Anna Sorrano Wedding Dress Alterations | Mercia Gown for a Greater London Bride
These Anna Sorrano wedding dress alterations were completed for a Sutton, Greater London bride who chose the beautiful Mercia gown from WED2B. The specialist bridal work included shortening its intricate Chantilly lace hem by 20 cm, adding an inner corset for support, creating a discreet bustle and professionally steam pressing the completed gown.
The Anna Sorrano Mercia gown is a romantic Chantilly lace A-line wedding dress with a structured basque waist, strapless sweetheart neckline and a beautifully full tulle skirt. Its combination of delicate lace, multiple skirt layers and a dramatic train meant that every alteration needed to preserve the original balance and finish of the design.
For this bride, the alterations included:
- Shortening the detailed lace hem by 20cm
- Carefully repositioning the decorative lace border
- Inner corset addition.
- Adding a bridal bustle to lift the train
- Professionally steam pressing the finished wedding dress
Anna Sorrano wedding dress alterations | Shortening the Mercia Lace Hem by 20 cm
The most detailed part of these Anna Sorrano Mercia wedding dress alterations was shortening the gown by a substantial 20 cm.
A heavily detailed lace wedding dress cannot simply be cut across the bottom. Doing so would remove the beautiful scalloped lace border and leave the gown looking visibly altered.
Sections of the decorative lace were therefore carefully separated from the skirt. The tulle and underlying skirt layers could then be shortened to the correct finished length before the lace was repositioned and secured along the new hemline.
Close-up photographs taken during the alteration process show the intricate lace lifted, arranged and pinned into position. Particular care was taken to keep the embroidery balanced across the front of the skirt so the finished hem continued to look like part of the gown’s original design.
Once completed, the lace flowed naturally around the new hemline without an obvious alteration line.
Adding an Inner Corset for Support
An inner corset was added to provide greater support and security within the strapless bodice.
The corset was carefully integrated into the existing structure of the Anna Sorrano Mercia gown, strengthening the fit around the bust and waist without changing the visible lace design or romantic sweetheart neckline.
This additional internal support helped hold the bodice securely in position while balancing the weight of the full layered skirt. It allowed the bride to feel comfortable and confident throughout the wedding day without needing to repeatedly adjust her strapless dress.
Preserving the Shape of the Anna Sorrano Mercia Gown
The Mercia has a full A-line skirt designed to create volume, shape and movement.
Removing 20 cm from a gown with this amount of fullness requires careful measuring across the entire front and around the sides. Each layer must sit evenly, while the transition from the shortened front into the original train must remain smooth and balanced.
The finished hem allowed the bride to walk much more comfortably while retaining the soft, floor-length appearance of the original design.
Anna Sorrano Mercia wedding dress alterations | Adding a Bridal Bustle to the Train
The Mercia’s long lace train creates a beautiful effect for the ceremony and wedding photographs, but it also needs to be manageable later in the day.
I added a discreet bridal bustle so the train could be lifted securely for the reception, walking and dancing.
The bustle points were carefully positioned to support the weight of the layered lace and tulle while creating an attractive shape at the back of the gown. When released, the fastening remained unobtrusive and did not distract from the original train.
A properly placed bustle should be practical without making the back of the wedding dress look bulky or unbalanced.
Professionally Steam Pressed for the Wedding Day
After the alterations had been completed and approved, the Anna Sorrano Mercia gown was professionally steam pressed.
The full skirt and train were carefully arranged so that each layer could relax and regain its natural movement. Steam pressing also helped the intricate lace motifs sit beautifully and ensured the gown was presented at its best for the wedding day.
Professional bridal steam pressing is especially important for a full lace and tulle wedding dress, as ordinary ironing can damage delicate fabrics, embroidery and internal skirt structure.
The Finished Anna Sorrano Mercia Wedding Dress
The final result preserved everything that made this Mercia dress so special.
The 20cm shortening created a practical and flattering finished length, while the reconstructed lace hem retained its original appearance. The inner corset gave the strapless bodice additional support and security, the bustle made the train manageable during the reception, and the professional steam press provided the perfect wedding-day finish.
Her wedding photographs show the full romantic silhouette of the gown, from its fitted basque bodice and sweetheart neckline to the lace skirt and sweeping train.
It was wonderful to see this Sutton bride enjoying her Anna Sorrano wedding dress on such a special day.
The Bride’s Kind Words
After her wedding, my Sutton bride kindly shared this lovely review of her Anna Sorrano wedding dress alterations:
“Zen was recommended to me by Wed2Be for alterations to my Anna Sorrano wedding dress.
From our very first phone call she was super helpful. A bonus was that she is very local to me as I also live in Sutton. We booked in a prefit consultation which made my first fitting very quick as we had already established what needed to be done.
Zen worked tirelessly on my dress which was covered in Chantilly lace and she took off 8 inches from the hem! Blood, sweat and tears went into making sure my dress was perfect for me! As well as adding corset straps inside the dress and creating a bustle for me.
Her work is excellent and everything was done in time for the big day. I felt so confident on the day, my husband loved my dress and the bustle was perfect for dancing all night! Thank you so much Zen!”
It was an absolute pleasure working with such a lovely local Sutton bride. I’m delighted that her Anna Sorrano Mercia gown felt comfortable and secure, and that the bustle allowed her to dance confidently all night. Thank you for trusting me with such a special dress and for sharing these beautiful words.
Specialist WED2B Bridal Alterations in Sutton
Many WED2B wedding dresses feature structured bodices, layered skirts, lace appliqué and detailed hems that require specialist bridal knowledge to alter successfully.
From precise lace hemming and bustle creation to complex resizing, bodice restructuring and internal support, every gown is assessed individually to protect its original proportions and character.
You can explore more examples of my WED2B bridal alterations in Greater London and learn more about my private bridal alterations and fitting process.
Experienced in Couture Bridal Alterations Across Leading Designers
Over the years, I have carried out couture bridal alterations and restructuring work on gowns from designers including Allure Bridal, Anna Sorrano Bridal, Anny Lin Bridal, Berta Bridal, Blue By Enzoani, Catherine Deane, Caroline Castigliano, Dama Couture , Élysée Bridal, Enzoani, Essense Of Australia , Eva Lendel, Galia Lahav Bridal, Grace Loves Lace, Gypsy Bridal, House of CB, Jesus Peiro, Juliana Kontogruni bridal, Justin Alexander Bridal, KYHA Bridal Studios, Leah Da Gloria, Luxe Privee, Madi Lane, Maggie Sottero, Mark Lesley, Martina Liana, Made With Love, Milla Nova, Morilee, Monreal, Pronovias, PDR Aurorabride, Ronald Joyce, Ricca Sposa, Rosa Clará, Riki Dalal, Sophia Cruz Bridal, Sophia Tolli, Stella York, Symphony Of Venus, Viva Bridal, Vivienne Westwood Bridal, Wona Concept and many others
My work includes complex size reductions, bespoke sleeve additions, bespoke veils snd accessories, couture embellishment Complete bridal gown transformations and creating expert bustle techniques.
Click the designer links above to explore real wedding dress alterations and bridal transformations I have carried out.
I have provided a guideline to bridal alterations costs and what Bridal fitting Process involves , however, all wedding dress alterations are individually quoted following a personal assessment of your gown. I also offer a full professional comprehensive wedding dress steam pressing service to all my brides.
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Planning your own Bridal Alterations?
For the best results, bridal alterations should ideally begin a few months before the wedding day, with a pre-fit consultation, allowing us to assess exactly what your dress requires, discuss possible transformations, provide a clearer guide on costing, and give you peace of mind well in advance of your wedding day.
Please bring your wedding shoes to your fitting appointments so the gown can be pinned accurately from the very first consultation.
✨Trusted by brides since 2003, with over 190 5* reviews on Google, you are welcome to Read my brides’ experiences including hand written notes preserved in their own words recorded since 2012→
If you have purchased your wedding dress from Made With Love Bridal, WED2B, or another bridal boutique and are looking for specialist bridal alterations in London or Surrey, I would be delighted to hear from you.
Explore more real bridal transformations in the Atelier Journal or get in touch to begin your fitting journey.
For bridal alterations or a bespoke design in SuttonSurrey, I would be delighted to hear from you.
Serving Bromley, Cheam, London, Wimbledon, Wallington, Crystal Palace, Croydon & South London