day-of advice and guidance
pro tips for a smooth wedding day!
Longer form, detailed guidelines for getting prepped and into your dress for your big day… ordered by timeline!
Before the Wedding
TRANSIT + STORAGE
When loading your dress in the car, lay the dress in the backseat, placing the hanger on the small hook near the top of the car door. When you get home (and to your venue), immediately hang your dress upright on a tall surface (like over a door) and keep the dress in the garment bag, keeping away from pets and nosy partners. If you have a long train, consider letting the train out of the bag to release some of the wrinkles and placing a clean white sheet underneath it to protect it from the ground.
If you have some time between your last fitting and your wedding date, we would not recommend handling your dress more than you need to. This will keep the dress *nice and clean* and also make sure that it looks just as fab as it did today at your actual wedding!
The Night Before
STEAMING YOUR GOWN
To keep your dress fresh and picture perfect, consider having your dress professionally pressed and steamed. That is the only way to guarantee a perfect press or steam.
If you cannot have your dress professionally pressed when you arrive at your location, make sure you use a white, flat sheet or a clean white microfiber cloth as a pressing cloth between the clean sole plate of your iron/steaming nozzle and your gown. Make sure you are using a clean, preferably new steamer. If you don’t have a steamer, you can easily and quickly acquire one on Amazon or at a local department store.
Read the tag of your dress to determine what measure of pressing/steaming should be used. These are our recommendations, but defer to the designer’s guidance first.
Low Heat, No Steam: Chiffon, organza, crepe, georgette, taffeta, dupioni, shantung, and chantilly lace
Medium Heat: Satin, mikado, alencon lace, and stretch fabrics
High Heat: Cotton and linen (rare)
When steaming your dress, remember to use distilled water (tap water contains mineral deposits), and never to apply the steamer directly onto your dress (hold it 3-6 inches away). Sometimes water droplets can leave spots, so steam your dress through a clean white pressing cloth (as mentioned above) to prevent any direct moisture transfer. Steam from the inside of the lining and outwards as a precaution against damaging the fabric. Steam each layer of the skirt separately and stack layers of tulle as appropriate to get a cleaner final look!
Don’t forget your veil! Veils get wrinkly really easily, steaming + pressing. To keep your dress fresh and picture perfect, and usually come out of the package on the wedding day.
The Day Of
getting dressed
As you plan for your big day, there are a couple of dress considerations you’ll want to keep in mind. Wearing white takes a lot of carefulness and caution!! On the big day, apply perfume and hairspray BEFORE putting on your dress to prevent any staining. Make sure makeup is set before you decide to slip on the dress. Use the bathroom before you change!
When you’re ready, carefully step into your dress, avoiding contact with your face if possible to prevent make-up stains (your make-up artist may have a face cover for you). Shoes first can sometimes look goofy, but be easier since getting to your feet in a gown will be slightly more difficult with a gown on. Have someone help you.
After you have the dress on, if you are touching up make-up and hair, cover your dress in a clean white towel or wear a robe while doing so to keep it protected.
Bustling Your Gown (Post-Ceremony, Pre-Reception)
Recall that a bustle is a small button, loop, or tie that helps raise the wedding dress train off the ground, making it easier for brides to move, dance, and greet guests at the reception. Dresses are bustled so that our dear bride does not trip and the dress does not drag, get torn, or get stepped on. Basically, bustles can be a lifesaver and help our brides move more easily so they can party it up!
Bustles go up after the ceremony, after pictures, and before the reception (your bride may take pics right after the ceremony, so the bustle would happen after that, before the reception entrance). Bustle the dress in a private space (think: getting ready room, in a large bathroom, closet, etc.) Bustling may involve lifting the skirt, so you don’t want to flash everyone!
Our bustles are very well concealed; we do this so that the bustle draws minimal attention when the train is fully fanned out, when our gal is walking down the aisle. During the last wedding dress fitting, we may place dressing pins on each of the bustle loops or hooks to identify where each of the points is. Don’t forget to take these pins out before going down the aisle!
We also will sometimes leave a pin underneath the train when your dress has multiple layers; we do this so your “Dress Fluffer” has fewer layers to fluff, and the pieces will move together as a single unit. Remember to take those out before bustling.
Button Bustles
Traditional/American
We call this an “over-bustle” – there are concealed threaded loops and buttons that are attached to the exterior of the gown. Look for the threaded loops on the top of the skirt – oftentimes we will include small beads that indicate where the loops are. They will go over the button. Adjust (fluff, center, minimize) how the bustle sits.
Wash your hands first if you can. If there is a connecting pin under the train to keep the layers together, remove it. Look for the tight pieces of thread (they look like loops!) with the small pearl bead on them. All you have to do is take that thread and use it to button the bustle button (usually a clear, reinforced button!).
If you have multiple points, start with the center button first to anchor yourself. Then move to the side buttons. Remember to make sure the threaded loop is on the button completely so it doesn’t slip off.
Examples:
Tied-Bustles
French
Aka the ‘under bustle” - attachment points are under the dress and fabric is tucked underneath the gown. Look for the series of ties and loops underneath the train. Both will be labeled by number, and you’ll thread the loop through the tie, and tie it in a bow (match tie #1 to loop #1, etc.). Just match each numbered tie with its same numbered-loop and tie a little bow. Double-knot the bow! The tying is just like a duvet cover, except easier because it’s numbered!
Double-knot just the bow piece so that the bustle doesn’t come undone if our bride starts tearin’ it up on the dance floor.
Examples:
Troubleshooting
stain care
Always wash your hands prior to handling your dress, including before it is bustled. Prevent the stain from happening if possible. If you get a small spot on your dress, take a clean white towel (microfiber preferred) and lightly moisten it to dab out the stain. Do not rub it in. If the stain is oil or grease, you may use a little bit of vinegar or dish soap. Peroxide works well with blood. Dry and steam immediately to avoid water spots.
If you get a stain on a dress, do not rub or scrub the blemish. If the stain is liquid, use a cotton towel both on top and under the layer to blot away as much moisture as possible. For solid residue, use a credit card to gently lift/pull it off. Test any cleaning products (including Tide pens and Shout wipes!) on an unseen part of the dress first. Water and a little patience are often better than a bunch of chemicals! Keep heat from drying away from any beading, mesh, or lace.
GOING TO THE BATHROOM
When ya gotta go, ya gotta go. Enlist a trusted friend to take you to the restroom; if your dress has a zipper, simply take the dress off, use the toilet, and pop back in. If you are corseted in or have many buttons on your dress, have someone join you in the bathroom to hold up the dress for you while you go. Wash your hands (obviously!!) after!
The Day After
AFTERCARE
After the wedding, you may want to get your wedding dress cleaned and preserved. We can help with all of that! It is inevitable that someone will accidentally step on your dress (remember to use that bustle during the reception!) and that you may notice some miscellaneous stains and stray marks on your dress. Hang your dress upright by the hanging straps, and return it to its garment bag once you’ve retired for the evening.
Stains set over time, so you’ll want to get your dress cleaned as soon as possible to prevent permanent setting. Visit our booking portal at www.befittedtailoringco.com/book to have your dress restored to its original beauty after the party is over!
The Last Word 🤍
At the end of the day, we never get sick of what we do. Getting to be a part of your big day - this moment where love is celebrated, family is created, and commitments are shared in front of friends and community - is such an incredible and humbling privilege. Your dress is just one piece of your wedding day, and we’ll do whatever we can to make sure that you look and feel as beautiful as you are, and that all are captivated by you and this next chapter of life you are beginning.
That being said, BeFitted is here for you. We are selective about who we take on each wedding season, ensuring that we are able to give each client our undivided attention and a personalized experience. We’ve taken your measurements, gotten intimate by getting to know all your nooks and crannies, and have laughed and gotten to hear your story along the way.
Now, go get married! And don’t forget to send us a couple of photos too.
This page and all provided materials are our best recommendations for you provided in the spirit of being helpful; we cannot be held responsible for any damages related to following the provided guidance.
Any action you take upon the information provided here and in other documents is strictly at your own risk. Please always exercise good judgment and conduct additional research if you are unsure!