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MANDATORY--the shoes you will be wearing with your dress. MANDATORY--any pieces or parts of things you want to include on your dress (your grandma's lace, a special ribbon, a brooch, etc.) SUGGESTED--the veil and jewelry you plan to wear. (Many brides LOVE to see it all put together to get an idea of the whole picture.) SUGGESTED--a TRUSTED friend or relative (to get an outside opinion and to learn how to help you with your dress. Choose this person carefully. They should be supportive and positive and focused on YOUR vision.)

We like to fit most dresses without any undergarments. Most dresses are made with boning, cups, and/or enough layering so that once they are fitted correctly, they will support the bust without additional undergarments. Sometimes strapless bras or corset-like garments fight against the dress, causing slipping...they can also cause bulk inside...and often the neckline shapes are not the same and they peak out the top. We use sew-in cups and a few other "tricks" or methods to fit the bust.

HOWEVER, if your dress is super soft or does not have support like boning…..OR if you need an undergarment to feel comfortable, supported, or confident, then you definitely should find something to give you the support and confidence you need. We will make it work!

Also, some curvier women, or older women, like the shaping or smoothing that an undergarment provides, and that is GREAT. Wear and bring what makes you feel good...that is no problem. We just don't insist that it is always necessary for everyone.

Don't worry, we've helped over 1400 brides to date. You will be in capable hands. We will start by looking at your dress and talking about what you want done. You will then put the dress on (with appropriate undergarments) and your fitter will troubleshoot the best way to alter your dress. They will pin/mark/measure your dress according to the desired fit, and will take notes during the fitting.

Once you are pinned into your dress, you will move, dance, sit, hug, and anything else you will need to do on your wedding day...in order for you to feel how your dress fits. We aim to have each bride wear her dress for at least 20-30 minutes to determine if it needs to be loosened or tightened. This is because your dress, especially if it is brand new, will ease out after being worn and/or will settle onto the body after the bride moves around. Or, if we have pinned it too much, and is uncomfortable to move or breathe, we can let it out a bit and find the perfect median.

During this time of wearing your dress, you will put on the shoes and we will mark the hem, if necessary. We will also discuss and pin up a rough version of the bustle. This is also the time to add the veil or any other details you want to include or discuss...lace, ribbons, adding sleeves, etc.

Once we feel like your dress is as close as we can get it, you will take it off and we will keep it to alter. While you are changing, your fitter will add up the cost of your alterations, ask for your approval, and take a 50% deposit. We will also pull up the dates of your follow-up and final fittngs to make sure they still work for you, making any changes necessary.

Most of the wedding dresses we alter need 3 total fittings. Occasionally, a dress is done in only 2 fittings (initial fitting plus one more), but with the multi-layered, complex way most dresses are built, pins can only do so much in giving the idea of the fit. Also body changes and emotions might mean we need to do another fitting to get it just right. Please remember that it is a PROCESS, not a magic wand. Sometimes it takes extra time to get it just right.

After working with hundreds of brides and seeing just about everything, we are confident that we can find a solution, no matter what your situation is. But, the only way for YOU to feel confident is to meet in person with your dress, and discuss it together. We strive to be as clear as possible in my communication and pricing, and to lay everything out initially, so if you have read the info here and still have questions, feel free to email us.

If you are doubtful about whether Sugarcane Studios is the right place to get your alterations done, please plan a consultation and we can meet in person to see if we are a good fit. We do charge a non-refundable consultation fee. If you decide not to move forward, the consultation fee covers the time spent meeting and putting together a quote.

Most brides in our shop average $500-1000 for their alterations costs. Of course, it can be less or more than that, depending on your dress and your particular fit/situation. We use mostly flat rates for our pricing so that we can quote you a firm quote for the work at your initial fitting. Anything that is not a flat rate will be priced at $65/hr.

In general, the biggest cost variables are the amount of handwork needed, the number of layers in your dress, and how closely the dress fits you initially. Handwork like lace and/or beaded details can add significantly to the costs of your alterations. Additionally, the more layers your dress has, the more the hem and the bustle will cost. Hem layers with horsehair braid at the hems can add up significantly also. And, finally, if your dress is several sizes too large (or small) for you (usually this happens with sample dresses), then it generally takes a lot more alterations and can be significantly more expensive.

If you want to have an idea of cost before your fitting, you can email a photo to us for a BROAD range, but to get a hard quote, you will need to pay for a consultation. We do not quote firm prices without seeing the dress in person.

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