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my dress is similar to yours: all lace with beadings/sparklers all over the dress. i didn't need alterations, but was quoted $80 had i needed to take in the sides (waist & hips).
i went with an independent seamstress who is very experienced by charges way lower than bridal shops. so i would recommend you to research for an independent seamstress in your area if you don't want to be over charged by bridal shops.
btw, i live in LA, everything is super expensive here, but if i can find someone to do it for $80, you sure can :)
The place I purchased my lace dress from measured me hollow to hem and had the designer make it to length for me when I placed my order and it was $100.00 extra. If we would have hemmed it after it would have been $300-400 (or so they said) in IL.
My dress was all lace. They had to hem it from a seam in the middle rather than hem from the bottom and mess up the scalloped edge. The only other alteration were some darts in the chest area. Total was a little over $200.
Thats my dress too-we're dress twins :) I just finished alterations on mine. My initial quote for alterations was $500 which including hemming it, modifying the bodice (had to take it in and shorten it), changing it to a sweetheart neckline, and bustle. After it was all said & done, I paid $617-i had her sew in cups and she embrodiered a patch with my new name, date and place of our wedding in blue to put on the underskirt.
Lace costs more for alterations because both the lace itself and lining need to be adjusted, and then the really hard part is making sure it still falls properly -- so says my friend who does alterations. I would suggest finding a friend like that. 
Of course ask for references, but it would probably be cheaper to look beyond the bridal salon.
I have altered lace wedding gowns before and they are time consuming. I hemmed and took the top of a bodice in for a girl whose dress was lace and beaded and charged her a little over $200 (going by my hourly rate).
My dress has an alencon lace back that extends over the bustline - I had to alter the neckline to a sweetheart and adjust the back, which was too big. Total cost was $450 but I went through a fancy bridal salon in downtown San Francisco for convenience purposes (close to my work) so I'm sure you can find a better deal if you shop around!
@October2010Bride:You look absolutely stunning in your dress! Please PM and tell me when your professional wedding pictures are ready!
@allieisasweety - thank you so much! I definitely will PM you - 21 days to go :)
Because your dress is a trumpet flare, I don't think they can just take it up at the waist, because that would affect how the lace lays over your hips. Most likely, what they'll probably have to do is actually cut the scalloped bottom edge off, move it up and hand sew it back on.
They had to do the same thing with my gown, and they also had to take in the bust a bit because it stuck out. I paid $225 for my alterations.
my dress is all lace and needs to be shortened. It involves removing the scalloped edge (which is usually appliqued or sewn on), shortening, and then reattaching the edging. They told me about $250 to shorten it. All in, with all the alterations, will probably be about $500.
Alteration prices can vary widely even in one geographic area, depending on who you find. In DC, where I live, there are a couple of seamstresses who are known for doing a good job for a good price. I went to one of these people and spent $225 to have my dress taken in a lot, hemmed a lot, and bustled. I would imagine that the work could have cost $600 somewhere else. In general, independent seamstresses are less expensive than getting your dress altered at the store where you bought it.
Can you pass on the DC seamstress recommendations? I have the Karenna Royale dress as well and will need significant alterations. Thanks!
Sure, I used Angie Cavallaro in Fairfax. Estee Livioco in Maryland is also well-regarded. This website has their contact info:
http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2009/01/finishing_touches_a_seamstress_story.php
I live in DC and it wasn’t that convenient to get out to where Angie lives, but I thought it was worth the drive. She does not do weekend appointments but does do appointments until 8 PM on weekdays. I have heard that both of these seamstresses book up fast, but I called Angie in June about my early October wedding and was able to get on her schedule.
@bRooklynRocks: I love lace too !!! It's the only kind of wedding dresses I look at anymore... This is my favorite... it's a size to big-dress & jacket. I didnt price alterations, cause I still haven't decided on this being the one...
I just got back from my first alteration appointment and I want to cry. I ordered my dress hollow-to hem, but the lady got it wrong, it's a few inches too long (I paid $50 to have it the correct length). I met with the alterations lady - she comes into the bridal salon once a week, but isn't affiliated with the bridal salon. The cost to shorten the dress is $170. She has to take it apart below the bust and shorten the fabric/re-attach the top lace. I have to go back again so she can tighten the hips and add a bustle. She said that won't be too much money. But good god!! I was shocked at the cost, especially because I special ordered the dress to be the correct length. I also had the seamstess hem my family dinner dress and shorten the straps (I'm very petite, so the dress I ordered online just hangs).
This is my dress, all pinned up under the bust (I forgot to take a picture while I was zipped up, so this is me holding the back together - so, it actually hugs my top a lot more/better).
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I recently purchased the Maggie Sottero Karena Royale in ivory on ivory. It fits well enough to be worn..but I would really like it hemmed and possibly taken in on the hips. Any idea how much that might cost? I originally bought another dress because the lady said the alterations on the lace would cost a fortune..but I had to have it. Now I'm terrified to see the bill for alterations! I'm in Jacksonville FL in case anyone has any recommendations. :)
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