I perchased my wedding dress from the awesome church street bridal in lynchburg where I scored beautiful designer gown for less than $500! But the dress needed some alteration. Store manager assistant recommended the gilded thimble. I did some research also before booking an appointment at the gilded thimble. Carissa came with flying colors and impressive reviews. There were so many brides who also purchaced their gowns from church street bridal and went to Carissa to have them altered (some got a serious work done! and the gowns still looked gorgeous!). I went to the gilded thimble website to book a consultation. The website is not only very nice and professional but has loads of good information on how to handle wedding gown and how to properly put on a wedding gown. My first consultation went very smooth (except for the part where I got lost trying to find the place). The studio is located in downtown Bedford and once you find it, you will never be able to miss it, but it is a little tricky to find. Carissa gave me an estimate of what I needed to get done on my gown and items I needed to purchace before the next appointment. In my cae, because my dress didn't really have much structure, Carrisa recommened getting a corset (and she recommended a good corset place) and my wedding shoes to have accurate measurements. I had sew-while-waiting session with Carrisa and she was able to get so much stuff done in that time frame! and she charges are really reasonable and affordable! She put boning in my dress and she worked on my lace. My dress looks really simple but it's pretty complicated to alter. But she did such an amazing job, I cannot imagine going to other seamstress! She also offers free wedding photo shoot sessions. She is not only an awesome seastress but also a talented photographer! She took such beautiful pictures which I am super excited to see after she finishes editing! She emails edited pictures (good ones) with low resolution and her water marks (which you are free to share online!). She charged $25 per picture for the ones you order. Then she emails you high resolution without watermark for you to print. If you are in need of a seamstress to take care of you wedding gown, try the Gilded Thimble! You will not be disappointed!! read more

I can't say enough good things about The Gilded Thimble. Carissa and Yael are the wedding dress dream team! I had a 'sew while wait' appointment yesterday and the amount of quality work that can be accomplished, in several hours, by these two, is astonishing. The comfortable feeling you get by stepping foot into this business extends into every aspect of their process. Any nerves you may have about the process quickly diminish after only several minutes with these talented ladies. My dress needed a literal overhaul and all the work was preformed efficiently with exceptional quality. After all the structural issues with my dress were completed, it was perfect! It is beautiful and amazes me how good something can look when it fits properly. I had also brought along an heirloom piece of lace that I wanted to incorporate. I had been brainstorming for some time and had several ideas about what I wanted, I just wasn't sure what was possible. I learned that virtually anything with Carissa is possible. They heard my ideas and then to help me visualize, they created examples of how it could look. They were not pushy and did not try to sway me in any specific direction. They simply showed me what was doable and left the decision up to me. In the end, I decided to have the lace appliquéd to the neckline. Carissa hand stitched the lace to my dress while I wore it to make sure the fit was "gilded." I had a vision in my mind of what I wanted and Carissa took the vision and made it into something more than I ever could have imagined. She is truly gifted and I feel so blessed to have been graced with her skill! If you have any alteration needs for your wedding dress please just go here! The experience is truly magical and so are the sweet souls behind it all! read more

I purchased my wedding gown at Church Street Bridal several months before my wedding date. The dress was beautiful, but it needed a lot of work, as it was several sizes too big. The ladies at the shop recommended The Gilded Thimble, so I called the number. I was met with the cheerful and reassuring voice of Carissa, who immediately scheduled an appointment with me in her quaint yet chic shop in downtown Bedford. She took one look at my dress (which was swallowing me) and listened to my feeble attempts at seamstress talk (words like crinoline, bustle, corset, boning) and began to work her magic. Carissa took the shapeless and large fabric of my dress and transformed it into a corset-backed, French-bustled, elegant work of art. Her eye for design and years of experience made my dress one of a kind, and made me feel like I was the most beautiful woman in the world on my wedding day. Oh, and then, of course, there was the wedding day... Carissa graciously agreed to attend my wedding for a small fee as my "seamstress on call." I wanted her to be there simply for the peace of mind, but she ended up literally saving my wedding. Not only did Carissa help lace me into my dress, but she also brought her sewing machine into the church and changed the size of one of my bridesmaid's dresses who had lost weight before the wedding and couldn't keep her dress from sliding off of her! Additionally, Carissa bustled my dress for me, had a granola bar for me to eat when I felt faint, AND, she provided my photographer with an extra memory card when hers ran out of space. Carissa is not only a talented seamstress, but also a friend, and an incredible help! She comes HIGHLY recommended! read more

I just had my wedding dress altered by Carissa at The Gilded Thimble and I could not be more thrilled with the service and with the results. I bought my dress at Church Street Bridal in Lynchburg and, while it was a worn down sample dress, I could see the potential. To my delight, Carissa understood how beautiful it could be and made it even better than what I hoped for. She attentively listened to my ideas and she and her assistants made great suggestions. I had a "sew while you wait" appointment and I really enjoyed it. My maid of honor and I got to hang out while I worked on my veil and Carissa altered my dress. I had it hemmed, bustled, a crinoline added, pickups added, the buttons reinforced, and lovely little off the shoulder puff sleeves in just 4.5 hours. She also steamed and reformed the ribbon flowers that decorated the bodice and skirt. Those had been my biggest worry when I bought the dress because they just hung there like smushed seaweed. Not attractive. Now they're fluffy and beautiful in 3D. The price I paid for such high quality work was very reasonable. I managed to buy my dress and get it altered to the perfect dress for me for less than I would have ordinarily paid at a bridal store. Carissa and her assistants, Yael and Sue, were so lovely to work with. They're very warm and friendly while still being professional and incredibly efficient. I'm actually sad that I won't be going back to spend another day at The Gilded Thimble. read more

Carissa is absolutely inspired. I purchased my wedding dress at Church Street Bridal in Lynchburg, off their mezzanine racks, and it needed a lot of creativity and vision to turn it into my dream dress. For starters, it was several sizes too large, it had tears in the lace and silk organza in places on the front and back, there was some staining, and it was missing about 99 of its 100 buttons. Not only did Carissa make it fit perfectly (and I really do mean perfectly, it went from shapeless to extremely flattering and supportive in all the right places), she was also able to transform and repair the dress. You would never know that it was not purchased brand new! I actually like it BETTER than the original design of the dress. Check out the "repairs" section on the Gilded Thimble website -- it's documentation of miracles. She also tried out a number of different creative bustle arrangements for the dress until we found a perfect one after I didn't really like the most traditional one that she pinned up at first. On top of all this, Carissa is a joy to work with and she has created a beautiful, comfortable, well-lit sewing studio that is easy to find and has excellent parking. She was even willing to fix my mother's dress too while we were there! It's worth driving for hours to get to Bedford, you won't be disappointed. read more

Let me start by saying Carissa is simply amazing.When I went in for my free consultation the place looked amazing. It looked like something out of a magazine. When I arrived Yael offered to help me into my dress and I was offered a free beverage. After looking over the dress Yael wrote up a contact and I made my appointment to have everything completed. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly they were able to get me in the books. I was told it was going to take 31/2 hours to complete my dress but it only took 2 hours so it came out cheaper than I expected and I didn't have to wait as long. Carissa is very talented and definitely made me feel like I was in good hands. She has an amazing personality and made me feel at ease. I didn't need any major alterations, but the adjustments she did make made a world of difference! I highly recommend The Gilded Thimble for your bridal alterations. Carissa and Yael were so much fun, professional and made the process very easy and stress-free. read more

My experience at The Gilded Thimble was SO great! I was in a panic when I realized the bridal shop where I purchased my dress had altered my dress completely wrong and it made me look multiple sizes bigger than I really am! Carissa instantly knew what was wrong with the dress as soon as I put it on and was confident that she could fix it. There are so many alteration shops that won't even touch a dress after it has already been altered once, but Carissa was a miracle-working exception to that! I spent a few hours in her shop while she sewed my dress and SO enjoyed the environment there. The staff is so easygoing and fun! The finished product of my dress was AMAZING. It had that perfect "gilded fit" that she talks about on her website. I will definitely recommend The Gilded Thimble to anyone I run into who is looking for a miracle working seamstress! read more

Carissa is hands down one of the best vendors you can hire for your wedding day. She assisted me with all of my dress needs, alterations, and even traveling to NC for the big day! She was honestly like the bridesmaid I never had, and I mean that with complete respect to my girls but it's such a busy day! Having Carissa there allowed us all to relax, any wardrobe snafu was handled with grace, and her attitude and demanor are charming to have in the group! At the night's end, Carissa even went back to our room where we had gotten ready to tidy up before my new husband and I arrived. That's going above an beyond, she treat's you just like family. I love loved working with Carissa! Don't miss out on this vendor. The peace of mind she brings is really a blessing! read more

I consider myself to be somewhat of a "perfectionist" when it comes to details and doing something the right way if doing it at all. That said, I am not easy to please. The Gilded Thimble took the time, care, and attention to know what it was that I really wanted and offered their skills to make it happen within my budget (which was not the kind of budget that a perfectionist would typically prefer). Carissa and Yael turned A dress into MY dress. They thoroughly explained the potential complications associated with making certain thoughts a reality and offered professional suggestions and solutions that can only come from both experience and genuine care. read more

Carissa of the Gilded Thimble blew me away when she altered my wedding dress. In a matter of 2 hours I had a dress that was falling off me because it was to big, to one that fit my silhouette. She was extremely professional and made me feel comfortable while she was altering my dress. The directions on the website led me right to her shop and she communicated really well before and after my appointment. My dress is a Maggie Settero from Church Street Bridal and she knew exactly what to do with a designer dress. I highly highly recommend everyone purchase their dress from Church Street Bridal and then let Carissa as the Gilded Thimble work her magic!! read more

I had my dress altered at the Gilded Thimble a little less than a year ago. Carissa was personable, helpful, and just plain fabulous. She had me come in as many times as it took to get the fit just right and exactly how I wanted it. She even offered to un-stitch the lace applique overlay, make the seams on each side, and then stitch the lace applique over it so the seam wouldn't be visible. She really knows what she is doing, and you will not be disappointed with her work. Also, her prices are extremely reasonable for the quality of work she does. If you live in the Lynchburg or Bedford area, don't go to anyone but her! read more

I am one of THOSE brides who bought my dress online... 3 street sizes too big, and prayed that I would find someone who would help me make my dress fit the way I always hoped. Everyone I spoke with recommended The Gilded Thimble and I can now see why! I could not believe the transformation I saw in my dress- it went from 3 sizes too big to fitting me PERFECTLY! Even more, I wasn't in love with the fit when it arrived, but Carissa worked her magic and was able to make my dream dress become a reality! I cannot say THANK YOU enough and I cannot express how blessed I am to have found The Gilded Thimble! read more

Carissa was a wonder to work with and did a FANTASTIC job on my wedding dress alterations! I have somewhat large hips and a beaded gown that was a little too small, so she had to take it out in the hips and replace all that beadwork. The finished product was SEAMLESS. I direct all the business I can in her direction whenever one of my friends becomes engaged. She made what could have been a nerve-wracking dress alteration into a great experience. I cannot recommend her enough. read more

Carissa, the seamstress behind The Gilded Thimble, treated my mother and I like family when we went to her shop for my final fitting. It was a great experience from start to finish. The work was timely, well priced, and well done. My dress looks beautiful and it is exactly my vision. If you have a dress needing to be altered, contact the Gilded Thimble. Her website, shop, and personality are shining and would put any bride at ease. read more

The Gilded Thimble took a dress that was not going to work and made it beautiful! Carissa did an amazing job of putting in a corsetted back and covering up the "girls" so that everything was not showing! She made the appointment fun and put me at ease when I was worried that the dress would not look right! She is awesome and takes great care of her clients. read more