Worried that losing weight = $$$$ on dress alterations?

If you lose up to two dress sizes (unless a crepe/sheath dress), you should be fine! 👌 More than two sizes and you may need to buy a new dress or pay almost as much in alterations.

This is kind of my worry as well! I’ve heard dresses can generally be altered up to two sizes, but more is a lot of work if possible and may not be possible without loosing the shape of the dress. Do you tend to gain/loose/stay the same with stress? I tend to gain when I’m stressed, so knowing that I’ll have to find ways to manage.

As far as your bust being one size bigger than the rest of you- that’s because all bodies are shaped differently and that’s why alterations are generally necessary. This is definitely not a bad thing, it’s just the way you’re built! The consultant at my last appt literally told my waist is considered two sizes smaller than my hips and bust based on their sizing chart, so I should expect needing fairly significant alterations if I want a mermaid or fit and flare like I was looking at.

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Yeah, it's hard to feel bad about my bust being a bit bigger the rest of me. haha! I do need to shape up my back, though, because I have an illusion top with lace, so a LOT of my back is visible and it needs some muscle work.
I tend to gain when stressed, so my main plan is really to maintain and try to get down one size (back to my normal), which would take care of the bust issue. Generally speaking, I'm trying to eat better and workout more for my own physical and mental health rather than trying to get super fit for one day of my life. The last time I lost weight -- six years ago, after college -- it took me a full year to lose 30 lbs, so I'm not expecting crazy losses. This makes my fear that I'll somehow become a super fit bride (that is smaller than I've ever been) really unfounded (lol), but I think it's more budget fears talking than anything else.
My fiance really wants to go on a fitness bender and believes he can take off 35-40lbs before the wedding, but he also has alterations for free on his suit! I don't want to hold him back, but I think I need to be more modest in my goals and try primarily to maintain.

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Up to two sizes -- that is helpful to hear!

View Quoted Comment Yup! That’s still quite a bit of weight so honestly, just losing 10-15 pounds would be awesome. But heck, if you lose 30+ pounds you might be happy to sell your old dress and buy a new one. 😃

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Nooo I LOVE it. haha. That's what I DON'T want.
2 sizes is a LOT of weight to lose! I'm happy not to add that to my plate for the next six months. I would be happy with 10 lbs.

Hello...
When I got my dress, it fit me. Then I went on a fitness journey where I kept loosing weight and by the time I went to my first alterations appointment. My dress needed to be taken in. I asked my seamstress, if she charges for the alterations even if I loose more weight. And she told me no. She gave me a set price and that was the price whether or not I lost more weight. So I would ask the seamstress if she charges to make the changes. Mine came out to 450 and that includes alterations, cups, and the buttons to hold up the dress. Sorry I forgot what it's called.

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This is helpful! What did your alterations include? I don't need my dress hemmed because of my height (5'7", 5'9-10" with heels), so that definitely helps me save some cost.

My dress got taken in a good amount, cups, and the bustle. I didn't need hemming because the dress was made shorter for me when the dress was originally made

I lost a lot of weight from stress and I ended up needing 7 or 8 fittings because every week my dress would be too big from losing more. She didn’t charge me more than her initial quote. I paid $495 even though she did a ton of work on it.

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Ha ha! Ok. 10 pounds is so doable. KETO. Weight will fall off and you'll feel great. Not a starvation diet.

I think getting healthier and feeling beautiful is worth any budget concerns. However, I would do some serious research on your seamstress options. They vary greatly in pricing but you also need someone who has experience to handle your type of dress alterations. I had a sundress altered and showed a pic of my dress for a ball park estimate. She told me shortening the layers on the skirt were very complicated and probably around 800 just for that. The rest maybe 40. I talked to another reputable place and they said they can do all of it for 4-500. Do you and your dress will be ok.

View Quoted Comment Did you go to a local seamstress or a pastors like David’s bridal

I went to a local seamstress in Brea, CA

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This is super helpful!

"I think getting healthier and feeling beautiful is worth any budget concerns."

It's hard to argue with that .

I was measuring in between sizes, I went with the size down (I know that it’s frowned upon, but I was already working out & was actively losing weight - plus the size up look comically huge - with the cups WAY to big. I figure it would be cheaper to add a a corset if needed than to take of that much extra material.

i have lost 22 lbs since April 1st & the bust of the dress fits perfectly (I can actually zip it up myself), the waist of the dress is where the majority of the alternations will be needed (there’s a lot of extra material there). I’m a little bummed bc I’m not that busty & was hoping that I would get into a smaller dress considering that I’m eating super healthy & doing a ton of cardio.

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Dress sizes are hard! Especially because they are larger numerical sizes than our pants. Thankfully, the lady I was working with had me order the smaller size (that fit my waist) so hopefully I won't have too many alterations. I had the larger size on as a sample and it did feel too large. Some small part of me wishes I would have gone down one more size since I wanted to tone up a bit, but I'm also grateful to not play that game and know for sure that a dress fits me.

View Quoted Comment Exactly! I wished that I would have gone down one more to better fit my waist - but at the same time at least I know that I won’t have to worry about the dreaded back bulge.