Wedding Dress Alterations

lcissell3110

Hey ladies,

I ordered my dress a few months ago and it should be in at the end of next month. When I was getting fitted they said I would need alterations to hem it about an inch, bring the bustle in a little and make the neckline from straight across to a sweetheart. Then they quoted me the price....over $600! I have to say I was pretty shocked about the price. Especially since my dress was only $700. They also said they had to add a rush fee which is like $125... I have never had anything altered before so I don't know if this is normal or not. I wasn't expecting it to be that high though. So is this normal and if its not then where could I take my dress to be altered and what is the average price?

FutureMrsDang

The quoted price is not outrageous.  Wedding dress alterations are expensive, however, you can find places that will do it cheaper.  I had a lot done to my dress and was quoted $800 at one place.  Ended up find a place doing it for under $150 and she did an awesome job, so it is possible.

I don't have the number here but they are DT Tailors on Wilcrest and I-10.

MC22

Dress alterations are definitely ridiculous (or can be!).  But it certainly depends on the place, and I'm sure you can find somewhere less expensive (and maybe they won't charge a rush fee).

I bought my dress at Weddings by Debbie but since I live north of The Woodlands it wasn't practical for me to have my dress altered there. 

So after A LOT of looking around and indecision (and stress!), I decided to take it to the seamstress at The Princess Bridal in Old Town Spring.  I pick it up this Sunday (YAY!!!), so I can't say for sure how it will turn out, but she was really great to work with and the price was reasonable (in comparison to other quotes).

Also - my dress ended up requiring 20 bustles (yes, you read that right!) and the way she had it pinned for us to see makes me believe it is going to be incredible when I see it on Sunday.

I will post pictures next week so you can see...

lcissell3110

MC: I also purchased mine at Weddings by Debbie. I looked at Princess Bridal too (they are closer to me also) Post pics when you can, I may end up going there for alterations. Thanks!

MC22

Sure! 

I will hopefully be so excited when I pick it up that I won't be able to refrain from posting pictures

Check in early next week (and if you don't see them, remind me!).

lcissell3110

I bet! I can't wait til mine comes in. Im sure you will LOVE it

jmkes

I went initially to a place on 1960 from a recommendation I got on this board.  The designer was so incredibly rude.  When she caught wind that I wanted an estimate before I would commit she got very short with me and did not even want to answer my questions.  All I needed were bustles and she didn't even know how many she would do.  She didn't show me what her ideas would be, nothing.  I asked how long it would take and she said "well, we DO have other things going on...MAYBE 2 or 3 weeks."

I remembered that there's a tailor in the shopping strip by my house so I went there right after I left the first place - they were soooo nice!  It's called J&H Tailor on FM2920 and Kuykendahl.  She showed me where she would put the bustles and she was $135 LESS than the place on 1960.  I go pick up my dress tomorrow - can't wait to see it!

FutureMrsRoss2010

I highly recommend Beautiful U alterations at 3637 Alabama St.  I did a LOT of researching and searching and calling for quotes (though they can't give exact quotes without seeing the dress and discussing).  The reviews of Beautiful U were fantastic, so I went with it.  I've had three fittings, and my final is next week.  I LOVE the people there and they are SO good at what they do, and they'll redo things until you are totally 100% happy.  For a hem, bustle, bodice work (including turning it into a sweetheart) mine should turn out to be about $300.  I highly recommend this place.  And the shop owner, Arlene, is amazingly sweet.

kbates85

I also decided to have my fittings at A Beautiful U. They came highly recomended from a good friend of mine who got married in 2008. My first fittinng isn't until September but my friend had great things to say about them and their prices.

hutchsl

Got mine altered at Jane's Bridal in Pearland 281-485-6550, 3244 East Broadway Street. My used dress was about 2 sizes too big and she did a great job - only $60.

MMW10

Does anyone have suggestions of where I can go to get my gown altered in the west Houston/Cypress area? I just moved up here and don't really know where anything is--it just seems to take forever to get anywhere! Also, my wedding is in 7 weeks. Is that realistic for most places, or am I going to need to find someone who can rush my dress through alterations?