You asked and we listened. Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo now offers wedding dress alterations in our store!
For many years, we have supported female-owned small businesses. Being a small business ourselves we know the importance of this. However, it became clear that our customers preferred a bridal seamstress on site.
Our New Full-Time Seamstress
We are happy to introduce Rebekah Peterson, our full-time in-house seamstress. With an impressive résumé and the perfect personality to compliment the culture of our store, she is the perfect fit – no pun intended!
She attended the highly competitive Parsons School of Design in New York, was accepted as a Project Runway contestant, and gained many years of experience in wedding gown alterations as the head seamstress at a popular bridal salon in Western PA.
After her move to Bucks County PA, a serendipitous text message led to her becoming our full-time seamstress. We could not be more excited to add Rebekah to our full-time, friendly staff and offer you yet another amazing experience in our store!
Why Offer Wedding Dress Alterations Services?
We all know that wedding dresses will require tailoring. In my 13 years owning a bridal store, I have seen two brides who needed no alterations other than a bustle. TWO brides, out of thousands. Clearly, this is a needed service.
Some bridal salons offer in-house seamstresses on site, other bridal stores have a list of trusted partners to whom they refer this business. For many years, that’s what our store did. Our seamstresses are also longtime friends who pride themselves on their superior bridal alterations. Because they have their own established businesses, however, none were interested in working for us full time. This is understandable.
Over the years, we have heard that we “should” have someone in house or that it would be “more convenient” to have everything under one roof. Lately, those calls have become louder. We decided to look into full time custom tailoring on site.
Above I mentioned a serendipitous text message. I do not believe in coincidence. Things happen as they should, when they should, for a reason. I pay close attention to these signs.
A few days after a discussion about a seamstress as a top priority, Rebekah texted the store asking if we had an in-house seamstress. Thinking she was a bride, I offered our list of seamstresses. She asked if she could be considered as one of them. I stared at the message and smiled. This was a sign and I asked her to come in and talk with us. It didn’t take long before I knew she was going to be on our team full-time.
The Pricing Of Wedding Dress Alterations
While it became clear that our customers wanted and needed this service on site, we also heard that the pricing of wedding dress alterations seemed out of hand. There are stores that offer alterations services for a flat fee ($700-$995 for basic alterations with add-ons as an additional fee), and independent seamstresses charging what customer felt was unreasonable.
A skilled tailor with intimate knowledge of dress construction is not an ‘inexpensive’ service. You are paying for wedding gown alterations that may include:
- hemming delicate fabrics like lace and crepe
- creating various bustle styles
- resizing dresses with intricate beadwork
- producing custom designs (new neck lines, sleeves, bows, adding/removing skirt layers, etc.)
Formal dress alterations requires time and talent. I believe customers not only understand this, but prefer a highly skilled seamstress work on their dress. It is reasonable to expect to pay for this service, but it does not mean that it can’t be done for a more affordable price. With us, you will know your approximate cost before you purchase the dress.
Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo is committed to customer satisfaction. We know adding honest, reasonable, on-site alterations will elevate the entire experience from your first appointment choosing your dress to your final fitting!
How Do Our Wedding Dress Alterations Work?
For bridal gown alterations, generally speaking you will have your first fitting 5-6 weeks before your wedding day. This gives enough time to do the work required as well as time for a second fitting to tweak anything on your dream gown!
At the first fitting, your hem will be marked (you must have your wedding shoes for this!), the sides, straps or sleeves, and bust will be pinned as needed. You will have a discussion about the type of bustle you’d like, and you can ask her any questions. You will schedule your second fitting where your dream wedding dress will be ready to go!
Same for mothers of the bride and groom. Maids and prom are flexible as they usually do not require the time that a wedding or mother dress will.
Note regarding weight fluctuations: If you are on a weight loss journey and losing weight weekly, or on a medication that is causing a loss/gain side effect, we need to do your fitting closer to your wedding date. These are special instances to be discussed in person with the seamstress.
What Other Types Of Alterations Are Offered At Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo?
We are proud to offer alterations not only to our brides, but also to her wedding party. While Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo brides and family members will always take priority, we will offer this service to anyone in the Philadelphia area.
We alter:
- Wedding dresses
- Mother of the bride and groom gowns
- Bridesmaid dresses
- Prom dresses
- Special occasion dresses
- Cocktail dresses
- Suits & Tuxedos for a custom fit
We customize:
- Bolero jackets & Dress toppers
- Custom veils
- Sleeves, Straps, Capes, & Bows
- Beaded and fabric button add ons
- Men’s ties and pocket squares to match a dress
More Information
We have the best wedding gowns for your big day, and are proud to have an entire team with you from start to finish. From our fantastic bridal stylists, mother of the bride/groom, and tuxedo departments to our newly added on site alterations providing flawless fits, our team just became that much better!
Bucks County, Montgomery County, Lehigh Valley, and Philadelphia brides are welcome to request an appointment today for yourself and your bridal party! Let us help fit your perfect wedding dress for your most special day at our bridal boutique in Warrington PA.
About Us
Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo is owned by Franco and Wendy Salerno. We founded the store in January, 2013 with a mission of running an honest, kind, and family-oriented bridal and tuxedo business. The name is a combination of our two daughters, Daria and Deanna. Today, our business is a Bucks County staple and the go-to place for wedding attire. Our long-time employees are kind, genuine, and truly part of the family. The lasting relationships we have made with customers, vendors, and designers are something we are truly grateful for.
Our store received national recognition in July, 2025 on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. In 2024, Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo was named a Top 100 Small Business in America by the US Chamber of Commerce. We have been featured by Apple.com, ABC National News, TLC’s “Say Yes: Wedding SOS”, the Wall Street Journal, Square, and Axios. We are approaching 1,000 Google reviews with a 4.9 rating, and listed in the Knot’s “Hall of Fame”.
Locally, we are active members of the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce, Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, and the Lower Bucks County Chamber of Commerce serving on committees and as board members. Franco was Treasurer, Executive Committee member and a Board member of the Lower Bucks Chamber of Commerce and their 2024 Mitchell-Conner award winner. He was also a board member of the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce for many years. Wendy is a former Chair of the Women In Business, awarded Entrepreneur of the Year in 2023, and named a 2025 Bucks County Parent Woman of Influence. Our daughter Daria is a former wish granter for the Make-A-Wish® foundation. We proudly partner with St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Angel Gowns, Wish Upon A Wedding, and donate to local schools and community band, choir, and theater programs.