Getting 10 People Fitted in 3 Days: A Family Tailoring Survival Guide

A note from Jay: Our biggest single-family order was 14 people. Three generations. Two countries. One grandmother who had the final say on everything. It was glorious. Large groups are genuinely our favorite thing -- not because of the order size, but because the energy is incredible. Someone is always cracking jokes. Someone else is trying on a jacket and doing a slow spin for the group. A kid is hiding inside a fabric roll. Uncle Steve is holding two nearly identical swatches up to the light for the seventh time. (They are both charcoal, Steve.) I have done hundreds of these, and I still love them. This is the guide I wish every big family group had before walking through our door.

What Walking In With 10 People Actually Looks Like

Picture this. It is a Tuesday morning on Tran Hung Dao Street. The door opens, and in comes the whole crew.

Grandma is already eyeing the silk -- she wants a traditional ao dai and she knows exactly what color. Dad has been googling "navy suit hoi an" for three weeks. Mom has 47 Pinterest saves on her phone. The teenager wants something -- but definitely "not like, formal." The 12-year-old wants to match her mom but in a different color. The 6-year-old is already running between fabric rolls like it is the world's most colorful obstacle course. And Uncle Steve is standing in front of two swatches he has been comparing for five minutes, asking everyone within earshot: "Is this charcoal or slate grey?"

Steve, they are the same color.

Our Lady Boss Linda walks over, sizes up the situation in about three seconds, and starts with: "Why are you so handsome?!" to the nearest person. Drinks appear. Someone finds a chair for grandma. And within ten minutes, what felt like chaos becomes a plan.

This is our favorite kind of day. We have done it hundreds of times. Organized chaos is totally fine. We have got you.

The Single Best Thing You Can Do: WhatsApp Us Before You Arrive

If there is one piece of advice I could tattoo on every group coordinator's forehead, it is this: send us a WhatsApp message before you land.

You do not need to have everything figured out. Even a vague heads-up changes everything. Here is what helps us:

• How many people -- and rough ages (adults, teens, kids)
• What everyone is thinking of getting -- even "Dad wants a suit, Mom wants a dress, the rest are undecided" is perfect
• Any events you are ordering for -- wedding, work, family reunion photos, or just "we want nice stuff"
• Reference photos -- if anyone has saved anything on Pinterest or Instagram, send them along
• Your arrival date and how many days you have in Hoi An -- this is the big one

Why does this matter? Because when your group of 10 walks in cold, the first visit is spent figuring out what everyone wants. When you message ahead, your first visit is spent actually making it happen. We can have fabrics pulled and ready. We can schedule enough staff so nobody is waiting around. We can tell you honestly if your timeline works or if you need to adjust expectations.

The difference between a pre-planned group and a walk-in group is about two hours of saved time on Day 1. When you only have three days, those two hours matter.

The 3-Day Schedule: How It Actually Works

This is the timeline we recommend for a group of 8-12 people. It works. We have tested it a few hundred times.

Day 1: The Big Browse (2-3 hours)

Everyone comes in together. This is the fun part -- browsing fabrics, flipping through design books, trying on sample garments, getting measured. With 10 people, plan for 2-3 hours in the shop. That sounds like a lot, but the time flies. You are touching cashmere and drinking Vietnamese iced coffee. Nobody is bored.

Here is the key: not everyone needs to decide everything on Day 1. The decisive people -- you know who they are in your family -- will pick their fabrics, choose their styles, and get measured in 20 minutes. The undecided people can browse, watch the decisive ones order, and come back later that afternoon or evening. Watching someone else go through the process first almost always helps the hesitant ones figure out what they want.

By the end of Day 1, we want everyone measured and at least 70-80% of decisions made. The last few holdouts can finalize on the morning of Day 2.

Day 2: First Fittings (Staggered)

This is where the magic happens. You come back and see the garments starting to take shape. Do not bring everyone at the same time. We will schedule two groups -- a morning batch and an afternoon batch. Each person's fitting takes 10-20 minutes, depending on the garment.

The morning group comes in, tries everything on, we pin adjustments, everyone gives feedback. Then you go have lunch, hit the beach at An Bang, take a cooking class -- whatever you want. The afternoon group comes in later.

This is also the moment where someone in the group sees another person's jacket and says, "Wait, I want one of those too." Budget for this. It happens in about 60% of our group orders.

Day 3: Final Fittings, Last Tweaks, and the Photo

Final fittings are quicker -- 5-10 minutes per person. Any last adjustments (take in the waist a quarter inch, shorten the sleeve a touch) get done on the spot. You try it on one more time, look in the mirror, and that is the moment. The nod. The smile. The "oh wow."

This is also when many families do the matching family photo -- especially if you have ordered coordinating ao dai or suits. We can recommend local photographers who are used to working with groups. More on that below.

Pack your new clothes or arrange shipping (see the logistics section), and you are done.

Every Group Needs a Coordinator (You Know Who You Are)

In every family, there is one person who is already making a spreadsheet. Who likes group chats. Who sends calendar invites for things that do not need calendar invites. This person is your coordinator, and they are worth their weight in Vietnamese silk.

The coordinator's job is simple:

• Collect preferences before the trip -- even a casual "what are you thinking of getting?" text to the group saves enormous time
• Be the WhatsApp contact -- one person talking to us is much more efficient than ten
• Schedule fitting times -- herd the cats so not everyone shows up at once on Day 2
• Handle the budget conversation -- more on this below, but someone needs to have it

If you are reading this guide, you are probably the coordinator. Welcome. You are doing great. And honestly, being the one who organized the whole thing means the family will be thanking you for years when they wear these clothes to weddings and holiday dinners.

Let's Talk Money: Group Budget Planning

The number one thing I tell every group: set individual budgets before you walk in, not after you start touching fabrics. Once you feel the cashmere, all financial discipline evaporates. I have seen it happen. I have personally experienced it happen. Ask my wife.

Here is what typical per-person spending looks like:

For a group of 10, the typical total lands somewhere between $1,500 and $4,000 depending on what everyone orders. That sounds like a lot until you do the math on what even two suits and three dresses would cost at home.

A few realities about group budgets:

• People will go over their budget. Not everyone, but at least two or three people in your group will. This is fine. Just know it going in.
• The "I only want one thing" person will order three things. This is the natural law of tailor shops. We did not write the rules.
• Sometimes grandma is paying. This is common and wonderful. Multi-generational trips often have a family benefactor who treats everyone to at least one piece. If this is the situation, it helps to let us know so we can give grandma a clear total as we go, rather than a surprise at the end.

Check out our full pricing menu to get specific numbers before your trip.

The Matching Family Photo: The Real Highlight

I am going to say something that surprises people: for most of our large family groups, the clothes are not the main thing they talk about afterward. The photo is.

Families who get coordinating outfits -- matching ao dai in the same fabric, suits in complementary colors, dresses in a shared palette -- and then do a group photo in the Old Town or at a local temple? That photo becomes the photo from the entire trip. It ends up framed, on holiday cards, as phone wallpapers, on every relative's mantle for the next decade.

We can help with the coordination side -- suggesting colors that photograph well together, picking fabrics that match across garments, making sure the kids' versions look cohesive with the adults'. We can also recommend local photographers who have experience with group shoots and know the best locations and lighting times.

The best spots for group photos include the yellow walls of the Ancient Town, the Japanese Covered Bridge (go early morning before the crowds), the Thu Bon riverfront, and the nearby rice paddies for a more dramatic backdrop. Early morning or late afternoon light is best.

If coordinating outfits is something your group wants, mention it in your WhatsApp message before you arrive. It does not cost extra or take extra time, but it does help us pull the right fabrics in the right quantities before your first visit.

Keeping Everyone Happy: The Family Diplomacy Section

After doing this hundreds of times, I have learned a few things about how different family members approach the tailor shop experience. None of this is scientific. All of it is true.

The Indecisive Ones

Let them watch the decisive family members order first. Seriously. The person who cannot choose between six blue fabrics will suddenly narrow it down to two after watching their sister confidently pick one in 30 seconds. Social proof works on fabric selection the same way it works on everything else.

Teenagers

The key with teenagers is ownership. Let them pick their own lining color, or choose a small customization -- contrast stitching, a unique button, a monogram placement. If they feel like it is their design and not their parents' design, they actually get into it. We have had 16-year-olds walk in with arms crossed and walk out genuinely excited about a blazer. The trick is never telling them what to get.

Little Kids (Under 10)

We make miniature versions and they love it. A tiny suit that matches Dad's. A little ao dai in the same silk as Mom's. Kids in custom-fitted clothes are absurdly cute, and they know it. The fitting takes about five minutes because a child's attention span is five minutes. This is fine. We work fast.

Grandparents

Keep it comfortable and meaningful. A well-fitted ao dai for a special occasion, a simple tailored shirt or blouse, a lightweight jacket. Nothing too complicated, nothing too trendy. Grandparents tend to know exactly what they want and they tell us directly, which honestly makes them the easiest people to work with in the whole group.

The Person Who "Doesn't Want Anything"

There is always one. They come along because the family is going. They sit on the couch with their iced coffee and watch everyone else. They say "I am just here for moral support" at least twice.

By Day 2, they are ordering two shirts and asking about a blazer.

This happens so reliably that we could set our clocks by it. Do not pressure them. Do not try to convince them. Just let them be around the process. The fabrics do the work.

Logistics Times Ten: Getting Everything Home

Here is a math problem for you: if one person's Hoi An wardrobe creates a suitcase crisis, what does ten people's worth create?

The answer is that shipping becomes not just convenient but necessary for most large groups. The good news is that shipping the whole group's order together is actually more cost-effective per person than shipping individually. We can pack everything into one or two boxes via DHL or FedEx, and instead of each person paying $50-100 for individual shipping, the per-person cost drops significantly when you consolidate.

Your options:

• Consolidate and ship together via DHL -- this is what most large groups do. One shipment, split the cost. Usually works out to $20-40 per person for a group of 8-10.
• The market suitcase -- Hoi An's central market sells suitcases for $15-30. At least one person in your group will buy one. It is tradition at this point.
• Excess baggage -- check your airline's policy. Vietnam Airlines charges $25-100 per extra bag depending on route.
• Wear it to the airport -- we have seen groups wearing matching suit jackets through Da Nang Airport. They looked fantastic and they saved luggage space. Win-win.

For the full breakdown of every option, read our dedicated guide: The Suitcase Problem: How to Get All Your New Clothes Home From Hoi An.

Group Scenarios We Handle All the Time

If you are wondering "is my group normal?" the answer is yes. Here are the most common types of large groups we work with:

• Wedding parties -- groomsmen in matching suits, bridesmaids in coordinated dresses, bride and groom getting their main pieces. This is actually what we do most often with large groups. Check out our wedding page or our guide to dressing an entire wedding party for under $2,000.
• Multi-generational family trips -- grandparents, parents, kids, all traveling together. Often celebrating an anniversary, birthday, or retirement. The ao dai family photo is huge with this group.
• Family reunion vacations -- cousins and siblings who have not all been together in years, using the trip as a bonding experience. The tailor shop becomes a shared activity that everyone participates in.
• Friend groups -- bachelor/bachelorette trips, milestone birthdays, "we have been talking about going to Vietnam for five years and finally did it" groups. These tend to be the most fun because everyone is in vacation mode.
• Corporate or team retreats -- matching shirts or blazers for a company team. More common than you would think.

Frequently Asked Questions for Groups

Can you actually handle 10+ people at once?

Yes. We schedule for it. When you WhatsApp us in advance, we make sure we have enough staff on hand so nobody is waiting around twiddling their thumbs. We have handled groups of 15 and it works smoothly. The key is the pre-planning.

Do we all need to come at the same time?

For the first visit -- yes, ideally. It is more efficient when everyone is there for fabric selection and measurements. For fittings on Day 2 and Day 3, we actively encourage you to stagger -- morning group and afternoon group. It is faster for you and better for the tailors.

What if someone in the group is not sure what they want?

Totally normal. They can browse on Day 1, watch everyone else, and decide later that day or on Day 2 morning. We have never had someone genuinely sit out the entire trip. The "I do not want anything" person always comes around. Always.

Can we mix and match? Some want suits, others want dresses, others want ao dai?

Absolutely. That is the norm for family groups, not the exception. We make everything under one roof -- men's suits, women's dresses, ao dai, shirts, silk pajamas, overcoats, kids' clothes, you name it. Your group's order can be as varied as your group.

What if someone changes their mind after ordering?

Within Day 1, no problem at all. We have not started cutting yet. Changes on Day 2 get trickier depending on how far along the garment is, but small adjustments (different buttons, change the lining, adjust the length) are almost always doable. The earlier you tell us, the easier it is.

Do you offer group discounts?

We keep our pricing transparent and honest for everyone. Our prices are already a fraction of what you would pay in the US, Europe, or Australia -- a custom suit at $129-$289 versus $800-$2,000+ at home. That said, when you are ordering for a large group, we will work with you to make it work within your budget. Just talk to us.

Can some people order remotely if they cannot make the trip?

Yes. If a few family members cannot be in Hoi An but want to be part of the group order, they can send us their measurements and preferences via WhatsApp. We will add their pieces to the group order and ship everything together. We do remote orders for clients in 50+ countries -- it is a well-oiled process.

What if we only have 2 days instead of 3?

Two days is doable for a group, but it is tight. We will consolidate fittings and work faster. Three days is the sweet spot because it gives everyone breathing room and gives our tailors time to do their best work. If you only have two days, let us know in advance so we can plan accordingly. For more on timing and the fitting process, read our first-timer's guide.

The Part Nobody Warns You About

I want to end with something real. Large family groups at our shop are not just a tailoring experience. They are a family experience.

There is something about standing in a room full of fabric with the people you love, watching your mom light up when she sees herself in a silk ao dai for the first time, or seeing your dad stand a little taller in a jacket that actually fits his shoulders. The teenager who rolled their eyes walking in is now asking if they can get a second blazer. The 6-year-old is spinning in circles in a miniature suit. Grandma is crying, just a little, because the whole family is together and everyone looks beautiful.

These are the days we remember. Yours and ours.

For more on planning your family's Hoi An trip, check out our complete family travel guide -- it covers everything from restaurants to day trips to accommodation for large groups.

Ready to start planning your group's visit? Send us a WhatsApp message at +84 (0) 917 151 186 with your group size, your dates, and whatever info you have -- even if it is just "12 people, arriving Thursday, no idea what we want yet." That is more than enough. We will take it from there.

Nathan Tailors -- 127 Tran Hung Dao Street, Hoi An, Vietnam. Established 1999. 364+ five-star Google reviews. 5,000+ happy clients worldwide. And we are really, really good with big groups.