Alteration Price at David's Bridal?

sosweetmeliss · May 2011

Hi All-

I'm shopping around for my wedding gown and finding a number of places that have a "set fee" for alterations, or it is included in the price of the gown. David's Bridal did not give me a guesstimated fee for alterations and said you would determine that on your initial meeting with alterations. What have your experiences been? How much did alterations on wedding gowns cost you or someone you know?

I'm loving some dresses there, and they are cheaper! (Bonus!) But will I end up paying the same amount anyway? THANKS!!

Bryttany12 · March 2013

I just went into David's Bridal 3262013 I only needed my dress taken in at the bust down to the hips. By the end they were done with me they had taken the dress in shortened the bottom did an under bustle and put bar cups in and wanted me to pay 330. That was more then I pai for the dress. I told them to take everything out and just take it in. I ended up paying 150. There prices are reasonable but they add up really fast and the women are really pushy.

countryheart777 · July 2013

I am a professional Bridal Seamstress for over 24 years, and worked in the bridal industry. I have heard horror story after another from their alterations Dept. As a seamstress myself and being rather successful and striving to be a blessing to Brides, it's very disheartening to hear that a lot of Brides are being taken advantage of when it comes to alterations on their wedding attire, my encouragement to everyone is do your homework, ask friends and family for recommendations check out internet sites on alterations pricing beware of bridal stores who claim to say alterations are including the only way this can be true is they raise the cost of the wedding dress to cover the price of alterations that may or may not need to be done,or not the amount you need done. Be prepared is my best advise, conclusion, ask ask ask go for free estimates! most seamstresses will set up an apt with you to see your dress in order to give you a free quote on your dress without any obligations.

Comipa · July 2013

I just had my dress altered at a Davids Bridal in California. Not sure if they do dresses bought elsewhere. It's a discontinued a-line dress with ruching and appliques all over the bodice.

The hem was $95 but can go up to $120. I had them take in the dress at the waist on one side, tighten the straps, and but the arm holes bigger (since they were pulling my straps up they had to make the holes big to compensate).

Everything came out to $230-ish including taxes I think.

Can't say if they've done a good job yet as I'm waiting to get my dress back next month. They told me it takes about a month to get the dress back to the bride. I went in on the 14th of July and have an appointment to get it back on the 14th of August.

mnwatson1 · July 2013

I just went in to try on dresses, and the one I decided on is one I had to order online because it was discontinued. I spoke with their alterations lady that day to see what the damage would be, and this is what I was quoted:
Hem: $110 (they're going to have to take off 4-8 inches because I'm only 4'11" and had to order the regular size to get it in ivory)
Adding corset back: $115
Ballroom Bustle: $90

So $315 total for everything. My dress cost me $585, after a 10% discount coupon they emailed me.

I'm pretty happy with that quote, honestly. They won't have to take in my bodice, either, because the size should fit pretty well as-is, and the corset will allow for any minor adjustments.

shaylagirl · July 2013

I -just- had this alterations issue myself, although mine was with Alfred Angelo.

I need the bodice done, a hem done, and my gown bustled.

AA gave me a guesstimate of $360-$420. This was AFTER I had been given a run-around and been told initially they couldn't give me a rough guesstimate. After I sent an email to Customer Care about an unrelated issue, but happened to tack on how frustrating that was, the manager from my store called to give me the guesstimate.

I took it to a local seamstress who has a TON of positive reviews through Yelp, TK, WW and on her website, and decided to go with her.

Because, unlike AA who wanted to do a drawstring for my bodice, she's going to do the side-seam, which means removing all the beading and doing all that extensive work (bodice alone with her is $250). My hem another $150. She's doing the bustle for free. I am paying her to steam mine (AA offered it for free), which made her then more expensive than AA.

I'm willing to pay that little bit more, one, because AA upset me a bit. But two, she's going to do the job right, and make sure the bodice fits where it SHOULD fit on my body. I kept hiking it up, which, would have made the hem a moot point, but as she pointed out, the bodice was then in the wrong place.

Am I overpaying? Sure I am. I know that. But it's peace of mind to know the job will be done right.

The fact is only YOU can decide what you're comfortable paying for your alterations.

Make an appointment to talk with a seamstress there if it's a free consult. It doesn't cost you anything, and you can always shop around on alteration prices.

Ven&Radio · July 2013

I just had my first fitting last week. I'm having alterations done at the bridal shop I purchased my dress from (not a chain). The dress I purchased was a sample that was a couple sizes too big. I can't remember the breakdown (my mom paid and has the receipt) but for hemming, taking the bodice in, adding bra cups, and bustling, we paid $235.

Cindy9714 · July 2013

I'm not sure if I'm too late or not BUT avoid alterations at David's if you can. Long story short, I was a Bridesmaid and took my dress to a seamstress that owns and operates her own business and paid $50 for my alterations. When the others stayed with David's and paid damn near $200 & $300 for theirs! Which was anout double the price of the dress...Crazy right....but thats how they make thier money. Sell dresses cheap and rape your wallet with alterations. definitely find a seamstress.

LatashaO · July 2013

I had a alterations appt today at Davids Bridal, my bustle today was 50$, i added a corset back the first time, and a almost sweetheart neckline, that trip cost me 250$. I didnt get the hem they wanted for 150$ though.

mnwatson1 · July 2013

@LatashaO How did that corset back come out? It's one of the alterations I'm having done, it just sounds like a big change. They're charging me about $115 for that though.

@Cindy9714 My alterations ARE going to cost about $315 altogether (I made them give me a quote upfront, they said it could end up being less though), but I've heard great things about my DB's alterations department, I'm having them do a lot of work (there's a lot of applique at the bottom of my dress and they're going to have to take off like 6" to hem it, PLUS it's a satin dress, which from my own sewing adventures I know is a nightmare to work with!) having a corset back put in, and a ballroom bustle because mine has a cathedral train. Do I think it's expensive? Sure, but I knew it would be, especially with the alterations I wanted. Do I think it's worth it? ABSOLUTELY, because if they screw it up, getting me a new dress and getting it altered CORRECTLY is on THEM!

For me, I'll take the peace of mind. Honestly though, it's pretty close to what local seamstresses quoted me for the same.

DB's alterations DO seem to be arbitrarily set by their individual stores though, so I'd definitely ask your store before setting anything in stone. And ask around to see how others liked their finished product, because some stores are terrible.

LatashaO · August 2013

The corset came out great! But what they didnt tell me was I had to pay for the strings! When I called they were like it will be 115 then after I was done and ringing out there like the strings for the corset are 60$. That is steep for strings to me, but I paid and it looks nice!

allielynn88 · August 2013

I just bought my wedding dress from David's Bridal. It's from the Verg Wang 2013 collection. VW351178. Anyways I didn't think about asking what the alterations would cost until after I bought it. The hem is a $200 flat price since it's considered corture(sp?) and the bustle starts at $35. I couldn't believe it's $200 for a hem. I'm 5'4" and wearing 4" wedges but I think it's still a bit too long.

MaryGraceRich · August 2013

I had a bridesnaid dress altered at DB it costs $60 for just a hem and that was 5 1/2 years ago.
I am getting my gown alterered at the store that I bought it inv in comparison I think DB alterations are cheaper. They are charging me a flat fee of $495 for the hem, taking it in, sewing in cups and the bustle. To me this isnt too insane in price because they are going to have to basically take my dress apart and put it back together to get it to fit right. I am only 5 feet tall and I have a short torso so to get the dress to lay correctly they are going to have to shorten it from the the top. In addition they are going to have to take in the top A LOT because I am pear shaped and two sizes smaller on top than I am by my hips.

[Deleted User] · August 2013

At the DB store I went to they had a price chart for alterations, ask about that. I know that the bustle charge is based on how many buttons/hooks they have to add. I had mine done last fall and if I remember correctly it was $10 a button/hook. I then had the zipper changed to a corset back and I believe that it was $150.00 but so worth it because it added beautiful detail to the back of the dress plus my weight kept going up & down a few pounds within a 5 pound range the last few weeks so it was nice knowing with corset back it would be easy to adjust the dress accordingly. I didn't need any other alterations done.

I will admit, from what I've heard, their prices can run higher, but I'll be honest I was ok with paying them due to being parinod. I figured these seamstresses work daily with all the different styles they sell and know how to handle them. If they ruined my dress somehow, it would be on the store plus easy for them to replace.

They did a beautiful job with the few things I needed done. I didn't like the traditional bustle with my dress because it hid too much of the beauty of the bottom of the dress. So I asked the seamstress if there were any other options and she gladly showed me other options & even pinned them so I could get a good view. With the corset back they did recommend bringing someone with me for my dress pick/final fitting so that they could show them the best way to tighten my corset back.

krose83013 · August 2013

I got my dress from David's Bridal and had them do my alterations. I paid $408 for my alterations in June. They were converting the dress to a corset back, hemming and taking in the front so the dress formed to my bust and my bra won't be visible.

I went back July 3, and the corset back was horrible. Nothing was lined up, the seam for the corset was 1/2 in into the dress and clearly visible. They removed the krindlin (spelling) which was just supposed to be hemmed, a flower was ripped, and makeup was on the dress that should have been removed. I was ready to scream by the time we were done. My BM was appalled at how horrible of a job they did.

I just went back again this past Friday. They have to fix some draping along the sides of the dress, because now that the corset is fixed we could see that the dress doesn't lay correctly. The seamstress that helped me was very thorough and she said she would personally make the changes we discussed.

I go and hopefully pick up my dress next Wednesday. Overall, it depends on who you deal with.

allielynn88 · August 2013

I would like to have a corset back but I'm to scared to have my dress altered that much. I'm wedding married in 3 weeks and have my alterations appt on the 6th. I'm hoping my weight doesn't drastically change with in that time

shaylagirl · August 2013

@allielynn88 - Your wedding is in three weeks, and you're just now getting started on alterations? You're very brave! I'd be worried about giving the seamstress enough time to get it all completed. Of course, I guess if it's just a hem and bustle, that's not too bad.

What all are you having done?

My wedding is Oct. 19th, and I left my gown with my seamstress July 26th. She pinned and marked a few things on it (where the side seam was, and where it would need to shift too), and my 2nd appointment is August 16th, where I try it on again, and we work the hem and start looking at the bustle. I'll have 4 total appointments with her (potentially up to 5). Of course, she let me pick when I wanted to pick up the gown, when I wanted to do appointments, etc. I made sure to build in LOTS of time with her so she wouldn't have to rush mine.

allielynn88 · August 2013

oh yeah I know it's very last minute but what happened was I had bought my wedding dress over a year ago and our wedding was put on hold as I got pregnant with our son. For some reason the dress I had I didn't have that same passion about it when I had bought it. I was just going to deal with it as I didn't want to spend anymore money but one day my mom, sister, and I went to Davids Bridal for them to try on MOB and MOH dresses and I seen this dress as soon as I walked in and I was in love with it and had to try it on. I bought it the next day which is July 4th, it came in 13 days later. I went from a Alfred Angelo (white and Claret) ball gown to a brand new Vera Wang ivory ballgown. I'm so excited. As for alterations I only need a hem because the dress is so long I haven't worn it with my 4" wedges though as MAYBE it'll take care of the hem and I just need a bustle. I don't need to be taken in or anything the bodice fits perfectly as it has boning already. I def didn't plan on buying a new wedding dress, it just happened

Alteration Price at David's Bridal?

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