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Having second thoughts about speed of things...

Did you need to have your dress altered?

posted 4 months ago in Dress
  • poll: Did you have to alter?
    Yes : (43 votes)
    93 %
    No : (3 votes)
    7 %
  •  
    1.
    Member
    433 posts
    Helper bee
    MargaritaVille    June 29, 2013  

    Yikes! I'm getting scared by all the people that are having their dresses altered.

    How many people here needed to have their dresses altered?

    If so, how much did your dress cost and how much did it cost to alter?

    What all did you have altered?

    (I'm really trying to figure out a dress budget so any information is appreciated

     

    Thanks!

     
    2.
    Member
    4,635 posts
    Honey bee
    MASPA    December 2012   East Coast

    I had a flat fee of $500.  I purchased from the designer flagship so I knew there was a premium for that.  I had it hemmed, taken in, straps adjusted, bustled and cups sewn in.

     
    3.
    Member
    1,402 posts
    Bumble bee
    CherryWaves      

    I had my dress hemmed, a 9 point french(?) bustle put in (cathedral length, bubble hem) and taken in a tiny bit in my bust area.

    Because I paid w/ cash it cost me a flat $300.

     
    4.
    Member
    1,752 posts
    Buzzing bee
    littlemisst08    February 9, 2013   San Antonio, TX

    Original cost of dress was about $850

    I had a ton taken in at the waist, and a bustle. My hem was perfect! Cost of alterations was just over $200.

     
    5.
    Member
    2,097 posts
    Buzzing bee
    MLDoddie    June 2013  

    I bought a sample - so a size 10.  I'm a size 4 in wedding dresses.... and I'm 5'1'' on a good hair day.  My dress has been at the alterations place since October... BLAHHH

     
    6.
    Member
    2,701 posts
    Sugar bee
    mchitt329    January 19, 2013   Grand Haven, MI

    I had to have my dress altered, but only to add a bustle... then I got talked into adding cups.

    Dress: $1216

    Bustle: $150

    Cups: $20

    =$1386

    If you don't want to have alterations don't buy a dress with a train!

     

     
    7.
    Member
    1,438 posts
    Bumble bee
    missmorganista    June 1, 2013   Tennessee/Alabama

    I'm going to need to have it taken in and hemmed. It's wayyyy too long and big.

     
    8.
    Member
    532 posts
    Busy bee
    hassle_J    March 23, 2013   Denver, Co

    Mine needed to be taken in, bustled, and to remove the halter straps.  I was originally going to use David's Bridal, but I decided to shop another seamstress....She quoted me $75  for all the altering, plus steaming and pressing!

     

     

     
    9.
    Member Icon
    Member
    322 posts
    Helper bee
    alleycat1984    June 29, 2013  

    I need to get mine steamed so badly, and my veil, it came so wrinkled from David's Bridal and a bustle put in, strap made tighter, and it would be great if I lost weight and they had to take the dress in but for now those are all the alterations and my seamstress said itll be 200

     
    10.
    Member
    1,372 posts
    Bumble bee
    AmyFarrahFowler       

    I know I will need to have it altered. I am very short so it will definitely need to be hemmed. I also want to make sure it fits me EXACTLY - so even if that means taking it in less than 1/4 inch, I will do it. I will also have it bustled. I have a flat rate of $695 for any alterations. 

     
    11.
    Member
    1,756 posts
    Buzzing bee
    sheepandbear    May 16, 2013   Dallas, Tx

    Going to need alterations here for sure. Needing it taken in, bustle and a 3-4 inch hem for sure. Thats all I can think of right now but we will see...havent had an alteration apt yet... I'm terrified!!!

     
    12.
    Member
    7,012 posts
    Busy
    Beekeeper
    oracle    October 23, 2010  

    I didn't need the hemline altered - but it had to be taken in a little, I had bra cups sewn in - and the bustle was a small fortune (24 points at $15 a point).  I think my total was just under $600 (my dress was $1200 - so, it added a hefty sum!).

     
    13.
    Member
    268 posts
    Helper bee
    bdockery    November 10, 2012   Michigan

    I would say no matter what dress, what style, what size ... plan on having to have it altered. My alterations included sewing cups in, taking it in for the bust area, major hemming (i'm very short), and 10 point french bustle. The total came to about $330. The price of my dress was $550.

     
    14.
    Member
    895 posts
    Busy bee
    DeeVine1217    September 14, 2013   Canada

    I will definitely need to have mine hemmed and to add a bustle. I'm also considering having the back altered into a v-shape instead of straight across. I know the hem will cost $100... not sure about the rest.

     
    15.
    Member
    2,502 posts
    Sugar bee
    auggiefrog    August 25, 2012   Wauwatosa, WI

    The bust on my dress was too big, so I had that taken in.  Also I'm a shorty, and needed it shortened.  Plus I needed it bustled.  My mom knew a steamstress and we went to her, not the business she works for, and she charged me $100.  

     
    16.
    Member
    1,605 posts
    Bumble bee
    greenviolets    March 24, 2012   San Antonio

    I had mine hemmed and the bolero taken in.  It was also steamed and pressed.  It cost me $200. I also had it bustled. 

     
    17.
    Member
    6,142 posts
    Bee Keeper
    Lyndzo    August 25, 2012   Milton, ON EDD Jan 12/2014

    I'm a bride who had dress regret. The first dress I bought at DB, fit perfectly. NO alterations were needed. I had 1.5 inch heels picked out, so I didn't even need it hemmed.

    The dresses I ended up with needed it, the salon ordered the dress 2 sizes too big (ugh, long story) and I had to pay to have it taken in and hemmed.

     
    18.
    Member
    1,880 posts
    Buzzing bee
    jwilk241    October 12, 2013   VB

    I'm going to have to get it hemmed, bodice taken in, add bustle, have cups sewn in, and possbily altering the neckline to be a more pronounced sweetheart. Unfortunately it will probably cost a good amount as the skirt of my dress is textured and the bodice is completely embellished. (I was in between 2 sizes and if I could go back, I would have gotten the smaller size. It was only an inch difference and I know, now, that it would have been fine and I could have saved myself the money on it being taken in)

     
    19.
    Member
    7,809 posts
    Bumble
    Beekeeper
    vorpalette    August 23, 2013   Michigan

    I need a hem, yes. I'll probably off the train, too, since it's itty bitty and it's either going to drag on the ground or be weirdly bustled. Because it only needs that, my grandma is doing it.

     
    20.
    Member
    1,321 posts
    Bumble bee
    StephieBee    September 22, 2012   SoCal

    Almost everyone will need an alteration, since we're all so different :) I paid around $300 for extra tulle, waist and bust taken in, cups put in, and bustle. 

     
    21.
    Member
    2,008 posts
    Buzzing bee
    Westwood    September 1, 2012   Wisconsin

    It's extremely rare not to need any alterations at all. I had the hem shortened, bustle and cups added, and the sash sewn onto the dress. Sorry my mom paid for my alterations so I'm not sure how much is cost exactly, but I know the hem was around $150 because of all the layers in my skirt.

     
    22.
    Member
    2,191 posts
    Buzzing bee
    kes18    September 21, 2013   Kansas City

    I am one of the lucky people that definitely doesn't need alterations to the dress itself.  I will need a bustle put on though and the sash sewn in.  I'm 5'11"/6'0 so I don't need a hem, it is pretty much perfect length.  The sample I tried on was a bridal size 10 and that is my size I ordered and it fit great.  My dress when it came in also fit amazingly (it also has a lace up back...which I admit I am still on the fence as to whether I prefer the look of it or a zipper.  However, it does do great things fit wise!).

    I don't really need alterations other than a bustle but I still thought about having $200 for anything I needed done just in case.  You will be better off preparing for $200 or so.

     
    23.
    Member
    210 posts
    Helper bee
    elibas    June 1, 2013   Wilson, NC

    All the dresses I have tried on will need no alterations! I haven't purchased my dress yet, I am doing that on the 20th; I am running out of time!  Only thing I will need is a bustle if I choose a dress with a train.

     
    24.
    Member
    268 posts
    Helper bee
    Mrslen    September 29, 2012   Pgh

    I was lucky.. Maybe because it was tea length and I am 5' 8" but I didn't need any alterations. I bought a belt that needed tacked on, but that was something my mother was able to do With no problem. 

     
    25.
    Member
    4,317 posts
    Honey bee
    Caroheart    August 31, 2013   NJ

    I will definitely need alterations. I need the dress taken in (since I already know it will be too big SOMEWHERE), it needs to be hemmed, I'm having lace added to the back of the straps, and it has a (probably complicated) bustle. That's it for now... but I'm not sure how much it will cost since the shop charges hourly for alterations

     
    26.
    Member
    433 posts
    Helper bee
    MargaritaVille    June 29, 2013  

    Wow! Thanks for all of the info ladies! I guess I'll definitely have to keep these things in mind when I try on dresses. I'm worried because I'm tiny that It will be a huge pain in the butt to get it fitting right. And naturally FI would love it if I went strapless, but in all honesty, I'm just not a huge fan. I don't have much to hold up a strapless dress, so the last thing I want to do is be fidgeting with the top all night.

     
    27.
    Member Icon
    Member
    57 posts
    Worker bee
    futuremrsmck    June 20, 2013  

    dress was 750 or so
    alterations 250

    i had cups, sides taken in, and bustle

     
    28.
    Member
    331 posts
    Helper bee
    Westitude    Array  

    My dress was about $900.  I'm a shorty so the hem cost me $50.  Then I had to get a bigger size to accomodate my back side but the top was huge.  So with added cup and taking the dress in up top and bustle, that is about $200.  Then I bought a slip for another $135.  Will add some sparkles to the dress with a pin and that is $60.

     

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