Heirloom. Vintage. Pre-loved. Re-styled. Pre-owned. Re-cycled. Up-cycled.

These are all terms to describe wearing a gown for your wedding that, strictly speaking, isn’t new.

It’s a relatively trendy idea right now, but wedding gowns have been re-styled and re-worn pretty much ever since there were wedding gowns. It took (and takes) an extraordinary amount of resources and skilled labor to make a wedding dress, and wearing such a gown only once would have been inconceivable. Manufacturing processes are much different now, but I always think of a wedding gown as potentially having a long life, far beyond just one wedding day.

My background is in theater, where it is also unthinkable to spend so much time, effort, and money to make a costume and then never use it again. When I started doing bridal alterations, over 20 years ago, my approach to alterations was (and is) influenced by my theatrical training. Whenever possible, I try to make my alterations reversible and re-alterable.

I love working with heirloom, sample, and previously-worn gowns. For me, they are a chance to travel back in time and see what fabrics were fashionable, how dresses were made, and sometimes by whom. I love finding a union label, or maybe even a department store label.

I’ve re-styled a gown from a first wedding that never happened, and repaired and updated a gown for the fifth(!) bride in the family to wear it.

I’ve removed sleeves, re-cut sleeves, and replaced old sleeves with new sleeves that I carefully researched to match the historical style of the dress. I’ve moved waistline seams, added panels to the bodice to make it bigger, let out darts, put in darts. I’ve cut down necklines, moved lace trim around, added new lace trim (carefully matched and tea-dyed to blend in), and  saved every tiny scrap and button (because you never know when that bit of lace might be needed).

I understand that an existing dress or gown can be a jumping-off point to something new, while keeping in mind that’s it also important to be true to the existing gown.

I am now focusing on provides expert fitting, alterations, re-styling, and repairs on heirloom, vintage, pre-owned, and locally made wedding gowns and dresses.

I work with lace, beading, feathers, leather, delicate fabrics, silk satin, and more. As always, I pay great attention to detail, fit, and proportion, and believe that the alteration isn't done until you are satisfied. I have decades of experience fitting all sorts of clothes to all sorts of bodies, and enjoy the collaborative experience of making every bride look her most beautiful.

Alteration costs average from $700 to $1000, depending on the style and dress materials, and how much labor is required. I do not have a flat fee, and final costs do vary widely. Plan to have your initial fitting two to three months in advance of your wedding date.

I also make custom designed veils, which I will be happy to discuss with you at any fitting. Prices for veils start at $150.

Please contact me to make an appointment, it's never too soon!

Schedule Appointment

I provide a half-hour consultation and detailed estimate for a $45 fee, applicable to the cost of your alterations.

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