Alterations

My initial response is absolutely. Im in utah and it cost me $225 to do simple sleeves, add a zipper and tightent the dress where needed.


Basically, I'd say look into it. It never hurts to get 2 or 3 quotes and figure out whats going to be best for you, you know?

You'll get more accurate responses if you tell us where you live (just the state or metro area is fine) and give a little bit of information about your dress. If your dress is very simple or you're in a less expensive area, $1000 is a lot for that. If you're in a more expensive area or your dress has a lot of details or lace, or by tightening here and there you really mean tightening in a bunch of areas and changing the fit, it's probably a reasonable quote.

View Quoted Comment You’re absolutely right.
I live in Atlanta. We are adding beaded of the shoulder straps, making the cups smaller and winching at the waist as well as by the mid thigh area.
Here’s a picture for a better idea.

View Quoted Comment Thank you Meghan!

$275 and I’m adding sleeves (sleeves were provided), hemming, and adding a double bustle.

It seems a little high, but not outrageous to me. My boutique charges a flat rate of $750 for taking in, a hem and a bustle, so with the sleeves being an add-on, it would probably be close to that. It doesn’t hurt to get another quote or two though!

If you have time I would shop around. My seamstress is very reasonable but I only found her by word-of-mouth as she doesn’t advertise or take on a lot of business. Either way it sounds really high for a commercial seamstress.

It doesn't seem all that outrageous for Atlanta and the amount of work you're having done, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to get a couple more quotes to compare your options

View Quoted Comment I'm guessing you'll also need it to be hemmed and have a bustle added? If those things are included, $1000 seems maybe a little high, but I'd be surprised if you could find someone to do it much less expensively, so you're probably better off leaving it where it is. If that was your quote for only taking it in an adding the sleeves/straps and the hem and bustle will be even more, that quote sounds too high and it would make sense to start calling around and asking for other quotes.



(I'm in Boston, but I have relatives in Atlanta, so I'm generally familiar with pricing in that area, but not wedding-specific pricing.)

$1,000 seems like a lot. Can you go outside of the city and find a seamstress in a more rural area? Even somewhere like Athens might be cheaper.

I would definitely agree with everyone posting about a second opinion, it never hurts to shop around, I'm having sleeves added, plus my corset completely altered, top adjusted, hem and a bustle and my price is quoted at $420. Granted I'm from a smaller city than Atlanta, but I still think it would be good to get a couple quotes from other people in the area.

I am in ATL and that is outrageous. I paid $40 to have my dress taken at the mall. I decided I wanted my dress to be a little more sweetheart neckline and open up the slit more. I paid $170 total. I would take the dress elsewhere.

Get a few quotes before you commit. Atlanta is a major city so that pricing does sound in line with what you're wanting done. Adding sleeves to a strapless dress does involve extensive labor, and special occasion fabric always requires more time and patience. But get quotes from other places too.

View Quoted Comment Thank you Ladies!
I will be picking up my dress to shop around for different quotes. $1,000 is a little high for me. I didn’t know too much about alterations so I am glad it’s possible to obtain something more reasonable.

Thanks again! ♥️

I went today to my 1st fitting and she’s taking it in, adding straps, adding push up cups and adding a bustle. My total is $760 and I’m in So Cal.