Wedding Dress Alterations

[julipuli]

This may be a little off topic, as it's not specifically disney related, but I got my dress today! Great news. Unfortunately, the quoted cost of the alterations at the bridal store totally shocked me - I had no idea wedding dress alterations were so expensive!

I was quoted $290 - is this typical? How much did you pay for your wedding dress alterations?

 

[Ann117]

Wow i did not know it could cost that much either. I do not have my dress yet but one place I went to look said they do free alterations. I guess its a good deal if a place does that.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

I used an independent seamstress that someone recommended to me.
Alfred Angelo was $200+ to alter and I would have done it there, but the store was 45 minutes away from me.
The woman I ended up using does pageant dresses and bridal gowns..she took my dress from a 16 to about a 12 and only cost me $80.

I love her so much, she now does all my alterations and is only 2 miles from my house.


Where in SD do you live? My bridesmaid lives in the Carlsbad/La Costa area and she had her regular seamstress alter her dress...Maybe she can direct you.

 

[kcampbell]

Yeah, that's pretty typical. I paid $250 and thought that was a deal. (She had to do a lot of work) You have to remember that they are basically taking apart and remaking your dress to fit you perfectly. (tackling tulle, beading, crinoline, or whatever in order to do that) That's why it is more expensive than say having a regular dress altered.

 

[PrincessShea]

Mine cost $275, so yea it's seems like a typical price.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

I think bridal shops inflate the price because they count on the fact that you don't want to take it anywhere else.
My dress was taken completely apart because it was all lace and beading..I asked the woman how they would take it in 4" without ruining the lace and beading. She explained everything and I felt very comfortable. You can not even see where the seam was taken in because she completely removed the exterior lace, took the inside in and then reapplied the lace. She redid the work 2 weeks before my cruise because I had lost more before my final fitting.I lost more weight after the alterations but it fit great.

As I said, I had significant alterations and she did an amazing job for $80!!
Best shot I have of the side bodice:

 

[disbridemimi]

I think bridal shops inflate the price because they count on the fact that you don't want to take it anywhere else.

This is totally true! My seamstress works for a Davids Bridal and she also has her own business on the side. She charges about 1/3 of what they do for the same thing, but she cant advertise at work. So either your lucky and you know about her, or you take the easy route and go with the shop but pay more.

I imagine it could be hard to trust a seamstress with a wedding gown if you dont know them. I would prob only go with referrals, not like the phonebook.

 

[julipuli]

I used an independent seamstress that someone recommended to me.
Alfred Angelo was $200+ to alter and I would have done it there, but the store was 45 minutes away from me.
The woman I ended up using does pageant dresses and bridal gowns..she took my dress from a 16 to about a 12 and only cost me $80.

I love her so much, she now does all my alterations and is only 2 miles from my house.


Where in SD do you live? My bridesmaid lives in the Carlsbad/La Costa area and she had her regular seamstress alter her dress...Maybe she can direct you.

I live in La Jolla, so I'm fairly close to Carlsbad. My dress doesn't have lace, but it does have beading.

I don't have enough posts to add a link/image - I put a picture on my website though www julipuli.com/dress.jpg

It also has several layers, so it does look like a complicated alteration. I AM really worried about finding someone with enough experience to do it properly! It needs to be taken in about an inch and a half total on the sides, and several inches on length. I'm going to try to find someone local, but I guess if I can't find anyone with the experience I'll have to suck it up and pay the $290 - more than half the cost of my dress in the first place! argh.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

My bridesmaid said she said she thinks it was called Vega's and it was in Carlsbad.

I would talk to the seamstress and show them the dress. Don't be afraid to ask for an estimate. If it is close to the bridal price, just stick with the bridal shop...But I saved $100!!

 

[lurkyloo]

Bridal shops charge big markups for alterations, and they don't always have the most skilled people working for them. I live in LA and found a girl on the Knot boards who works as a TV costumer and does alterations on the side. She charged me about $60 to bustle my dress and to add fur cuffs and collar to my bolero. Not as extensive as the work you need, maybe, but I wouldn't blindly trust the bridal shop. Maybe they can show you samples of their work? You could also check the Knot boards in your area for seamstress recommendations.

 

[Tiggerific04]

I paid $400 for my alterations. I took my dress to an independent tailor because I didn't trust the seamstress at the bridal shop where I bought the dress. I had it hemmed about an inch, and she had to take apart the bodice to take the top in (more complicated than it sounds). She also adjusted my crinoline. I know I paid waaaay too much, but it was last minute and nowhere else would agree to do it on short notice.

 

[ColeV]

I wish my job paid me that much for every alteration I did! It certainly sounds marked up to me. Unless it involves detailed alterations on lace or massive amounts of handwork it shouldn't be above $100. I recommend checking out some local independent seamstresses. Anyone who has a good business going will have a portfolio or at least pictures of their prior works. Even better are examples you can actually handle since small issues may not show up in pictures. I always wear a suit I constructed to any interview I have for that reason. Check out local theatres or even universities to get a good lead. The costume shop I work for allows people to drop off want ads in our lunch room.