The Unsung Hero

There are so many heroes out there in the world, which is heartening to know. Perhaps you've never met an actual hero yet in your lifetime? Or on the contrary you've known several. Either way you're about to be in the presence of one after you choose your wedding gown! That person is your seamstress or tailor. A skilled, knowledgeable person who will guide you through your final few months and transform your already amazing gown into something unique only to you...your custom fit wedding gown! These wonderful people are often overlooked and hardly ever get the glory the sales consultant enjoys. They are usually the last a bride meets as she inches closer to her wedding day. With all the excitement building in her mind, she doesn't have the time or mental stamina to form a relationship with the person who pins her gown. But it is the fingertips of these people who guide your gown through a sewing machine and reconstruct it to fitted perfection.

The alteration process can be daunting to many brides. They are usually very, nervous when they try on a wedding gown they selected months prior. Because gowns take several months to arrive, I've actually heard brides say they forgot many details about the gown. Seeing the gown again usually is a joyous time as it reminds the bride of her excellent choice and that her wedding day is approaching. Anxiety is also present in the fitting room as the seamstress zips the gown and attempts to place pins where the alterations are needed. It is these heroes who quietly calm the bride with their confident prudence and assure her they will take every step to care for her precious garment.

Not only does the bride have to trust her wedding gown will be altered flawlessly, the boutique and its staff need to trust as well. The reputation of the boutique is closely intertwined with its alteration staff as the two are synergistic partners. You cannot have one with out the other in a custom order environment. It is imperative for a boutique to have an impeccable, alterations department devoted only to the wedding ensemble. This is why purchasing a wedding gown online is extremely risky.

In this global economy, sadly the couturier is a dying breed. Almost gone are the days when a bride visited a dress shop and a couturier designed and produced a wedding gown in house unique to only her measurements. Many wedding gowns in affordable price points are manufactured according to  general size scales the company dictates. The result an ill fitting wedding gown that arrives at the boutique despite the correct size ordered. Your gown then falls literally in the hands of the person who greets you with a pin cushion. He or she is charged with the crucial task to carve the gown shell into a brilliant, cameo.

It is not my intention to make the bride feel guilt for not recognizing this hero. The humility of their workmanship is why I see them as heroes and maybe you will see it too. They send brides down the the aisle with a smile all in a days work.