You found the dress. Now comes the question every bride asks us at the first appointment: when should alterations actually begin?
The short answer: book your alterations three to four months before your wedding, and plan for your consultation, which is also your first fitting, two to three months out. That window gives your gown the time it needs to be fitted properly, without rushing a single seam.
Here is why the timing matters, and what happens at each stage.
Why you can’t start too late (or too early)
A wedding gown is not a garment you hem in an afternoon. Most gowns are built in layers: a lining, an inner bodice with boning, crinoline or tulle in the skirt, and often lace or beading on top. Each layer is taken apart, adjusted and rebuilt in order. Hand-finished lace alone can take hours along a single hem.
Start too late, and every fitting gets compressed. There is less room to refine, and less margin if your body changes in the final weeks.
Start too early, and the fit can drift. Many brides change shape slightly in the months before the wedding through stress, fitness plans or everyday life. Fitting six months out often means re-fitting later.
Two to three months before the date is the sweet spot. Your shape is settled, and there is still time to perfect every detail.
The bridal alterations timeline
4 months before: book your consultation. The best ateliers fill their calendars well ahead of peak wedding season. Reach out early, even if your gown hasn’t arrived yet. At Mrs. P Stitches, you can start with a virtual estimate: send photos of your gown and tell us what you’d like changed.
2–3 months before: your consultation and first fitting. Your consultation is also your first fitting. We look at your gown on you, talk through the fit and the look you want, and pin the bodice, waist and hem with you in your wedding shoes and undergarments. Bring both: a two-inch heel changes the hem; a different bra changes the bodice. You leave with a clear quote before any work begins. The consultation fee ($75 + HST) is waived when you go ahead with us.
4–6 weeks before: second fitting. We check the adjustments on your body, refine the fit and confirm the bustle. You will practise walking, sitting and moving in your gown.
1–2 weeks before: final fitting. Your gown should feel like it was made for you. Bring the person who will bustle your dress on the day, and we will teach them how.
Pickup. Your gown goes home ready for your day.
Most brides need up to three fittings. Simple changes may need fewer; structural work or redesign may need more.
What if your wedding is less than two months away?
Then you are in rush territory, and that’s okay. Gowns arrive late. Dates move up. We accept select rush bookings and give you an honest answer about what is possible on your timeline. Read our guide to rush wedding dress alterations.
What to do this week
- Note your wedding date and count back four months.
- If you are inside that window, contact us now.
- Photograph your gown, front, back and side, ready for your estimate.
The best alteration is the one you never notice. Giving your gown the right amount of time is how you get there.