I had an outstanding experience with Brenda having my dress tailored for my wedding 10/13/2025. I was anxious about my "SpongeBob figure" (a bit boxy up top with chicken legs) fitting into a wedding dress, but she did an amazing job making my dress fit me perfectly! I felt like I looked like a princess all day and night, and I felt confident the entire time in my dress! She also made time to press my now husband's shirt, steam my sister's veil from her wedding (my something borrowed), as well as my bridesmaids dresses. She's so much fun to work with! Added bonus: her husband makes his own wine which also worth treating yourself to! I absolutely loved working with Cozy Cottage Alterations; and I don't see myself going anywhere el read more

Cozy Cottage Alterations - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - New Gloucester, Maine

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Brenda is amazing!! My wedding dress fits me perfectly, and considering it is made of a very finicky (and extremely glittery) fabric, I am impressed by the quality and care! I had to have my bust and waist dramatically altered as they were a three size difference between them and my hips. I also had her build new off the shoulder swags that were a bit bigger so they would cover my arms. And the way I smiled when I saw myself in the dress....you can not even tell where she had to take apart the bodice, it is THAT good!! You can really tell this is something that Brenda loves to do, her passion shines in every stitch. For brides concerned about lack of communication, you just have to understand how Brenda communicates. I too did not hear anything for months, but, I sent a simple in the afternoon, and first thing in the morning I had a response. Yeah, it might be at 4:30am, but doesn't that just show how hard this woman works for her clients?! She is not a factory, she is a passionate seamstress that puts her soul into her work...at all hours. That is how artists are. And guess what, I texted, we made an appointment, and I picked up my dress a week and a half before my wedding. And I know that if there was something wrong, Brenda would have worked through the night so it was ready for the big day. I am thrilled that Brenda altered not only my dress, but my mom's as well. We could not be more pleased, and you will be too! Thank you Brenda!! read more

I started working with Brenda through Wedding Angels in Portland. Working with Brenda was the most stressful experience. I would text and call, and receive no answer. Wedding Angels was no help either. They could not get a hold of her. I went to pickup my dress for my final fitting, two weeks before my wedding, and Brenda had not even started it yet. For the next week, I would text asking for updates and receive nothing besides a "I am up and working on your dress" at 430AM. I didn't end up getting my dress until a week before my wedding. I didn't try it on with her because I was already running late after driving to New Gloucester to pick it up. When I did end up trying it on, the cups on the chest were so so so wrong. The original cups were much too small and she had sewn larger cups on top of the smaller ones. I looked crazy, there was so much extra volume on my already size G cup. I ended up cutting both cup inserts out and getting my own. It wasn't ideal, as I did this two days before my wedding but it was much better than what Brenda had done. I would absolutely not recommend. Getting my dress back from Brenda was by far the most stressful experience. read more

Brenda did an AMAZING job with my dress alterations. Everything fit PERFECT! She even did all my bridesmaids dresses and they fit perfect! Brenda is a very hard working woman and will do everything to get your dress to you for your big day!! read more

Cozy Cottage Alterations - My wedding dress - Sewing & Alterations Near Me - New Gloucester, Maine

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I've been working with cozy cottage for all of my alterations for years and years! Brenda is the best in the business in maine! She did my entire wedding party 10 years ago! (Myself, my husbands suit, 6 bridesmaids and 6 groomsmen). And most recently (June '25) a bridesmaid dress for myself, 2 others and my friends wedding gown. Everything came out wonderfully! I think what many brides don't understand is a wedding dress is typically ready a week before the wedding date, that isn't unusual! And if someone had issues with their dress, she is fabulous about making last minute fixes! Overall, highly recommend. I'd never go anywhere else! read more

As everyone else has stated, the communication with Brenda was slim to none. I became aware of other brides having communication issues, seeing red flags, from social media. This caused me stress, so one month out from my wedding (with little prior communication), I called her and asked how my dress was and when I could pick it up. This was on Sept 2. During the call she stated she was working on Sept 20 brides and my dress would be done a week before my wedding. I found this unacceptable, especially given the lack of communication, and went to pick up my dress unannounced. I did not see the owner when I picked it up, only her husband. For context, all my dress needed was a hem, bussell, and sleeves attached. I would not recommend this business. read more

Alterations were the most stressful part of my wedding. Brenda did not have my dress ready until the very last moment. Then she sewed the bustle wrong and we had to take it back -- thank god I tried it on again when I got home. Throughout this process she was ignoring my phone calls. Her studio did not have a private place to change either. At the end of the day my dress was beautiful but I could have found a more professional seamstress. read more

The dress itself turned out great, but the communication was extremely stressful. I received multiple texts over the course of three months from Brenda asking when my wedding date was, telling me my dress was ready when it wasn't, or clearly mixing me up with other brides. The alterations was also more expensive than originally quoted. Brenda is very sweet and good at what she does, but I would not recommend if you are an anxious person like me, especially when it comes to clear communication and timelines. read more

If you want to stress the entire time about your wedding dress then go with Brenda at cozy cottage. Brenda has horrific communication, will wait till last minute to schedule appointments and fittings if she doesn't cancel them. She wanted to wait two days before my wedding to give me my dress back before I even had a final fitting. She forgot on multiple occasions who I was, when my wedding was, or what my dress looked like. I requested to pick my dress back up to bring it to another seamstress as my wedding was approaching with no communication from Brenda. Brenda finally claimed my dress was almost done and to give her a week. A week went by with no communication. When I went to pick my dress up nothing had even been done to it. So highly recommend taking your dress to another trustworthy company/seamstress. This was a terrible experience and wish this experience on no one. Save yourself the headache/stress and do your research and find a reputable person for your special day. read more

Unfortunately I have to write this review to warn other brides. DO NOT USE BRENDA FOR YOUR ALTERATIONS!!! Brenda had my dress for a month then at 4:40am 4 weeks later I received a text from her asking where I lived. I was sure this text was not ment for me but I was wrong. I did respond and asked why she needed to know where I lived? I got no response until the next day when she told me she could no do my dress and was going to pass me off to some women a hour away from me. My wedding was in 2 weeks. When I told her not to touch my dress I would be picking it up the next day her response and I quote "That's fantastic!!! Who did you find? I need help with dresses." After relaying this story to my planner, make-up and hair dresser each one asked me is this woman's name Brenda? Turns out she has done this many times to multiple brides over the years. And in addition to what I was quoted by Brenda and what I paid actually paid another seamstress there was a $300 difference price. My dress was very simple with minor alteration. This was a terrible experience with a very unprofessional business owner. And this woman never once apologized to me. Not through text or in person when I picked my dress up which just shows how much she does not care about you as a client. read more

let me start but saying that I have never met Brenda, my niece had a fitting in April of this year (4 mos prior to wedding date) the alterations needed were shoulders taken up and a hem. during these 4 months my niece had called on several occasions inquiring about a pick up date to no avail. The phone wasn't available for messages because it was full, texts went unanswered. my niece was becoming more and more nervous / stressed because of this. I called and was able to leave a message requesting she pick up her bridal gown by weeks end. Brenda said it was ready only to be mistaken of whose gown and name she was talking about. finally it was to be picked up, she brought the gown home and I looked at the alterations and couldn't believe what I was seeing....the shoulders were folded over and stitched down without opening the seam and the hem was cut off and re-applied . I called her immediately and left a message when she returned my call she blamed it on her assistant and offered to pick it up and re-do the job and also would credit her for SOME of the charge. she did re-do the alterations but still not a professional job and not worth the $650. fee !!!!!!!! we received the dress 4 days before the wedding ....i have requested a breakdown of the charges and she is not responding to my request... also, she added an extra cup to her original ones for no reason at all. they were so big that we had to cut them out. (extra charges of unknown amount ). needless to say it was a very stressful experience and not one that I would recommend. read more

It was a tricky fit but she got it done just the way I asked. And in record time. Thank you!