Bridal Alterations Richmond upon Thames – Kelly’s Roma Wedding Dress
When Kelly was searching for bridal alterations near Richmond upon Thames, she travelled to my private bridal alterations studio in Sutton for the fitting and alteration of her beautiful Roma wedding dress.
The gown, from Aurora Bride, featured a delicate lace bodice, fine straps, a low open back and a beautifully detailed lace train. Although the dress was already stunning, achieving the finished silhouette required extensive alterations and careful reshaping through the bodice.
In total, the gown needed to be taken in by approximately 16cm, alongside bust reshaping, strap alterations, shortening the hem and two different bustle systems.
Seeing Kelly’s wedding photographs afterwards was wonderful. The finished dress fitted closely through the bodice while retaining the soft, romantic movement of the original design.
Taking the Wedding Dress In by Approximately 16cm
One of the most significant parts of Kelly’s bridal alterations was reducing the gown by approximately 16cm.
Taking this amount from a wedding dress is very different from simply making a garment smaller. The proportions of the bodice, waist, bust and back all need to remain balanced so that the dress still looks as though it was originally made for the bride.
The alterations were carefully distributed and shaped to create a close, secure fit while preserving the original lace detailing and the character of the Roma gown.
The finished result followed Kelly’s figure beautifully without looking over-altered or restrictive.
Reshaping and Contouring the Bust
The front of Kelly’s gown featured a deep plunge neckline and a fitted lace bodice, so getting the bust area right was particularly important.
I carefully contoured both the bust and under-bust areas, refining the shape so that the bodice sat closer against her body
.
This kind of alteration can make an enormous difference to how secure a bride feels in a low or plunging wedding dress. The objective isn’t simply to make the dress tighter; it is to create support and shape in the correct places.
Adding Bust Cups for Support
I also added bust cups inside the gown.
These provided additional shaping and support without detracting from the delicate appearance of the bodice.
The internal construction of a wedding dress should do its work almost invisibly. From the outside, all you should see is a beautifully fitted gown.
Shortening the Straps
Kelly’s delicate bridal straps were also shortened.
Adjusting straps can have a surprisingly large effect on the entire bodice. Lifting them by the correct amount helped position the neckline and bust correctly and contributed to the secure fit through the upper body.
With a low-backed dress such as this one, the adjustment needs to be particularly precise. Too much can distort the neckline or pull the back out of position; too little leaves the bodice without sufficient support.
Shortening the Lace Wedding Dress
The gown also needed to be shortened to Kelly’s correct finished length.
Wedding dress hems need to be considered in relation to the bride’s wedding shoes, posture and the way the skirt naturally falls when she walks.
With lace and layered bridal gowns, shortening is considerably more involved than an ordinary dress hem because the original appearance and balance of the skirt need to be retained.
The finished length allowed Kelly to move comfortably while keeping the soft, flowing appearance of the gown.
Bridal Alterations Richmond upon Thames | Creating an Inner French Bustle
Kelly’s gown had a beautiful train which was an important part of the dress and something I wanted her to be able to enjoy during the ceremony and photographs.
For later in the wedding day, however, she needed a practical way of lifting it.
I created an inner French bustle, which lifts and secures the train underneath the skirt.
A French bustle is particularly useful where we want to manage some of the volume internally while maintaining an elegant fall to the dress.
Bridal Alterations Richmond upon Thames | Adding an Outer Point American Bustle
In addition to the inner bustle, I created an outer point American bustle for the train.
This allows the outer train to be lifted and secured from the outside, transforming the dress for the reception and dancing while displaying the lace rather than simply gathering it away.
Using the two bustle techniques gave Kelly a practical solution for managing her train without sacrificing the beauty of the gown.
And judging by the photograph of Kelly dancing later in the evening, the bustle certainly did its job!
Bridal Alterations Richmond upon Thames | Professional Wedding Dress Steam Pressing
Once all of Kelly’s alterations were complete and I was satisfied with the final fit, her gown was professionally steam pressed and prepared for collection.
This is an important final stage of my bridal service.
A beautifully altered wedding dress deserves to leave the studio looking its very best. Careful steaming helps remove fitting and storage creases and allows the skirt, lace and train to fall properly.
I take particular care when steam pressing lace wedding dresses because different fabrics, appliqués, embellishments and layers can respond differently to heat and moisture.
The gown was then carefully prepared for Kelly to take away, ready for her wedding.
From Richmond upon Thames to My Sutton Bridal Studio
Brides regularly travel to my private Sutton studio from across London and Surrey for specialist wedding dress alterations.
For Kelly, travelling from Richmond upon Thames for her bridal alterations meant that we could work through each element of the fit carefully rather than simply making the dress smaller.
With a gown requiring approximately 16cm of reduction, bust contouring, additional support, strap alterations, shortening and two bustle systems, every alteration needed to work together.
The wedding photographs show exactly why that attention to detail matters.
From the front, the bodice sits beautifully against Kelly’s figure. From the back, the delicate straps and low-back design remain balanced. And when the train is released, the lace falls naturally into the spectacular shape intended by the original design.
“It Fit Like a Glove”
One of the loveliest parts of my work is hearing from brides after their wedding.
Kelly kindly sent me her professional wedding photographs together with this wonderful message:
“I just wanted to say thank you again so much for all the support and alterations to make my dress just perfect 😊 it fit like a glove and people could not stop commenting how beautiful it was 😂😂 the photographers took some stunning photos of the dress that I thought I’ll send through to you 😊😊 thanks again!”
For a bridal alterations specialist, “it fit like a glove” is about the best feedback you can receive.
A wedding dress should look beautiful, but it also needs to allow the bride to enjoy her day — from walking down the aisle and having photographs taken to celebrating and dancing in the evening.
Kelly certainly looks as though she did exactly that.
Bridal Alterations Richmond upon Thames
If you’re looking for Bridal Alterations Richmond upon Thames, my private bridal alterations studio is based in Sutton, Surrey, and I welcome brides travelling from Richmond upon Thames and surrounding areas for specialist wedding dress fittings.
My bridal alteration work includes complex resizing, bridal bodice reshaping, bust support and cups, lace alterations, wedding dress hems, strap alterations, bustles, detailed hand finishing and professional steam pressing.
Every wedding dress is different, so alterations are approached individually with the aim of preserving the designer’s original character while creating a fit that feels as though the gown was made for you.
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.
Planning Your Own Wedding Dress Alterations?
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.
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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, Kingston upon Thames Wallington, Crystal Palace, Croydon & South London
Private bridal fittings by appointment
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Photography Credit:
Wedding photography by Kobus Tollig. Images shared with permission from the bride to showcase the completed bridal alterations