Wedding alterations $1200?!?

That's the biggest alterations price tag I've ever heard of!! OMG that's outrageous!! I mean, 4 sizes is a lot, but that still sounds really high.

I would get a second opinion, at the very least. You can buy a whole new dress for less than $1200.

I agree with Cristy. A second opinion is best. Sorry you've had this shock. I hope you get a better quote!

Yikes. Any chance you can exchange your current dress for a smaller size to help with alterations? Even with rush shipping? As mentioned, you could buy a whole new dress for that. My dress + alterations were about $1100.

I got 3 quotes for my alterations (in this order): $1100, $800, and $450. I definitely recommend getting other opinions!

Does your dress have any beading? At the size being way too big, to take it in is going to be a lot of work. They basically have to redo the dress since it will be contoured differently and are not able to do a straight cut.

My dress has a lot of beading and all places I contacted said starting at $600 (most were $800) for a hem, bustle, taking in the shoulders, possible sides (but it ended up not needing that), and breast cups. However, they all said it really depends on what they saw once they had it in their hands.

Definitely shop around though!! Contact seamstresses that are not part of established businesses and you may have more wriggle room!

This is how I felt! The quotes I got were almost half of my dress. Then I came across someone who was reasonable!

My alterations were $975 but I'm wearing an extremely detailed dress that needed a ton of work. I'm also in CT so everything is expensive.

WOAH. Definitely take it to another seamstress for a second price quote. That is insane!

Get a second opinion. My dress was 3/4 sizes too big and required quite a bit of work, and im paying 500.

I recently took mine in and it is going to be about $850 for it to be taken in 2 sizes, hemmed, and bustled. I was shocked at first... I had anticipated $500 and thought that would be high... but I did learn some things while I was there that could help you.

-the complexity of the dress matters - the top half of mine is covered in a moderate amount of beading and lace so she has to be very careful when she takes it apart and puts it back

-She somehow knows the dress and knew that the ribbing ends right at my hips, which causes a wrinkle. Honestly I have been looking at other brides wearing the dress and noticed they all had the weird wrinkle, so I'm pleased she knows how to fix it... but its doing something with the ribbing of the dress

-The hem is 9 layers of skirt (had NO idea there was this much skirt but she had me help her count them)

-The bustle will be 5 layers, and she is going to do it in a way that when it is bustled, it lays flat.

-Her experience... she is the best. literally couldn't find a bad review... only found thousands of 5 star ones.

I went in 100% willing to pay anywhere up to $1000 for alterations. I bought my dress as a floor sample, its in great condition and they even let me negotiate. The original dress would have cost me $2000 and I got it for $1000. My overall budget was $2000. Just remember you tend to get what you pay for, but it doesn't hurt to get another quote.