Resizing Custom Dress from Etsy

It's impossible to answer this question without knowing what the dress looks like, the style, whether it has complex elements like beading or lace, how much weight you plan to lose, what part of the country you're in, etc.

Agree with PP that there's a lot of factors, but as a general time frame, both dress shops I went to said they start alterations 2 months before the wedding date so that you are fairly close to your wedding day weight. I'm paying $300 for alterations which includes the hem, adding another layer, restructuring the back by removing buttons and creating a lower back, and any size alterations if I do lose weight. That's on the cheap side since the bridal shop does alterations in-house. I would recommend that about 3 months before your wedding you get quotes from a few seamstresses for the specifics of your dress.

For reference only, I’m in CO and my alterations are $410 with a seamstress that works out of her home. That includes a bustle, switching out the back zipper to a corset so we can cinch in my waist where the dress is loose and give room for my bust where it is snug, and hemming 3 layers including one layer with detailed appliqué that has to be removed and sewn back on by hand.
My seamstress asked me to come in about two months out to begin and plans to have alterations complete about 3-4 weeks out incase there are any other adjustments to make so we have time. I know some people have had to pay rush fees (up to several hundred dollars) for alterations, so make sure you contact the person you’re using earlier rather than later.

Get the dress made to your measurements at the 4-5 month mark because that gives the seamstress time to get it done and you're at the ballpark figure you will be at the wedding without unnecessary expensive alterations.

View Quoted Comment That’s why I’m trying to figure out what other people have paid. No one locally will give a ballpark until I have the dress and it’s a $150 dress. If it’s $400 to alter, I might as well wait. If it’s $50 to alter its worth it, but if no one is paying less than $400, then I have somewhat of an answer, but thanks for being so helpful.

View Quoted Comment Where are you located? My alterations (a bustle, taking in the bust a little bit, and hemming) cost me $500, and I'm in NJ. My SIL is getting married and her alterations (which involved taking the whole dress in about 4 sizes at the least) cost her $200 in a more rural part of Virginia. Geographic location makes a difference. Both dresses are fit and flare, but mine had all lace and hers has more beading, which both complicate things for alterations.

View Quoted Comment I’m in Austin and the dress is only $150, so I don’t really want to pay more than that to get it altered, but no one will give me a timeframe or relative cost in the area. It’s a simple dress that I could probably do myself, but I would rather be safe than sorry. Thanks for your help.

View Quoted Comment In that case, I would hold off and just order the dress closer to the wedding date.

View Quoted Comment I'm not sure if you were being sarcastic or not. I didn't mean to offend you.


If the dress is beaded or has lace, that has to be removed and reattached, which increases the price. If the hips are free (flowy), then they don't need to be altered. If it's a mermaid, they will.
I'm using a private seamstress for my reception dress and she charges $50 an hour (New England). What that actually works out to depends on the extent of the alteration.