The 70-Pound Wedding Dress That Almost Ruined Her Day (Part 1)

When Hannah found the wedding dress of her dreams on a resale marketplace, she couldn’t have been more excited. It was grand. It was elegant. It was everything. But there was one major problem—it was also completely unwearable.

The dress was stunning. Layers of intricate detail, dramatic volume, and a timeless silhouette—it had everything she wanted… except wearability. It was far too tight, way too long, and so heavy she couldn’t walk in it. Even worse, no tailor from Detroit to Chicago would take on the alterations she needed to make it work.

That’s when she found Tad More Tailoring.

If you’ve ever fallen in love with a wedding dress that didn’t quite fit, or needed more work than you expected, you’re not alone. Hannah’s story is for every bride who’s ever faced a “now what?” moment with their gown—and it’s proof that with the right team, there’s always a solution.

The Dream Dress That Almost Wasn’t

Hannah lives in Michigan, and like many brides, she turned to the secondhand market to find something unique and more sustainable. Her $2,000 gown was a showstopper—layers upon layers of intricate detail, a dramatic silhouette, and a regal weight (literally—it weighed about 70 pounds!) But once she had it in hand, reality hit hard.

The long sleeves were tight and uncomfortable. The neckline was so high it felt like it was choking her. The length was miles too long. And the sheer weight of the dress made walking nearly impossible.

She visited tailors across Detroit, Grand Rapids, and even made calls to shops in Chicago—but no one would touch it. The alterations were too complicated. The risk was too high. She was stuck.

The Search for a Solution

Enter the frustration phase. As any bride knows, when the clock is ticking and the dress doesn’t fit, stress multiplies fast. Hannah had a vision in her head of how she wanted to look and feel on her wedding day—free, joyful, glowing—but her dream dress was becoming a source of anxiety instead of excitement.

That’s when a friend recommended Tad More Tailoring.

Located in Rockford, Illinois, we’re known for taking on challenges others won’t touch. We believe no bride should ever feel limited by her dress, especially when she’s already found “the one.” When Hannah reached out, we listened. And then we said: “Let’s do it.”

A Visit to Tad More Tailoring

When Hannah came to Tad More, she brought the dress—and her story—with her. We knew right away this was no ordinary alteration. It was going to take precision, creativity, and serious craftsmanship.

The first step? A detailed fitting session. Our team of expert tailors carefully evaluated every element of the dress. And it quickly became clear: we couldn’t just “take it in.” We had to completely reimagine how this gown fit and moved.

Here’s what we were up against:

• Hannah wanted the sleeves to come off completely.
  

• The neckline needed reshaping for comfort and elegance.
  

• The entire dress had to be ripped from the waistline, with strategic preservation of the bottom detail to maintain the original design.
  

• And most importantly, we had to make it lighter—without sacrificing the dramatic effect of it that Hannah loved.
  
  

A Plan Unlike Any Other

This was not a “quick hem and go” kind of job.

To even begin, we had to custom-build a metal frame to hold up the dress. (Yes, you read that right.)

Next came the cutting table, where our master tailor Mazan meticulously spread the entire skirt out for deconstruction. It’s one of the largest alterations we’ve ever done—and one of the most rewarding.

Every snip, every seam, every reinforcement was part of the plan to give Hannah the ability to twirl in her dress, not just stand still in it.

The Before-and-After You Have to See

You’re going to want to see this transformation.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of Hannah’s story, we’ll show the incredible photos and videos from her fittings and her wedding day. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the tailoring process, the before-and-after comparisons, and our expert tips for brides who are facing dress challenges of their own.

Whether you're a local bride or coming from out of state like Hannah, we’re here to make your dream dress fit perfectly.

It wasn’t just about aesthetics—it was about freedom. Her new version of the gown preserved the regal effect while giving her total mobility and comfort.

In her words, “Before, it was so big I needed help actually walking or getting anywhere. Now, I can twirl in it. I still have the princess effect, but I can enjoy my night.”

That’s what it’s all about.