Weddingbee boards

Yeah, I had this same problem a few months ago.  About a year ago, I went to bridal shop that was closing down because the owners were retiring.  I went there and I found 2 dresses that I loved. I actually couldn't choose between them so I bought both. I bought each dress for $100 each.  The were sample dresses.  When I was trying them on, they sales women kept saying it was gorgous on me and that the dress can "always be taken in". One dress was a size 10 and the other a size 14.  I'm a size 0/2.  Also, I thought since the dresses both laced up in the back it would also be in my favor.  And that alterations should cost between $300-400.  Ok, well my budget was around $500 so, that's great.

Well a few months later, I'm ready to take it to a seamstress.  Luckily I did this about 6 months before my wedding.  One semestress (with really good reviews) told me that she couldn't do it.  She said that with all the time she would spend, it would cost a fortune to fix.  She said that if she had to quote it, she would charge me upwards of $2000.  I was in disbelief.  I was shocked.  She looked at both dresses and she said they would both cost the same.  It was a sad day for me that day.  I almost cried. But I told myself to go get a second opinion.

I didnt have time that day to get another opinion so I did research it and I did find that you are able to take a dress down by 2 or 3 dress sizes.  :(  So the next day, I went to get some more opinions.

One quoted me at $500 and another at $400.  But going through 3 bridal seamstresses pinning my dress, I realized that half the beading would be gone.  All of that beading that I first loved about both dresses would be gone.  Also, I could be spending that money on a dress that actually fits me and on one that wasn't a sample dress.

After a lot of thinking, I made the decision to try to sell it on craigslist.  Luckily, I found someone to buy both dresses for what I first paid.  I took that money and found the a smaller size of the one of dresses on ebay. I had already fallen in love with one of the dresses and wanted that to be my dress. I was so fortunate enough to be able to sell my dresses and find the one I wanted on ebay in a smaller size.

The thing I learned was the lady to who sold me to dress was right in that you can always make a larger dress smaller... but within reason.  She failed to mention that last part. Within 2-3 dress sizes and if it laces up in the back you might be able get the seamstress to sew up the corset back.

 If you absolutely love you dress and are willing to pay the money to get it altered go for it. I honestly couldn't afford to spend that much in alterations.

Good luck!

Oh, in street clothes I am a 0/2 but in the dress that I found on ebay was a size 4.  It fits perfectly.  Oh and the only reason I considered buying it on ebay is because I knew first hand what the dress looked like. I knew I wanted that dress.  The girl who was selling the dress was the same size as me in street clothes and she had it cleaned and preserved.