Gown alterations - your experiences?

Question

I'm full of questions today . . .
How did alterations go for your dresses? Did you go with a chain or private salon? How much did it add to the base price of your dress?
I went to a private salon last night and had such a wonderful experience! The base price of the dresses I liked are $650-$800 but will require some alterations for me. I'm wondering if I can still come in close to $1,000 for the dress or if that is unrealistic given the base price of the dress. The dress will need:
- to be hemmed
- if i go with a lace-up back it won't need to be taken in (the laces take care of that) but if I opt for a non-lace up back it will need to be taken in
- the shop will have to add plain, short sleeves (i've got a relative willing to do hand-beading if we think the dress needs it)

Answer 1

I had BOTH experience (big chain and private seamstress) because I changed my dress before the wedding day... So here goes...

Dress #1 - Private tailor shop. I went for three total visits. One where she did my measurements. The second one is where she had everything pinned up to the length we wanted, but she wanted to be sure before sutting and sewing. My dress had A LOT of detailing. It also had a lace up back and it had a sort of cap sleeve thing (It wasn't exactly sleeves, but I don't know how to describe it) but the sleeve thing needed taken in a bit too. So for a hem and a fe nips and ucks, it cost $250.00. Seeing some of the other dresses she had and talking to her, if you get one of those tulle style dresses that looks like Cinderella and has like 20 layers of tulle, it will cost A LOT more because each layer has to be cut separately to look right.

Dress #2 - I bought at David's Bridal. It was a halter top style with a lace up back. I decided to get it altered there too. I went for two total visits. One where they measured and pinned everything and one to try it on and pick it up. I had to get the halter straps shortened and I had to get the hem shortened. It also cost around $250.00

Neither of my dresses needed taken in because I had the lace up back. And neither dress has a zillion layers of tulle.

So from my two experiences. It cost about the same at a private tailor as it did at the chain store for about the same types of alterations.

Answer 2

Have had both.

My wedding- Private seamstress. I outgrew my dress (whoops) and it was an off the rack, so I was SOL. She ripped the entire thing apart, added panels, put it back together, added bustle, cleaned it, pressed it, total of 3 trips, fit perfectly- $58. (no, that is not a typo!)

Bridesmaid dress- J Marie's(smaller salon). They ordered it 4 sizes too big (morons). Two fittings later, including a small bustle (that I never used) and the hem and taking it in a LOT, $65. Bride also had hers done there, her cost a total of $100 due to the bead work needing to be moved.

Your estimate to me is very high, even with the $800 dress. It also most likely depends on where you live!

Answer 3

I would ask about the price of alterations before ordering your dress. The place I worked for charged $150 to alter dresses purchased at the store. If you brought your dress to the store for alterations, the price started at $150, and went up from there. This place employed two full-time seamstresses, and I do not remember one bride going home unhappy. This is also in New Jersey, where everything is expensive. I know a lot of our customers shopped around before returning to purchase their dress and our less expensive alterations.

I think you should be able to keep it below your $1,000 budget. Good luck!

Answer 4

Had an amazingly good experience with my gown being altered.
The gown itself was almost 800, and the sucker zipped up if I held in my gut, so it needed to be made just a touch larger. Had the seamstress at the bridal shop do it for me, and I couldn't believe how well she did it! She inserted a "v"-shaped piece under each arm, just to give more room to the bodice, and you literally cannot see where she added those bits of material! The gown was of soft bridal satin, and there is no difference in color of the material, the grain, etc. Was superbly pleased (and it fit like a dream)! The cost of the alteration was about 100.
So with the gown, alterations, small tiara and veil, it was $1000.

Answer 5

I had my dress altered. It was too long and it needed to be taken in as well. The material was a silk chiffon. I used a private salon. It was only $65 for those alterations, which I thought was a great deal and it turned out beautifully. I would imagine yours would be more since you are having more done. But I think if you look around you'll be able to stay within budget.

Congrats and good luck!

Answer 6

I had a wonderful experience at a chain.
I bought my dress at David's Bridal for $350 since it was on sale, the lenght of the dress needed to fixed, since I was having a beach wedding and they neded to do some take out from the sides since it was too tight, I did 2 visits and 3rd one just to try and pick up, my experience was wonderful and cheap for all the work they did.

Answer 7

My daughter is in the process of having her gown altered. She is having a local seamstress do it. It's a halter gown, so the neck needed to be shortened, she needed boobs put in it, and also had to get it shortened. The cost is 150.00