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CostHelper.com > Weddings > Wedding Dress Alterations
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Wedding Dress Alterations Cost |
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How Much Do Wedding Dress Alterations Cost? |
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| Typical costs: | - The cost of alterations varies widely, depending on the style of the dress and complexity of the work. The three alterations most likely to be done are hemming, bodice alterations and shortening of sleeves.
- A bodice alteration can cost $30 for a simple dress to $100 or more for a dress with boning or beading that needs to be removed, then reinserted or reapplied.
- A hem might run $80 for a simple dress to $200 or more for a multi-layered dress.
- Sleeve alterations usually run between$40 and $80, depending on how much decoration or beading is on the sleeves.
- Leanna Studios offers a primer on alterations costs. Bridal salons, especially in large cities, tend to charge more than independent seamstresses.
What should be included: | - The seamstress will try the dress on the bride to see which alterations are needed. There should be a second fitting, with further alterations if necessary, until the dress fits perfectly.
- Remember to bring the bra, any support garments and the shoes you plan to wear, to your fittings.
- Tip: Make sure to establish a clear timeline with the person doing your alterations, and allow a few extra days so there is time to fix problems. The WeddingChannel.com offers a guide to alterations.
Additional costs: | - Bustling the dress, so the bride can lift and secure her train after the ceremony, normally costs extra, from about $20 to $90, depending on the size of the train, and how complicated the bustle. Leanna Studios provides a primer on different types of bustles.
- After alterations, the dress will need to be pressed or steamed. Typically the cost runs from about $40 for a simple dress to $100 for a multi-layered dress with a long train.
Discounts: | - Some bridal shops will offer discounts of 10 percent or more for dresses they sell.
Shopping for wedding dress alterations: | - Ask the shop where you purchase your dress whether they also do alterations. If so, you might consider using them since they will have a vested interest in making sure you are happy with the dress. If not, ask the bridal shop -- or friends who have recently married -- for recommendations.
- Bridal salons are usually the best place to start looking for alterations services because they have experience with wedding gowns. The Knot.com offers a city-by-city guide to bridal salons. Or, do a search for "alterations" on Local.Yahoo.com.
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Article updated March 2007 |
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
Page 4 of 4 - << Previous 1 2 3 4
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| Wedding dress alterations in small town |
| Amount: $600.00 |
| Posted by: Canadiangirl in Grande prairie, Other. | Posted: February 7th, 2011 01:02PM |
| I had my dress custom made on etsy for $600. It's gorgeous and exactly what I wanted. I must have lost weight or she got my messurements wrong, but the bodice is 3-4 inches too big! Took it to a bridal salon recommended seamstress who gave me a free consultation. Please tell me if I'm over reaction but this is what she quoted... Taking in bodice, a few stitches to gather the fabric, and hem 3 layers $ 550. I can't do it! I find that in the town I live in is more expensive than the other towns around us because of the oil boom. People say there is money here, is that really legitimate? Not everyone works in oil, |
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| 2010 Wedding Dress |
| Amount: $1,500.00 |
| Posted by: LL Williams in New York City, NY. | Posted: February 25th, 2011 09:02PM |
| Store: Made Just For You | Alterations Made: |
| My wedding was $1500 & I had to have it altered in serveral places for it to fit correctly. I was so nervous to have anyone work on because the dress is worth so much and was afraid someone was going to mess it up. I knew I needed it altered or it wasn't going to fit me correctly so I was referred to Made Just For You in NYC. They are home base so they come to you and bring your dress back to you within 3 days depending on what needs to be altered. They specialize in altering wedding dresses and suits, they also do custom dresses, suits, tuxedos,but they do everything alterations/tailoring/along with a collection of clothes to choose from. They are awesome. My dress was returned to me and sewn just like the original. It didn't even looked like someone altered it, but it fit so well. Will reccomend to anyone in NYC area call 212-920-9103 or email tvipstatus@gmail.com to view their collection. |
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| Wedding and Prom alterations |
| Amount: $0.00 |
| Posted by: Virginia Barbaro Alterations in Warminster, PA. | Posted: March 5th, 2011 01:03PM |
| I have done alterations for more than 20 years. After working for several bridal shops, I decided that I could give clients a much more friendly and professional experience at home. My prices are very reasonable, although many think that any amount is too high. It has taken an extreme amount of education and practice to be able to do a quality job. To any one who questions my prices, I always explain exactly what needs to be done, how long I expect it to take, materials and equipment needed, and give them the option of doing it themselves or taking it elsewhere. I never have any one take that option. I also usually require only one fitting for prom and bridesmaid dresses and in most cases only one or possibly two for the bride. Experience counts and saves you time. One hugh favor you can do yourself and the seamstress is to purchase your dress using your largest measurement! Do not pay any attention to the size in the dress. A size 6 will be sized differently with each manufacturer. In most cases you cannot return formal wear. It will cost much more to get a size 18 body into a size 2 dress than it will to take in a couple of seams. Believe me the results can be less than spectacular. Do not purchase a dress that is several sizes to large just because the price is great. It may cost more than buying the dress new to do the alterations, if they can be done at all. As the other professionals have stated, what you see as a just a hem, may take several hours. The next time you question a price, remember that we have as much education as you do and ask yourself if you are willing to work for what you think you should pay for your alteration. Please remember that I have to pay for heat, electric, provide a bathroom, and purchace and maintain all of my 5 sewing machines, my irons and steamers, plus needles pins and other supplies. You are not paying just for my time and experience. I do not advertise. All my work comes from referals, and I AM fully insured. |
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| Alteratiions and sizes |
| Amount: $0.00 |
| Posted by: DBis in Canton, MI. | Posted: March 30th, 2011 02:03PM |
| Store: online | Alterations Made: NA |
| I'm wondering if I would be best served by ordering a custom dress rather than one already made. I am much larger on the bottom than the top and am also quite shortwaisted. That means cutting down both the width and the length of the top. |
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| Working out of your home |
| Amount: $0.00 |
| Posted by: Customfasbybarbara in Pflugerville, TX. | Posted: April 14th, 2011 05:04PM |
| Store: Home | Alterations Made: Any |
| Hi, I have to comment on the person that states be weary of a person working out of their home. Red Flag. I work out of my home because I choose to save the customers money, if I had a store front I would have to charge accordingly in order to make my monthly bills. I also have a license, tax exempt etc. I have a business name and do carry insurance. I am not a person that work out of my home as a hobby. I take my sewing business very seriously and I do this because I love to sew. Your advice that they stick with a bridal salon is not always advisable. There are some very talented seamstress/dressmakers out there that chose not to have a store front so they can pass the savings to the customers. |
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| 1985 pricing |
| Amount: $85.00 |
| Posted by: Miss Mac in TX in Cedar Rapids, IA. | Posted: April 26th, 2011 08:04AM |
| Store: | Alterations Made: Bridal shop |
I had an organza version of Princess Diana's dress with Chantilly lace in three tiers, including the bottom hem. Luckily, I was tall, and with a 2 1/2 inch heel, and did not need the hem altered. It also helped that I was measured hem to hollow in the shoes I would wear on my wedding day. Other measurements were accurate, so I only had to have some side tapering done, with a few pieces of lace lifted, then reapplied, then a bustle.
If your dress comes in way too big...the tape measure DOES NOT LIE. Measure the dress and measure you; if your dress does not even closely match the ordered measurements (within 2 inches each measurement), then I recommend they reorder, or limit your loss on additional alterations above what would normally have been expected. If your measurements are still the same as measured and ordered, then clearly there is a manufacturing issue or they had a larger size, cut out the tags. Finish paying for your dress AFTER final inspection/delivery...never before. |
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| Alterations pricing |
| Amount: $0.00 |
| Posted by: Phyllis N. in Bedford, IN. | Posted: May 29th, 2011 08:05PM |
| Store: | Alterations Made: Any |
| Please don't take it out on your seamstress because you wanted to purchase a sale gown that didn't fit. Sure it only cost you $250, but you are asking me to make it fit..which will take HOURS of my time. Plummers, beauticians, manicurists...do you "haggle" with them about price? Seamstresses who specialize in Wedding gowns do so because they love what they do. If you find your own seamstress, as opposed to the store's, she has the freedom to do whatever you want. Some stores have contracts with the designers and alterations that change the "style" are not allowed..specifically David's Bridal. As far as bustle costs, that is figured on how many times it has to be attached. All costs are figured on "How long it will take to do it" |
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| Are you KIDDING me!??? |
| Amount: $0.00 |
| Posted by: Mrs. T in Willow Springs, IL. | Posted: June 21st, 2011 11:06AM |
| Shame on ALL the bridal stores and their "teams"! If you are MEASURING the bride for a dress...and you ORDER the dress for HER...you should NOT even NEED alterations! You are charging prices as if for a CUSTOM-MADE Designer gown!...yet, you require alterations like you are buying something "off the rack"! Ridiculous! This country needs to have more PRIDE...and WORK ETHICS! You can MAKE A DESIGNER GOWN FROM SCRATCH for some of the prices being charged at the shops! And then you have the NERVE to charge EXTRA for ALTERATIONS!? Why is it a man can get a CUSTOM, TAILOR-MADE, perfectly fitted #1 grade wool suit for about $1500...yet a wedding dress, requiring no more skills or supplies costs $10,000! (plus alterations)? What the heck!? I think that brides need to consider having their dresses made locally...buying their own supplies/materials, etc., and then finding a local seamstress who charges by-the-hour, similar to the local work marketplace. The average gown would cost about $500 to $1,000, and the DANG THING WOULD FIT on the first try! Sorry...this is a SORE subject with me! Shame on the SCAM of this industry! You are taking advantage of young ladies at their most vulnerable moment...and treasured memory! No different that a scam-artist funeral director, playing on emotions! |
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| Wedding Dress Alterations |
| Amount: $150.00 |
| Posted by: Sew Be It in White Lake, MI. | Posted: July 17th, 2011 06:07AM |
| Store: Sew Be It Inc. | Alterations Made: All |
I see and hear of girl's all the time that have been charged huge amounts of money for alterations. I have been in business since 1982. PLEASE use referral's when shopping for a seamstress. I have gowns brought to me after someone else has altered them- to fix. These are my prices for basic alterations - (I did reduce due to the Michigan economy) please just use it as a guide. Hems: 60-80.00 Sides in/out: 25-45.00 Bustles:12- 14.00 each.
Obviously if there is hand bead work, or other intricate work there could be additional charges. ALSO - THE MEASURING SCAM DOES exist. When taking your measurements if the shop tells you that you need a larger size due to your hips...and it's a full skirt? you will have to alter everything. So use closest bust and waist measurement. |
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| WEDDING DRESS ALTERATIONS |
| Amount: $0.00 |
| Posted by: gigi greene in apple valley, CA. | Posted: July 21st, 2011 11:07AM |
| Store: | Alterations Made: none |
| What is the maximum that a dress can be altered? Would a whole 2 to 3 size difference be really costly or difficult? Even if just a plain white panel down the sides or 1 down the back. |
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| wedding dress alterations |
| Amount: $25.00 |
| Posted by: Delta Dreamer in Antioch, CA. | Posted: August 23rd, 2011 06:08AM |
| Store: | Alterations Made: all |
| I have designed and constructed wedding gowns since 1968. I also do alterations on gowns and work out of my home. I have had good and bad experiences with my brides who have a range of expectations and from realistic about their body shapes and budgets to not having a clue. My prices have never been challenged and in fact, one of my customers felt I was undercharging and decided to pay by the hour as opposed to a set price as she had some very special requests. I have also had customers bring me items which had been "altered" elsewhere for repair. I sew because I love the experience and enjoy the additional income, however, I cringe when I hear the charges from the local shops. Original construction is preferable to alterations just as custom designed homes are preferable to renovation of older homes. The latter always have hidden surprises. |
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| easier to sew than alter |
| Amount: $95.00 |
| Posted by: GrammaGramma in St. Paul, MN. | Posted: September 6th, 2011 07:09AM |
| If you understand basic sewing, it is easier to understand the work involved in doing alterations. While constructing, you are working on sections not yet put together such as the bodice section, or a lining only. When doing alterations, you are first undoing a major part of that work, then changing parts of it, and reassembling it. A bodice with lining and boning is doing more than two times the work of the original sewing. Depending on a persons body type, a hem isn't just a simple two inches shorter, it may be longer in one area or several. Sewing take skill, but doing alterations is a master art. It takes bravery and talent to take a complex and expensive dress, seam rip it open, do "sewing sergery" , and then put it back together again without a visible scar, and now more beautiful than before because it custom fits the body of the wearer! I appaud all that do this work! |
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| Wedding dress alterations |
| Amount: $0.00 |
| Posted by: Carole Sipe Seamstress in Reading, PA. | Posted: September 6th, 2011 10:09AM |
| This is in response to the person that commented on what do you expect when you work with someone out of their home. Many self employed seamstress work out of their homes to keep overhead down, the work is just as good or better and most of us have business licenses |
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| Wedding and Prom dress alterations |
| Amount: $0.00 |
| Posted by: D Raymond, Missouri in Tipton, MO. | Posted: September 11th, 2011 07:09PM |
| Store: | Alterations Made: hem and bustle |
| I work out of my home doing alterations as a second job. I have people coming to me all the time needing alterations. Doing alterations out of my home when my children were little helped to pay the bills. I know I do not charge near enough after reading the posting. I just hemmed the front of a wedding dress with the slip, tulle, underskirt and silk dress and I bustled the train. I only charged $70.00 for all. I do not like it when brides are taken advantage of. I take prom dresses in all the time and usually charge $20-$30. Still hem pants for $5. including jeans. I think I do very good work as everyone is very happy with what I do and I have a lot of repeat customers and word of mouth customers. Not everyone that charges cheap does cheap work...I take pride in making clothing fit and look good on the customer. |
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| alterations |
| Amount: $0.00 |
| Posted by: Brandy in atlanta, GA. | Posted: September 30th, 2011 09:09PM |
| First I wanna respond to previous poster, sasha from Md who owns a bridal store.. who states " its so annoying to have to deal with brides-on a- budget." REALLY!! so we should only get married if we arent on a budget as not to annoy the people that make money off our weddings. I hope no one in your area can figure out where your shop is bc I would imagine they would avoid it. Especially if the are on a budget. My budget is 15, 000 mainly bc we are middle class and spend most ofour money on rasing our children, bu I guess tha makes me annoying.\r\n\r\nSecondly, I understand the job is difficult, as with most jobs people have. but to the other poster insinuating to get a good semstress you have to pay alot, it is our job as consumers to shop around for the best overall deal, experience and price. Expensive is not always best.\r\nthe people offering affordable services and great customer service will always be around longer |
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| Wedding Dress Alterations |
| Amount: $0.00 |
| Posted by: Trixie in scottsdale, AZ. | Posted: December 13th, 2011 11:12AM |
| Store: Priscilla\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s of Boston | Alterations Made: the entire dress |
| HELP!! i do not know what to do now that Priscilla\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s of boston has closed. I purchased my Vera Wang wedding dress through them but it needs major alterations. i cannot get vera wang to respond or provide any assistance. Has anyone else heard of any one having the same problems in terms of needed someone to alter their dress? I\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'m begging and pleading...please. |
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| I have been doing bridal alterations for 17 years! |
| Amount: $0.00 |
| Posted by: Amanda Newton in Forest city, NC. | Posted: December 15th, 2011 08:12PM |
| I started doing bridal alterations in a shop and learned right away how much work goes into the alterations. I am one of those people that when someone tells me it can\'t be done, I find a way to make it happen. I have my own business in the mall in my town. I am right beside a bridal shop and still do alterations for other shops. I have brides come in and are so thankful for everything you do and tell me that I don\'t charge enough! Then I have some look at me like I am out of my mind and they can\'t believe it. These gowns take time, it is just not a pair of jeans you can replace at Walmart. If you paid 100 or 10000 I treat everyone of them the same way, the way I want mine to be treated! Some seamstresses don\'t know what they are doing and have had to fix that before, and then the bride feels they don\'t have to pay for alterations again. First, they should have demanded the money back, and then come to me. I eat, sleep and breathe sewing and especially love wedding alterations!!! Some bridal shops order dresses large so they can charge a huge fee to alter them. BRIDES!!! You need to have someone measure you before you try on dresses and know your measurements. Ask to see the size chart from the company you are ordering from or look it up online! I know you can find any size chart, I have. Pick the size that works with your measurements. But wouldn\'t you rather it come close to what size you are, than pay an unreal amount of alterations. If your dress is a corset back, if they have to pull it all the way closed the dress is too big. If you are a size 2 and the dress don\'t come that small, they will need to take it up on the sides, so the laces show. In case you don\'t want the lace back to show, then get the dress a little big. I hope this has helped someone out. It really makes me mad when brides that don\'t get married everyday (even those that do!) get taken advantage of! Thanks-I feel better now!!! |
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| To Mrs. T in Willow Springs |
| Amount: $0.00 |
| Posted by: Amanda Newton in Forest city, NC. | Posted: December 15th, 2011 08:12PM |
| The whole clothing industry uses a set size chart from the 1930-40's and most still use it. Almost all wedding gowns are made in China. Who else could do all that beadwork for almost next to nothing. I have worked in bridal for 17 years and know it in every area, sales, ordering and am a professional seamstress. We measure the bride and use the size chart as a guide of what size to order. Our shop would show the bride the chart and we would recommend a size but I always told them it was their decision. If they picked one smaller I would tell them the difference in the size and amount of alterations they could expect. Or find a dress in the size they wanted by that company and let them see how it fits. No, everyone is not the same size. But there is standard guidelines and then hard working seamstresses like me have to fine tune them. Sometimes we have to work with brides that think they know everything and can be unreasonable even when I give them exactly what they asked for. Sorry for your experience, but all seamstresses and shops are not as you say. The customer is always in charge of ordering and telling the shops what they want, if the shops are bullying brides, that is wrong. But you don't go to buy a car or house and not get what you want. It should be the same any time you spend money. In my humble opinion. |
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| 2nd Wedding-Expensive alterations! |
| Amount: $200.00 |
| Posted by: Colleen1037 in Gilbert, AZ. | Posted: February 9th, 2012 08:02AM |
| Store: | Alterations Made: Hem, two pin tucks |
| I am a bride for the second time. Being 50 years old and having a destination wedding I did not want to spend a lot on my dress. I found a beautiful satin bridesmaid gown (ordered it in ivory) and paid $180.00. When I went in for the fitting the seamstress pinned up the hem and I requested two pin tucks on the outside of the dress (not the lining) to let the gown lay properly. She told me it would be $200.00. I couldn\'t believe it would cost more to alter the gown than it would for the whole gown! How can that be? I would like to hire the seamstress that actually made the gown! I was in shock, so I am taking the dress to find another seamstress that will charge a reasonable price. |
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| costs more to alter than to make |
| Amount: $0.00 |
| Posted by: purejojoy in Eugene, OR. | Posted: February 22nd, 2012 09:02PM |
| I am a professional seamstress and yes, it can cost more to alter than to make. When you make something there is a specific progression of putting it together. Remaking or altering you first need to take it apart, and work around it in a backwards progression. For example, hemming a gown already made. Working with layers and layers of fabric is much harder then hemming one layer at a time and then putting them all together. Hemming a wedding gown is never a just a simple simple hemming unless it is made of a non-slippery tightly woven fabric and the bride is built like a stick so it lays completely even all around before the hemming. If you are a real woman with some curves it most likely will not fall evenly all around and getting all those layers even takes time.\r\n\r\nPlease, do not compare the cost of having your gown altered by an experienced professional with having it done by the minimum wage worker at the cleaners. The cleaners are not in the business of custom alterations. |
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| Todays Bridal Gowns |
| Amount: $0.00 |
| Posted by: a user in Green Bay, WI. | Posted: March 9th, 2012 04:03PM |
| I've been altering wedding gowns for 40 years, the first 20years out of bridal shops. Fallacy #1 -Shops do not order the wrong size so you have to have alterations done, there is plenty to do to keep sewers busy. They are just not custom made-they are made to their (the manufacture) set of their measurements. Sales girls generally don't know how to measure-a good shop will have an alteration girls take your measurements -AND - decide what size to order.There are girls who will take measurements and order by the largest measurement, the style of the dress should be considered. If it's a full dress(most are) then the hip measurement would have no bearing on the size. How does the sample fit?? They will tell you that samples stretch, I've never found that to be true enough to change a size that fits you. If its a little snug-order one size larger, if its a little big, order one size smaller. Don't be talked into a measurement chart when the sample you try fits. |
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| ordering wedding gowns |
| Amount: $0.00 |
| Posted by: Miss Kennedy in Green Bay, WI. | Posted: March 9th, 2012 04:03PM |
| Girls!!!\r\nwhen you order a wedding gown online-please don\'t order 3 sizes too small because you think you will fit into it. You won\'t. It doesn\'t matter what the tag says-what matters is how beautifully it fits you, and not having to be taken apart and pieced so it will zip. That\'s expensive for you and a real hassell for your seamstress. I know. |
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| ALTERATIONS. TAILORING..KNOW THE VALUE OF YOUR TALENT |
| Amount: $0.00 |
| Posted by: Jeri Lee Hollis in SOUTH HAVEN M, MI. | Posted: April 19th, 2012 02:04PM |
| Store: JERI\'S SEWING ROOM | Alterations Made: |
| THERE SIMPLY ARE NOT ALLOT OF PEOPLE WHO NOW HOW TO ALTER FINE GARMENTS..KNOW YOU VALUE WE HAVE TO MAKE A LIVING TOO..BILLS TO PAY LIKE ANYONE..AND HOW MANY HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO WORK ON A THOUSAND DOLLAR WEDDING GOWN??? WITH GOD\'S HELP I DO AND HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH MANY CLIENTS AND I THANK GOD ...WE OWN THIS SEWING ROOM..NOT ME ALONE THANKS!!! |
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| Alteration Prices |
| Amount: $55.00 |
| Posted by: JuneBug23 in New Albany, IN. | Posted: May 2nd, 2012 07:05AM |
| Store: David\'s Bridal | Alterations Made: taking the sides in |
| This is my first (and only wedding after all the hoops we\'ve had to jump through just to make it happen). I\'m currently pregnant with my 4th child, so I got my dress 1 size bigger then I actually am now ( size 14 instead of 12). I\'m just starting to show and our wedding is in 4 weeks.\r\n\r\n I purchased a flowing dress ($180 on sale) to help hide the bump with a pretty black jeweled ribbon that ties around just under the chest to bring focus upwards. Anywho, since the dress is too big on the top (even with my 40D top) we\'re having it taken in. They pull the sides in for a better fit. \r\n\r\nThis alteration cost $40 plus the $15 fee just for having an alteration done. I\'m also adding a bustle\' but will be doing that part myself with safety pins ti mark my fabric under the dress and attatching buttons and elastic loops to actually apply the bustle after the ceremony. Very easy, and only costs me 30-40 minutes of time and $20 worth of supplies. Cheaper then paying them $65 for the same bustle. |
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