Bridal, Prom, Formal Gown Alterations - Davina Dawn Sewing Specialties - NH Custom Seamstress


Janice P - August 2011 Janice wanted to have a halter look vs. shoulder straps	Janice P - August 2011 Close-up once halter straps were sewn in place to her liking	Janice P - August 2011 Close-up of bustle	Janice P - August 2011 A flirtatious look from Janice :-)

Janice P - August 2011 enjoying her altered gown	Janice P - August 2011	Janice P - August 2011 Pleased with the way the dress was fitting	Janice P - August 2011 Close-up of bustle. the under skirt was short in order to accommodate the inverted "V" in the front.

Debra P - August 2011 A bride pleased with the final fit.	Debra P - August 2011 Close-up of the beaded appliqué that was added to the hips after the waist adjustment	Debra P - August 2011 Back view before dress was bustled	Debra P - August 2011 The one-point bustle that was requested
	Debra purchased her dress while spending some time in Utah. Her hope was for her daughter to wear it as well when she married so she ordered her gown in a longer length. In order to preserve the length and not touch the lace hem, the gown length had to be raised through the waistline. I kept as much fabric for seam allowance, pressing out, to provide a smooth look around her hips. In addition, lace, beaded trim was purchased to go around her hips, which was applied after the length was altered. The beaded shoulder straps needed to be shortened and a 1 point bustle was added.
Debra P - August 2011 A full view of the train before being bustled	Debra P - August 2011	Debra P - August 2011	Debra P - August 2011

Shannon H - July 2011	Shannon H - July 2011	Shannon H - July 2011	Shannon H - July 2011 Shannon & her mom
Shannon arrived needed her alteration work done quickly. For someone who had a lot going on in a short amount of time, she showed grace & style through it all. The bustle was already done for this dress, when she purchased it in FL. Not realizing that she had lost weight when she last had her dress on, my task was to take in the sides and zipper area in order for the dress to fit her well for her upcoming wedding. Meeting her mom & seeing the relationship they had with one another, you could tell immediately where her beautiful personality came from.
Shannon H - July 2011	Shannon H - July 2011	Shannon H - July 2011	Shannon H - July 2011

Leia B - July 2011	Leia B - July 2011	Leia B - July 2011	Leia B - July 2011
			Leia requested a variety of changes to the dress. In order to fit her slim figure, the dress needed to be taken in on the sides, at the zipper in back. She also requested that some excess beaded trim be removed to give her dress a more simple look. Once the main alterations were completed, the bustle was created with 15 points in order for it to look like a long length gown. With this many points, a bride goes home with a bustle map for her and her maids so that it makes their job much easier when they arrive at the reception.
Leia B - July 2011	Leia B - July 2011	Leia B - July 2011	Leia B - July 2011

Leia B - July 2011	Leia B - July 2011	Leia B - July 2011	Leia B - July 2011 Making sure she can sit with the tight fit she desired

Stacy B - June 2011 The final fit & looking good!	Stacy B - June 2011 Side adjustments were made for a good fit	Stacy B - June 2011 Checking to make sure of a nice fit	Stacy B - June 2011 Not too tight and looking right!

Laurel K - June 2011 Bustle in place	Laurel K - June 2011 Train laid out before the bustle	Laurel K - June 2011 The dress doesn't look as though it has a bustle	Laurel K - June 2011 A close-up of the zipper where dress was taken in for a tighter fit
		Front view of gown showing off the many chiffon layers. A Beautiful gown!!	A fun picture with dress fully out, and reflection in the mirror
Laurel K - June 2011	Laurel K - June 2011	Laurel K - June 2011	Laurel K - June 2011
		Laurel K - June 2011 Laurel picked a fun dress to wear for her wedding. The silk Chiffon over layer and lining needed to be taken up in order for her not to trip on her special day. I also needed to take it in at the zipper for a more snug fit, and bra cups were added. The train had many points in order for it to be pulled up for a nice dress length for dancing and enjoying the reception, celebration of her wedding. Laurel is another bride with who I found it to be a delight to work with.
Laurel K - June 2011	Laurel K - June 2011		Laurel K - June 2011
			Sara needed the hems raised and taken in at the zipper for a nice fit. Such an easy going bride.
Sara H - June 2011	Sara H - June 2011	Sara H - June 2011	Sara H - June 2011
	Tanya saw this dress in the dress shop 8 yrs before her wedding day. Now that she was getting married it was time to get it hemmed and altered to fit her right.	In order to match the golden ivory color, I made a trip to NYC's Fashion District where I found an exact match for the corset and ties.
Tanya P - May 2011 A bride delighted she can now wear her dream dress she purchased years in advance	Tanya P - May 2011 The button down back before corset added	Tanya P - May 2011 Corset tied and ready for preview	Tanya P - May 2011 Corset opened some in preparation for Tanya to try on for her fitting.

Tanya P - May 2011 Close up of bustle points along with the new corseted back	Tanya P - May 2011 The beautiful train before being bustled	Tanya P - May 2011 Tanya's maid of honor putting the bustle up for her.	Tanya P - May 2011 The bustle in place
Now this was a fun bustle! 12 pts & colorful & Holly loved it!
Holly F - April 2011	Holly F - April 2011 Dress Bustled & close-up of sides taken in	Holly F - April 2011 Another view of her bustle	Holly F - April 2011 Train fully laid out

Holly F - April 2011 What a fun dress with an elegant flow	Holly F - April 2011	Holly F - April 2011 Close-up of a nice fit & pleased bride	Holly F - April 2011

Tara F - April 2011 Take in sides 2" for a better fit	Tara F - April 2011	Tara F - April 2011	Tara F - April 2011 A bride delighted with the final fit

Tara F - April 2011 Close-up after sides were taken in and bra cups inserted	Tara F - April 2011 Removed train so Tara would not have to worry about a bustle on her destination wedding	Tara F - April 2011 Close-up of zipper adjustment	Tara F - April 2011 Close-up of side seam taken in

Robyn D - April 2011 Adjusted straps for a better fit	Robyn D - April 2011 I needed to take in the sides of the dress (one being an invisible zipper), adjust bodice sides and work with the adjusted straps.	Robyn D - April 2011 The back view once the work was completed	Robyn D - April 2011
Crystal arrived needing her dress taken in at the zipper, hems taken up on the chiffon overlay and linings along with providing her with a bustle that flowed nicely.	Close-up of 5 point bustle that was brought up to provide an elegant drape at the waist Also, close-up of zipper adjustment
Crystal S - March 2011	Crystal S - March 2011	Crystal S - March 2011 - Bustled	Crystal S - March 2011 - Before Bustle

From Mom to Daughter - passing down her bridal gown. Libby came to me in January 2010 desiring to wear her mother's wedding gown. She wanted it to be more in line with today's style. With a little bit of time and working together, Libby was able to wear her mother's gown, using only the materials from the original dress.	Libby's bridal gown BEFORE the removal of lace and reworking to refashion it into her dream gown with today's style in mind..	From full back coverage to a lovely "V" opening in the back. In an effort to avoid using any new materials, I took the metal zipper and shortened it after adjusting the full back to the new elegant back feature.	Libby and her mom after all the alteration/refashioning work was completed. It was such a delight to meet Libby's mom who drove down from ME to provide feedback.

Libby H - Aug 2011 - her lovely smile only adds to the beauty of her dress.	Libby H - Aug 2011 - Close up of bodice front changes	Libby H - Aug 2011 - Back view	Libby H - Aug 2011 - Full length side
	1st I removed all the neckline lace and netting so that all the lace could be re-used. The only thing not used was the netting. (Left) Before - high neckline and full zippered closure in back (Right) After - A more modern and elegant transformation to meet the style preference of the bride.		Both Libby and I were so delighted that we could use all the trim from the original dress. There were a few small pieces that Libby wasn't sure what she would use them for, but they were perfect size for a shadow box or scrapbook!
Libby H - Aug 2011		Libby H - Aug 2011	Libby H - Aug 2011

Lizette B - Feb 2011 A very happy bride	Lizette B - Feb 2011 Her down to earth personality & charm made working with Lizette a pure delight.	Lizette B - Feb 2011 Took beaded lace sides in for a better fit	Lizette B - Feb 2011 The zipper had to be taken in as well, and with this dress, it had buttons to pull the closure tight, so buttons & looping had to be removed & replaced with this alteration.

Traci S - Oct 2010 Bodice after modesty panel was created /added. This was made so it could be removed if Traci wanted.	Traci S - Oct 2010 A very low cut bodice, in which Traci was not quite comfortable dancing with.	Traci S - Oct 2010 The train before the bustle	Traci S - Oct 2010

Traci S - Oct 2010 A very beautiful bride who is extremely happy with the results.	Traci S - Oct 2010 A close-up of the 3-pt bustle	Traci S - Oct 2010 Bustle in place provides a beautiful look	Traci S - Oct 2010 The back of the dress showing the full length of the dress with the bustle up.


Amanda on her wedding day Oct 14, 2010	Amanda W - Oct 14, 2010	Amanda W - Oct 14, 2010	Amanda W - Oct 14, 2010
Amanda W Amanda needed to have her dress taken in at the zipper, where there was a lot of beading, along with securing the hook in back. In addition, Amanda only needed one layer of the lining hemmed to avoid tripping. The outer tulle layers were perfect for her needs. Amanda is also a dance instructor at Dance Because...It's Ballroom ..in Manchester NH. If you are looking to have a special dance prepared for your special day, she is the one to go to!! My husband and I take occasional lessons from her. From our experience, we find her a delight and joy to work with and very patient.
	Amanda W - Oct 14, 2010 Close-up of work on taking zipper in showing how things all matched up nicely	Amanda W - Oct 14, 2010 She looks so beautiful	Amanda W - Oct 14, 2010 Close-up of work with Amanda in the dress

Sonja D - Sept 2010 Added sleeves to her dress, that she provided from when she purchased her wedding gown Train fully laid out.	Sonja D - Sept 2010 One point bustle per her request	Sonja D - Sept 2010 Check to make sure bustle will stay in place	Sonja D - Sept 2010 Also secured snaps & hook'n eyes where corset attaches inside the dress.

Samantha D - Sept 2010 Wedding Customer needed her dress re-altered with only a week before her wedding, and it still needed to be sent to the dry cleaner. The bride was extremely stressed.	Samantha D - Sept 2010 Wedding I was able to adjust her shoulder straps to allow her dress to fit her better w/o the worry of them falling off,	Samantha D - Sept 2010 Wedding ...added a wristlet vs. a bustle, take in the back zipper to provide her the look she was desiring, and fixed a side seam that was off.	Samantha D - Sept 2010 Wedding It was very rewarding to see her delightful smile and hear her delightful sigh of relief when she finished getting her dress on.

Eustacia - Sept 2010	Eustacia - Sept 2010	Eustacia - Step 2010	Eustacia - Sept 2010
Eustacia - Sept 2010 Eustacia's dress needed to be taken in at both the front and back shoulder seams, as pinned during her fitting, to reduce excess in sleeves. Some beading was removed to reduce bulk in the front. Due to loose beading, I secured beads on the back of the dress. Due to the sleeve style, the customer used double-sided tape to keep sleeves in place at wedding.
Eustacia - Sept 2010	Eustacia - Sept 2010	Eustacia - Sept 2010	Eustacia - Sept 2010
Amanda M August 2010 Amanda came to me after realizing that her dress was too small and hopeful that I would be able to create a new corset for her. After procuring the necessary materials (matching satin material and boning) a corset was made creating a perfect fit that delighted Amanda, her mom and grandmother.
	Amanda M - A lovely fit	Amanda M - New Corset before installation	Amanda M - A close-up view of her new corset tied in place.

Stephanie M - July 2010 A beautiful fit - bra cups added to prevent need to find a bra that worked w/her gown	Stephanie M - July 2010 Side view with bustle up	Stephanie M - July 2010 Back view with bustle up	Stephanie M - July 2010 Wanting to see how the veil would look

Jacqueline V - August 2010	Jacqueline M - August 2010	Jacqueline V - August 2010	Jacqueline V - August 2010

Nancy Broom - June 2010 Honeymoon Trousseau Lining & overlay hem to shorter length	Nancy Broom - June 2010 Honeymoon Trousseau Lining & overlay hem to shorter length	Nancy Broom - June 2010 Honeymoon Trousseau Silk Dress w/lining Hemmed	Nancy Broom - June 2010 Honeymoon Trousseau Hem & adjust kick pleat

Nancy Broom - June 2010 Honeymoon Trousseau shorten elastic at top of blouse, in back, by 3"	Nancy Broom - June 2010 Honeymoon Trousseau shorten elastic at top of blouse, in back, by 3"	Nancy Broom - June 2010 Honeymoon Trousseau Jacket added after dress alteration	Nancy Broom - June 2010 Honeymoon Trousseau Jacket added after dress alteration

Nancy Broom - June 2010 Honeymoon Trousseau Lined chiffon dress hemmed	Nancy Broom - June 2010 Honeymoon Trousseau Lined chiffon dress hemmed	Nancy Broom - June 2010 Honeymoon Trousseau Lined chiffon dress hemmed	Nancy Broom - June 2010 Honeymoon Trousseau Lined chiffon dress hemmed
	Lisa S - August 2010 2nd marriage - pregnant bride Alterations needed Needed to shorted the sleeves so that they laid comfortably on her shoulders, needed to take in the sides at the bodice, removed boning due to discomfort and bending on the back. This dress was from J Crew and have a lovely silk lining and chiffon outer layer. It was a beautiful choice for a pregnant bride. ----------------------> Lisa with her two daughters who also had their dresses altered. Such a lovely family.
Lisa S - August 2010		Lisa S - August 2010

Erin S - June 2010	Erin S - June 2010 .Sides were taken in. Bra cups were added	Erin S - June 2010 In order for the embroidery not to be hidden, the chosen bustle was done underneath by creating a 9-point bustle.	Erin S - June 2010 Dress with full train extended

Erin S - June 2010 Close-up after sides were taken in.	Erin S - June 2010 Close up of corset - needed to shorten corset ribbon so that it did not trail behind.	Erin S - June 2010 Back of dress w/bustle done	Erin S - June 2010 View of dress, side view w/bustle done
	Sept 2009 - Johanna G Johanna desired to have a train that allowed a loose look, which her chiffon overlay created for you. 5 bustle points, using loops, were needed in order to create the look Johanna was looking for. To be conservative, Johanna only requested that I create her bustle, and she did the other minor adjustments needed on her sleeves. In addition, she was able to find shoes, with the right height, to avoid needing her dress hemmed.	I love my brides who want to be different! Johanna was having red accents for her wedding. To add to the excitement and comfort for the day, she wore red/white sneakers :-)

Sarah W - August 2009 Front view showing hem of all layers, bodice repair, & zipper adjustment while removing/reapplying lace beaded trim.	Sarah W - August 2009 Laura hooking bustle	Sarah W - August 2009 Requested/Approved bustle	Sarah W - August 2009 Train before bustle

Sarah W - August 2009 Measuring for bustle	Sarah W - August 2009 Measuring for bustle	Sarah W - August 2009 Laura working on the bustle	Sarah W - August 2009 Final look of requested 3 pt bustle after steamed & ready for fitting
The neckline was too long, so in order to make it fit appropriately, I removed the buttons and extended tab off, shortened the strap, then replacing the tab and buttons. A perfect fit!
Liz - July 2009	Liz - July 2009 After sharing a few different bustle views during the 1st fitting, the bustle of choice that Liz decided on was the one pt bustle.	Liz - July 2009 2 layer hem w/tulle layers	Liz - July 2009 A very happy bride