Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
Find answers to commonly asked questions about our services, process, appointments, and approach to wedding dress and formal gown alterations and design + redesign.
APPOINTMENTS & FITTINGS
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We recommend scheduling your first appointment at least 3 months before your wedding day to allow enough time for multiple fittings and adjustments.
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Most brides require 2 to 3 fittings, depending on the complexity of the alterations.
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Before your initial fitting, have an idea of the style, silhouette, and budget you'd like to adhere to. By keeping these details in mind, it will be easier to tailor a gown that not only looks beautiful, but keeps you comfortable.
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Of course. Our alteration boutique studio can comfortably accommodate you plus two additional guests.
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Please bring the EXACT PAIR OF SHOES and EXACT UNDERGARMENTS (should you choose to wear undergarments) that you plan to wear with your Wedding Gown, as these items can affect the fit of your dress.
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Of course! We will ensure that your gown is perfect for you, enhancing and highlighting your natural figure and beauty.
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Weight changes can happen. We recommend maintaining your weight, because losing or gaining weight may result in additional charges to correct the alterations that were conducted on your wedding gown.
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We will work with you to ensure you are happy with the final result. However, additional changes may incur extra fees and could require additional fittings.
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if you change your shoes during the alteration process, it may affect the length of the gown that was established during our initial fitting. In this case, there would be an additional fee to adjust the length of the gown accordingly.
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Our atelier is a private showroom where our stylists offer a personalized experience. You must book an appointment to visit; you can easily do that on our website's Booking Page. Should you need any assistance, please email us at our website's contact page.
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You can easily do that on our website's Booking Page. Should you need any assistance, please email us at our website's contact page.
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Yes. There is a rescheduling fee associated with changes to your appointments. This fee helps us to manage our schedule and ensure we can provide the best service to all of our clients. You can reschedule your appointment date by contacting us by text at +1 (949) 346-1759.
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There will not be any additional charges to your alteration quote, unless any changes are made by you and agreed upon.
ABOUT DARYA FOMINA
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Darya Fomina is a master couture artisan with over 25 years of experience designing and crafting costumes for Broadway, Hollywood, and world-renowned musical tours. Today, she’s known for delivering the same standard of excellence to brides seeking exceptional gown alterations and customizations.
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Born in Eastern Europe, Darya was educated in Moscow, Russia and New York City, NY in fashion design and garment construction. Darya honed her craft alongside elite costume and fashion designers. Her exposure to top-tier productions of Broadway Musicals/Drama, Hollywood Movies, and Music Tours early in her career ignited a lifelong love for meticulous craftsmanship and imaginative design.
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Darya has brought her artistry to major stage hits like Wicked and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, as well as concert tours for superstars including Madonna and Taylor Swift. Her background on these high-profile projects means every stitch and seam is perfected to red-carpet or stage-ready standards.
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During the pandemic, Darya discovered the uniquely rewarding experience of working directly with brides. Seeing how her expertise could make someone’s once-in-a-lifetime moment even more special inspired her to open her own atelier, focusing on personalized bridal and formal wear transformations.
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From precise draping to intricate hand-finishing, Darya applies the same specialized techniques that stood up to theatrical lighting, demanding choreography, and exhaustive tour schedules. Brides receive a gown engineered for comfort, durability, and head-turning elegance.
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Darya believes that every dress should be a reflection of its wearer’s personality. Whether it’s a subtle adjustment or a complete redesign, her approach is guided by your individual style, delivering a one-of-a-kind gown as stunning as you are.
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Her skill set covers everything from delicate lace and silk chiffons to more challenging textiles like vintage pieces or heavily beaded couture gowns. If it can be sewn, Darya’s likely mastered it.
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You can book a private fitting online on our via our appointments page. Darya personally consults with every client to understand their vision before beginning any alterations or custom work.
OUR SERVICES
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Absolutely. Our background in Broadway and Hollywood costumes ensures we can handle even the most delicate fabrics and couture designs. We have extensive experience working with all types of fabric, including delicate and vintage materials.
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Yes! We can work with previously altered dresses, but this may affect the scope of alterations we can perform. Darya will assess the dress during your initial consultation.
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Absolutely! We can add custom details such as lace, beading or sleeves and even modify the neckline or silhouette to better suit your vision.
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Yes, we can absolutely make those changes, if the construction of your gown allows us to do so.
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Yes, converting a zip-up to lace-up corset back is a very popular request for not only fit, but for style as well.
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We specialize in transforming a gown’s entire silhouette, adding sleeves, or introducing complex beadwork. If it’s possible in couture, we can do it.
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If you revise details that affect the fit, we’ll make adjustments to keep your look flawless. Additional fees may apply, depending on the extent of changes.
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We currently do not source fabrics, but we would be more than happy to recommend you a trusted supplier.
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Yes, we offer rush alterations for an additional fee:
25% fee for turnarounds within 8 weeks
50% fee for turnarounds within 4 weeks
100% fee for turnarounds within 1 week
(All percentages are based on the total quoted alterations cost)
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We ACCEPT all major Debit/Credit Cards (4% Service Fee)
We ACCEPT Cash Payments (No Service Fee)
We DO NOT ACCEPT Checks
We DO NOT ACCEPT payment applications such as Zelle, Venmo, etc…
