Bridal Alterations by Emily

11/11/2025

Here are photos from work with veils from the last few weeks. Beaded veils in chiffon and tulle strung up on a line (rat tail… so strong!!!).
I show some details from the samples and special needles for sewing them (hand sewing with clear thread is sometimes better), and how similar clear or white horsehair appears. But if you put the clear on top of fabric, it disappears, whereas the white shows a little bit.
Both give very delicate edges for veils and I love the 2” width.

Some horsehair is very stiff, but what I’m using is thin and very flexible.

11/04/2025

My neighbor (and bride) invited me to attend her spectacular, spooky, and very romantic wedding. I had the pleasure to provide alterations for her gown!

Here are not great photos, but you can feel the joy and see some details from my work ☺️

10/30/2025

Revamped " by Theodore
Bravo Dance Project

10/30/2025

10/30/2025

Design work from the past few weeks 🥰
The process is really fun for me. Here are pics of changing the design on of delicate garments, adding embellishments, beading, embroidery, bustle designs made lining, and other ways to add structure underneath a wedding gown.

10/20/2025

Looking back on a client who needed to wear a thin white dress without a bra. We tried out a few solutions before making a final decision. The straps, neckline, and gathers at the waist were also altered to fit her torso.

During this process (three fittings, which is average for a gown needing a design change), she brought a black little dress that had lost the gathers on its straps due to being hung on a hanger by the straps for years.

Rather than replace the elastic that had gathered the chiffon frilly straps, I measured the length strap my client needed then sewed the gathers to be permanent so it was safe to hang in the closet that way.

In general, do not hang your dresses by the straps! Use the little ribbon hangers inside the dress/gown to help hold the weight without stretching the dress out of shape.

Pics of my client’s backless white dress, accessories I made for her hair, and those black chiffon straps.

⭐️

10/17/2025

When I work with brides, I often get a glimpse of their life, the traditions and values they carry.

Today I want to honor my grandma on her birthday. She kept her wedding gown, gloves, and accessories in a cedar box for my sister and me to play with as kids. I remember her showing how much her hands grew since wearing those lace gloves. “Life made my hands bigger and stronger.” She travelled the world, raised four kids, and endulged in keeping a ranch with gardens and many animals!

I try to follow her example of grace, compassion, and tenacity. We shared a love for all living things, adventure, books, and sharing time outdoors without having to say anything.

I will be thinking of her while hiking in the woods today and embroidering roses with ribbon. (Posting this project after a 11/1 wedding.)

07/24/2025

These pictures show:

- Sewing a threaded guideline using size 3 stitches on the sequins and size 2 on the mesh while stretching the mesh to keep it from scrunching up. This technique allows me to hem the skirt with a straight-stitch machine. I could do it by hand which would be easier but more time consuming, and I only had a few hours to complete the alterations.
- I added some beaded floral embellishments at the point where the shortened hem connected with a sweep train and also on the end of the train, just for fun. It looks pretty and smooths the transition.

- The sweep train only needed one traditional bustle loop to bring it up and I covered a clear button with remnants from the hem to match, and made a separate button and loop to pick up the heavy lining layers separately. That avoided potential bulk and allowed the outer bustle to be light and elegant.

Other notes:
This gown only needed a hem, but it was made with a sheer, stretchy mesh fabric that was full of sequined floral designs (sewn directly into the fabric). The hem is a little more complex than normal.

The skirt also had 2 layers of stretchy jersey lining that needed to be hemmed.

I also found a small hole in one of the vertical skirt seams to repair.

07/18/2025

I will travel to San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County, and other places within a few hours if my clients can’t come to my house for fittings.

This week I had the pleasure to help with last minute alterations on a gown that my client needed for the weekend.

She was “my bride” a few years ago and once “my bride,” always my bride.

I remember specifics about the needs for my clients’ body/comfort after altering their wedding gowns because that project is very intense and usually takes a minumum of 12 hours.

I pay close attention to every detail, so when one of my clients needs alterations post-wedding, (even if not a gown) I’ll usually say yes. I know what kind of work I will be dealing with. This client has a short torso and is in between dress sizes so she always needs the sides or back taken in, and of course, good cups!

It was fun to work with “my bride” again a few years after her wedding day!