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yes, alteration is annoyingly expensive! and even though i go with a private seamstress rather than having the alteration done by the bridal salon's seamstress, it's still pretty expensive (though cheaper already).
Yeah mine was $250 without the bustle so I'm sure it'll be about $300 when I'm done.
i guess i was under a different impression, i did not even imagine it to be as much! so so far i spent 250$, i might to take it in a little bit, so i wonder how much that is going to cost me!
I was under the impression it would be cheaper as well. Everyone I talked to was like "yeah you'll spend like a couple hundred dollars max"....or not haha. However, I know this woman is awesome so as long as it looks good, that's what matters!
yep! My mom and I joke that my alterations were almost as much as the dress ;)
I went with my FDIL this past week for her fitting and was shocked at what the bridal shop wants to charge her and how their prices fluctuated for the same service if she agreed to do even more alterations. When she ordered the dress 8 months ago, she was told that she could change the brown velvet sash with crystal beading on it to a diamond white sash. They said the beading was on some sort of mesh that could be lifted off and placed on a new white sash. Sooooo...now it turns out that they didn't know what they were talking about as there is no mesh, and the beading is all sewn directly to the brown sash. So now they want to sell her a completely different beaded sash for $150 and charge her an additional $100 to sew it on! And here's the kicker. If she leaves the brown sash alone (no alteration at all) then her hem and bustle cost $180. But if she buys the new sash, the hem and bustle costs $150. They are encouraging her to make the sash changes for an extra $250 in order to get $30 off on the hemming and bustling? It reminds me of when I had a small dent in my car and the repair shop said it would be $800 if I turned it in to my insurance company, and only $400 if I paid instead. I think their should be a set price for each type of service (hemming, bustling, etc.) and the shop needs to just stick to it.
yea and ive noticed that other alteration places are now charging a fitting fee if you decide not to go with them. I was quoted $375 for a hem, bustle and taken in and i decided to go else where since it was out of budget for me and the lady told me its gonna be a $45 "fitting fee" if i didnt decide to use her.
@sweetlikcake: A fitting fee huh? That seems like something that should be told to brides upfront.
@futuremominlaw: I believe my tailor had a set price for each of the services, but I'm guessing that based on the fact that when she wrote out my bill she seemed to have set amounts for each of the things (ex. hemming, the bust area, bustle, etc).
I just had my first fitting this morning, and to hem the bottom of the dress and the under layer and crinoline and french bustle was 285. Sheesh!
@suttinista my price was the same thing for the same stuff, well maybe mine was 30$ less, i am in Oklahoma! but still, 250!!!!
private seamstresses are always better. the bridal shop was gonna charge me $700+ for JUST hemming and a tiny take in of the bust. seroiusly?
the seamstress goddess i got to do my dress is awesome and is hemming, doing the bustle, taking in the top and the thigh area for only $225 and she does AMAZING work.
$475 for hem (lace), taking in on top and bustle. I nearly died! The place was recommended by Kleinfeld (I bought a sample dress there). I am paying them in installments as its cash only. It better be PEFECT when i see it in 2 weeks.
I am a seamstress; not a paid one. I can understand why it costs so much for alterations because I do a lot of sewing. I do agree though that a lot of seamstresses do overcharge for alterations. I am having someone else do the alterations on my gown because it has a lot of lace and beading and I want a corset back put in and it will probably also need a hem. I will have my eyes wide open though and know what reasonable costs should be for the alterations.
This makes me worry. I found the dress I wanted at David's Bridal, and then went and bought it from a private seller in the same size with the tags on it for $500 less and the slip and veil included. Because I didn't actually buy it from David's Bridal they won't let me get my alterations there (even though I got all of the bridesmaid's dresses there) so I found a lady who is willing to hem it, bustle it, and steam it for $50. I am hoping it works out.
I only paid $85. The bustle was $50, she moved the straps over, and tighted the bust.
holy moly! gosh - some days I'm so glad I stalk the 'bee. I need to adjust my adjustments budget now...haha
We went with an independent seamstress. The total cost was $257 for:
I would definitely suggest finding out who the good independent seamstresses in your area are. As for the "fitting charge" for not using their fitting services, that should definitely be treated as part of the dress price!
Our alterations were included with the price of the dress which will need to be taken in a little and a bustle added. We will be paying to add a small lace sleeve to the dress but not sure what the cost will be yet.
I really wish my alterations were added in! I did not expect it to be as much, so it pushed me a bit over budget, but its ok.
@tatsmom - you it is awesome that your alterations are added in!
I definitely recommend shopping around for a seamstress. However, don't go with someone who isn't highly recommended. I bought an Anne Barge sample dress and am using their seamstress. They are expensive, but probably not outrageous. Personally, I feel they are worth the extra money since they work on AB dresses all the time. They quoted me $400 to A)Let out the bodice (probably a whole dress size) B)Hem, remove beaded border and re-attach C)5 to 7 pt french bustle. I am trying to lose enough weight to eliminate A.
I guess I got off a little lucky. I paid $120 for the bust to be tightened, cups to be sewn in, and length shortened about an inch. I can imagine that it takes a long time with all of the material in a wedding dress, so I thought that the price was reasonable.
$250 is considered a great deal here in the DC area... I asked around to find out how much my friends spent on their alterations, and heard either $500 or $600 on it. On freaking alterations!!!!
So found a highly recommend it seamstress that does it for $250. Here that is a STEAL.
My alterations were sticker price of $550. Fortunately, a family friend worked at the salon where I purchased my dress and part of my contract price for my dress was $400 in free alterations so I only had to pay $150. I thought there was no way I would need that amount! I had the bodice taken quite a bit and because of all the detailing on the fabric, they had to repin it . I also had covered buttons added to the back and a bustle. For $150, I felt like I got a lot, if I had paid sticker price, I think it was a little absurd.
@CCSR: i bet we are going to the same seamstress - or at least one of the three highly recommended ones.. LOL
Hmm, apparently I had a different experience. I'm having my alterations done at the bridal salon and they added a crinoline layer to the dress (so I don't have to wear a special slip) and are taking in the side seams for a total of $140. Since I'm getting a regular bustle, that's free.
i went with the local shop that I bought my dress and paid $60 for the hem, straps to be taken up and a small amount let out in the hips. However, having seen my mom alter dresses in the past, the more beading or lace a dress has, the more complicated a hem can be. Beading and lace along the bottom of the dress many times requires the dress be taken apart at the waist and shorted from there (i.e., EXTREMELY time intensive).
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i went for my dress fitting today, plus i knew i need to get it bustled up. Well, 250$ later ....86$ for the bustle and 175+ for making in 2 inches shorter...wow!!!