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Liz
Dedicated September 2019

Urgent. Need wedding dress in 6 weeks

Liz, on August 14, 2019 at 3:42 PM

Posted in Wedding Attire 37

Long story short, I just tried out my wedding dress I had bought back in February ( Bought in China and at the time I was jetlagged and didnt realize my dress was too long). Since February a lot of events were going on like friends weddings, family events, family visit from out of country, ect....

Long story short, I just tried out my wedding dress I had bought back in February ( Bought in China and at the time I was jetlagged and didnt realize my dress was too long). Since February a lot of events were going on like friends weddings, family events, family visit from out of country, ect. During this time I did not find time to try on the dress. Fast forward to this past weekend, I finally tried on the dress and found out it was way too long and after getting multiple advice in regards to if the dress can be altered, many said it would be hard to alter and if it was possible then the dress would lose its structure. So in the end I decided to go dress shopping again. This Saturday I will look around. Has anyone had an experiences with finding their dress a month before their wedding and having enough time to order the dress as well as alter it?


I been reading some post online and people were able to get it done in a month but that was with sample dress (which means they didnt have a wait time for deliver of the dress if it needed to be ordered). My problem is that im usually a size 0 in clothes ( XS, Bra size: 32B, Weight: 99 lb, Height: 5'2'') but sample dresses tend to be 6,8 and 10. I am starting to lose hope that this is possible.

Can someone who has been through something similar please share their experience or advice in this situation?

Theres only 6 weeks left until my wedding Smiley sad

37 Comments

  • Allie
    Master August 2019
    Allie ·
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    I just got a new dress less than a month out. The shop I bought it from said she only orders in the US so she could get anything in a week. Check your local bridal shops and see what can be ordered within a week. I bought something off the rack that fit perfectly. The shop I went to had dresses from a size 0 to a 24 so you should be able to find a shop that does the same.

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  • Liz
    Dedicated September 2019
    Liz ·
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    Thanks. There's a boutique I found near me that I am going to on Saturday that said they have a few styles of dresses which they can order and it'll take a week to come in Smiley smile. Its good to know other people were able to find a dress and get everything done with less than a month left. I have been so stressed out about it that I haven't focused on other tasks that need to be done Smiley xd .

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  • MOB So Cal
    January 2019
    MOB So Cal ·
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    We're in So Cal (OC), as well. I have no idea what they might have in small sample dresses for immediate sale, but daughter got her dress (a gorgeous Rebecca Ingram) from Pebbles Bridal in Placentia (on Orangethorpe). They are super nice and DO NOT REQUIRE appointments; they also do in-house alterations. If you haven't been there, I'd at least give them a try. There's also a really small place in Mission Viejo (Bridal Gowns of Orange County) on Marguerite Pkwy. I think they mostly do sample dresses; it's not the place for every bride, but if you don't have much time, you could give it a try. Besides David's in Costa Mesa, we visited Casablanca in Newport -- gorgeous gowns, but I don't know what their sample inventory is like. Good luck! (I think Nordstrom at the Shoppes of Mission Viejo might also carry wedding gowns.)

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  • Liz
    Dedicated September 2019
    Liz ·
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    Hi! Thanks so much for giving me an option that is ready to ship Smiley laugh . It isn't quite the style I had envisioned. I LOVE lace and my one deal breaker for dresses was that it has to have some kind of lace (mainly in the bodice area). I also decided to go with something a bit more form fitting because the picture I attached to one of my comments of my current dress its puffy and its just too tiring for me to carry around ( I have small hands too lol). Thanks for the suggestion and thanks to your cousin if you had to ask her for photos of her dress Smiley smile

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  • Liz
    Dedicated September 2019
    Liz ·
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    Those are all in my area! I fell in love with almost all the Rebecca Ingram dresses I saw. Unfortunately only a few were in my price range. This Saturday I will be going to Jaclyn's Bridal in Costa Mesa. I was browsing through their site at dress and almost every single dressed I liked was from that designer ( one was from Mori Lee). May I ask how much your daughter spent on alterations in the OC. I have been looking around at estimates but I am not sure if alterations are more expensive in OC. I had a 2 layer chiffon bridesmaid like dress altered at a place in Lake Forest and they charged me about $75 Smiley xd . But my friend in LA area was able to get hers done (2 layers and chiffon as well) for around 30... lol

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  • Allie
    Master August 2019
    Allie ·
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    I completely understand how you feel. I had such bad dress regret that I didn't even want to get married anymore! Thank goodness my mom convinced me to go dress shop again. Now with the right dress I can't wait to get married!

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  • MOB So Cal
    January 2019
    MOB So Cal ·
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    Daughter had her alterations done at Pebbles, where she bought her dress. In total, I think we paid about $400 to tighten the bodice, line the straps (the beading irritated her shoulders), and add a bustle (her dress did not need hemming). It seemed like kind of a lot for what she needed, but at that point we just wanted it done and to feel confident it would be done right -- and, they did a GREAT job. She had her dress pressed right before the wedding at Power Cleaners in Lake Forest (it's right off LF, up toward Home Depot in Foothill). They were AWESOME. They also do alterations, but at that point hers were done. I don't know what they charge (they weren't inexpensive for the pressing, but they did an excellent job -- and actually let daughter wait there while they did it since leaving her dress anywhere the week of the wedding made her incredibly nervous). I think their work is very high quality. If you can, I'd try to visit Pebbles, because they have beautiful gowns, and because it's pretty close, I'd also make an appointment at the one on Marguerite (it's near Saddleback College; I think the cross-street is Avery). It's not big, so you'll know pretty quickly if she has anything that might work for you. Like I said, the advantage there is that I think everything is a sample for immediate sale. Again, good luck!

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  • Lauren
    VIP February 2020
    Lauren ·
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    Look on Facebook Marketplace! Brides will usually let you try the dress on beforehand. I got my dress from Marketplace, and it was brand new without alterations and a lot cheaper than getting it from a bridal salon. The bride was just selling it because she bought 2 dresses & decided to wear the other one.

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  • Liz
    Dedicated September 2019
    Liz ·
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    OMG. Yeah, I picked my dress in 1 day. I went to visit my family in China and since it was chinese new year time there shops were supposed to close in 2 days. My family literally took me dress shopping 2 hours after I got off the plane (which was a 16 hour flight). Not to mention I was hungry. Never shop for something important when you are hangry and sleep deprived haha.


    I'm so glad you found a dress you loved. It is your special day and you should feel confident in your dress Smiley laugh . Congrats and hope your wedding day is everything you wished for and more Smiley smile

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  • Liz
    Dedicated September 2019
    Liz ·
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    Oh 400 actually doesn't seem bad. Ive heard of alterations that cost more than that! I actually took my dress to get alterated at Power Cleaners (I mentioned on one of the comments that I spent 75 for alterations for 2 layer chiffon hemming). It was pricey but I do agree they did a good job. Plus they were able to get it done in 4 days!

    I will definitely take a look at Pebbles on Sunday if I do not find anything this Saturday. I actually live about 10-15 min from Power Cleaners so its good to know there are other good bridal places in the area.

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  • Colleen
    Master September 2019
    Colleen ·
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    Most wedding dresses you. Red to get altered,
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  • ASMini914
    Super September 2019
    ASMini914 ·
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    I know, it is going to end up being a lot. BUT I bought the dress not because I got it for a steal (its originally 2k), but because I absolutely loved it, and it is discontinued so I couldn't purchase it new in my size. My initial budget was 3k, so even with all of the alterations, im still coming in under my initial budget.

    Your dress is beautiful, I would check out BHLDN and maybe even David's if you haven't already. I don't know that I have seen anything quite like that on the BHLDN website, but it definitely reminds me of things that I've seen in Davids.

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  • Adree-Anna
    Dedicated November 2020
    Adree-Anna ·
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    Can you add a petticoat to give it volume? And wear heels?
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  • Selena
    Super September 2019
    Selena ·
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    Have you talked to more than on seamstress? That dress isn't overly complicated and should be able to be shortened. Even with the glued lace, it could be cut off and moved up ( not removed from the tulle under it)
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  • Liz
    Dedicated September 2019
    Liz ·
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    Hi! The problem I'm having is that it is also very heavy for me to carry and with everything going on that day I cant imagine having to carry the weight of the dress. Adding a petticoat I feel like would add to the weight and be a bit harder to bunch up to hold. Also I'm horrible walking in heels. I'm kind of set on a new dress but I just wanted to see if my time frame was possible. Thank you for your input Smiley smile.
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  • Heather
    Expert October 2019
    Heather ·
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    David’s bridal has samples in every size that you can walk out of the store with that day. I got mine from there (size 4) and walked out with it that day. But be advised that if you go through them for alterations, they take a full month on it.
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  • Liz
    Dedicated September 2019
    Liz ·
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    Thanks everyone so much for your advice and expertise. I went to 2 bridal shops today and didnt even need to go to the 3rd I had scheduled. I found 2 dresses I liked ( 1 from each bridal shop) but ended up going with one in the same county I live in. I actually loved both dresses but the price I decided with was a little cheaper and the boutique isnt as far from me as I will be needing to go in at least 2 or 3 more times before my dress is fully alternated to fit me. I ended up being within budget Smiley smile. More importantly the seamstress for the store seemed very knowledgable and detail oriented! The shop also had won many awards. I have attached pictures of my new dress. It is still a bit similar to my previous dress but less poof. My bridesmaid said this dress fit my personality and body more. I have to agree. The seamstress saw a picture of my old dress and said it was nice but I looked like I was drowning in it 😅. Usually her alterations take 3 months but shes able to fit me in Smiley smile

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