How difficult is it to hem a dress?

If there is any kind of decorative lace at the bottom then they have to do a more intense alteration to keep it looking right.

Use a professional regardless.

A small mistake can definitely look like crap in regards to a hem. The cost really depends on the number of layers as well as the type of fabric of the dress.

I would always have a professional alter your wedding dress,

What's your dress like? For instance mine has lace around the bottom. So it involves the seamstress hand removing ALL of my lace, hemming EACH layer of my skirt, then sewing the lace back on. Super intensive.

What kind of dress (shape, fabric)?

Most wedding dresses aren't hemmed by turning up/trimming the bottom as you lose the flow and details. You have to deconstruct the dress at the waist.

Lots of work, use a professional, not necessarily DB.

If it helps you, I'm in Maryland and I just had my appt. For taking in the bust a little, tacking it down up top (hem was rolling), sewing in cups, hemming my dress and the bustle I was quoted $250.

Now I think that would've been more if I went to the shop I purchase from. I went to a private seamstress.

I wouldn't let a non professional hem my dress.

It's okay to shop around for prices but 200 doesn't sound crazy to me.

If your wedding dress is at all traditional (several layers), use a professional. My mom used to be a seamstress and even she didn't want to touch my wedding dress. It is much more complicated than regular alterations and obviously higher stakes as well.

ETA: If David's Bridal is too expensive, check out other places.

Hire a pro!

What kind of dress is it? Does it have layers or a crinoline? Is there a train? Do you require it to be bustled? All of these things have to be taken into account when hemming a wedding dress. Also, the type of fabric and how much fabric there is can make a difference.

Use a professional - trust me on this. The slightest mistake can look like crap, and this dress will be around forever in pictures so you want it looking great. If you don't want to use David's, I would recommend going to a local shop that has experience with wedding dresses and getting a quote there.

My entire alterations were over 700 bucks with my hem being almost half of the due to lacs aplique.

Whether you use David's or not, you should use a professional.

How much will it cost to buy a new dress if your friend makes a mess of it? Add on hiring professional to hem the new dress. Get prices from other seamstresses if you fell like the one you talked to is overcharging but definetly hire a professional

Use a professional and find someone other than David's. They're stupidly expensive and store's ability to do good work varies from store to store.

Picture of dress might help?

My dress is pictured, it's two layers with the longer area being tulle.

Go to a private seamstress, i think that quote was a bit high but you should still get a pro.

With multiple layers you should 100% get a professional. I wouldn't risk the tulle. So easy to mess up I'm sure.

Hm I wouldn't tackle tulle myself, but I also don't think it should be $200. That's ridiculous.

Definitely get a quote from other professionals (and read their reviews online)! 200 for so few layers seems like a lot, but what do I know? I wouldn't have a problem with my seamstress aunt doing mine, but i'd be scared to just let anyone with a sewing machine come at my gown.

Nope, you need a professional. Tulle is a pain in the arse and finicky to sew. It's going to be expensive because you have a train, tulle, and some of it will have to be hand sewn.