Wedding Blog
A few weeks ago, I had a dress fitting at a local tailor. I went alone and was really excited. I hadn’t tried my dress on in months, but I knew it needed a bustle. The rest, I figured, was in the tailor’s hands. I wish I had a sweet story to tell you, but to put it nicely, the appointment was a disaster. How? Let me count the ways.
First off, L.A. was experiencing scorching 100 degree weather, and the place had no air conditioning. In short, I was a sweaty mess before we even started. But I needed to get fitted, so I changed into my dress behind the severely shortened curtain and scooted my way out. The first words out of the tailor’s mouth after he looked me up and down with a judgmental eye…
“Is that your wedding dress?”
Umm, no sir, it’s not my wedding dress. Actually it’s a big flowy ivory gown with a train that I plan to wear out clubbing. What a stupid question. Sorry, but it was a stupid question said in a very condescending way. Strike one.
Then, I told him that I would need a bustle.
He picked up the back of my dress, pinned it to my butt and told me he would “attach a little hook and some string.” I asked him if that’s what would look best given the style of my dress. He told me, “Don’t worry. I’ve done many of these.” Note to self: never trust a tailor who tells you, “don’t worry.” Strike two.
Lastly, he told me that the body of my dress needed no work. I was a little baffled because the dress seemed big on me. But, he convinced me that I fit in the dress perfectly and needed the extra room so I could eat. Every bride knows that style comes before eating! Hel-lo. (Just kidding, by the way…) Strike three.
I left the shop five minutes later with a receipt for the “bustle”, a.k.a. little hook and string, and feeling at an all time wedding planning low. I didn’t tell anyone about my negative experience. I was embarrassed. But because I kept it to myself, I started thinking all of these weird, insecure thoughts about myself and my dress.
Find out what my horrible fitting experience caused me to do, and read how this unfortunate situation ultimately ended. To be continued…
Did you have a negative experience at your dress fitting?
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Share this post: Dress Fitting: Part I
Well, I haven’t had my first fitting yet but…I hope not! I can’t wait to hear the rest, I hope it ends up with a happy ending!
Oh Miss G — I hope there’s a happy ending because so far I’m horrified.
Im getting married on friday… I just noticed my tailor got my dress dirty….everywhere. My bustle strings are already coming out and Ive never even worn it…… so frustrating! Id take it somewhere else for a 2nd opinion.
Yup, the seamstress and I didn’t get along at ALL on my first fitting. Sorry to hear you had a similarly negative experience — and I hope it worked out well in the end!
Yikes…I seriously dont understand how these people refuse to lsiten to the bride’s POV with it being HER that must wear the dress…I hoipe you took it elsewhere for a second opinion! I havent had mine done yet…yikes this gives me the shudders
do you have time to take it elsewhere? so sorry you had this experience. 
i was SOOOO shocked by the price of getting my dress fitted. (Hemmed-3 layers, bustled, cups, and taken in slightly on waist=$600.00!!!!). Let’s just say I was in shock as I blindly handed my already over charged credit card. Ack!!
Oh yikes!! This is horrible! I love my seamstress - I found her at the bridal shop, but she lives in my neighborhood so i’ve just been going to her house for my fittings. I have no idea how much all the alterations will costs, but I absolutely love her. She has taken the time to listen to me, do what I ask, and even added a blue ribbon as part of my bustle (underneath the top layer of course) for my “somthing blue”. So cute. 
I guess I was lucky in my experience… I bought my dress at David’s Bridal and had them alter my dress. The bustle consisted of three little string loops and three buttons that were added and could be easily hooked through. The loops were hidden so that they weren’t noticeable during the ceremony. She also hemmed my dress a few inches because I’m a short 5′4″ girl. She was very professional, very friendly, and very efficient.
Sorry about your bad experience… I’m interested to hear what unfolded next!
wow, Miss Glitter, I’m so sorry you had such a horrible experience! I’m guessing things worked out, since there’s a part 2, but I really hope you found a seamstress you could trust!
Oh no! That is suck a bummer…the more and more I hear other stories, people who do alterations are often the dark side of the wedding industry! Fortunately my lady was nice, but since I was also by myself, if I had ended up in your situation I don’t know what I would have done…it’s very hard when you’re alone and up on that darn pedestal in your dress feeling anxious!
I have a girlfriend whose tailor made a VERY snarky comment when she asked for a garment bag that wasn’t see-through as she lived with her fiance. The woman’s response was “you let him touch and see everything else but you won’t let him touch and see the dress?” …this was said in front of her FMIL! So awful.
I hope everything turned out ok!!
I hope you get your money back for that bustle and go to a different alterations place. I would never pay someone for a service when they obviously treated you so badly!
Uh–find a new tailor ASAP!
I hope this ends with you finding a new tailor! You should have left after his first comment. What a jerk. I have discovered a much more confrontational and self-confident self while wedding planning. No longer will I agree simply to avoid argument! I think it’s an improvement, anyways…
Good luck, Miss Glitter! I hope this has a happy ending…
can’t wait for part II, but is it too late to take it to another tailor? sucks to have such a horrible experience..and if it’s not too late, one word of advice, SPEAK UP!!! <–from elle woods =)
oops that was two words, grrr monday mode
I hope your story ended with getting a new tailor! Sorry you had such a bad experience.
Thanks for the support, everyone! I experienced another major hiccup on my dress fitting road, but then the story does get happier! Thank goodness
i’m at the edge of my seat! i hope in the next installment you tell the tailor that you’ll be going with someone a little more experienced and someone that puts you at ease.
I haven’t gotten to the tailor yet, but I have had issues with a bridal shop. I responded truthfully to their online survey (barely got attention in the store, and not even a phone call, just an automated email, sigh). Their owner called me and was dismayed that I would not use their services for myself or my 7 bridesmaids. Then she blamed her bad service on her intern, though she was the person in charge of my appointment. If I had been on the fence before the conversation, actually speaking to the owner definitely turned me off. Got the dress I tried on over ebay - customer service from a faceless person was much better. Same thing happened w/ my friend earlier this year - that could have been about $4000 in sales. wow!
Miss G go with your gut - weddings are $$$ and you want to make sure it is spent wisely and makes you happy!
Yikes! I have my first fitting next week, hope it goes better. Hopefully your story has a good resolution to it.
Go get your dress and a refund - quick! Take your dress to someone else. Especially if you have a bad feeling about it.
you’re insane. don’t feel insecure, you’re way to serious… and that tailor needs … a butt kicking!
I needed a bustle but don’t really trust tailors so i opted for a second dress for dancing instead and it was about the same price as having my cathedral train bustled Not a solution for everyone but it makes me happy.
Miss Glitter! I’m a fashion designer and I urge you to pick up your dress asap and find a qualified tailor or seamstress! A dress fitting should be done by someone who really understands construction and knows how a dress should fit for your body. It definitely shouldn’t be “a little big” because it will look horrible in pictures. White satin shows every little wrinkle and sagging. If you like, ping me and I will either direct you to someone or pin you myself for free!
Please tell me you’re taking your dress elsewhere. Anyone who asks a stupid question like, “is that your dress” is saying that only to show disapproval and to make them feel better about themselves. It’s not his place to judge, and it’s not his place to get your money!
Best Wishes (and I’m sure you look beautiful!)
MidwestElle @ iowabride.blogspot.com
oh no!! i hope you this gets better! were you recommended to this talior in the first place? how did you find him?
WOW, that is one bad experience! I can’t wait to hear how it gets better
oh no! bad tailor, bad! you should find another tailor!
I hope the story gets better as well! Looking forward to see the dress!
Oh gracious! I hope things got better. I’m dying to know how it all worked out.
[...] wedding is less than two weeks away, and I’m swamped with errands. Anyway, when I last left you (Part I), I had my first dress fitting with a very questionable tailor. As many of you noted, I should have [...]
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Mrs. Glitter, Los Angeles
Age and Occupation: 27, Research Consultant/Writer
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Accounting
Engagement Date: May 6, 2007
Wedding Date: June, 2009
Venue: Millenium Biltmore Hotel
About Me: I was born and raised in West Los Angeles, California. I spent eight years in the Northeast working and completing my education. Having split time between two sides of the country has given me a true appreciation for both coasts. It has also provided an overabundance of cross country drives, flights and long distance relationship fun/misery! I love my family, my doggy Emma, fabulous wine, Anthropologie, politics, reading, being outdoors, exploring new cities, and good movies! My fiance and I are complete opposites, but somehow we have managed to fall completely and hopelessly in love.
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