The Dress: Making it fit, making it last
RJ Scott Photography
Purchasing the perfect gown is only one step involved in readying yourself for wearing it at your wedding.
There are several other considerations to keep in mind in the months leading up to the big day.
Cindy Whitley has owned Petoskey Bridal in Petoskey with her mother, Theresa Robinson, for 18 years and has been sewing for more than 30 years. She said in the thousands of brides she has served, the biggest issue women run into is buying their dress several sizes too small.
“It’s easier to make alterations for a dress to be made smaller that is too big, rather than attempting to make a dress bigger that’s too small,” said Whitley.
She said many women would like to lose several dress sizes before their wedding, but Whitley advises women buy a dress that fits perfectly the day they buy it.
“It is important to remember that the dress can easily be altered if you lose weight,” she said.
North Star Photography
There are alterations that will need to be made for almost everyone after purchasing their dress. When budgeting for a wedding, it is important to remember to factor in the price of alterations, and cleaning and preserving the dress after the wedding.
Whitley said the most common alterations include hemming, which ranges from $65 to $150 depending on lace and beading details, and the addition of bustles with costs varying depending on the number of bustles. She said dresses can have anywhere from one to 12 bustles.
“There’s always going to be some changes involved when you’re buying a wedding dress,” said Whitley.
She commented that some brides also opt to customize a basic dress they have bought. Whitley said her store offers customization services to their customers. Some changes that might be made include changing the neckline, adding straps, adding a flower to the shoulder or changing the hemline.
“If a girl can dream it, we’ve pretty much done it,” she said.
After the wedding is over, many women choose to have their dress cleaned and preserved. Jeff Bradford, who has owned Bradford’s Master Dry Cleaners in Petoskey since 1977, said his store comes in contact with more than 200 wedding dresses each year.
“People come in with so many different emotions. Wedding gowns are an extended part of their world; they’re a treasure,” said Bradford.
He went on to say that many women like to preserve the gowns to pass on to their family or keep as a memento. Others get the dress cleaned so they can alter it and use it for other occasions such as anniversaries.
He said with the struggling economy he has seen more women wear their dress, come in to get it cleaned and resell it over the Internet.
When a dress comes in, it is important to first examine it thoroughly, said Bradford. “Was the dress worn on the back of a Harley? Are there bullet holes? Tears? Stains?” He said he has seen everything in the 40 years he’s been in the business.
Bradford added that some people think it’s safe to put their dress in a plastic bag and throw it in storage. He said they are usually saddened when they pull it out years later to discover it has turned yellow because of improper storage of the unclean dress.
The cleaners offers wedding chests which use acid-free paper and are a box sealed inside another box. This prevents yellowing and can keep a dress preserved for many years. Rates are $125 and up for cleaning and about $250 to get a dress fully cleaned, boxed and preserved.
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