Average alteration costs

lanerob1

I bought my dress at David's Bridal and took it back to get altered. I was just wondering how much yall spent on your dress alterations. I'm 5'1" so I know she had to take it up a couple of inches and make a bustle. The hem alone was $120 and the bustle was $102. Is this normal? I wasn't expecting to pay that much just for alterations. My dress alone was under $400. I was reading sozay's reviews about DB and was wondering if I paid too much???

TexasAmanda

I'm in the middle of alterations right now with Nelda's, she charges 47.50 an hour for her work. She quoted me that it would be approximately 5-7 hours worth of work on my dress. This work includes: hem, 5 point bussel, and being taken in on the sides and a little bit down the center of my back. So it actually is quite a bit of work and in the end could cost me anywhere from $237.5-$332.5.... YIKES, I know because my dress was also under 400 from David's Bridal, but I know the perfect fit will make a huge difference, so I just went with it. I was too scared to take mine to DB after I heard some horror stories.

somethingsweeting

I did my alterations at Nelda's, too. I was told it would take 3-4 hours. False. It ended up taking 6-7 (for just a hem and a bustle!) and I paid $230. I wasn't pleased. Classy Concepts quoted me $130 for the same work. Wish I would have made the drive to Round Rock.

TexasAmanda

Greeeeat, now I'm a little worried it will cost more. She assured me it would not take any longer than 7 hours, but I guess I will just wait and see. Lanerob1: were you happy with the end result at least?? I've never heard of Classy Concepts. What made you take it to Nelda's and not Classy Concepts afterall?

sozay23

I didn't have to have mine taken in (or out) or a hem put on. Only a four (i think) point bustle and cups sewn in. The big difference was the bustle. It was like $40 with alexia and around $100 with davids bridal. actually the hem was the one thing that kind of went wrong at the wedding. My dress fit perfect length wise- we never even considered a hem. then on my wedding day I stepped out onto the golf course arm in arm with my dad and step-dad and well, it's grass so my feet sunk in about an inch or two meaning suddenly my dress was that much longer. I finally had to let go of my dad's arm, pull my dress up and walk like that to keep from tripping every step It actually was kind of amusing and made me laugh which was probably a good thing at the moment.

ejayne

Have you already paid them for the work? If you can get out of it, I would... those prices seem high to me. I got mine done at Classy Concepts and paid just under $50 for my (one point) bustle, and about $170 to have the sides and bust taken in about a whole size. And my dress has lots of lace and beading!

lanerob1

These prices are much lower than what I paid!!! I live in Lubbock, but I'm having my wedding in Burnet (45 min North of Austin). I've already paid and my next fitting is Oct 14th. I'll let yall know how it turns out. Whenever she pinned it up for me I looooved it, so hopefully it will all work out!

Mrs.Purdue

Mine was a little over $100 at Alexia Gavela for a 3 point bustle, hem, sewing a beaded band around the top, and putting in bra cups.  Definitely get another quote besides DB - I haven't heard any good stories about their alterations (either negative or just so-so reviews). 

selinacv

My dress was altered at Alexia Gavela.  I got a 4 point bustle (maybe 3?), a hem and bra cups sew in and it was about $190ish.  I got my dress from Alfred Angelo and those clowns told me that a bustle for my dress would cost around $200.  No thanks, so I went to AG and loooooved the service.

somethingsweeting

Ya, I think it looks really good. I think it ended up being so much because she had to do more on the bustle. Not even sure how many points (maybe six?).Ask ejayne for more on classy concepts. I think she was happy with them.

shanwalk2

I had an outrageous amount of alterations done (I'm super short, curvy and and had a very fitted dress):  hem up, hips out, straps up, torso shortened (a big alteration), 11 point bustle, then they steamed it and stored it for me until 3 days before the wedding.  I think my total was under $300 and it was worth every.single.penny.  My alterations "made" my dress. 

lanerob1

O.M.G....shan wear did you go get yours done? I cannot believe I paid already....grr.... oh well. I just hope I'm happy with the final look...

shanwalk2

alexia gavella....I was beyond thrilled.

Masunaga

I got a quote from both Alexia Gavela and Classy Concepts, and Alexia Gavela was much better.When I first went to Classy Concepts to look at their jewelry, the service was fine. But when I took my dress for a quote, the service was terrible.The better quote, professional expertise, and great service at Alexia Gavela definitely won me over!

ejayne

See, I went to Classy Concepts because they called me back, and Alexia Gavela never did. Hrm...

victrola

Yeah it sounds like you are paying a bit on the high side. Don't sweat it this close to the wedding - if you LIKE how it turns out, the difference of say $50 won't be worth the stress right before your big day. In a year you'll remember how you felt and looked, not that extra money spent. That's what I would do, anyway, and I'm super non-confrontational!FWIW - I also went to Alexia Gavela and it was fabulous. I needed the scalloped lace bottom of my dress to be hemmed several inches (so they had to remove the lace, hem, re-sew lace on). Then I lost weight and they had to take my dress in 2 sizes (different times - 1 size then 1 more size), again it is COVERED with lace so very work-intensive. I also had a 7-point underbustle put in. Total was around $250.

victrola

Whoops, that $250 also included sewing a comb into my mantilla veil.

may2005

Although I had a satisfactory 'buying' experience from DB, my alterations with them were nothing short of a nightmare.  In the end, their workmanship was awful, and they tightened the bodice so much (despite my asking them not to) that I couldn't breathe.So they had to let out the bodice, do a rush job for another $99 expense, to get the gown ready in time for my wedding.By the end of this sorry experience, my alterations cost MORE than the dress.  So for any brides buying a DB dress, take it elsewhere for alterations.