Finding your Mother of the Groom gown is exciting, but finding the dress is often only the first step.

One of the biggest things we remind mothers when shopping for a gown is this: it does not need to fit perfectly right off the rack.

In fact, most formal gowns will need some type of alteration before the wedding day. Whether it is a simple hem, taking in the waist, adjusting a shoulder, or refining the overall fit, alterations are a completely normal part of buying a special-occasion dress.

And they can make all the difference.

Don’t Expect a Gown to Fit Perfectly Off the Rack

Formal gowns are made using standard size charts, but every woman’s body is different.

You may need one size for your bust and another for your waist or hips. You may be petite through the shoulders but need additional room elsewhere. You may love the silhouette but need the waist taken in slightly.

That does not mean the dress is the wrong dress.

When you are trying on gowns, focus first on the things that are much harder to change:

• Do you love the overall silhouette?

• Do you feel like yourself in it?

• Is the color right?

• Do you like the neckline, fabric, and overall design?

• Can you comfortably sit, walk, hug, and dance?

A good tailor can refine the fit, but alterations cannot completely transform the fundamental design of a gown.

Buying the Right Size Matters

When you fall between sizes, it is generally easier for a tailor to take a gown in than to create additional room where there is not enough fabric.

This is especially important through the bust, shoulders, armholes, and hips.

Do not be discouraged if the size you purchase is different from the size you normally wear in everyday clothing. Formalwear sizing can vary significantly between designers.

The number on the tag is far less important than how the gown fits your body.

What Alterations Might a Mother of the Groom Gown Need?

Every gown and every woman is different, but common alterations include:

Hemming the length
One of the most common alterations, particularly with full-length gowns.

Taking in the waist or hips
A little shaping can completely change how polished a gown feels.

Adjusting the shoulders
Shoulders that are slightly too long or straps that need shortening can often be corrected.

Refining the bust
A tailor may be able to adjust the bodice for a cleaner, more supportive fit.

Adjusting sleeves
Sleeves can sometimes be shortened or narrowed depending on the construction of the garment.

Sometimes a dress only needs one small adjustment. Other times, several subtle changes work together to create the final fit.

Your Shoes Matter More Than You Think

Bring the shoes—or at least shoes with the same heel height—you plan to wear to your fitting.

Even an inch of difference can affect where your hem should fall.

If you have not chosen your exact wedding shoes yet, decide on your preferred heel height before your gown is hemmed.

And remember: this is going to be a long day. Comfort matters.

Bring Your Undergarments to the Fitting

The bra, shapewear, or other undergarments you wear can dramatically change the fit of a gown.

Whenever possible, bring the exact undergarments you plan to wear on the wedding day to your alteration appointment.

This allows your tailor to fit the gown based on how you will actually be wearing it.

Start Alterations Earlier Than You Think

We recommend leaving plenty of time between purchasing your gown and the wedding.

Alterations sometimes require more than one fitting, and good tailors can become especially busy during peak wedding seasons.

Ideally, your gown should be purchased several months before the wedding so you are not rushing through alterations at the last minute.

Your final fitting will usually happen closer to the wedding once the majority of the work has been completed.

Why Alterations Are So Important

There is a major difference between a beautiful dress and a beautiful dress that has been properly fitted.

Even small alterations can change the way a gown sits on your body, how comfortably you move, and ultimately how confident you feel wearing it.

A well-fitted gown should not feel overly tight or restrictive. It should skim your body properly, stay in place, and allow you to move naturally throughout the day.

You will be standing for photographs, greeting guests, hugging family members, sitting through dinner, and hopefully spending plenty of time on the dance floor.

Your gown should work with you through all of it.

Don’t Judge the Dress Before It Is Altered

This may be one of the most important things to remember.

When trying on a gown that is slightly too long, loose through the waist, or not sitting perfectly through the shoulders, it can be difficult to visualize the finished result.

Try not to dismiss a dress solely because it needs tailoring.

Sometimes the difference between “I’m not sure” and “this is perfect” is simply a hem, a slightly defined waist, and a few thoughtful adjustments.

The Goal Is a Dress That Feels Like It Was Made for You

Alterations should not change who you are in the dress. They should simply help the dress fit you the way it was intended to.

As the Mother of the Groom, you are going to be part of some of the most photographed and meaningful moments of the wedding day.

You deserve to feel comfortable, confident, and completely yourself.

So when you find a gown you love, do not worry if it needs a little work.

That is exactly what alterations are for.