What do I need to bring to my fittings?

• Your wedding gown, wedding shoes, and any shapewear/undergarments you plan to wear are required for all 3 fittings!

• Your actual wedding shoes are required for all 3 fittings or there will be a $50 fee. Shoe height affects not only the hem of your gown, but also the bustle and other elements of the alterations that make them essential for all of your fittings.

• If you are wearing sneakers with your wedding dress, you must bring to your fittings the exact pair that you will be wearing to walk down the aisle. If you plan to wear a brand new pair of sneakers that are the same as another pair you own, the new pair is what we would measure the hem length on.

• Two pairs of the same shoe are not interchangeable as the insole compresses and you can lose up to 1/4 of an inch - which is a lot when you are looking at the hem of a wedding gown!

• If you have decided that you would like to wear shapewear or undergarments on your wedding day, you must bring them with you for all three fittings. If you are undecided, communicate with Jennean before the first fitting for more guidance.

Do I need to bring my veil or other wedding day accessories?

• If you are wearing a veil, you do not need to bring it with you for the fittings as it does not affect the alterations of your dress. However, if you want to keep it with your dress for peace of mind, you are welcome to bring it with you and we can hold onto it at the shop.

• Don’t forget, we also sell veils at J Mason Design if you haven’t found one yet!

How early can I arrive at the shop before my fitting?

• Appointments take place here every hour on the hour and we kindly ask that If you are more than 5 minutes early to your appointment, please respect the bride before you and wait downstairs in the waiting area.

What should I do if I need to cancel / reschedule a fitting?

• Every appointment is valuable time for us, and we ask that you please be courteous and try to give as much notice as you can if you need to reschedule a fitting. Please email us at brides@jmasondesign.com to reschedule your appointment.

• Please make sure that the people involved in scheduling your engagement party, bachelorette party, bridal shower and other wedding-related events are aware of your appointment dates.

• We do our best to accommodate everyone’s schedule but we only have so many fitting slots available in a week and can be booked 6+ months in advance.

How many people can I bring to my fittings?

• We welcome you to bring up to two guests with you for your fittings. Bringing the entire family can get overwhelming and take the attention away from you.

• We love kids (especially flower girls). However, our studio is not the most child-friendly environment as there are many sharp things, hot irons, and machines that make it unsafe.

• Consider this your bridal haven and take the hour you are here for an appointment to focus on you!

Can I bring someone to my final fitting to learn the bustle?

• It is essential that you bring someone you trust to your final fitting who will also be available on the wedding day to do your bustle. Whether it be a maid of honor, bridesmaid, family member or friend, the final fitting will act as a dress rehearsal so that bustling the gown goes smoothly on your wedding day.

Can I send someone else to pickup my gown from J Mason Design once the alterations are complete?

• If you do not wish to take your gown home with you at the final fitting, we can schedule a time closer to the wedding date for you to pickup your gown. Only the bride can pick up her gown after the final fitting unless other arrangements are communicated to Jennean.

Do you offer gown pressing/steaming/preservation services?

• We recommend that brides who seek to have their gowns professionally pressed prior to their wedding bring their gown to Daisy Cleaners at 160 Main Street in Salem, NH 03079.

• Many brides leave their final fitting with their wedding gown and bring it straight to Daisy Cleaners. If you would like to call in advance, they can be reached at 603-898-5381. Daisy Cleaners asks that they have at least 7-10 days before your wedding date to press the gown.

• If Daisy Cleaners is not convenient for you, please do your research on finding someone qualified to press the most important garment of your life.

• We also highly recommend Daisy Cleaners’ gown preservation services.

Should I get a spray tan before my fittings/wedding?

• Jennean is not a fan of spray tans. Regardless of when you get it done, heat, moisture and sweat will cause the tan to rub off on your gown.

• If you really want to be tan on your wedding day, using a tanning bed is a better option to keep your gown bright, white and clean!

• If you are determined to spray tan, please go at least three days before your wedding and follow the aftercare instructions of your tanning salon.

• Daisy Cleaners will happily remove the tanner from your dress after the wedding day.

How do I take my gown out of the gown bag?

• It is super important that when you are zipping and unzipping the gown bag that you put your hand behind the zipper head and open/close it slowly so as not to catch the fabric of your dress in the zipper.

I am travelling to my wedding venue. How should I pack my gown?

• Your wedding dress has to be in your carry-on luggage! If nothing else makes it to your destination, the most important thing is that you have your wedding dress!

• It is super important that you use a dedicated carry-on for your gown and veil only. Pack your shoes and all other wedding accessories separately. Don’t risk snags or damage to the delicate material of your dress and veil.

• We are happy to offer in-person guidance on how to pack your dress efficiently at your final fitting.

How can I touch up my gown so it looks perfect on my wedding day?

• Never steam or iron your gown while you’re wearing it! Some brides had to learn this the hard way (ouch!).

• Hang your dress on a door frame, in a closet or on a door hook as soon as you can. Do not hang it from a drapery rod or the sprinkler head on the ceiling! Take down and fluff the train to minimize wrinkles.

• For a local wedding, bring a small, brand new, clean handheld steamer to touch up your gown and veil if needed on the day of your wedding.

• It is best to use a brand new, clean white sock over the steamer head to avoid getting water droplets on your dress.

• Steam from the shower is not always effective in releasing the wrinkles on a veil (and definitely not for your gown!).

• For destination weddings, check with your venue or day-of wedding coordinator to ask if they have a steaming service or a recommendation on where to have your gown pressed when you arrive at your destination. Packing a handheld steamer is always a good idea even if you are traveling.