FAQ

We are wedding-gown specialists. For 18 years we have altered thousands of wedding dresses for brides across Central Illinois, from simple satin gowns to heavily beaded couture designs. Our studio is in Washington, IL, and all work is done by appointment.

Our studio is at 2267 Washington Rd., Washington, IL 61571. Brides come to us from Peoria, Bloomington-Normal and across Central Illinois. All visits, including pickups, are by appointment only.

Email is the best way to reach us: hello@catiasalterations.com. Attach photos of your gown if your question is about the dress itself. If you’re ready to start, book your free Discovery Call online.

We work by appointment only, so every bride has our full attention. Appointments are available Tuesday to Thursday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Friday, 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. Evening appointments may be available on request for an additional fee.

Start by booking a free 15-minute Assessment & Discovery Call on our website. Calls can be booked from 3 days to 6 months in advance. You’ll share your wedding date, the changes you’d like, where your gown was purchased, your budget range and at least three photos of your dress (front, back and train). Catia reviews every request personally, usually within 3 business days, and if your gown is a good fit for our studio we email you a private link to book your first fitting.

Every gown is different. Seeing your dress and knowing your goals ahead of time lets us confirm we’re the right studio for you, plan the right amount of fitting time and give you useful guidance on the call.

Yes. The first fitting is a one-hour, one-on-one appointment with a $150 fitting fee, paid when you book. $50 of it is credited toward your final alteration invoice. The fee is non-refundable for cancellations and no-shows, because the hour is reserved exclusively for you.

For detailed gowns we may recommend adding a 30-minute extension ($50) during your Discovery Call. It is booked together with your fitting so the time is held for you.

If we find during your first fitting that more time is needed to finish the pinning, we can also extend that fitting by 30 minutes for the same $50, when our schedule allows.

Yes, online, up to 48 hours before your appointment, for both your Discovery Call and your fittings. Within 48 hours, please email us. Your $150 fitting fee moves with you when you reschedule; it is non-refundable if a fitting is cancelled or missed.

Your gown, the shoes you’ll wear on the day and the undergarments you plan to wear. If you’ll wear a belt, veil or other accessory that affects the fit or bustle, bring it too.

Book your Discovery Call as soon as you have your gown. We recommend starting about 3–4 months before your wedding, with your first fitting roughly 8–10 weeks before the date. Detailed and couture gowns need the longer end of that window.

Most brides have a first fitting, a follow-up fitting and a final try-on before pickup. Only your first fitting has a fitting fee; follow-up fittings are included in your alterations. Heavily embellished or structural work may need an extra fitting; we’ll tell you at your first fitting.

Often, yes, depending on our calendar and the work your gown needs. Share your date when you book your Discovery Call and we’ll tell you honestly what’s possible. Rush work carries an additional fee.

Many gowns can be let out, depending on how much seam allowance the designer left and how the dress is built. Send clear photos with your Discovery Call request and we’ll assess the options before your fitting.

It depends on how your gown is built: the fabric, the number of layers, lace and beading, and how much needs to change. A simple satin gown costs far less to alter than a multi-layer lace gown with a beaded hem. You’ll receive a detailed quote, your Fit Plan, at your first fitting. The Discovery Call booking form also walks you through typical budget ranges, so you’ll know what to expect before we meet.

Yes. A 50% non-refundable deposit is due at your first fitting, once you approve your Fit Plan. The $50 credit from your fitting fee is applied to your final invoice.

Debit and credit cards only. We don’t accept cash or checks.

We press the areas we alter. A full steam of the gown before your wedding is available for an additional charge.

• Hems, including lace, horsehair and multi-layer hems
• Bustles (French, American and ballroom styles)
• Taking in or letting out the bodice and sides
• Straps, sleeves and neckline adjustments
• Lace and beading work, including re-setting appliqués
• Custom details such as adding sleeves, straps, pockets or a belt

Yes. Delicate fabrics, intricate lace and heavily beaded gowns are a core part of our work.

Our studio focuses on wedding gowns. When our calendar allows, we also alter formal dresses, such as bridesmaid, mother-of-the-bride or other formalwear, for brides whose wedding gown we’re already altering. To ask about a formal dress, book the separate Formalwear Discovery Call on our website.

No. We specialize in wedding gowns, so we don’t take everyday clothing alterations or repairs.

Pickup is by appointment only. At your final appointment you’ll try on your gown, check the fit and learn how to fasten your bustle, so bring your shoes and undergarments one last time.

No. Every gown is tried on at a final appointment before pickup, so any last details can be fixed in the studio, not on your wedding morning.

Please bring your own hanger and garment bag; we don’t keep hangers for clients.

Please pick up your gown promptly once it’s ready. Items not picked up within 90 days after your wedding date are donated.

No. All gowns are fitted, altered and picked up in our Washington, IL studio.