Alterations

I didn’t get my wedding dress yet but I just went through the process with my sister. She got cups put in, a few inches off the bottom of her dress and added a hook for her to bustle it up during the reception and she paid less than $100.

For my dress with a hem, adjusting the straps, a bustle and hemming the petticoat came up to 425.

$350 not including the bustle.

View Quoted Comment Wow! Where did she have her alterations done?

I'm quoted for almost 400, I added a bustle, they had to replace an eyelet in my dress, hem 3 layers and take in my bust an inch. But I can imagine it's different depending on location and other factors.

I personally think $500 is a lot but it depends on your area and who is doing the alterations and what they are doing. I just started my alterations and the lady who works for the boutique I purchased my dress at told me she will charge $130. She is taking it in about four sizes, adjusting the straps, fixing beading and the zipper, and hemming my dress and adding a belt.

View Quoted Comment Wow that is a good price!

View Quoted Comment She’s where I’m planning on getting my alterations done for my wedding dress!

If you have a complicated hem then it’s an expensive hem. It depends on how many layers of fabric, lace trim, beading, horsehair trim or just the placement of the seams. All of those things add to the cost.

So I just looked at your dress photo. Your skirt has horsehair trim like mine. They can’t just chop your dress to the desired length, they would end up cutting off your horsehair. That makes your hem a lot more expensive than a regular tulle skirt I’m afraid. You’re going to pay for an expensive hem no matter where you go but you might be able to get it slightly cheaper.

View Quoted Comment To be honest my mom and I were anticipating spending $300-500 because that's what we have been told around our area is an average cost. The lady is also adding a bustle to my dress and adding cups into the dress so we are very thankful to only be spending that. I hope you can find someone a little cheaper to help cut your final cost!

View Quoted Comment Ok thank you!

View Quoted Comment The reason it’s so expensive is because they only have two options. I’m just parroting what my seamstress told me.

Option #1. They take the extra length from the top. This means taking apart your bodice, cutting the skirt from the top and attaching your bodice to the skirt again.
Option #2. They remove your horsehair trim, hem the skirt and reattach the horsehair seamlessly.

If you don’t mind the horsehair trim being cut off your hem would be a lot cheaper, about $20-$30 per layer of tulle so probably $100-$150 give or take. Good luck hun! ❤️ Beautiful dress!

View Quoted Comment You’re awesome, thanks so much!

Mine were $305, and that included adding cups, taking in the butt, taking in the hips, doing a hem, and adding a bustle. The bodice of my dress is covered in lace and beading so I was expecting it to be at least $500 so I was pleasantly surprised!

I spent around $400 with hem (4 layers) 12 point bustle, added cups, took in the dress and shortened the straps. I had it done where I got my dress so it probably would have been cheaper somewhere else however if my dress got screwed up in alterations (it did) they replaced it. Having that reassurance made it worth it.

WOW from what I hear it depends on the layers in the dress. This makes me nervous however cause i possibly need mine taken in a inch, hem and bustle. I am considering skipping the 1 inch take in

To have the bottom of my dress shortened I was quoted $1,000 in that alone by an independent seamstress.

But when you consider that she would have to “unbox” the outer layer of tulle from the skirt, then take off the lace appliqués, de-pearl and un-sequin them, cut the outer tulle, the skirt, the FOUR LAYERS of underskirt (I think more tulle?) and then redo all that..I think it’s easy to see where costs add up.

You just gotta consider all these “simple” things aren’t all that simple when they’re all put together. So based on that I think your quote sounds about right too!