A Stitch in Time

Well, the season really is in full swing now and at this time of year that means it goes crazy!

If you’re looking for a dress for next year then please please order in good time. It’s lovely to have lots time for all your fittings and alterations, then there's no stress involved. At the moment we’re aiming to get all of our dresses delivered for late Autumn, so first and second fittings can be done well in advance and any problems can be sorted out with plenty of time before the wedding, then the dress is stored with us and a final fitting is done about 6 weeks before, so if the bride has lost any weight the bodice can be adjusted, but you know that your dress is perfect and just waiting for a final try before the big day!

We’ve had a lot of problems this year with our designers, dresses coming in late and with planes not flying (because of the Volcano) this has caused a backlog of orders from the Far East. Also things like dresses arriving the wrong size for what we've ordered (i.e. dresses labelled as a size 18 actually measuring a size 22!). All these things in themselves are not a disaster if you've got enough time before the wedding as they can all be rectified, but it’s all added stress if you've left ordering your dress until the last minute. It’s very difficult for us in these situations as we are at the mercy of the designers and there's nothing we can do but wait for the dresses to arrive.

It also seems to be that some brides are ordering their own dress in good time but leaving it later to order the bridesmaids dresses, which again causes problems with fittings and alterations. Two months before the wedding may seem like lots of time but if the delivery is delayed by two weeks then that turns into only six weeks and then you have to have at least two fittings, sometimes three, then before you know it, it’s the week before the wedding and you haven't got all your dresses finished. Big stress that can be easily avoided, if only the bride hadn't spent 3 months deciding, we would have had that extra time for alterations and fittings!

Nicola Garton
www.theweddingshop.co.uk