Question from My Cousin

[TeenieBeanie]

My cousin is getting married in the summer of 2008. She's going dress shopping already because she found a gown that she's totally in love with. Her question (she has no computer & internet excess): Can a seamstress take in a gown if she ordered it a size 16 & she's planning on loosing a ton of weight? She said she wants to get it now in case the gown is discontinued & not available when her wedding rolls around.

[purple_octopus]

Dresses can usually be taken quite a bit, but I think there is a limit. I don't know if you mean size 16 bridal or size 16 street (16 bridal is still relatively small, which would lead me to believe she doesn't have a lot of weight to lose). If she's trying to lose 50 or 100 lbs, I would say wait.

Another thing she can do is to save a lot of pictures of the gown. If it's not available when she's lost the weight, she can have it made by a good seamstress. Whatever she decides to do, please try to get her not to buy a dress that's too small in hopes of fitting into it down the road. If she doesn't lose the weight, she'll be screwed.

[Poloke]

First call the customer service line for the designer of the gown. Find out what season the gown was made, and how that company discontinues gowns. Some do it yearly, some go by how unpopular a gown is.

Secondly, if you have an idea of when that gown will be discontinued (say ex. that its from Fall 05 and will be discontinued during Spring 07) and wait to order it like 3 months ahead. That way, she's already losing weight, can go get measured at that time and may need an alrready smaller size- less altering needed.

Lastly, when she gets measured at the shop- ask them JUST HOW MUCH that they can take in on THIS particular gown style before it compromises the integrity of the gown. say that a 16 can only be taken to a 12, she can try to loose weight to get into a 12 before ordering the gown.

Another advantage of waiting will be price. The older a style is, the more it is marked down...typically, but not always. It would be a nice perk tho!

[christinas2006]

It really depends on the style of gown. When ever I called the customer service line they told me "we can tell you whether or not it will be discontinued" They want you to buy that dress then. Ask when there new lines come out. Ask a seamstress what they think. I think Carrie429 had her dress taken in a lot. She had problems with them be able to alter it correctly.

[TeenieBeanie]

Thanks for all those wonderful tips & questions to ask the designer! LOL!! I can't believe I didn't think of any of that myself. :p

Yeah, we're looking at a size 16 bridal & she's planning on loosing at least 50+ lbs. I really hope she makes her goal weight! She's already beautiful, loosing the weight will be the icing on the cake. :D

Thanks again for the replies ladies!!

[MemphisMom]

I would caution your cousin to wait on the dress. Losing 50 lbs. is going to make such a difference in her body that she might change her mind on dress style. She has so much time that I think she should start losing weight and hold off on the purchase of the dress.

[Jaci]

I have to agree, she has quite a while for her wedding a quite a bit of weight, I think she should just hold off until she hits her goal.

[TeenieBeanie]

LOL! Yeah I got through talking to her on the phone about an hour ago. She sighed & said yeah it's probably a good idea to hold off on buying a gown until sometime in 2007. She's just worried about that certain gown not being around anymore when it's time to buy one.

[Jaci]

is it a really original one or something? Just have her save a ton of pics and have a seamstress do it, that's what Heather did and she has a beautiful gown for only $222 (or something :P)

[Winter_Bride]

One thing I would check for too is how intracate the dress is. One of my friends had a size 22 dress taken down to an 18 (she was pregnant at the time, and they ordered the dress LARGE so they could take in areas as need be) and it looked fabulous. It had some applique and some beading, but not alot.

Keep in mind the more beading and embroidery on the dress, the more that has to be done to keep it looking like it was made to be the size it will end up being. Do you have a picture of the dress?

Otherwise, you've gotten some great advice!

[TeenieBeanie]

No I don't have pics. She's a turd & keeping it to herself!! :rollseyes:

I'll definitely pass the option about saving pics & possibly finding a very reputable seamstress to have it recreated if need be. Thanks again yall!