerns about not fitting into their wedding dress on the big day?
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27 Responses to “Dress Alterations/Body Alterations”
I wish I had your problem! I seem to be gaining it instead of losing 
You look gorgeous in your dress!
I have my final dress fitting this weekend; two months before the wedding. More than two inches on each side of my bust were taken in thanks to my miniscule chest and large hips. My friends asked if I’m worried it won’t fit right before the wedding.
I’ve been going to the gym consistently for three months now. Beyond the initial 2.5 pounds shed, I haven’t changed weight at all. As much as I’d like to lose more, I’ve got my fingers crossed that it means my dress will fit right.
I didn’t have that problem… I’m a stress eater, too! But, I just wanted to comment on how absolutely gorgeous your dress is on you! Love the bustle too!
Better to lose than gain — you can always have last minute tucks. Last minute dress alterations focused on taking out seams can be a bee-yatch and leave marks.
you are soooo G**Dang stunning! I mean it… if I didn’t think you were hilarious and sincere & sweet… I’d hate you for your easy beauty! You dress is amazing! Just think of it this way… you can actually ENJOY your wedding meal and not worry that you’ll look full and bloated in your dress all night… lol!
Okay, first you look gorgeous. I heart French bustles. My sister had a similar situation with her dress. She lost so much weight that the material in the torso area was being pulled too much from being taken in. I think she lost 3″ on her waist. It’s a little nerve wracking, I know, but I think you’ll be just fine. I would just try to make sure you’re eating at regular intervals when you’re stressed! I’m definitely nervous about fitting into my dress, I can gain weight so quickly so I guess it’s safer to err on the side of losing rather than gaining? Just don’t forget to eat, Miss Shortcake!!!!
You look fabulous. You have too much to worry about; take this off your plate. You’ll be able to maintain your current weight. I also drop lbs pretty quickly when stressed. My FI was out of town, and one of our neighbors (who is a good friend, and a bachelor) - made me dinner two nights in a row. Everyone is feeding me because they know that food doesn’t sound desirable when I’m stressed! I had my dress taken in again last week, and my final fitting is today. Only 10 days ’till the wedding - I think I’ll be able to maintain this weight. I just ate breakfast 
I recommend watching the last two episodes of season 2 of How I Met Your Mother. “something borrowed” and “something blue”. They will lend some serious humor to the situation and a good laugh makes for a happier bride!
But don’t stop walking! It’s so good for you and such a good habit - as you said, your wedding day endurance will be no problem at all!
You are gorgeous! Everytime I see your pictures I’m so jealous of how thin you are, but I can understand why you would be worried. Like Miss Coconut said, just rember to eat!
I’m worried about that too. I lost an inch in my bust, and inch and a half in my waist and 3 inches in my hips from the time i ordered my dress to when it came in. I didn’t do a thing differently so I’m not sure how I managed to drop the weight! My wedding is in December so I’m a little worried about how much more I will end up losing between now and then!
Miss SC, you are gorgeouus, both in your dress and without. I too heart french bustles! I am having the same problem as you, I lose weight when busy/stressed, my mom already said I’m looking like a “bag of bones” eeek, and my wedding is 10 months away. Time to back some coconut cupcakes for a cake fest!
You are NOT alone on this one. I first tried dresses on in January. Shortly after I started losing weight simply by eating right. When I ordered my dress I got it 2 sizes smaller based on the rate of lose.
When it came in I was about 2 inches from it fitting. About a month later I tried it on for giggles and *zip* it zipped to perfection. Only the off the shoulder straps were far too big.
I’ve lost 20 pounds and I’m still losing but the seamstress said I should fear not. I’ve got 3 months to go…I am fearing!!
Perhaps you should eat a little more. Since you’re walking so much your body needs the fuel. Try the dress on periodically and you’ll be fine.
You look great and your dress is so beautiful!!
i completely agree about ‘how i met your mother’! here’s a quick clip 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLiGiIJ9ZTE
maybe it’s a good idea to indulge in your namesake!
Shortie, you look SPECTACULAR in that dress!!! Just gorgeous.
I’d say keep walking (because activity is one the best stress-busters ever) and make sure you eat breakfast and real meals . . . .
After I bought my dress I joined Weight Watchers and lost over 15 pounds just eating right. Now of course my dress has arrived and it hangs on me like a limp rag. It’s terrible! I’m taking it in for alterations on Saturday- and I’m hoping she’ll work a miracle!
You look great:)
I wish I had your weight loss tendencies. I gain weight when stressed. Ugh.
Oooh, lovely lovely lovely! You look like a dream! I have my very first fitting this weekend; since I bought my dress when I had my winter weight on (I dunno how, but it happens every year), I’m a bit nervous to see how it fits too.
You look fabulous! I lost weight beforehand, too, and my alterations lady was saying if I lost more, the dress would fall off! I got a new bra to help me fill it out, but otherwise, it seemed perfect when the day came. I would say, keep up your walking, but don’t increase what you are doing exercisewise, and make sure you keep eating regularly. Then take advantage of the celebrations the week before the wedding, and try to enjoy indulging in the food. I’m betting you’ll be fine and just as gorgeous on the big day!
You look beautiful! When I tried on my dress it fit just right and the manager said, “Don’t worry you’ll be so stressed you’ll lose weight.” Turns out I’m a stress eater and have been packing on the pounds! I should try walking to work =)
@Miss Hydrangea: @Mrs. Toucan: @Michelle: @Miss Coconut: @enmoore66: @Tiki: @PrettyKitty: @Vee: @Amy H.: @Miss Sea Breeze: @goodvoile:
thanks SO much ladies
@goodvoile: @Shasha: @enmoore66: great suggestions! My partner at work has taken to buying me fried chicken everyday. “Eat, eat! You’re too skinny!” (imagine a heavy ukrainian accent’ - I love her
@emariel: @BenJerrysBride: ahahahaha, I only watched the clip - but that was just like me when I tried on the dress! I had to hold it up or else it fell down!
Take your measurements that the dress will be formed to. And then once a week (or every other or whenever), measure yourself and adjust accordingly. Getting too small? Take the Ukranian coworker’s idea and nosh of some yummy fried food. Pushing the edges? Go to the gym and eat more veggies. Just be VERY careful this doesnt become an obsession. Its a fine line in the bizarre fashion world we live in where most of the population is obese, but super models make Twiggy look like a heffer. Neither is healthy. But the mental fall on either side of that line is dangerous.
So beautiful Miss Shortcake. Love the picture of you with the camera. And I wish I had your problem. I, like Miss Hydrangea and Mrs. Toucan, am a stress eater.
My dress fit perfectly at my first fittings. No alterations needed. I thought this would be great, but now I’m so nervous about having to maintain my weight. I can’t go up or down!
Mrs. Shortcake, Vancouver
Age and Occupation: 24, Marketing Manager/Children's Lit Writer
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Master's Student/Personal Trainer
Engagement Date: August 7, 2007
Wedding Date: October 2008
Blogging Since:
Venue: Ceremony in a historic church, tented lawn reception at a golf and country club
About Me: 1950's housewife sent to the future, reborn as crafting-obsessed, jill of all trades. I enjoy decorating, writing, baking sweet things, singing show tunes/dancing in public, wearing pearls, and knitting sweaters for my furbaby, Harvey, to chew upon. I heart pink, and believe that sparkles are the new black.
I had another dress altered a week before my wedding yet on my wedding day, it kept slipping off because I had lost so much weight! And because it was slipping off, I was stepping on it while dancing.