Hey Illinois Bride! 💍
Maybe you just got engaged, maybe you've been engaged for a few months - either way, you are planning your dream wedding - and you have questions!
First of all - congratulations! You snagged that ring and your dream guy, you are really killin' it. 🔥 We want to help make your wedding dress shopping as stress free as possible, and as one of the most exciting parts of wedding planning is finding the dress! 👗 If you have questions about when to start shopping for your wedding dress, when to order from the bridal shop, and how long bridal alterations take, we’ve got you covered. ⬇️ Here’s a stress-free timeline for brides near the Peoria, Bloomington, and Springfield, Illinois area!
🖤 12+ Months Before Your Wedding: Start Shopping!
This may seem early to you, but trust us—you need to starting your dress search at least a year in advance. This gives you plenty of time to explore different styles and find the gown that makes you feel amazing. Shopping early also means you won’t feel rushed or pressured into making a quick decision. Plus, many designers take several months to create and ship your dress, so the earlier you start, the better!
🖤 10-12 Months Before Your Wedding: Say Yes & Place Your Order
Once you’ve found your dream dress, it’s time to say yes and place your order! Wedding dresses are typically made-to-order, meaning they aren’t sitting in stock and ready to take home. Most gowns take anywhere from 5-8 months to arrive, so ordering early ensures you have enough time for fittings, alterations and final steaming before the big day.
🖤 6-9 Months Before Your Wedding: Pick Your Accessories & Choose a Seamstress
Now that your dress has been ordered, it’s a great time to finalize accessories like your veil, jewelry and purchase Boombas. You’ll also want to start narrowing down your options for the seamstress who will complete your alterations. Bridal alterations is an art, and there are a handful of talented seamstresses in Central Illinois. All Adore brides get access to our seamstress recommendations, we'll spill the tea on the best in the area! We recommend reaching out to the seamstress of your choice around 6 months before your wedding to get on their books - because they fill up quickly and only take so many brides per month.
🖤 3-4 Months Before Your Wedding: First Alterations Fitting
Once your dress has arrived—it’s time for your first fitting! During this appointment, a seamstress will assess any necessary alterations, such as a hem, taking in or letting out the sides of the dress, adjusting strap length, and adding any custom details. You will also work with your seamstress on creating a bustle for the train of your dress (We recommend at least a 3 button bustle - but more is better! And no...the ribbon in the train is not your bustle 🫤 See our Instagram reel) Make sure to bring the shoes and undergarments you’ll be wearing on your wedding day for the best fit!
🖤 1-2 Months Before Your Wedding: Second Alterations Fitting
Every seamstress is different, but by this point, most major alterations should be in process. You’ll try on your dress again to ensure everything is coming together perfectly. If additional tweaks are needed, or certain pieces are not complete - you will schedule a third fitting.
🖤 2-3 Weeks Before Your Wedding: Final Fitting, Pick Up & Steaming
Your dress is ready! At your final fitting, you’ll try on your gown one last time to make sure it fits like a glove. Be sure to bring someone with you who will be helping you on your wedding day - your seamstress will go over any tips for putting the dress on and bustling it after the ceremony. (It's a great idea to take a video of this to reference on the big day!) Once everything looks perfect, you can take it with you!
Adore Bridal offers full steaming of your wedding dress & bridal veil to all of our Diamond & Platinum brides. This means that your dress is pressed and wrinkle from every angle. Many times after alterations, this is the perfect, final touch! We ask that you coordinate dropping the dress off to us around 2 weeks before your wedding, and then planning to pick up your completed dress on the week of your wedding.
➡️ Final Tips for Stress-Free Dress Shopping
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Book Your Appointment Early – Bridal shops in Central Illinois (like Adore Bridal!) can book up quickly, especially on weekends.
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Keep an Open Mind – You might fall in love with a style you didn’t expect.
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Trust the Process – Gowns take time to arrive and be altered, but it’s all worth it for the perfect fit.
At Adore Bridal & Specialty, we’re here to make finding your wedding dress an unforgettable experience.
Ready to start shopping? Book your appointment with us in Morton, IL, and let’s find the dress that makes you feel absolutely stunning!
