- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee boards
My first quote was $350. I shopped around, my second quote (for the same thing - basically making a new top) was $50 - I went back probably 8 times to get it right, but in the end she was like I don't like to charge more than I initially quoted - I gave her $80. I think I got a GREAT deal though - from what I've heard alterations are super expensive.
Mine was just a hem and it was $350! These places may overcharge but they claim they know how to alter a wedding gown better than a regular tailor. It does seem like a lot when you consider the cost of the dress, but I really don't know if that comes into account. Did you already leave the dress for the alterations? If not maybe you can ask them to hold off and at least price out some other tailors.
yhst-76425617896115_2137_6478454.jpg (152 KB, 66 downloads) 1 year old Mezz_White_Sash.JPG (413.7 KB, 36 downloads) 1 year old 
I went to an independent bridal seamstress and I'm getting a ton of alterations for $200. I didn't want to go to a bridal salon because I was worried they'd overcharge me and I hated the seamstress at a salon who did my sister's BM alterations. Maybe prices are different for SoCal vs DC?
092.JPG (1772.5 KB, 29 downloads) 1 year old C-JRichardson-486.jpg (909.1 KB, 27 downloads) 1 year old 
Wow...that seems like a lot!! The only quote that I have gotten is from a small, local bridal store that offered to take it in, shorten the dress, put in cups, put in the bustle, and steam the dress for $200.
I had wedding sticker shock too. I am sure you could have the same party for less money if it wasn't a wedding. Anyway, I paid $300 in alterations for my $900 dress. I didn't shop around because I heard the seamstress was awesome. I went in a total of 4 times to get the bustle and top right. My dress fit perfectly.
I would shop around. My alterations cost me 140$ (just the hem)
Dude, the place where I bought my dress has a flat rate for alterations: $499 no matter how much or how little you need to get done. Plus that doesn't include bra cups or buttons if you need them. No thank you! So I'm shopping around. I'll probably need the top taken in, a bit of hemming, a bustle, bra cups, buttons (maybe) and steaming. I'm sure I can find that for less than $500. I'm like you, my dress was inexpensive so I can't imagine spending nearly as much as my dress on alterations. You have a decent amount of time, so is it possible to do some super fast legwork and shop around? Get recs from friends/family/local boards? If not...ugh that sucks. But at least your dress will fit, right? Good luck :)
My dress is entirely lace, and to hem and adjust the fitting (take out a little in the sides), the price was $500. My seamstress does fantastic work, though - I trust her completely!
I'd say for the average bride's alterations, about $200 (changing the hem line, adding a bustle, adjust the bust or corset). For an overhaul, meaning almost every seam has to be adjusted, $400 to $600. It's loads of work, really time consuming, and can be frustrating with lace.
I think you may have been charged a little too much, is there anyway you can cancel your order and shop around? A dear friend and master seamstress is working on my dress and it is her wedding gift to us. I think if she charged us, it would cost about $250 to $300.
@mklove: That's for sure! (That weddings cost more than a comparative party, just because of the label.)
Alterations are notoriously expensive, unless you spend a lot of time shopping around at places that don't specialize in wedding gowns. =/ Unfortunately, that's just the way it is.
bridal_headband_crystalwide.jpg (213.1 KB, 33 downloads) 1 year old bridal_belt_m.jpg (622.1 KB, 32 downloads) 1 year old bridal_belt_sash_f.jpg (186.5 KB, 30 downloads) 1 year old 
My seamstress was highly recommended at the place I bought my dress. She's charging me $215 for taking in the top, bra cups, bustle and hem. I wanted to have the train removed but because the dress has a lace applique hem, that would have been another $250. Too rich for me. :(
If you still can, definitely shop around. Some lace dresses are easier to alter than it appears as the bottom hem is a separate piece of lace from the main skirt, so it's taken off, the main section shortened and then the lace band re-attached. A wedding dress is still basically a fancy dress, and a good seamstress with experience working on other kinds of dresses should have no problem working on it.
My cousin got her wedding dress from DB, and was quoted $250 four years ago for shortening the dress (three layers of fabric), shortening the thin straps and putting in a one point bussle. Not really what she could afford at the time. My mom is an excellent sewer (but not by profession), so she said she'd do it. I helped and it only took us about two hours to do total. It wasn't any harder than prom dresses or the halloween costumes we'd worked on in the past!
It's unfortunate that your Alterations cost almost as much as your dress, and I'm surprised at EAQ129's $499. price tag regardless of what's involved. That's not normal and anyone confronted with that should absolutely look elsewhere.
However, sometimes an alteration can take days of labor. Hours and sometime days to take apart carefully without ruining it, and days to put it all back together. A Hem: Layers and in lace or chiffon it's not easy at all! Sides: lining and layers of interlinings boning and god forbid beads! Sometimes they look 'simple' from the outside but once you get out the seam ripper it's another story. To me all Jenny Yu dresses are a labor nightmare lurking in a simple dress so I now upcharge for them, a hem once took me 8 hours! 8 hours = $???.00 per hour of my time?
My dress was $700 and alterations ended up being $280. I had a bustle done, the bottom hemmed, the torso taken in about 2 inches, and the neckline changed from strapless to sweetheart.
My alterations cost me more than the dress itself...but I did get the dress on sale. The alterations were $235. That included the hem (3 layers), the bustle, taking the straps in, and sewing in some cups.
I think the biggest sticker shock I got was when I saw how much veils cost.
I think Alfred Angelo makes a lot of their money on alterations...their dresses are reasonably priced, but the alterations are ridiculous. They charged me $250 for a five-point bustle! I was so shocked I paid it and regretted it later. However, I still need alterations on the chest, and I won't be taking it to them.
I shopped for alterations, and didn't decide to go with the cheapest... but for a hem, bustle and bodice alterations, it cost about $200. My first quote was $500, and I wasn't happy with that, considering I didn't need that much done. I did however want a very reliable seamstress who came highly recommended. I was willing to pay more for that.
I can't remember how much mine cost right now, but I would definitely shop around :)
I got a hem, cups put in, and the straps adjusted for only $50. The seamstress's work was perfect. I bought my dress at a Nicole Miller store and the staff there recommended my seamstress. I would definitely shop around!
People saying how much their alterations cost them doesn't really help at all without knowing what their dresses looked like. Obviously a dress with 5 layers of tulle, beading, or other nonsense is going to cost more than a single layer silk dress. The structure of the dress itself can change the amount of work required to "take up a simple hem" dramatically.
Shop around. Most people get ripped off at a bridal shop. The same thing can be done by a seasoned seamstress elsewhere for much, much less. "Google" it or "Yelp" it. You will be so pleasantly surprised. I googled my city and "Bridal Alterations" and it led me to a fantastic seamstress. I also looked her up on Yelp and she got rave reviews there as well.
Well, I haven't got an alteration quote yet. My dress has no train, and unless I lose weight I am lucky I won't have to have it taken in!
i can't believe they can get away with charging you guys so much! I have been told if they have to alter the dress in any way its a minimum of £60. If there is a bit more work to be done, it will cost a max of £100. i think thats somewhere from $100-$150.
That seems about right, especially for lace. I know, it sucks but, you really want the dress to fit you properly.
my alterations cost more than i paid for my dress, but to keep it in perspective, i got my $300 dress for $100 (+25 for shipping? off eBay and paid $130 for significant alterations including pulling out the zipper for a corset back and hemming; my seamstress charges $30/hr for labor and at cost for materials.
If you buy your dress from an Alfred Angelo store, the alterations are not done locally from what I understand. At least that is what I was told by my former boss, and bridal salon owner. She told me that they do one fitting, and then send the dress to Florida. So, I would definately verify if that is true. And definately shop around. While seams all the way down the sides of the dress for three layers, and a hem is a lot of work, $499 seems a bit much to me. If a price does not sit right with you, shop around for a private seamstress. Ask how much experience she has with bridal. Ask your dry cleaner. They often know. Check with the fabric store. A good seamstress will have references of regular customers, know her prices, and should have pictures of gowns she has made. If a seamstress has made a gown, she should be able to alter one. Usually, a bridal shop that is taking in a gown that they did not sell will charge more for their services. Sometimes it is charging for pressing, which is usually a cost included in the cost of a purchase of a wedding gown.
My dress was $750. I paid an additional $100 to the designer to make it in a custom length so I wouldn't have to alter that when it came in.
My seamstress only charged me about $150 to take in the bust (she had to remove and replace the beading), lower the corset, sew in cups, and add a 3 point bustle.
I am personally dreading how much alterations will cost. In an ideal world, I would not want to alter a thing but I know for a fact that I will HAVE to alter the length. Gosh knows what else... Im hoping it wont cost more than $250 in all... We'll find out in March!
My alterations will be between $300 and $350, depending on the number of bustles she puts in. If I had done them through Priscilla of Boston, they would've been $495. The only thing about yours that is surprising is that it was an Alfred Angelo. They kind of run off of an affordability model, so I can see why you were surprised. In most regions, quality alterations by bridal specialists should run between $250 and $500. It really depends on the dress and the number of seams that need to come in. Taking up a hem can be cheap on a simple hem, but astronomical on a detailed one.
You must log in to post.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| ellisrobertson | 23 |
| MsPanda | 14 |
| aduarte3201 | 14 |
| pengoala | 11 |
| ShellVee | 10 |
| ladyartichoke | 10 |
| ndreighton | 10 |
| fishbone | 10 |
| londonchick | 9 |
| likelimeade | 8 |
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| likelimeade | 2 |
| redband | 2 |
| gonnabeMrsHH | 2 |
| Otterly | 2 |
| ellisrobertson | 2 |
| janebennett | 1 |
| KristenGotMarried | 1 |
| SFreeman2187 | 1 |
| Ms. Chai | 1 |
| kate02121 | 1 |
Hey y'all. It's too bad you one gets married just once in their lives (or at least just a few times...) because I am having an education in all things weddings. Mostly sticker shock--
My beautiful alfred angelo dress that I re-fell in love with cost $402 to alter!!! The dress itself was $500. Is this normal? Did I get taken? It had to be taken in on the sides all the way down and I had to have it rehemmed: it's two layers one thick satin and the other chantilly lace. That's the challenging part. But, I thought Alfred Angelo, being a reasonably priced store would offer reasonably priced alterations.
I walked in for my first fitting alone. Everyone else had their entourages: bmaids, mothers, grandmothers, fathers...I did not know that I needed support and went alone. Now I know why. Stunned, I wrote the check.
Should I have shopped around? How much are y'all spending on alterations? What is normal and customary?