The Wedding Suit: How Long Will Tailoring Take?

You may love your suit when you first try it on, but if you want to look as good as possible at your wedding, it’s important to have your suit tailored. 

A well-tailored suit can transform the way you look. It will highlight your best areas, slim your midsection, and extend your shoulders.

Even though tailoring is an important process, many people aren’t aware of what the tailoring process entails, including how long tailoring a suit will take. 

The time required to tailor a suit will depend on a few factors, which we’ll cover in this post.

Getting your suit tailored can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the complexity of the alterations needed, the tailor’s workload, and the time of year.

We’ll also cover what goes into the tailoring process, as well as some useful things to know before your suit gets tailored. 

Things Which Affect Time Needed To Tailor A Suit

Here are the main factors which affect the time needed to tailor your suit. 

The Tailoring Business

The tailoring place you choose will affect how much time is needed to tailor a suit. You’re likely to be waiting a while if you choose a larger company.

This may be three or four weeks, but you might have to wait six weeks before you receive your suit back.

On the other hand, if you go to a smaller business or a family-run shop, the waiting time may be shorter.

This may be around two weeks, at maximum. You may find that they are more affordable too.

If you’re opting to tailor the suit yourself, the tailoring time will depend on your level of expertise.

If you have lots of experience, the completion time may be two weeks, like a family-run shop. If you’re not that skilled and are still learning, this may take longer, perhaps four, five, or six weeks. 

When The Suit Is Tailored

Tailoring businesses can have busy periods. For example, weddings often take place between May and October.

Suits and dresses are often sent to tailors in this period compared to the other months. 

The month you send your suit in for tailoring won’t just affect its completion time, it can affect the total cost you pay too. 

Access To Materials

The tailor’s access to materials can also affect the suit’s completion time. The business you visit may not have the fabric or tools at the time, so they may need to order them. 

This can add to the completion time, as it can take some time to source the necessary materials. 

Alterations Required

Some modifications may need more time compared to others. The number of changes you need is also a factor, as more alterations will increase the completion time. 

Some popular alterations needed on a suit include:

Size

Older suits may not fit you as well as they once did. If this is the case, your tailor may be able to alter the suit to your new measurements.

However, this is only possible in two-size cases. If you’re more than two sizes bigger or smaller, you’ll have to purchase another suit. 

Hemming Long Sleeves

Sleeves that are too long or baggy clearly show that a suit fits incorrectly. A good tailor will shorten these sleeves and make sure they stop at a decent length. 

It’s best for the suit’s sleeve to be half or a quarter inch shorter than your shirt’s sleeve.

Pant Length

Trousers that are too long can make you appear shorter than you are. The additional fabric is also a hazard as there’s a risk of tripping over your pants.

Your pants should preferably end at the top of your footwear, but you may hem them slightly shorter to display your socks or ankles. 

Shoulder Fit

A big sign of a suit that fits well is how tight it fits around the shoulders. 

If any material extends away from the shoulders, the suit is too loose. You should also make sure that the suit isn’t too tight, as this will prevent you from moving comfortably. 

Collar Gap

The suit needs to lie correctly against your shirt collar. If it doesn’t, the suit is too loose and needs to be tailored to your neck. Your neck measurements are key to tailoring the collar gap. 

Waistline

Suits are sold in typical proportions, like a lot of store-bought garments. Tailors often adjust a suit’s waistline, as you’re unlikely to find one that fits amazingly when you first purchase it. 

Adjusting Buttons

If the suit doesn’t need that many modifications, changing the buttons can make a big difference.

The tailor can make the suit fit looser or tighter by changing the button placement, which is often a quick process.

Though less likely, your tailor can also add an extra button, if needed. 

Stages Of Tailoring A Suit

If you’re unfamiliar with tailoring, here are the stages that go into the process.

Buying The Clothes

A lot of individuals choose to buy store-bought suits. This is a lot more affordable than going to a dressmaker for a custom one. 

Despite this, suits that come from a boutique or department store aren’t likely to fit well. Store-bought garments come in typical proportions, so you’ll need a tailor to ensure your suit fits correctly. 

Measurements

When you’re first at the tailor, they will start to take your measurements. 

These include height, chest circumference, waistline, hip circumference, side length, and step length. These need to be as precise as possible, as just a one-inch error can make the suit fit poorly.  

Make sure that you take everything you’re going to be wearing at the wedding.

Examples include your suit, undershirt, underwear, shirt, footwear, and any additional accessories.

Your tailor will need to see how everything fits together, which lets them know if any areas need to be modified. 

The tailor will then give their quote after they take your measurements. They’ll also give an estimate of their turnaround time and the price of the modifications.

Tailoring The Suit

Now the tailors can begin working on your suit. As mentioned earlier, some modifications are harder than others. 

For instance, reducing the sides or shortening the sleeves are easier changes. However, going over the shoulders or collar gap can take more time, as the job is harder to do.

The tailor will give you a completion date. This may be as little as two days to as many as six weeks, based on the elements discussed above.

However, You may be able to receive your finished suit earlier if you can provide a rush fee. 

Next Fittings

After your suit is finished, you’ll try it on promptly. This is usually done in the tailoring shop.

You can go over the suit’s fit with the tailor, as they can note down any modifications that are needed.

Numerous fitting sessions are a frequent feature within the wedding garment scene. Suits and dresses are usually bought a few months before the wedding date. 

Bodies change all the time. Wedding planning is stressful and can lead to weight changes, but rest assured, this is completely normal! 

You’ll probably need two or three fittings before the wedding. The last one tends to occur a week before the ceremony, as any extreme measurement changes are unlikely during this period. 

You can also opt for any last-minute changes on the day of your wedding.

Things To Know Before Tailoring Your Suit

Here are some useful things to keep in mind before you send your suit to the tailor.

Total Price

The cost of tailoring your suit may be between $30 and $400, but the final cost of your suit will depend on a few things.

These are the tailor, the intricacy of the tailoring, and your location’s cost of living. 

A tailored suit’s typical completion time is between two days and four weeks. If you need your suit a lot earlier, you may need to send a rush fee.

This is around 50% of the total cost to tailor your suit. 

Parent’s And Groomsmen’s Suits

Other than the groom, the couple’s fathers and the groomsmen may need to send their suits in for tailoring.

The factors and stages mentioned earlier still apply here.

The groomsmen and fathers should have their initial fitting two months before the ceremony.

This gives the tailors enough time to carry out the alterations, as well as any additional fittings that are needed.

Changing Measurements

Planning a wedding is tiring and stressful. As outlined above, your body may change a lot during this time. 

Strain, concerns, and the way you handle stress can all have an effect. Additionally, you may decide to begin a new workout routine or diet to feel better in your wedding suit. 

If this is the case, make sure that you tell your tailor about your plans, as they will be better prepared for additional modifications. 

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Tailoring A Suit

Your wedding budget may make you uneasy about sending a suit in for tailoring. The price of this can be as much as $400. 

If you’re thinking about whether tailoring a suit is necessary, here are the advantages and disadvantages for you to consider. 

Advantages

• Your suit will fit amazingly! Your suit will highlight your best features and cover any insecurities you want to hide. You won’t need to be concerned about wardrobe malfunctions either. Tailoring can make you look as good as you can be, improving your confidence as a result. 

• Your suit has a longer life span. The tailor can use tools and fabric which makes the garment stronger, making it last longer. 

• Can wear the suit to different events. There may be occasions when you need to wear formal or business attire. Examples include job interviews, weddings, and banquets. If your suit fits you well, you won’t need to go out and buy a different one. 

Disadvantages

• Can cost a lot. The total cost of tailoring your suit can be expensive, based on the modifications that are needed. You may prefer to save money and spend it on a better-fitting suit, though this won’t be personalized to your unique fit.

• May not have enough time on hand. The completion time of a tailored suit can vary a lot. You may receive it in just two days, or have to wait six whole weeks. If you need a suit fast, you might want to avoid sending your suit in, or if you want it tailored, may need to pay a 50% rush fee. 

Can Cheap Suits Be Tailored?

Wedding suits can cost between $200 and $500, depending on your budget. Anything beneath $200 may be thought of as ‘cheap’. 

If you’re on a lower budget, you’re perfectly within your rights to go for a less expensive suit and send it in for tailoring. The tailor will make the suit look better and may even reinforce it, so it lasts longer. 

Common adjustments, like hemming the ankles, shortening the sleeves, and even replacing the buttons can do wonders for a ‘cheap’ suit. 

How To ‘Tailor’ A Suit Yourself

If you don’t have the time or budget to send a suit to the tailor, here are some simple things you can do to improve the fit of your suit.

Shorten The Sleeves

Take your suit jacket and turn the sleeves inwards. After you reach your desired length, secure the sleeves with a few bobby pins in the same color. 

Hemming Pants

Fold or cuff your pants upwards to your desired length, then use fabric tape to secure them. 

Waist Measurement

If the suit’s pants are too loose, try using binder clips to adjust the fit. Take some material at the back of your waist, then clip with binder clips to secure. 

The Bottom Line

In most cases, you’ll have to wait two to four weeks to receive your suit from the tailor.

However, if you don’t need a lot of alterations and opt for a smaller business, you may get it back in as little as two days. 

Remember that certain factors can affect the suit’s completion time, like busy periods, the complexity of alterations, and the materials required.

You may be able to pay a rush fee, but this can cost as much as 50% of the total cost, so be prepared.

Tailoring a suit may be an additional expense, but it’s worth it to ensure that you’re comfortable and confident on your wedding day.