Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Bridesmaids Boston Archives - Flair Boston | Wedding Dresses in Boston MA | Bridal Gowns, Bridesmaid Dresses, Accessories, Wedding Dress Cleaning Bridesmaids Boston Archives - Flair Boston | Wedding Dresses in Boston MA | Bridal Gowns, Bridesmaid Dresses, Accessories, Wedding Dress Cleaning

Bridesmaid Dress Alterations

Brides, what YOU need to know!

I don’t know about you, but when I first started planning my wedding I was determined to do everything myself. Not down to the cooking, I wouldn’t subject my guests to that, but in terms of style and décor, I alone was going to make every single decision. Then, months passed and wedding planning became overwhelming and suddenly I was more than happy to pass off tasks to trusted people around me. As a bride, it’s important to delegate and know what’s most important you to, and what can be handled by others. When it comes to your bridesmaids and their dress tailoring, you may think that you can leave it 100% to them, but we recommend making a few small decisions yourself before cutting them loose:

Of course, the first step is getting your girls a proper fitting dress! Check out our website for our measurement guide, or ask us any questions you have!

Of course, the first step is getting your girls a proper fitting dress! Check out our website for our measurement guide, and feel free to ask us any questions you may have!

Length – You don’t need to go so crazy as to tell each girl exactly how many inches she should take off her hem, but you should let them know your shortness threshold. The last thing you want is for one girl to show up in a mini that you did not authorize. Consider giving them a head start by saying that you prefer “two inches above the knee” or whatever you think is best. If you’ve chosen long dresses, remind your girls to bring their shoes with them to the tailor, so that he/she can perfectly align your girl’s hem with the floor.
Location – We get it, being a bridesmaid is expensive, but that’s no reason to cut corners and go cheap on the tailoring. A good seamstress is well worth the money, especially considering how many photos will be taken! Consider doing some research and giving your girls the names of a few reputable places to get them going. That way, you can avoid a chop job emergency in the final days before the wedding!
Lingerie – Well, undergarments is what we really mean, but we had an alliteration thing going on there. Since it can’t be seen and therefore doesn’t affect your wedding per se, you can’t really force your girls to buy certain pieces, but you can make suggestions. Choose a dress with a clingy fabric? Lightly recommend a shaper so that you don’t see any underwear lines. Select a strapless or other low cut style? Discuss choosing a bra that keeps the cleavage at a tasteful level.

Of course, if you have any questions on tailoring your girls’ dresses, don’t hesitate to give Flair a ring!

Wedding Planning Tips

Get support from stats!

As a general rule, I try not to take too much stock in statistics. It seems like every morning when I flip on “GMA” they are spouting some sort of doom and gloom stat, most of which seem to want me to give up my vices. Skip my morning cup of coffee? No thanks! I saw some wedding stats recently, though, that I did find to be really interesting, even helpful. For example, did you know that almost 40% of all engagements happen between November and February? Yes, that’s right people; we have entered prime engagement season! If you’re one of the many recently (or about to be) engaged, here are some other stats you may find helpful as you begin the wedding planning process:

OK...we couldn't find any pretty photos about stats to add to this blog. So instead, we're showing off some of Jenny Yoo's new designs (which you can see at our preview trunk show next weekend)!

Confession: we couldn’t find any pretty photos about stats to add to this blog. So instead, we’re showing off some of Jenny Yoo’s new designs like the Sophia dress here (which you can see at our preview trunk show next weekend)! We thought you wouldn’t mind 😉

The average time spent wedding planning is 12-13 months – Roughly a year; that’s how long it takes most of us to plan an 8 hour day (albeit it the most important 8 hours of your life). We have to say, it seems like the perfect amount of time! That’s not to say, though, that you can’t plan in less or more time, but both do come with their challenges. Less time means potentially paying more to rush items, or missing out on your favorite vendors because they are already booked. More time means…well…more time to mull over and second guess your choices. Sometimes it’s nice to have a deadline to force you to be decisive. So, consider those things as you pick your wedding date!

Want to look as calm as this bride (wearing Jenny's new Ophelia gown)? Give yourself plenty of time to plan!

Want to look as calm as this bride (wearing Jenny’s new Ophelia gown)? Give yourself plenty of time to plan!

50% of all weddings in 2015 occurred on only 25 days – We bet you can guess (roughly) which days. Saturdays in the summer months get scooped up before any other, so act fast if you want to snag one, and be prepared to potentially push your wedding off a year if they’re already booked. If you don’t want to do that, though, consider a Friday wedding, or look at other seasons. If for no other reason, sometimes you can get great deal if you book in an “off” season or on an “off” day!

Planning a popular summer wedding? You can still choose long bridesmaids' dresses as long as they're in a lightweight, flowy fabric like Jenny Yoo's gorgeous chiffon!

Planning a summer wedding? You can still choose floor length bridesmaids’ dresses as long as they’re in a lightweight, flowy fabric like Jenny Yoo’s gorgeous chiffon!

Most couples book their vendors 7-9 months prior to their big day – Let’s think about that for a second; most couples are getting married around the same time (Summer) which means they are also booking their vendors around the same time. What does that breed? Competition! Decide what vendor is most important to you and book them first, before they get scooped by another couple. Have back-ups ready in case a favorite does get booked, and don’t procrastinate on the vendors that typically book out the quickest (venues, photographers and bands, to name a few). Oh, and don’t forget about your friendly neighborhood bridal shop 😉 With summer weddings still reigning supreme in Boston, that makes winter the prime time for wedding and bridesmaid’s dress shopping. Call us well in advance to snag your spot, and be prepared to snap up a dress that you love. With 5 months to manufacture and a couple months for tailoring, Flair definitely falls in that list of vendors to connect with 7-9 months in advance of the big day! The earlier the better, though, we always say, so give us a call to make your appointment; we can’t wait to shop with you soon 🙂

Yes, even the adorable little Etsy flowergirl dress takes a few months to produce, so be sure to order ALL of your dresses well in advance of your big day!

Yes, even the adorable little Etsy flowergirl dress takes a few months to produce, so be sure to order ALL of your dresses well in advance of your big day!