Did you shop around for dress alterations? UPDATE with PSA in comments

That seems high to me. I would get a second opinion.

Hemming can be a lot if your dress has many many layers especially if they having beading or lace.

Same for taking it in if its a special shape like keyhole back.

I did but it's hard to just call and get a quote. They won't quote you without seeing it. You gotta take it in first and whose got time for multiple trips!

If you find a smaller more local shop, they could probably give you a cheaper quote. The place I went to for my dress said the most expensive alteration they did was $300 because they had to do a lot of custom work for the bridal, but average there was $200. Mine cost $190 and that included hem, bustle, straps, making it tighter in the bust, and tighter in the side. I wore my dress to the engagement shoot (my profile photo) back before I got it altered. The ladies from the shoot and ripped a small portion of the mesh in the back. The women at the bridal salon used the bedding from my dress to cover up the hole free of charge for me.

You could also ask on Facebook if anyone knows someone who can alter your dress in your area. You'd might be surprised that X is friends with Y who got their dress altered by Z.

Did anyone actually need theirs taken in a second time? 6 weeks seems like a significant chunk of time in which to bail some more belly, so I was hoping I'd need that, but maybe that's a wishful thinking...

Ask local bridal salons if they keep a list of bridal alterations specialists - you don't want to take your dress to just any tailor. But yes, at those price points I'd shop around!

Mine was all inclusive. So I paid $100 for hen but if I needed it shorter or longer (depending on shoes) it was not an additional charge. However I started going 8 months before my wedding and had 4-6 appointments. I had hem done, sides taken in 4 total inches and a belt added for $250 total. I had sides taken in twice, once initially and once 1 month before the wedding. I didn't lose a lot of weight but toned up and mine was form fitting.

If your dress has many layers and beading it will increase drastically. I had no heading. When they take in sides they have to redo beading which is very time intensive and drives the price up.

I had mine done at a local alterations shop that is well known.

That does seem high to me... I had my first fitting on Saturday and there is a ton of work to be done on my bust line to take it in. My dress is heavily beaded. I'm only being charged $200 for that, and it includes my second fitting and any additional alterations on the bust. That $200 would also include my hemline (although we're pretty sure we won't need to do the hem at all). The only additional cost I have to add in is the bustle.

My tailor's package is $450 for taking in the dress, hem line, steaming, and bustle. I know Kleinfeld's full package is I think $650-$750 for everything. $400 for just straps and a hem is definitely a lot...

It depends. Adding straps could be a LOT of work, particularly if there is any lace involved. Fittings usually take at least two appointments. For instance, mine took three. One for the hem and have the corset back put in. The second one checked the fit, and found that some tweaks to the bust needed to be done, as well as a "bra tab" to keep my bra from showing. The third was to check the fit again and confirm everything fit properly and I was happy with it.

First off yes do shop around. and don't get alterations done by the place you bought the dress. I found a local alteration that was very reasonable. I actually found it here on wedding wire. my alterations cost came to $100.

Good luck I hope this helps!

I thought I would shop around, but I liked the seamstress, was okay with quote and the location was extremely convenient (on my way home from work). I think I could have found someone for $100-200 cheaper, but I also would have had to drive across town during rush hours traffic to make fittings.

I'm going through this now. My bridal shop wanted to charge me $968 for alterations!! I Googled, Yelped, WW'd and Googled and Yelped some more plus asked around for recommendations. I found a woman who works out of her home with rave reviews on Yelp. I didn't want to go for fittings all over, but her reviews said she was reasonable. I made an appt with her yesterday and with another shop in the area. I really wanted her to work out and she did! She's great and is charging $400 for everything. That's a $568 difference!! I cancelled the other appointment. Don't kill yourself over it, but I would definitely look for a seamstress in your area.

Where in CO are you. I used alterations by Judy (she is in broomfield) and she has been wonderful to work with. She altered my dress down multiple sizes. It looks beautiful.

I haven't paid the final balance but it should be at $250 for last estimate. It took a decent amount of work to get it sized down so many sizes & I also had it hemmed in the front.

Here was my last fitting. I'm picking up the dress in May.

I got 3 different quotes and the price range between the 3 was about $150 difference. And while its true that they like to see the dress, I just took a couple of hours one afternoon and went to a couple of different places to get the quotes. I felt like it was worth it to get a good price. I also agree that local shops seem to be more reasonably priced.

Thanks, all! @ Kels, I will definitely look into Judy! If you're on the front range, I will also take you up on your earlier post re a workout buddy! I'm in downtown Denver

My entire lace bodice had to be taken apart, cut and sewn 3-4 sizes smaller, my neckline was recut and shaped into a sweetheart, colored tulle was added to the skirt, bustle, hem, steaming, and she sewed my applique and ribbon onto the dress as a permanent belt. I paid $600, and there was no limit to the appointments - it was whatever it took for me to be happy with the end result. This is from the in-house seamstress at a shop in the DC area, where prices tend to be higher as well.

the prices and restrictions they're giving you for very basic alterations are honestly absurd.

Awesome! I'm in conifer but I drive to the front range almost ever day for work! My email is ******.*******@********.*** love to meet up to workout sometime!

I didn't shop around, just went with the seamstress at the place I bought my dress. I have my 2nd fitting in a couple weeks. I wasn't surprised at the cost of the alterations. The seamstress is actually the one who helped me try on dresses the first time I went shopping and I liked her. She seemed very knowledgeable and was super helpful without being pushy - she clearly didn't have a personal agenda or sales goal. She told me about ordering options as far as length and the fact that I could still have to have it hemmed anyways. Ended up coming back and buying the dress off the rack since it was my size. My dress needed hemming - $145, taking in the bust - $80, and a 5 point under bustle at $12/point. It has lace around the hem and lace appliques covering the bodice so I knew it'd cost more to work with.

That seems high as hell. To take my dress in by about 3 sizes and to add a bustle was $130. I didn't need hemming.

UPDATE: I am going with an independent seamstress who is lovely (thanks, Kels!). BUT, PSA for brides who are dress-shopping. I tried on the dress at the store, and it didn’t have a train. After I chose it, they took all my measurements including my height. I was wearing the shoes I’ll wear at the wedding. My dress came in, about two feet too long with a cathedral train. Even with the independent seamstress, it’s going to cost a ton of money to hem. I didn’t request the train & they didn’t disclose that it would come with one. I have to get it cut off because it’s too much for my venue and just for my style. Even without the train, it needs to be seriously hemmed. It should’ve been the right length since they measured me. I feel like the store purposefully built in hundreds of dollars of hemming costs, hoping I’d do it through them. So ladies- if you pick a dress that they have to make, be crystal clear about what you want going on on the bottom of it!

CO Bride, you're right about trains/hemming costing a fortune. =\

I have a princess gown with cathedral train that has been extended two feet longer. But, I'm 5'3", so the dress itself is about 2 feet too long in the front. The bustle has many points (I think she said 9 hooks?) to cascade the train so I can dance. The gown is very heavily beaded with tons of pearls and rhinestones on the bodice that continue down the dress in arcs to the floor; the dress is 3 different layers of fabric.

Alterations for hemming and bustling: $750.