Alterations

My dress is only costing about $190 but I'm having minimal alterations. I have an A-line dress with a lace overlay. I'm having the bust taken in about a 1/2 in on each side, cups sown in, and 2 separate bustles (French 3-point for the satin underlay, American 1-point for the lace overlay). I luckily don't need the waist taken in or a hem, or if I get a hem it would be small. I'm also located just outside of Detroit.

Ugh mine is $600 :/

I'm in FL. I had an A line dress with a bunch of lace. I had it taken in and hemmed. I paid close to $500.

ETA and the bustle

My alterations were $1100. The dress was a fit and flare with a lot of beading and details, and I had a lot of changes made. I think $400-$600 is more typical.

My ball gown was $160. I got super lucky though! My bridal shop states that their average is $300-$600. What cut my costs was I didn't have to hem the dress [this would have been $320] because I'd sized the dress to my desired shoes [this does not always work even knowing the heel height]. What I had done was: took in the sides about 1/2" on each side and straps, 3 bustle points for the English style bustle [the French style was the same cost], and added bra cups. Definitely estimate on the higher end though.

My alterations at Kleinfeld will be $875. I have an aline dress with tons of lace and many layers. They have a flat rate which was wonderful to hear since a lot of places seemed to have tons of added costs that were going to put me over $1000 for alterations.

Bought my dress in NJ and it will cost me around 400, they gave me a flat rate.

My dress is an Allure Bridal dress and alterations were about $300. I needed the dress to be let out and cups to be added. No hemming.

I had a ball gown with a long train. I got 9 bustles....plus alterations. It was about $300.

I paid $866 for 7 point bustle, hem, and for sleeves to be added. Realized this is horribly overpriced but the stern Russian women insisted I get all alterations done by her. I got scared and gave in. I will be taking my dress after the next fitting and if it turns out I need more done to it I will take it elsewhere.

I'm in the Finger Lakes area of NY and my alterations we $280. That was to have the dress shortened, bustled, and the fabric at the shoulders brought in a tiny bit.

I'm in the Boston area and the bridal salon where I bought my dress said the seamstress they recommend doesn't usually go higher than $400. I hope and pray that is correct because the prices I am seeing here are scary!

I'm in the Houston area and my alterations for my ball gown are around $350 for hemming, adding a French bustle, and shaping the neckline to my body.

SF area beaded, lacy fit and flare. I had 3 point American bustle, cups and took it in about an inch for $255. I thought that was a lot (on an already expensive dress) some of these prices are crazy!!

Oooof. My fit and flare with a lot of beading and mesh will cost nearly as much to alter as to purchase. I'm adding cups, shortening straps, taking in waist and hips, hemming and adding an American bustle (lots of points, she may have said 10). Looking like about $1100.

Disappointed my salon didn't give me the heads up (brought it to an independent seamstress closer to the wedding where my family lives) that my fabric was so delicate that alterations would be challenging, especially since I let the salesperson convince me I should get an extra size bigger for my hips and now need to pull it in to get the butt effect that sold me on the gown to begin with. Grrrrr.

But once all that $$ is invested, I know it'll be perfect! I would expect with a ball gown you can avoid a bunch of those alterations. Anyone perusing these forums-- a corset back instead of falling in love with a sheer lace back will save you a lot of alterations too!!

On Long Island, alterations will be capped at $475, bustle $225. A-Line.

I got my alterations done at David's Bridal (where I bought the dress). I paid about $300. Hemming-$120, $20 for removing straps and rest for a 15point bustle. My dress had several layers of tulle, a layer of plain satin and a layer of chiffon with beadings and embroidery. The bustle was done in two parts- 7 parts for the satin layer, followed by 8 for the chiffon layer. I could have probably got all this done cheaper at a local seamstress, but DB gives a guarantee on alterations on dresses you purchase there, and also, I love my crazy complicated bustle :-)

Southern California- $500. Fit and flare dress that will need to be bustled, adjustment up top (I had them add sleeves and shoulders to a strapless dress which they were far too generous with so that has to be taken in), and removing of the boning from the chest so it lies flat against me instead of exposing me to the world.

When I ordered my dress, I had the length custom made to save some time/a little money. I went to the seamstress that was recommended by my bridal salon.

I'm in a rural area of Pennsylvania and for all my alterations bustle, straps, hemmed and cups added was 120.00 a real deal if you ask me.

Mine we're $300 for an A Line that had five layers to hem and an 18 point bustle