A few weeks ago, I had a dress fitting at a local tailor. I went alone and was really excited. I hadn’t tried my dress on in months, but I knew it needed a bustle. The rest, I figured, was in the tailor’s hands. I wish I had a sweet story to tell you, but to put it nicely, the appointment was a disaster. How? Let me count the ways.

First off, L.A. was experiencing scorching 100 degree weather, and the place had no air conditioning. In short, I was a sweaty mess before we even started. But I needed to get fitted, so I changed into my dress behind the severely shortened curtain and scooted my way out. The first words out of the tailor’s mouth after he looked me up and down with a judgmental eye…

“Is that your wedding dress?”

Umm, no sir, it’s not my wedding dress. Actually it’s a big flowy ivory gown with a train that I plan to wear out clubbing. What a stupid question. Sorry, but it was a stupid question said in a very condescending way. Strike one.

Then, I told him that I would need a bustle. He picked up the back of my dress, pinned it to my butt and told me he would “attach a little hook and some string.” I asked him if that’s what would look best given the style of my dress. He told me, “Don’t worry. I’ve done many of these.” Note to self: never trust a tailor who tells you “don’t worry”. Strike two.

Lastly, he told me that the body of my dress needed no work. I was a little baffled because the dress seemed big on me. But, he convinced me that I fit in the dress perfectly and needed the extra room so I could eat. Every bride knows that style comes before eating! Hel-lo. (Just kidding, by the way…) Strike three.

I left the shop five minutes later with a receipt for the “bustle”, a.k.a. little hook and string, and feeling at an all time wedding planning low. I didn’t tell anyone about my negative experience. I was embarrassed. But because I kept it to myself, I started thinking all of these weird, insecure thoughts about myself and my dress.

Find out what my horrible fitting experience caused me to do, and read how this unfortunate situation ultimately ended. To be continued…

Did you ever have a negative experience at your dress fitting?