deMelis Atelier llc. — Local services in Haddam

I truly do not even know where to start with this review. I originally found Melissa on Instagram after I had been playing with the idea of restructuring my mom's wedding gown and reached out to her after I saw her repost something about upcycling gowns (highly recommend following her on Insta). She was immediately warm and friendly and loved the idea. Then some months later I found my wedding gown and was fortunate enough that she still had room in her schedule to take me on for my wedding gown alterations as well. So I had the luxury of having Melissa as my alteration specialist/seamstress for 2 dresses!!

First, let's focus on my wedding gown alteration experience- Melissa made my gown fit so well that it genuinely looked like the dress had been specifically designed for me and my body type. She provided various bustle options and was very forthcoming about what was realistic for my gown given its design. I knew I wanted to wear black shoes with my gown and she was on board immediately and I had so much fun bouncing different styling ideas off of her. She has so much spunk and tenderness that it is hard not to feel like you are trying on outfits with your best friend. She is such a hype woman and makes you feel like your best self each time you are in her studio. I have truly never felt so confident and beautiful as I did in my gown and that was largely due to how well it was tailored to me by Melissa.

Second, transforming my mom's 1994 Princess Di replica gown into a curve-hugging midi- We had SO much fun (well, I did. I suppose I shouldn't speak for her). I brought in my mom's gown and told her that I didn't have a fully formed idea of how I wanted it to look yet, but that I was really leaning towards it being asymmetrical and keeping one full sleeve. From there, Melissa started throwing out ideas and grabbed a pencil and paper and started sketching out various ideas. We then decided on the shape and she took my measurements and discussed what elements I liked and didn't like, etc. Each fitting we discussed more about what was or wasn't working. She blew me away with how well she was able to maintain the integrity of the dress and I sincerely appreciated how receptive she was to my opinions. I mean we were texting a couple weeks before it was finished about where we thought the lace appliqué should be placed. It was truly an experience that exceeded my expectations and the finished product speaks for itself. On pick-up day Melissa and her associate even surprised me with a hair clip they had made from a bow that was on the sleeve that had been removed! All in all, hands down, without question, if Melissa has room left for you in her schedule, don't think and just say yes.

Oh, and her studio is super cute too! (Professional Photos by Love,...

I will echo all of the other reviews and emphasize that Melissa and her team is the best!!!

Melissa is so talented - the second I met her and she started pinning my dress, the depth of her experience was clear and I knew I was in good hands. She is also the ultimate hype woman - I walked away from each of my appointments feeling even more excited for my wedding!

Melissa and her team is patient and kind, eager to help make your experience the best it can be. I had been debating whether I wanted to slightly change the neckline to my dress. At first, I decided against it, but at my second appointment, I mentioned to Melissa that I was still thinking about it. She instantly got out her tools to simulate the change I wanted to make, talking through what she could do. I decided to make the change and am so happy I did, and am so glad that Melissa talked me through the options. After my second appointment, I had an idea about how I was hoping to use any leftover fabric from my dress. I acknowledged that it was probably too late to do anything, but the deMelis team quickly answered that they could make this happen. These are the kinds of things the deMelis team does to go above and beyond.

I'd also stress that Melissa is an incredible resource. She is more than a seamstress - she has so much knowledge on all things wedding, from the best spandex to wear to the stain remover you should use if god forbid anything gets on your dress. Melissa will not only make sure you feel confident in your dress, but will make you feel prepared for whatever comes your way on wedding day.

I'll end by mentioning how thoughtful the entire deMelis team is. I brought different family members to each of my appointments and the deMelis team was so kind to everyone, making sure everybody was comfortable. All goes to say, if the deMelis Atelier team is still available for your wedding date, go ahead and book them right away!!

Photos in Review Shot by Courtney...

From one of the very first emails—complete with a Bravo reference—I knew Melissa was the perfect match, and she absolutely was! Saying she’s good at what she does doesn’t even begin to cover it.

I had my eye on my wedding dress long before my now-husband and I even met. It was a beautiful, form-fitting gown that embodied all my wedding dreams. But at my first fitting, I was worried—it felt much snugger than I remembered when I picked it up from the dress shop. Melissa listened to my concerns, reassured me they were just minor tweaks, and promised it would be no problem at all.

At my second fitting, the dress was much more comfortable, and I finally felt like a bride. As an extremely Type A wedding professional myself, I was initially nervous about having my final fitting the day before the wedding. But after working with Melissa, I had complete confidence in her and her team. Sure enough, at my final fitting, the dress fit like a glove, it was the most incredible feeling.

While I was soaking in my "bride" moment, Melissa was still focused on the details I wouldn’t have even noticed. She asked how I felt and if I needed any final tweaks. I told her it was perfect. That’s when she pointed out a tiny bump on my hip that she insisted on fixing before letting me leave—and I truly appreciated that level of attention to detail!

My hem and bustle were absolutely flawless. As a wedding professional, I’ve seen so many broken bustles needing last-minute safety pin fixes, but Melissa’s work was rock solid. I’ll forever be grateful for her skill, care, and dedication.

If you’ve read this far, take my advice—call her now! She was one of the most important parts of my day, and I’ll always be so appreciative...