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I purchased my dress Thursday and went in for alterations this morning. I ended up LEAVING WITH MY DRESS because the alterations were going to be almost as much as the dress itself! The dress fits perfectly except for hem and bustle.
I created a mini-scene and told them it was a complete rip off and would be going somewhere else.
What did you have done? How much did you spend?
hem, buslte, taking in a zipper dress $360.
140 for bussel and 120 for hem.
How much were they asking?
Bustle, cups added to the bra and the ribbons from my ties trimmed. $40
She wanted to take it in a little at bust. Would be fine with or without it but that was only $60.
Hem was like $120.
Bustle was almost $200.
With tax, it came out to $391.
I had a french bustle (7 points), a hem, and the bust had to be taken in. I think mine was right around $300.00
I don't have my dress yet, but one of the salons here does free alterations if you order your dress through them. The bustle is $50. If you purchase off the rack/sample from them, the alterations are guaranted to be less than $150.
I am seriously considering getting my dress from them just because of their service. I have talked to them on the phone twice, and they are incredibly nice. A big pro to this shop is they carry samples in the store from size 0 to a 32. They said they want every bride to feel special and not have to spend a fortune. And they carry Maggie dresses. (Bonus)
@Thrakena: I would definitely look there. Couldn't hurt. I went to one place I was afraid would be a total flop and I really like one of the dress. It was a top contender.
I had my dress hemmed and bustled, and taken in around the butt area (fit and flare dress) for $310. What were you being charged?
@SFreeman2187: The cost you were being asked for sounds about right - the wedding industry is a crazy thing! I know it's a lot...maybe you could try searching on yelp for some other freelance seamstresses? I found the lady I went to through yelp!
For the hem, bustle and having the bust tightened a bit, I paid $235. After our wedding, I had to have it taken in for our reception next week, and that cost $65.
Just as an aside, I wasn't entirely happy with the quality of anything I had done. I had to redo the bustle, because she bunched up some of the upper layers of my gown. Then, I had to go along the entire hem of the lace to remove the excess lace she left and should have trimmed off. When she took it in, the zipper gapped, so I had to fix that, and the two hooks and eyes that she added pulled, so I had to replace them. I don't know if I'm just extra picky about quality, but I was rather disappointed, because the bridal shop that did the work has a reputation for being upscaled.
Mine is $206 total, with tax. I would have only had to spend $85 for the bustle, but I wanted 2 other things done by my choice.
$35 - cups sewn in
$75 - hips taken in (to make the dress more fit & flare
$85 - bustle
Anyone have any idea how much having a slight sweetheart put into a dress would cost? Very slight--I do not want to be showing cleavage in the wedding. I am wondering if I can even afford it after reading these prices you guys paid for alterations. Wow.
I had a bustle done, support added to the top, the drapping fabric in the back tacked down, and all the beading tightened up all for $113. I took it to a lady that has a small shop in town. The prices at the bridal shops are outragous. Not only did they want $800 for my dress they wanted $100 for each item they did. If I had the hem, bustle, beading tighten, re-inforced top....we were looking at atleast $500+ more!
are any of you do it from david's bridal im scared to see how much my alterations are going to be!
My salon charges a flat fee of $350 for any alterations that I will need.
We had a same-sex wedding, so there were two dresses. Mine needed to be taken out, and a bustle added. NotFroofy's needed to be shortened, and a bustle added. We also wanted our veils sewn to our tiaras, and I had a blusher veil added to mine. Total bill was $220.
You might look for an independent seamstress. Not only are they generally less expensive, but you can search out reviews on the actual person doing your alterations, instead of having to rely on whoever a salon assigns you.
I had my dress changed from a zipper back to a corset back, hemmed, and bustled. I also had some minor adjustments to the chest and glass beading taken out from under my arm (who puts that there???? It cuts!) When all was said and done, it was $600. But to be fair, by bustle was a bitch with 34 seperate points.
Also, my dress was origionally $98 so alterations DEFINATELY cost more than my dress. But I did get it on sale. So I guess I don't count. Keep in mind that you need to look around a lot. I lucked out with this lady. She was pure awesomeness. Check reviews!!! Just because they are more affordable doesn't mean they are worth you affording them.
These bridal shops are insane I completely agree.. You would think if you're paying over $1,200 for a dress alterations were free! Nope! Mine was 286 for alterations.. 20 for cups to be added to dress, 65 to have sides taken in.... 100 for hem.. and 85 for bustle, and of course they taxed it! 16$..lol
For mine it will be $225. They are adding a bustle, hemming, and moving a button so that the jewel clasp at the top of the train sits straight and steaming it.
@Ms Hedgehog: I added a corset too and they charged 100$ ! wonder if the designer was no charge, and they took the 100$.. Wouldnt be surprised!!
@d_mari3: question... When I went to see my dress after it came into the shop, beading was loose.. I don't understand.. if this dress was just made, why is there beading loose in some spots?? Scares me, I start thinking maybe my dress wasnt new.. I don't trust anyone, especially greedy bridal shops .lol
I had to have the dress taken in through the hips and shortened. The seamstress also created a really complex bustle. The biggest issue was the bust. Despite ordering the same size as the sample, the cups came out way to same for my chest. I kept feeling like I was going to pop out. First they tried putting in boning to make the cups stay up better but that didn't solve the problem. So they ended up adding spaghetti straps to the dress which they then embellished to match the dress, which you can see from the model pic needed to happen. I just had my fourth and final fitting today and it's perfect! I finally don't feel like I'm going to flash everyone. All told it was $450.
I'm going on Monday to get my dress fitted for the first time. I am scared because there are lace appliques that will have to be removed in order to hem and tighten things, and then hand-stitched back into place! She said figure anywhere from $200-$450!! Gulp! I will let you know how much it ends up coming to! I will be getting it taken in at the bodice, shortened at the hemline, French bustle, pads added. We will see!
corset back and shortening about 5 inches. 50 bucks.
try going to a dry cleaners and talking to their alterations they are way way cheaper
My consultant asked the owner if I could have a flat fee of CAD100 (usually starts at 250) for ANY alterations I may have as an incentive to buy the dress. And since I know I'll need alterations because of my very petite frame, this gave me a sense of peace knowing I won't have to worry about added costs when the dress comes in! :)
@Rileyxoxo3: I took mine to a seperate place. I didn't feel like paying $400 for a corset and $100 for the hem. Oh and they only gave me one really ugly bustle option and then wanted to charge me $800 for that! Uhm. Heck no! Besides, mine was a sample and couldn't have been ordered with the corset.
I am sure they did have to alter it. Even if they altered it prior to finishing actually making the dress. They usually only come in 1 pattern. But who knows! Dress places have always seemed kinda sketchy to me about things like that. lol
Mine was hemmed, had cups sewn in, and the bust taken in for $225. No bustle.
I agree with @2dBride:, go to an independent seamstress. THe one I went to has a cap of $250. For mine I paid $170 to have it hemmed, a simple bustle, the shoulders taken in and the under arm hole increased.
i got owned. $220 to take in the bust area, $65 to take in one side(i have an assymetrical lowered waistline) $75 for the french bustle and 35 to raise the underskirt 2 inches..
Cups added, hemmed, 13 pt bustle, and taken in about 6 sizes - $130, she was an independant that worked out of her own home. (Another independant also quoted me $300 so definitely shop around)
@FutureHarp: Just an FYI, yes, it WAS David's Bridal!
I have a fairly large chest. The dress I tried on and loved was a 16. Fit like a glove but was uncomfortable in the chest. Consultant let me know it could be let out up to 3 inches. I told them I needed to think, eat, etc. and they held the dress for me.
The moment I got in the car, I got on the phone with another DB and the girl I spoke with told me she would call around to another stores in the area and see if they had a 16W. She located the dress in her store! It came home with me just after lunch.
I located an independent seamstress with a 1 day turnaround. I have no idea what she will cost me but she came recommended by someone I trust. If it's still $400, at least I know it goes to an invidual who earned it.
French bustle, repair a missing crystal, add bust darts, shorten the hem, and let out the seams for $190. She did alterations for a friend's wedding dress and they came out perfectly, so I know mine will be amazing, too.
300 for mine, that included 8 point french under bustle, shortening the straps, fixing my long line bra and steaming the dress.
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