Bridal Fitting Do's and Don'ts

Instruct Bride to Bring - The gown and all undergarments you will be wearing at the wedding (NOT some "like" the type).

Just like any new customer you meet for the first time you want to show a bride that you expected her and areready to give her your attention. I usually try to stop whatever project I'm working on about 10 minutes beforeher expected arrival and place out the things I will need for the fitting. These include a box of pins, mirror,invoice, price list and my special Bridal labor form. The price list is to let her know that I am not just pickingdollar amounts out of the air perhaps charging her more because of the car she came in. The Bridal form is handybecause it gives me more room to write down descriptions of tasks than the invoice doesn't have space for, that's just for price listing.

One of the most important things I feel you can do at the first fitting is to take a little time out while she unveilsthe gown. Look it over admiringly and mention some aspect that you find unique or lovely. That may becomehard to do once you've seen hundreds of gowns and they all start looking alike, but there is always somethingspecial about each, if only that it is special to your bride. So find something nice to say. "What lovely beadwork", "This fabric is gorgeous", "What a unique design" or if there's no decoration, "Simplicity is soelegant, don't you think?" (Which I actually believe anyway.) You get the idea.

Carry this attitude through the fitting. The gown will have problems, that's why she is there, but do not criticizethe gown itself or your bride's body. The bride is going to be self conscious anyway, and may even criticize herfigure herself. To the best of your ability keep your statements positive. Instead of saying, "The bodice is toobig." You can say, "A little nip here in the side seam will give you a lovely waistline." This will help her to seethat even though her figure isn't perfect, she can still look like a princess on her wedding day.

The other important thing I try to do at the first fitting is to not overwhelm the bride. You do want to give her acomplete estimate of the things the dress needs but you do not want to handle each item in detail. Do the basicbodice pinning and then simply list the other items the dress will need and prices and tell her these items will betaken care of once the bodice is fitting comfortably. This will also set a precedence for future fitting sessions foras the wedding date nears the bride may get more emotional about every little thing. If you have already takencontrol over how and when things will be done, it will be easier to defuse a difficult session by simply ending itwith the reason that the work pinned has to be done before any more can be properly pinned.

Instuct the Bride to Bring - All undergarments if they were not left with the gown, The shoes that will be worn at the wedding (NOT shoes "like" the type) so you can pin the hem.

Second fittings are usually not as tense as first fittings but there are many pitfalls that can be avoided if you are prepared. At the first fitting you set an atmosphere of comfort that the bride should remember when she arrives for her second fitting. This will be of immeasurable worth to this session and any others that are needed. So the bride's initial nervousness of the first session should now be replaced with trust and instead of worrying abouteverything she has to accomplish, she should be anticipating a problem free appointment that will make her feellike she is truly accomplishing something. 

The first thing she will be concerned about is to see how the work you've done so far is coming. She puts on the dress and first checks how it looks. She may start criticizing that it is not tight enough because she needs to have a gorgeous figure on her special day. The younger the bride the more likely she will be to want her dress tighter than it really ought to be. You do need to try to explain that this will stress the zipper and all the seams, but she may ignore your warnings. Here is when you have to decide that fine line between the old adage that thecustomer is always right and your responsibility to impart professional, quality work.

This is very difficult. Sometimes pinning the dress tighter and not telling her you do not intend to resew the seammay work. It may also only gain you the same argument at the third fitting. Usually the best thing to do is to tighten the seam and reinforce it as best you can. You may also make her sign a waver stating that you advised her against this. But usually, if you have gained her trust, she will listen to your advice if you give it in a waythat lets her make the choice.

As a rule, I simple do as the bride asks. I avoid any squabbling over how the dress should look. I do often ask,"How do you feel?", to get her mind off her "looks" and thinking about comfort. I also say, "It's important that you feel good in the dress for it to make you look good."

Comfort is also important because she is going to be in this dress for many hours. She has to be able to dance,hug, eat and sit. Explaining that comfort is the most important factor when you think of all the activities she willbe doing, will make her less likely to ask for unreasonable changes.

You attitude is key here. If you start feeling nervous at her unreasonable requests, she will pick up on it and be even more unreasonable. She may not realize she is doing it either. You need to stay calm no matter what andexplain things to her. Your calmness will also rub off on her and will help you both to do what is best for the dress.

Once the dress bodice is correct, you can go on to pin the hem.

Instruct Bride to Bring - All undergarments, shoes, and maybe the veil if it is a concern.

Depending on how the first 2 fittings went, you should be determining the bustle design at the third fitting. 

Discussions of what the bride's butt will look like can be throught iwth pitfalls. Keepa light hearted attitude but also keep her desires well in mind and listen to her.  

I like to pin the gown back in various ways and let her take a good look at each with a mirror that doen't make her twist around to see her backside. 

Once you have finished talking about her bustle, invite her to try on her veil and jewlery. Give advice or simple praise her for her selections. Taking a little time here will reassure her and build more trust that yhou will finish her gown to her satisfaction.

Instruct Bride to Bring - All undergarments, shoes, and again, the veil if it is a concern.

This is the fitting I ask my bride to bring the person she will be having to do her Bustle maintence.  This person will rig her bustle and watch after it through the celebration at the resception and do any necessary adjustments it might need.  Bride and this person will be taught how to rig the bustle and the varilus things that might happen that will need her attention. 

Ask the bride if everything is good and if she has any last questions before you release the gown to her.