How much for alterations?

Junebug2015

I just came back from my first fitting - eeee! I have to get straps shortened, the side seams of my dress "reworked" (the silk is puckering), inner lining hemmed, and an 8-point bustle. It was $500... Which seems crazy expensive to me.

I don't mind as much because I paid very little for the dress (a sample bought from a salon online) and the tailor clearly knew what she was doing, but I'm curious about what others are paying. FWIW I'm in Boston and my dress is all silk.

theartistformerlyknownas

It'll vary wildly, but I paid about $350 for bringing in at the bust and waist darts and out at the hip seams, plus a bustle, in a small town about 1.5 hours from Detroit. $500 doesn't seem outside the realm of possibility to me.

Junebug2015

@lolo883, I guess I anticipated it being less because my dress already fit pretty well and had no beading/lace. I didn't realize that silk is very difficult to sew, and that going to someone who really knows what they're doing (seriously, this lady's pinned bustle looked better than most finished bustles I've seen) is going to be a little more.

aliwis000

First off I would say use the person with the best reviews and that you feel most confident in even if it is a bit more. That said, shop around. Boston is a big place and I would say doing some research and going in for a second opinion somewhere else would be a good idea if you have time.

My dress is due in a month from now and my wedding planner has encouraged me to get at least 2 quotes on it.

HTH!

missglitter89

The place I got my dress will do alterations for a flat $350 if I decide to use them. 

[Deleted User]

I paid $350 just have my zipper converted to corset, and a 17 point bustle. It was the bustle that really racked up the price.

flyingfoxes

My dress is satin, not silk (which I'm sure silk drives the price up a lot!), and I had the whole bodice brought in, the bustle added, bra cups sewn in, and the bustline brought in a bit.  I paid $90 in Kansas City.

atlastmrsg

Don't skimp on alterations.  I had three regrets about my wedding: my alterations (total shit show), how fast the day went (can't do anything about it), and my bouquet didn't end up looking like the test run at the florist.

The one I had the most control over was alterations.  The place where I bought gown "included" them.  By include, they meant five fittings and it still didn't look good.    I wish I'd gone somewhere else the second I had a bad feeling.

Junebug2015

This is helpful, everyone. @atlastmrsg, I'm sorry you weren't happy with your alterations . 

I had a good feeling about this place, and some of my friends who came with me agreed that the woman was meticulous (especially when she was pinning the bustle). Given that the cost seems at least somewhat in line with what others have experienced and factoring in the 2.0x rate everything in Boston costs, I think the price makes sense.

luckya23

My alterations from the dress shop in Central NJ are $469 for bustle & taking in the bust and adding cups.