The Sewing Place

Slight rant...ridiculous request

Bloobell

Slight rant...ridiculous request
« on: July 07, 2018, 16:45:39 PM »
I was telephoned at almost 9pm last night by a hotel that's about a 40 minute drive away from me. Hotel is one of those luxury former country house places, which has, according to hubby, had Justin Bieber staying there. Remember - 40 minute drive, each way.

Call was from someone in the management of the hotel, asking if I could help them out. They have a "huge wedding" there today. One of the bridal party tried their outfit on for the first time yesterday (I know, right). It didn't fit.

It needs altering around the bodice and bust, and the length needs shortened.

The wedding is today. Saturday.

They need me to drive up to them, do the fitting, take the dress and jacket away and fix them and then drive back to deliver them. Before the wedding. Which is today.

Today.

So that's four 40 minute journeys (assuming no disasters on the motorway). The alternative was to pack up my sewing machine and all the bits of kit I might need and do the alteration up there.

I don't even know the colour of the damn dress, so how can I pack the right colour of thread? Will I need boning? Will I need a replacement zip? Buttons? Hooks and eyes?

And as for lugging my precious and sodding heavy, worth £1500 sewing machine and £1000 overlocker in my car to a hotel room to work with an audience, where the bridal party will no doubt be screaming at each other over it and comforting a sobbing bride (or holding her back from stabbing her mother, mother in law or bridesmaid)......

No.
Thank.
You!!!

Who, in their right minds, leaves it till the night before the stupid wedding to try on their flaming outfit??????

UttaRetch

Re: Slight rant...ridiculous request
« Reply #1 on: July 07, 2018, 16:55:25 PM »
I think maybe someone mistook you for a theatrical wardrobe mistress who can magic up a change in no time at all. 0_0

They can afford a fancy wedding, but don't have the brains to check every last detail ahead of time.  Tough.

Acorn

Re: Slight rant...ridiculous request
« Reply #2 on: July 07, 2018, 17:02:04 PM »
I'd say that if one of the bridal party couldn't be bothered to try on her dress any earlier, maybe she shouldn't be in the bridal party!

I don't care if she's been on the other side of the world, if you take on that sort of commitment, you have to take it seriously.
I might look as though I'm talking to you, but inside my head I'm sewing.

Ohsewsimple

Re: Slight rant...ridiculous request
« Reply #3 on: July 07, 2018, 18:05:58 PM »
That would be my response too. Clearly don't understand how long things take.  Hell of a nerve I'd say.

Sandra

Re: Slight rant...ridiculous request
« Reply #4 on: July 07, 2018, 18:23:08 PM »
Good grief!
That's too much to ask/expect from anyone.

Some people.... :fish:

Sandra.
xxx

Bloobell

Re: Slight rant...ridiculous request
« Reply #5 on: July 07, 2018, 19:23:13 PM »
Glad its not just me!!! I wonder how it went....hubby said I could have charged a fortune, but I think I'd have lost my mind in exchange! In this heat, tempers were bound to fray.

BrendaP

Re: Slight rant...ridiculous request
« Reply #6 on: July 07, 2018, 21:07:41 PM »
It needs altering around the bodice and bust, and the length needs shortened.

and might have arrived on the boat from China.... so who knows what else was wrong with it!


No.
Thank.
You!!!


Absolutely the right response!

Tell her to breath in hard, or find some safety pins, or send her out to buy a needle and thread, but don't expect anyone else to do that sort of alteration, without warning, on the day.
Brenda.  My machines are: Corona, a 1953 Singer 201K-3, Caroline, a 1940 Singer 201K-3, Thirza, 1949 Singer 221K, Azilia, 1957 Singer 201K-MK2 and Vera, a Husqvarna 350 SewEasy about 20 years old. Also Bernina 1150 overlocker and Elna 444 Coverstitcher.
http://paternoster.orpheusweb.co.

Mr Twingo

Re: Slight rant...ridiculous request
« Reply #7 on: July 08, 2018, 08:17:18 AM »
I don't even know the colour of the damn dress

I think I can answer that for you:

In the pink on the happiest day of your life…


or

Uniquely corny…

Samantha

Re: Slight rant...ridiculous request
« Reply #8 on: July 08, 2018, 12:37:16 PM »
Those of you saying what a nerve and you can't expect someone to do - why not? I'm assuming they were expecting to pay for it and if anyone was brave enough to do it then I hope they were paid handsomely.  Yes it is a stupid person who doesn't try on their on their outfit before but a non sewer is not going to know how much work might be involved in fixing it and you never know, you might get lucky and find someone. If you don't ask you don't get.

Lowena

Re: Slight rant...ridiculous request
« Reply #9 on: July 08, 2018, 12:59:56 PM »
I might be one of those daft people who wouldn't try on a dress in advance  :| I hate trying on clothes, and it has been known  :|
Triumph of hope over experience :D

mammafairy

Re: Slight rant...ridiculous request
« Reply #10 on: July 08, 2018, 14:31:29 PM »
Congratulations on being strong enough to say no! I would have wanted to, but would have been unable to say absolute no. I might have suggested they do the round trip rather than you, though, if they want it enough.  And charge an good excess for the tight schedule, with no promises, as the alterations may not be possible....

Sewingsue

Re: Slight rant...ridiculous request
« Reply #11 on: July 08, 2018, 14:53:36 PM »
I suspect the hotel management just wanted to be able to go back to the guest and say they had tried but been unsuccessful (while thinking 'silly mare, serves her right, still they can't say we didn't try).
Bernina Aurora 440QE, Brother BC-2500, Singer 99K (1938), Juki MO-654DE overlocker, Silver Viscount 620D overlocker.

UttaRetch

Re: Slight rant...ridiculous request
« Reply #12 on: July 08, 2018, 15:07:46 PM »
I'm assuming they were expecting to pay for it and if anyone was brave enough to do it then I hope they were paid handsomely.
They could go out and buy a new dress for the money I would charge. 0_0  In fact, buying a new dress would have been by far the simplest solution.

BrendaP

Re: Slight rant...ridiculous request
« Reply #13 on: July 08, 2018, 16:29:53 PM »
Those of you saying what a nerve and you can't expect someone to do - why not? I'm assuming they were expecting to pay for it and if anyone was brave enough to do it then I hope they were paid handsomely. 

What if 'someone' (Bloobell) had driven for 40+ minutes, looked at the dress, said it couldn't be done, or couldn't be done in the ridiculously small amount of time left, and then had another 40+ minutes drive home.   Would they have paid handsomely for her time and petrol?
Brenda.  My machines are: Corona, a 1953 Singer 201K-3, Caroline, a 1940 Singer 201K-3, Thirza, 1949 Singer 221K, Azilia, 1957 Singer 201K-MK2 and Vera, a Husqvarna 350 SewEasy about 20 years old. Also Bernina 1150 overlocker and Elna 444 Coverstitcher.
http://paternoster.orpheusweb.co.

Samantha

Re: Slight rant...ridiculous request
« Reply #14 on: July 08, 2018, 17:21:41 PM »
What if 'someone' (Bloobell) had driven for 40+ minutes, looked at the dress, said it couldn't be done, or couldn't be done in the ridiculously small amount of time left, and then had another 40+ minutes drive home.   Would they have paid handsomely for her time and petrol?

Yep! Or you don't go and look. They've probably got the money if it's a swanky hotel and if they're in a bind then they'll have to pay for their stupidity.