Appointment Prep

Things you need to know before your first fitting

General Policies:

Looking Sharp Alterations is open by appointment only.

Please be mindful that if you do not arrive for your appointment within 15 minutes of your scheduled time, your appointment will be rescheduled to a different day.

The studio fitting room is only accessible by a short flight of wide stairs. If you have any accessibility concerns, please contact us for an accommodation plan.

At this time there are no masking requirements for the bride or guests

Guests:

Limit of 2 people in the fitting room. This can include the client to be fit, and one other guest.
Children are not allowed in the fitting room for safety reasons; thank you for your understanding.

Booking:

Wedding gown alterations should begin about 2 to 3 months before the wedding (or the date at which you leave for the wedding's location). If you tend to fluctuate in weight, we will aim for a shorter time period of 6 weeks-2 months before the wedding so that your body’s shape will be as close as possible as it will the day of the wedding.

If you are planning to make a major change to your gown such as adding custom sleeves, specialty accent fabrics, or something of the like, please plan for your fitting on the earlier side of 3 months ahead of the wedding as more fittings are usually needed. Don't hesitate to ask any questions if you're nervous or unsure! Shoot them to: lookingsharpalterations@gmail.com

Prices and Fees:

As each gown is different, price estimates can vary widely. For estimates best suited to your gown, please contact lookingsharpalterations@gmail.com and include a picture of you in your dress.

Payments can be made in cash and check with no additional fee, and by credit card with a 3% additional fee. Checks only accepted at first fitting and/or second fittings, but NOT at pickup/final appointments.

50% of your total alterations bill will be due at your first fitting.

While the schedule is extremely flexible to meet your needs, Bridal alterations needing completion within 5 weeks of the first fitting will incur a rush fee.

What to Bring With

Please bring any undergarments and shoes you plan to wear with your gown to all appointments as this affects the fit and length of the dress.
Please bring any accessories you plan to add to the dress such as a belt, extra lace and fabric, or custom straps
If you plan to take advantage of the steaming services, it is also helpful to bring your veil along to be steamed with your gown if you do not need it for any hair trials.

Special Notes:

We specialize in personalized, body-positive, LGBTQ+ friendly fitting experiences of all gender identities, races, creeds, ages, and sizes and aim to make you feel welcomed in every way possible. Help us help you; let us know how we can help make your alterations journey as comfortable as possible.

Shop-worn gowns purchased off-the-rack or bought secondhand are highly recommended to be cleaned before alterations. No need to worry about bringing your gown to a dry cleaner as Looking Sharp Alterations provides in-house cleaning safe for most gowns. Please reach out ahead of setting your first fitting appointment to schedule a pre-alterations cleaning.

FAQ:

Q: How much should I expect to pay for wedding gown alterations?

A: Although it varies widely depending on the gown's structure, embellishments, and size changes needed, the average cost of alterations for a typical wedding gown needing bodice adjustments, a hem, and a bustle ranges between $500- $1,650 before tax. Custom additions such as lace sleeves, glitter tulle, lining, or other design changes likely will exceed this range. Please plan accordingly.

Q: Do you provide steaming services?

A: Absolutely; full gown steaming services are available upon request and HIGHLY recommended so you can be aisle-ready!

Q: Do you alter casual wear, Prom, Bridesmaids, Mother-of-the-Bride/Groom, Flowergirls, or wedding guests?

A: Unfortunately, no. Looking Sharp Alterations only specializes in Bridal Gown alterations.

Q: Are there weekend hours available?

A: Unfortunately, no. Appointments may only be made on weekdays; please reach out for hours and day availability for your needs.

Q: Can I have my measurements taken to use for online shopping or other garment purchases?

A: Sadly, our currently policy allows measurements only to be taken and recorded for internal alterations purposes.

Didn't find your question here? Send your question(s) to: lookingsharpalterations@gmail.com and you can expect a reply as soon as possible. Please note we're experiencing unusually high volumes of requests at this time and appreciate your patience.