I’m not so brilliant that I figured this out myself, but it worked so well I wanted to share it with you.
In selecting which size dress to order, the normal procedure is this: take measurements, compare to manufacturer’s sizing, and if measurements correspond to two different sizes, order the larger size and have the rest taken in. But the brilliant owner of the bridal shop where we ordered the dress for the maid of honor noticed that, because the hips are loose in this style, we could order the size down and avoid alterations altogether! The same trick worked for the bride.
Typically, alterations are expected. In this wedding, only one of the bridesmaids had to have her dress shortened; the rest of the dresses fit “off the rack”. (Well, as with the bridal gown, I did hooks, etc, myself.) Choosing to have the bridesmaids in floor-length gowns, in this case, also saved money, simply because those were the dresses they found.
You can pay full price for the alteration locally if you get a killer deal on CraigsList or WeddingDressMarket.com
Both dresses are lovely, and I’m sure the whole wedding party shone. My wedding dress cost $220; I made it myself ^_^. Always the way to go if you can do it, along with doing the alterations yourself.
Yes – I tend to find with clients who are more pear shaped that when buying dresses that have a flared skirt, we can ususally go for a smaller size.
This doesn’t work on Rectangle (H) shapes though!
I had my dress made by an acquaintance of my mother – $190 including the pattern and fabric.
We ordered simple black chiffon tea length dresses from Chadwick’s ($60) and I had them delivered to each girl (my maids were strewn from CA to FL) and then had the tallest try her dress with shoes and sent the “from floor” measurement to each girl and let them have their dresses shortened locally. I said they could wear whatever black dressy shoe they liked and whatever pearls they wanted/owned. We had some personality for each of them that way, and it was all so inexpensive!
Because these ladies are both complete hour-glasses, I never would have thought of it. But I can see where if the waist was the largest measurement it wouldn’t work.
I’m glad I have girls, because I would sooner make the dress myself – even with my limited skills! – than cook the rehearsal dinner! The groom’s mother made chicken alfredo, green beans, a wonderful salad …