Dress alterations!

I started mine 8 weeks out. It was $350 for a bustle, hem, and to have the top/back/straps taken in. Fortunately, my dress fit almost perfectly when it came in, minus a few minor things. I had budgeted $500 but was hoping it was would be $200-$300.

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That's helpful. I am 3 months out BUT my seamstress is away from July 20th - August 20th so she won't really start anything until probably beginning of September for my October 13th wedding. The dress I have on in the pictures is a sample dress and was one size up. When my dress came in I tried it on (we ordered a size down) and it fit perfect! Just need a bustle and the cups slightly adjusted (my boobs are too small lol). So hoping to be around $200!

Your dress is super dreamy!

How far out were you when you started alterations? I had 3 alterations appointments. The first one 4 months out, the second one 1 month out, and the final one is 1 week out.

What kind of alterations did you need? Adding detachable off the shoulder sleeves, lowering the back, bustle, taking in the sides, hemming, adding cups, and sewing my fiance's nametape on the inside.

Did you set a budget for alterations and if so what was it(if you don't mind answering) and did you stay in that field? No, I didn't have a set budget. My dress cost $1,600 and my alterations cost $700. I'm in Denver.

I haven't set a budget but i know when I first ordered my dress it looked like minimal alterations were needed (just a bustle and adjusting on the cups/bust. I don't even know what a fair price would be for this. My best friend used this seamstress and she did great work and she said she paid $400 for it so hoping to come in around $200 or $200. My cups were around $50 for the cups & sewing in, and the bustle was around $200 I believe.

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Thanks girl!

This is super helpful! I go for my first appointment on the 13th (exactly 3 months out). But she will be away for a month and I won't get in again until end of august or september. Luckily my bust just needs to be altered on the sides (they are a little too large and my boobs do not fill it out) and it already has cups in it so I don't have to worry about that. I know I need a bustle too but that should be it. I haven't gained or lost any weight and I just tried it on maybe a month or so ago and it fit like a dream!

Beautiful dress!

How far out were you when you started alterations? II actually bought 2 dresses--the same one. they were inexpensive. surprising since the bustle is all tulle...that is hard to do!

They both needed to be hemmed and lifted at the shoulder. one of them I had bustled. Otherwise they fit perfect.

Did you set a budget for alterations and if so what was it(if you don't mind answering) and did you stay in that field? No,I did not set one, hoped it would not be too hefty a bill, and it wasn't. I will in the end pay about 300 for both to be altered as stated above.

dress front

dress back

My alterations cost $450. My seamstress puts packages on sale at each holiday that include everything. I have a lot to take in and shorten on a very detailed dress, plus she’s adding cups. She suggested I start alterations first week of November and my wedding is the end of January.

I had my first fitting about 3 months out and just had my final fitting (a little over a month out).

I had a bustle added, put in cups, had the dress taken in at the waist and had the straps shortened (I'm a short person). It came to just under $400. My mother, who is a fairly good seamstress but didn't want to mess with the elaborate lace on my dress, said that was within budget (she paid).

I bought a dress off rack that was about 2 sizes too big, the dress has a lot of beading/lace, and 9 layers of skirt. Alterations are $250-380 for the bustle (will depend on how many things she has to put on it), $250 for the hem, $250 (?) for the top part to be taken in, and I accidentally keep losing weight so I'll probably have to pay to have the hips/butt taken in as well so it doesn't hang oddly. In total, I'll probably end up paying like $1000 for alterations on a dress I paid ~$1000 for. Was not expecting that, but the overall budget for the dress before alterations was $2000 so its still well within budget.

My wedding is July 19th of this year. I picked out my dress in December. And started alterations in April. I just needed it hemmed, bustled, and needed the straps shortened. It was 370$ total I think. Did my second fitting June 1st and I am picking up my dress this Wednesday on the 3rd!

I just had my first fitting a week ago so about 8 weeks out. It has to be let out a tad and hemmed. No train so no bustle. I paid $120 to let it out and it will be another $150 for the hemming as my dress is lace and has 3 layers. I hoped to spend no more than $300 and it comes to $270 so I'm happy!

I took my dress by the seamstress just to get a price quote and she said it’s would cost $150 to bustle my dress. (She retired).

Your dress is absolutely gorgeous! My second fitting is coming up soon! I needed it taken in a few sizes, a bustle. Hem and cups added!

Oh! And for all of that it was $395 which was more than I thought but after coming in here I learned real quick that that’s nothing compared to others!

Wooow I love your dress 😍 I'm so jealous lol

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Thank you! It cost way more than I wanted to spend but I fell in love haha!

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I make clothing and have done A LOT of alterations on peoples clothing and I won't even touch my own dress haha. I make clothing from scratch and it looks like store bought stuff and I'm just like NOPE! not messing up my dress haha. I'm hoping I can convince my mom to cover it for me cause I am beyond broke at this point but no matter what I will swing it!

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Luckily I am really tall and this dress is only long on the train in the back so should just be a bustle and taking in the cups slightly! I will find out next week! haha and thank you! Do you have any pictures of your dress? Also what are alterations like, my best friend said to get used to being stabbed with pins haha Seems top be 300-400 is the pretty average range though so I'm hoping I'm closer to the $300 range ahha

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Thats not bad! Is that all you needed done?

I go in for my first fitting July 13th so I’ll know what alterations I need then. My salon has a set amount for alterations it’ll be around $750 😩 for all alterations and bustle. The designer was there the day I picked it out and said he’d make any customizations I wanted free of charge so I feel like at least I got something for at a reduced cost haha.

First, I love your dress!! It’s gorgeous!!! You look beautiful!
I haven’t started my alterations yet- they start 6 weeks before my wedding. I’ll have 2 alterations appts then a final fitting. I’m budgeting $750 for it so fingers crossed it doesn’t go over. I’ll need a bustle, new straps sewn in, and maybe an inch along the bottom. It’s lace with multi colors underneath (similar to yours!) and I hope it doesn’t cost a fortune!