Last Updated on December 27, 2021 by Guillermina
Today, we’re going to be looking at corset back wedding dress alteration and how to do it. Whether you’re looking at doing this yourself or you’re wanting more information on pricing and if it’s possible – this is the article for you. Adding a corset to a wedding dress sounds difficult, but it’s easier than you may think.
You may want a corset back wedding dress for a range of reasons, but one thing is for sure – wedding dress alterations are hugely popular. And it’s very rare that a dress fits like a glove with no extra work needed at all. Even when buying a dress off the rack, you’ll usually need some work done to it, to make it perfect. So let’s take a look at how to add a corset back to your wedding dress.
Reasons To Change Your Dress To A Corset Back
There are a few reasons you may want to change your dress to a corset back. One of the main reasons is that you have always dreamed of a corset back, but your dream dress has a zipper or other form of closure. If this is the case, and your dress already fits perfectly, the dress will also need to be taken up at the sides to create a space for the corset.
Another reason is that the dress is too small, and adding a corset can help this. However, for a dress to fit (even after adding the corset back), it must already fit you in the hip area. The corset will only help to make alterations with any waist issues that need resolving.
Can A Zipper Be Changed To A Corset Back?
Of course! A zipper changing to a corset is one of the most common wedding dress alterations. And this is possible to change on almost any wedding dress with a zipper. The most difficult issue you’ll face is finding a fabric to match your dress. However, if you get in touch with your bridal store or seamstress, they will likely have connections and be able to help you with this.
Bridal stores are able to order a corset kit from the dress manufacturer, which will make altering your dress as easy as possible.
How Much Will It Cost To Alter My Dress?
Prices will vary depending on the dress, and the work that needs doing. However, the estimate for a standard corset back alteration is between $100-$150. So be sure to leave a portion of your budget aside if adding a corset is on your to-do list! It may not seem too pricey, but it’s not an amount of money you’ll want to suddenly find closer to your wedding day – there’s always unexpected monetary purchases that crop up closer to the big day!
How To Add A Corset To Your Wedding Dress
I can not stress this enough – if you aren’t already good at sewing, or willing to put the work in, please don’t attempt to add a corset to your wedding dress yourself. However, if this is something you feel comfortable doing, it will save you some money for the big day, and it’s definitely possible.
The Sewing Garden has a fantastic tutorial on How to Add a Corset Back to Your Wedding Dress, that runs you through each step individually, in great detail. They even claim that it looks much harder than it actually is! It’s important to note that this tutorial is for a dress that already fits well.
She has a few tutorials on her website. One of which uses the traditional loops and a second that uses satin ribbon for the loops and ties. You can find that particular tutorial here.
Common Wedding Dress Alterations
Once you’ve chosen your dream wedding dress, you’ll want to source a seamstress fairly quickly. They usually fill up with bookings fairly quickly, and you’ll need to schedule in several visits before the big day. The consultation is usually free of charge, so shop around. It took me a while to find someone I was comfortable handing my wedding dress over to.
There are many alterations you may want to make to your wedding dress – and adding a corset to the back of your wedding dress is just one of many. Some other popular wedding dress alterations include:
- Shortening the Hem. I’m 5ft 2″…so my hem had to be shortened a lot! They usually make dresses longer for taller brides. As it’s much easier to shorten a dress than to make it longer.
- Train Loops and Buttons. Some dresses already come with these (mine did), but it gives you somewhere to attach the train of your dress so you can move more freely in the evening.
- Taking in/out at the Hips/Waist. This is one of the most common alterations. Every woman’s body is unique, so usually, there’s some work to do to fit all of our wonderful curves.
- Taking in Around the Bust. Another common one. We all have different bust and chest sizes – so of course, that may need some changes.
- Adding Sleeves. Some brides prefer to cover their arms for their wedding day, and their dream dress may not have sleeves. However, that’s super easy to rectify and your dream dress can have sleeves in no time!
Conclusion
I hope this article has helped you to become more familiar with corset back wedding dress alteration and how to go about doing it. Whether you’re doing it yourself or having it done at a store, it couldn’t be easier to rectify and your dream dress will be in front of your eyes in no time at all!
Did you change your dress to a corset back? Did you do it yourself or did a seamstress do it? Feel free to share your experiences below, and any tips and tricks you may have. You may be helping out future brides with their own wedding dresses. Sharing is caring!