Alterations Appointments: What’s the Difference Between a Consultation and a Fitting?

You’ve found your dream dress- you feel phenomenal in it, and you can’t wait to see the look on your partner’s face when they see it for the first time! Only, it needs some tweaking. It is way too long, it needs to be taken in just a smidge, and what even are these straps doing?! Your bridal boutique gave you some notes but you’re not sure what to do with them, or what some of these words even mean- I mean… is there REALLY horsehair in your hem? Do you just jump right in and schedule a fitting, or do you need to book a consultation first? Can you even attach sleeves to this, or is that going to be weird? How does it work?

We’ve got you Booboo! Let’s talk about the difference between a consultation and a true fitting. If you missed our last post about what to know before you book- that’s the best place to start, and you can find it here.

Our Assistant Seamstress Tanya working on a gown behind the scenes!

What is a Fitting?

In a fitting, we’re preparing to sew; we’re pulling out fabric options and pinning things in place on your body to make sure your gown is truly tailored to YOUR unique body instead of the sample gown mannequin. In a fitting appointment we’re helping you into your gown, looking at the way it currently fits, discussing any concerns, talking about your venue and your wedding style; learning as much as we can and beginning the actual alterations process. At the end of this appointment we would be accepting payment and getting your gown in line to be sewed.

For most brides this is where we truly start. If you reach out and you already know your wedding date and have your dress, 9 out of 10 times we’re going to schedule you for a fitting in the interest of saving you time and money. Wedding planning is a lot, and your time is valuable. In 90% of cases, we can achieve everything we need to in that initial appointment without the need for a consult once you’ve reached out and spoken to our Admin Assistant and Scheduler, Mikaela.

Kristin pinning section’s of a gown during a fitting.

What is a Consultation?

In contrast, a consultation is a shorter more abridged appointment to discuss any major concerns before we start the alterations process. A consultation is more of think-tank conversation than anything else.

These 30 minute appointments are shorter than a true fitting, and we do not put you into your dress for them. We try to reserve these appointments for situations where there are concerns about doability, materials, or restrictions. This is a great option if you are planning a major gown overhaul, working with an heirloom dress, or unsure if something is possible. This is your opportunity to bring in your gown and have us look at anything you have concerns about in advance of any kind of sewing.

Because we try to limit the number of times that we request brides to come into the studio, many times we can answer most questions via email or text to save you the additional appointment fee and time.

When in Doubt, Reach out!

If you are unsure if you should start with a consultation or a fitting, don’t hesitate to reach out via our contact us page, social media, email, or phone. We are always available to help guide you to the process that is going to fit your needs the best. Everyone’s situation is a bit different, and we truly believe in taking a one-on-one approach to every single one of our brides.

Questions are always welcome, and our ultimate goal is for you to feel beautiful in your gown and confident about the process. We fully believe in the importance of transparency, and would always rather you ask more questions in the interest of making sure you are 100% confident and comfortable with your decisions. Wedding planning is stressful enough without adding dress stress to it. If we can help you in any way, don’t hesitate to let us know!

XOXO,

The Town Seamstress Team