$700 for ALTERATIONS….How much did you pay?

I am paying $90 for hem, a "magic stitch" as she called it which has the top of my dress lay flat against my chest, a simple bustle, having my sash sewed onto my dress and having it steamed.

I haven't paid my final bill, but my quote at the beginning was around $550. i've had her do a couple other little things. it'll prob be around $600-650. haha. i've had quite a bit done though... she is amazing and her prices were better than i was expecting. i'm spending a lot but it's not what i was expecting, worst case. haha.

my dress was $900 original cost.

My dress needs ALOT of work - like alot... cups, hem, bustle, taken in, contour strip, back blown out, and strap shortening.... my bridal shop quoted me $800 for the alterations (i paid 1200 for the dress). I went to a mom & pop bridal store yesterday with my dress that does alterations and they are charging me $380 when all is said and done.

Be very wary because some bridal shops will intentionally order you a size that is larger to allow for alterations. It is alot easier to take in then let out, but be very informed about exactly what size you are ordering. i wasn't, and didn't realize they ordered me a size 12 (i'm an 8). That was my own stupid mistake because i was caught up in the moment of dress shopping and ordering a wedding dress, etc...

I know lace dresses are usually more. When I went to David's bridal they said alterations could be a few hundred, that is also the same that I heard from other dress shops. I just needed the bustle. The hem was good with the shoes I had. Due to the urgency of my situation when I was getting my dress (moving my wedding up due to my mom being sick) they ended up not charging me for the alterations. I am forever grateful to the dress shop!

OMG you girls are making me nervous. At the moment my dress fits perfectly in the bodice, but I seriously can't gain an ounce! I need a major hem job and my dress has a lot of layers of chiffon in the skirt.

@rebecca: that doesn't sound bad. i wouldn't freak out.

I lucked out - my bridal shop was offering FREE alterations if you bought your dress in January! I bought a clearance/sale/sample dress for 40% off and still got free alterations. I was very excited about that.

Rebecca I'm with you and a little nervous after hearing some of these costs for alts.

My dress is lace with a silk underlay, but was very lucky that it could be ordered with a custom hem. (I'm only 5'4") I need to add a bustle, have it taken in about a 1/4 of an inch under the arm pit area and have the shoulder area taken up.

@M&M 4 inch heels?! I'd kill myself! LOL

I spent $400 on the dress and $250 on alterations.

Dress is $8,500 spending $400 on alterations

I'm so nervous to see what alterations are going to cost me! Ughh!

Those of you who didn't pay crazy amounts for alterations...where exactly did you go? My friend went to David's and it was $500 and I'm scared that it'll be a ridiculous amount for mine too...

I got lucky. $25 and that's it! The shop I bought it at puts in a free bustle (unless I want a fancier bustle which I don't really care about, as long as it isn't dragging on the ground I don't care). I'm tall enough I don't need it hemmed (and I'm still wearing flats). The dress has a corset back so it is adjustable to my weight. The $25 is just to have cups put in to make it look like my boobs are a little bigger lol!

I am paying $40 for my alterations to add a bussel and darts to the bust line

My alterations are included in the cost of my dress

Wow $700 is expensive. I had a fully beaded dress which is hard to alter and I only paid $350. I had to take it in and have it shortened. I also cut the train off.

I was quoted $180 and it's looking like $325 (I'm bitter). My gown is lace. She took it in at the waist, took up the cap sleeves, three layers of hem and a bustle

Mine is going to be around $700, but that is because that is the flat fee at Kleinfeld's, which is where I bought my dress. I'd obviously rather pay less, but I would also like to get my alterations done there since that's where the dress was purchased.

Please include the city in which you made the alterations...helpful for other brides like myself to get an idea. I live in NYC.

Just got a quote from my already amazing seamtress that said it will be $20 for bustle, and 40-120 for take ins (since I have a corset I probably only need the bustline taken in). Oh and she tripled assured me she can do it in a week

Plus she has 5 stars on Yelp.

Alterations place is in Brea, CA (orange county)