From Grace Kelly to Audrey Hepburn, high-neck wedding dresses have been a celebrity favourite for decades.
This style is classic and demure yet packs a punch. It also lends itself to a Victorian-inspired look. For brides wanting a more modest look on their big day, a high-neck gown offers coverage without compromising on style.
You’ve found your dream dress but it doesn’t sit quite the way you were expecting. While most brides spend hours dreaming about the perfect gown that they’ll walk down the aisle in, what’s not often talked about (or dreamt about) is the logistics of wedding dress alterations.
The fit of your wedding dress is oh-so-important, which makes understanding wedding alterations just as important – but what to know?
Types of wedding dress alterations:
Adding details
If you have the time and the budget, customising your dress to include a range of details that suit your fancy – sleeves, train length, shoulder straps or beading – can be done by a reliable seamstress.
Basic hemming
This is probably the most common type of alteration and can range from hemming the length of the gown to adjusting the fit of the dress. These basic adjustments are a great way to make sure your wedding gown is comfy, looks spectacular on you and leaves you feeling beautiful.
Keep in mind that most wedding gowns will need alterations, which leads us to the next tip: budget.
Etsy
Planning is everything
Add wedding dress alterations to your budget:
You want to look amazing on your big day and it’s important to remember that you may need wedding dress alterations to ensure that the dress fits you like a glove. Now, some wedding boutiques are heaven-sent and offer free alterations (depending on what you want to be done), however, you may need to add alterations to your budget.
So, how much will it cost? Another important note is that all wedding dress seamstresses are different and will charge their own rate, but you can expect to pay around R2500 (or more) for alterations, so make sure that you add this into your wedding budget. Another aspect to keep in mind – more expensive is always better, so make sure that you shop around.
Timing is everything
No bride needs the extra stress and stressing about whether you’ll receive your wedding gown before you walk down the aisle is stressful. Timing is everything when it comes to alterations, so make sure that you create a timeline that ensures you won’t be pulling your hair from the stress.
If it’s possible, purchase your wedding dress at least 10 months before your date as buying your dress early allows you to have an abundance of time for fittings. Schedule a fitting at least eight to 12 weeks before the wedding and then a second fitting at least two weeks before you walk down the aisle.
Pinterest
Fitting tricks
Bring along your wedding shoes, accessories and undergarments
Bring along your wedding day essentials in order to ensure that you get a proper fit. There’s no question that shoe length, your favourite shapewear and a strapless bra can make all the difference when trying on clothes, and the same goes for your wedding dress. You want to know exactly how it’s going to fit and during your fitting appointments, you’ll get a sense of what you’ll look like on the day.
An extra tip: Your wedding dress is usually altered according to the length of your shoe, so if you’re looking to change into a pair of sneakers during the reception, it’s going to be a bit long and you may find yourself tripping all over the place. To avoid this, make sure that you purchase a shoe that you love and will keep you nice and comfy.
Bring a friend
This may be an unspoken wedding dress shopping rule, but it’s something that is always a good idea to say again. Bring along a supportive friend or family member to help keep your spirits up and help give you a different (but positive) perspective when shopping around or going for fittings. It’s also really nice to have someone to document those memories with a selfie or two before clinking your glass in celebration of finding “the one.”
Your wedding dress is one of the most meaningful, but often costly elements of your big day. In South Africa, today’s brides face a growing array of options: buying a new or second-hand dress, having one custom-tailored, or hiring a gown for the day. Here’s how to evaluate what’s right for you:
Cost & Value: What Fits Your Budget?
Buying (New or Custom) New gowns in South Africa typically range between R14,000 and R60,000, depending on designer, detailing, and customization. Average local stores quote new gowns from R13,000 to R30,000. Expect alterations to cost an additional R1,000 to R3,500.
Buying Pre-loved or Sample Gowns Pre-owned or last-season gowns offer a significant saving—pre-loved dresses often start from R6,500 to R15,000.
Hiring a Dress Hiring can seem cheaper upfront, and boutiques often include cleaning and some accessories. However, rental fees can sometimes amount to around 75% of the retail price, so savings may be less than expected. Internationally, rental prices in USD typically range between $200–$1,000 (about R3,500–R18,000), though site-specific terms vary widely.
Custom Fit & Flexibility
Buying/Customising Your Dress Offers excellent freedom for alterations and personalization, from fit adjustments to embellishments, ensuring the dress truly reflects your style.
Hiring Rental dresses often come with limited alteration options. That means you might need to compromise on fit and style.
Sentiment & Sustainability
Buying & Keeping Owning your dress means you can preserve it as a meaningful keepsake or even resell it afterward, potentially recouping some costs.
Hiring A practical, storage-free option that aligns with minimalist or eco-conscious values, but you give up the chance to own a sentimental heirloom.
Convenience & Logistics
Buying You’ll need to arrange fittings, alterations, cleaning, and proper storage post-wedding, budget both time and money for these steps.
Hiring Often includes cleaning and logistics, offering a hassle-free alternative, just be aware of return deadlines and liability for damage.
Real Perspectives from Brides
From r/weddingdress on Reddit:
“My wedding dress alterations quoted me for the same amount of work under $300… Check a few local tailors” – someone who found value in independent tailors over bridal boutique pricing Reddit.
From r/weddingplanning, about rentals:
“The rental fees are oftentimes 50% of the retail price or even more… buying second-hand can save quite a bit.” – a practical insight for budget-conscious, sustainable brides Reddit.
Quick Comparison Table
Factor
Buying / Tailoring
Hiring / Renting
Initial Cost
Higher, especially for new or custom gowns
Lower upfront, but may still be steep (~75% of retail)
Alterations
Flexible, bespoke fitting possible
Often limited; minimal or no major modifications
Keepsake Value
High – can keep, sell, or pass on
None – dress must be returned
Convenience
More planning required (fittings, storage)
Easier – includes cleaning and returns
Selection
Vast, from bespoke to pre-loved
Limited range, size, and style options
Eco / Sentimental
Emotional value and lasting memory
More sustainable, but emotionally limited
Final Recommendations for South African Brides
Set your budget clearly. Include not just the dress but alterations, accessories, cleaning, and storage if buying.
Define priorities. Is personalization and keep value more important, or is convenience and the lowest environmental footprint the goal?
Explore every option. Try sample sales, pre-loved boutiques, local tailors, and reputable rental services.
Get quotes. Don’t rely solely on bridal boutiques, local tailors often offer more affordable fitting services (as some Redditors note).
Think long-term. If you might want to resell the dress or pass it on, buying or pre-loved may offer better value.
There are some brides that simply know what they want their wedding dress to look like. However, there are a few brides-to-be who need a little nudge towards inspiration, and there’s nothing more inspiring than the latest wedding gowns from Bridal Fashion Week.
The crème de la crème of the fashion world came together to grace us with the most fabulous and on-trend designs – the perfect way to find inspiration for your upcoming nuptials.
Here are a few of our favourite designs from Bridal Fashion Week’s Spring Collection:
There’s nothing we love more than receiving a healthy dose of inspiration, especially when it comes to wedding planning. The biggest thing to tick off the to-do list right now? The wedding dress. With so many incredible designers to choose from and endless trends to pour over, it can be tough to settle on a single design.
Thankfully, you don’t have to. Here are a few incredible wedding dress designs that we can’t get enough of right now:
One of the biggest features of any wedding is the fairytale wedding dress. Whether you’ve been dreaming of your quintessential gown since you were a little girl or the minute you got engaged, finding the perfect fit can be an exciting and stressful business.
Another stressor? Finding the perfect wedding designer. Thankfully, we’re taking at peek at five South African wedding gown designers that we’re loving right now.
The Wedding Collective isn’t exactly a designer, but they’re a wedding boutique with a twist. They offer a range of incredible designers with wedding gown designs you will not find anywhere else in South Africa.
Janita is an immensely talented designer that offers custom designs that will leave your jaw hanging on the floor. From simple to extravagant, this designer can do it all.
Quality designs that are classic and romantic, Maggie Sottero knows exactly what they’re doing with nearly 24 years of design experience behind them with each design inspired by your love story.
Synonymous with panache, Dippenaar’s designs aim to enhance the bride’s natural beauty. If you’re interested in grabbing a one-of-a-kind corset for your big day, he is exceptionally skilled at creating detailed pieces that you’ll fall in love with.
Robyn Roberts has been around for 25 years and provides elegant designs that suit every bride. They offer a range of couture designs, but they specialise in minimalism – offering incredible yet simple designs for the minimalistic bride.
Supermodel, entrepreneur and body activist Ashley Graham has been championing for the fashion industry to become more inclusive of plus-size women for years. Her latest collaboration with popular bridal line Pronovias seeks to make what is said to the happiest day of a woman’s life even better.
Ashley Graham x Pronovias is a bridal line designed with all women in mind. A first-of-its-kind collaboration, Graham worked with Pronovias Chief Artistic Director Alessandra Rinaudo to create a varied collection of stunning bridal designs suited to all body types. The 16-piece capsule collection runs from size 0-34 and costs between $1,000 (R14 148) to $3,500 (R49 518) per dress. The dresses each include new, built-in shapewear and an integrated, supportive bra. The line will be available in early 2020 in Pronovias boutiques and partners across the globe.
Graham herself knows the difficulties of wedding dress shopping. “From shopping for the perfect wedding dress to the big reveal on your special day, women should feel confident and empowered throughout the entire process,” she said in a press release. “When I shopped for my wedding dress 10 years ago, I had difficulty finding a style in my size that fit well and made me feel special.”
In an Instagram post, Graham explains she had to compromise on her dream dress because there was simply nothing in the specific shape she wanted that would fit her.
“I found a silhouette that I loved, but I had to accept major details I didn’t want because there was nothing in that shape that fit me. And it wasn’t even the right size! We ended up adding a panel to a size 10 dress off the rack so it would fit my 16 frame to make it work.”
“Finding a dream dress is something I would have loved to experience! Andddd I want all of you to be able to have! I’m so excited to be partnering with @pronovias to create a bridal line for everyone. The collection runs from size 0-34 and there is something for any type of bride! There are so many different dresses for anyone from the classic bride to the ultra-glam bride and options with SLEEVES, which I love. By far my favorite part is that every dress has shapewear and bras built-in. I can’t WAIT for you guys to see the collection when it’s out this March! You shouldn’t have to compromise who you are because of what’s on the rack ????”
For a modern day fairytale dress, look no further than the princess gown. With a full and flowing skirt, this dress style is wonderfully whimsical and romantic.
Princess gowns are the most traditional of the silhouettes, often considered the most romantic and feminine due to its fairytale-esque shape. Join the ranks of famous brides like Mariah Carey, Serena Williams and Diana, Princess of Wales by choosing this style.
As a bride, your wedding dress is your choice. Many of today’s brides follow the ‘bigger is better’ motto. Gowns are glamorously adorned with beads, feathers, tulle and lace to create a dramatic and dynamic finish. But many others are more attracted to the simple side of life.
If you’re not one for flounces and fancies, a minimalist dress might just be the one for you. Clean lines and simplistic designs allow focus to be on the bride rather than the outfit.
Take inspiration from these understated yet bold gowns.
Black is not just a colour for mourning. For decades, white has been synonymous with weddings for its symbolism of purity. White is traditionally expected. However, while many are afraid of including this dark-hued colour in weddings, black can actually bring much class and sophistication to your big day. Take a walk on the dark side and think of bringing this dark tone into your wedding.
Here are a few way to incorporate black into your wedding that won’t look morbid.
