First Fitting why are alterations so $$

My dress w/ the bustle!

I'm crossing my fingers I'll be able to avoid alterations. My dress fit perfectly when I walked out of the store with it and it's tea length so I don't need a bustle.

That's so frustrating. I went through the same thing. My dress was $700 and my alterations were $800. I had lost 2 dress sizes since I had purchased the dress. But there is nothing we can really do about it now and it sounds like you went with a budget-conscious dress to begin with. You're right, many brides spend much more on the dress alone than what you spent for both dress and alterations. At least you will look gorgeous on your wedding day. Love your dress

Alterations cost a lot because they take time, time=money Also, if you are getting them done at the store you bought the dress from there's a good chance that they have marked the costs up. Find an independent seamstress and get a quote.

The cost is usually associated with the amount of work that needs to be done and the fabric type. The more detailed and delicate the fabric the more money because it takes more time and exactness to get it perfect. As another bride who is your height I stayed away from lace of beaded bottoms or trains just because I know it always costs more to fix.

Where are you located? Maybe shop around a little. I would be shocked too! I got my dress taken in, bra cups added, bustle added to outer layer AND liner, and then I ended up also getting it hemmed which was quite a bit of work because of the lace appliques. All of that cost around $200. FWIW, the hemming was fully half of that.

I'm in a more rural location but my seamstress was amazing. I just searched around and read reviews before choosing. She did a perfect job.

View Quoted Comment Wow it really is based on location, I paid triple that for similar job though mine has 4 layers but it was in nyc

Thanks all! It all makes sense. I am in the DC area. My mom and I were told up front it would be around $500- and we chose to stick with the bridal shop because we didn’t wanna risk anything happening with another seamstress. We figure if you’re paying so much for a dress, might as well do it the right way, over priced or not.

i was just venting. But I love hearing your stories as well!

The lace fabric of your dress, while absolutely stunning, is going to drive the price up.

I paid almost that much to have sleeves added to my dress.

I had no idea alterations were so expensive until I started reading this forum!

My dress is being custom made by my brother, who is a designer, so I’m only having to pay for the cost of fabric, etc. Which was sticker shock enough on its own. I did not know how expensive fabric is!!! $60-80/yard for the silk and some of the sequined material we looked at was $100/yard!!!!

View Quoted Comment Your dress is gorgeous!

That does seem like a lot but your dress is probably more complicated for them to work with, it is so gorgeous and it will be worth it! 😊

I'm concerned about the cost of alterations too but will be doing research and getting quotes from independent seamstresses. Often they are cheaper, although I understand not wanting to risk it. My FSIL purchased her dress from the same shop I'm looking at and said her in house alterations there were a nightmare. She ended up getting free alterations for her bridesmaid dresses because they messed up on her dress 😬 Such a scary thought no matter what

I was shocked too. I am 5’ even and have DD boobs. So alterations were a problem for me too. My dress was $1200 and alterations were $600.

We also paid for all the bridesmaids dresses and 2 of them got pregnant AFTER WE ORDERED THEIR DRESSES. So one of my bridesmaids dresses cost $600 after alterations when the dress was originally a $200 dress. It went from a size 16 to a 26.

Ugh I was not prepared for the alterations cost. My dress was like $800, and alterations were $500. My dress fit like a glove (and still does) but my weight has been fluctuating like crazy the last few months from being really sick and medication changes, so I decided to put a corset back on the thing so it would fit no matter what. That was like $150- I was fine with that.

But the freaking bustle. Mine is a ballgown so I figured it would be pricey, but not "27 buttons that cost $350" pricey. Goodness. I pick it up on the 31st and it better look like a Disney princess dress for that cost.

I was surprised at the cost, but after reading this.....should be grateful.

The cost to hem my dress was $125 in SC!

Yup I needed very minor alterations and it’s costing us over $400 😳 What seems like minor work to you and me is actually hours of a seamstress painstakingly making sure these dresses fit us like they were made specifically for our bodies. It sucks but it is what it is!

Yes!!! I knew it was going to be pricey because my dress has 4 layers but I'm only on the first fitting and I'm currently at $400 and they haven't even taken the dress in yet!! ( Thanks 14 point bustle!) plus hemming, having to take up the straps and putting in cups! lol

I think what I'm getting out of this conversation is that if you live in a big city, I would think about going out into the more rural/suburban areas to look for a seamstress. Yikes! I feel lucky now to have gotten such a great deal. (Honestly I was expecting it to be more than it was so it was a pleasant surprise when it was time to pay for it all)

Wow thank the lord I don’t need alterations! My wallet is crying from these stories.

Which stella york is that? I love the back!