STEP INSIDE
We are THE MODISTE, the luxury Atelier House specialising in bespoke dressmaking, bridal alterations and the art of re-cherishing your bridal gown after your wedding.
info@themodiste.co.uk
01494 532100
ENQUIRY FORM
OPENING HOURS
(BOOKINGS ONLY)
MONDAY – FRIDAY 10am – 5pm (limited evening appointments)
SATURDAY closed
SUNDAY 11am – 4pm (limited availability)
OUR ATELIER
39 Queens Road
High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire
HP13 6AQ
BY CAR
Our Atelier in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire is conveniently located just off the A40. There is free off-road parking down the side of our building. Metered street parking is also available.
BY TRAIN
You can reach High Wycombe in 40 minutes by train from London Marylebone on Chiltern Railways. Our Atelier is located half a mile away from the station.
FAQs
You will be appointed your own seamstress who will review the details you have provided on our enquiry form alongside any wedding dress photos that you have sent.
Your seamstress will start drafting up ideas and may contact you to ask for more information or photographs.
After that point, you will be invited to a Zoom video meeting or phone call to discuss. We will provide everything discussed in an email for you to review and agree before we proceed further (and before you send your wedding dress to us).
Of course, not a problem at all. We like to offer different options in our collections but offer a bespoke service too. You are always welcome to contact us with pictures of your dress to discuss ideas and different design options.
We can certainly work from photographs of a wedding dress, for example creating a Miniature. We would take extra time at the design phase to check that you are happy with how we have recreated it.
This is absolutely no problem at all.
We can use as much or as little of your wedding dress as you would like, or none at all. Rest assured, we can work together to create something wonderful inspired by your wedding dress.
Not a problem! Your first payment is simply a deposit for us to design something for you. If you choose not to go ahead, then we can refund your deposit and you do not need to send us your wedding dress.
However, if you have paid a deposit, agreed a plan and sent us your wedding dress, then we will take this as confirmation to proceed.
Please don’t worry. This will all be discussed with your seamstress at your video consultation at the start of your MODIFY journey. We also have samples that we can send for you to try on if necessary.
If you wish to cancel your alterations order before you have sent your dress to us, please email info@themodiste.co.uk
We will be able to offer a part refund, depending on whether we have already sent your free home alterations kit.
We allow four working days for any comments to be sent over to us regarding our completed bridesmaid dress alterations, and we will be happy to discuss any issues you have.
If we don’t hear from you within this time, we will take this as confirmation that you are happy with the work completed. Best wishes for the Big Day!
No, unfortunately not. Your bridesmaid dress alterations will require a willing helper to do the pinning, whilst the bridesmaid is wearing the dress.
We always highly advise that your hems need to be marked with the actual wedding day shoes on. However, we do understand that this is not always possible!
If that is the case, we recommend you wear a shoe with a similar or identical height to the ones you plan to wear. Once pinned, we will be working exactly to this marker so you need to make sure you are completely happy with how that would sit.
We will send you a confirmation email within 24 hours following receipt of your bridesmaid dress. Your email will include confirmation of the alterations and measurements pinned on the dress.
We have a rule of not cutting anything on your dress within this first 24 hour period to allow you time to contact us with any last minute changes. If we do not hear from you, we will assume that we have your approval to begin your requested alterations.
If you would prefer to send over bridesmaids’ measurements instead of pinning them in their dresses, please contact us on 01494 532100 and we can discuss.
We do advise that, in particular when altering dress length, it is very common to find that the original hem is not straight when the dress is on. Therefore, taking the dress hem up using one measurement can mean the dress length becomes uneven.
We have simple tutorial videos on our website (LINK) and you will also have a printed step-by-step guide in your home alterations kit (DOWNLOAD LINK).
However, we completely understand how important it is to you to get the perfect fit for your bridesmaid dress! If you would like some extra support and reassurance, we also offer a 15 minute pinning consultation via Zoom. You can book this online (LINK) and it costs £20.
We ask for your bridesmaid to be in her dress and ready with her pinning assistant and home alterations kit. One of our expert seamstress will be able to check the pinning for you and provide the guidance you need.
Our lead time is three weeks from when we receive your dress in the studio.
This means if we receive your dress on day 1, it will be posted back to you by day 28 at the latest.
If you need a faster turnaround, please call us on 01494 532100 to discuss before placing your order.
No problem at all. Our bridesmaid dress alterations service is UK-wide.
Each order is based on delivery location. For example, you have two bridesmaids in London and one in Oxford. We suggest you purchase two separate orders for their dress alterations.
- Order all the required alterations for both London bridesmaids on one order using one chosen London address.
- Create a second separate online order with all the necessary alterations to be delivered to your third bridesmaid in Oxford.
Your bridesmaids will receive their home alterations kit and finished dresses to these two locations.
We’d advise that you book your dressmaking appointment as soon as you can – even if just to start the process.
Between May and September we are in wedding season and extremely busy. You may find that our appointment times get booked up quickly, so please book early to avoid disappointment.
Each dress will be costed based on the design and the material you choose.
From our designs the average price is around £800 per dress. However, we will be able to offer a much better estimate after discussing designs with you.
We do request a £30 deposit for your consultation appointment which will be deducted from the cost of your dress.
We accept cash, debit or credit card.
When we see you in your wedding dress we will be able to advise you on exactly what to wear.
If you are struggling at all, the key things that we suggest you remember are:
- Always go for a bigger size for your knickers. You want them to smooth out your figure and not create any lines.
- Opt for nude, not white. You want to try to match your skin tone, not your wedding dress.
- 99% of the time we advise against wearing Spanx or other types of shapewear. Sometimes these might work but other times they distort your body shape and work against the natural shape of your wedding dress.
Yes we do but we advise you to have these dress alterations booked in and done early.
As we get into the summer season, our brides are our top priority and so you may find we have limited availability.
We also operate an online bridesmaid dress alterations service. Our mail order service is particularly helpful if your bridesmaids are based in multiple locations around the UK.
Yes we do. Just down the side driveway of our building.
THE MODISTE’s bridal alterations experience averages around £350.
Wedding dress alterations are all based on what needs to be done to your wedding gown. Your final estimated price will be given to you at your first fitting. If you require customised elements added to your gown, you can expect this average cost to increase.
Generally speaking, the typical wedding dress alterations involves being fitted to you on the bodice, the hem lifted and other classic tweaks (such as adding a bustle to help lift the train of your wedding dress for the evening reception). Your price will also include steaming your wedding dress in preparation for your wedding day.
Absolutely. Please call us to arrange a consultation appointment and we can give you some advice.
Please don’t worry. We start your wedding dress alterations around two months before your wedding day, but we don’t finish anything off on your dress until around two weeks before your wedding.
It is not a problem if your body shape changes in that time. If there are any very drastic changes, we can alter our plans to suit the circumstances. Rest assured, everything will be explained and dates will be organised at your first fitting.
If you are planning to wear underwear with your wedding dress please bring it along. Most wedding dresses are designed to be worn without a bra, and we can also sew in extra support to help.
Please don’t forget to bring your wedding shoes!
Wedding dress collection is usually scheduled during the week of your wedding.
Your wedding gown will be freshly steamed, prepped, fully checked and completely ready for your big day.
You are welcome to bring guests with you to your appointment and we have lovely fitting rooms that can accommodate everyone.
However, in our experience, appointments can be difficult for our clients if they bring too many people along.
We advise you to limit your party to one or two people that you trust the most. Some of our clients prefer to come alone – it is entirely up to you.
