Here's my story, a little long so I apologize now.
I bought my beautiful wedding dress at davids bridal for $599.99! It was such a steal for such a beautiful gown! I was trying to stay under $800.00 for my dress, because honestly, I didn't want to spend a lot of money on just my dress.
Time for alterations. I was going to go to davids bridal but I had heard so many horror stories, that i chose to go through FHs aunts seamstress. This lady works out of her home, as well as bridal reflections.
My question- what is a reasonable price to pay for the following alterations at private home?
My dress has cap sleeves which had to be taken up a little bit, she did a simple three point bustle and made a very small modesty piece to coverage the major cleavage problem I was having.
Now I know once you add wedding to anything, the price goes up. I get a call from her yesterday saying my dress is ready and I can come for my final fitting. She tells me that the alterations are $405.00!! Holy moly. I only spent $600.00 on my dress. How in the world can I justify spending this money on alterations? I know it has to be done, but ugh!!
Sorry for the venting session, but I needed to know if this seems reasonable.
Thank you!
jlr5585
Posted:
Member since
Pricing for alterations...
That does seem a bit high for alterations out of someones private home. I would be frustrated also. Can you ask exactly what she charged for? The place I bought my dress caps alterations at 395 and that INCLUDES the bustle (french or regular). Most places I shopped for dresses wanted to charge a high cap plus extra for the bustle. You already had them done and its your wedding dress so you def want it to look perfect and fit right because those pictures are forever. Alterations are the unfortunate annoying extra cost with wedding dresses. I am going for my first fitting next week and I can only imagine how much it will be.
rcotter90
Posted:
Member since
Pricing for alterations...
That does seem high compared to other quotes I've seen for outside a bridal salon. Maybe she's charging you based on what they charge at bridal reflections? I'd definitely ask for an itemized list of the cost of each alteration done.
RSPan14
Posted:
Member since
Pricing for alterations...
That doesn't seem reasonable at all!
Dms7286
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Pricing for alterations...
I go tomorrow, and I'm only going with $200.00 and say that's all I can afford for right now, and see if I can talk her a little lower, and i will be asking for an itemized bill. I'm also bringing my receipt to show her my dress was not a lot of money.
My sil bought her dress at bridal salon in bay shore and they basically recreated her dress and they charged her $300! It's crazy!
katielynn
Posted:
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Pricing for alterations...
Personally I don't think thats ridiculous at all. I've seen bridal salons have a cap upwards of $600 and my moms seamstress has a cap on bridal gowns of $450. She also probably charges more since she works out of bridal reflections as well. They're charging me $115 for my bridesmaids dress for a friends wedding which I think is ABSURD.
May I ask why you didn't ask her the price BEFORE you did them?
haw4
Posted:
Member since
Pricing for alterations...
I think that's pretty reasonably priced actually. My alterations were capped at $250, but the bustle cost extra. I've looked into other places to get my dress altered and it seems like I for a great deal, even with the extra cost of the bustle.
Dms7286
Posted:
Member since
Re: Pricing for alterations...
Posted by katielynn
Personally I don't think thats ridiculous at all. I've seen bridal salons have a cap upwards of $600 and my moms seamstress has a cap on bridal gowns of $450. She also probably charges more since she works out of bridal reflections as well. They're charging me $115 for my bridesmaids dress for a friends wedding which I think is ABSURD.
May I ask why you didn't ask her the price BEFORE you did them?
Well the fact that this is a friend of my FHs aunts friend, I figured she would help me out a little bit. I have NO idea why I didn't ask before. I'm not really complaining about the price, I think I was just a little sticker shocked considering I only spent $600.00 on my dress and she really didn't have to do that much to it. I guess I should have asked before hand...my fault.
jlr5585
Posted:
Member since
Re: Pricing for alterations...
Posted by katielynn
Personally I don't think thats ridiculous at all. I've seen bridal salons have a cap upwards of $600 and my moms seamstress has a cap on bridal gowns of $450. She also probably charges more since she works out of bridal reflections as well. They're charging me $115 for my bridesmaids dress for a friends wedding which I think is ABSURD.
May I ask why you didn't ask her the price BEFORE you did them?
115 is insane lol...when my friend got married last year her place wanted 95, took it to a private place and spent 45. That's why I'm surprised a private place would charge over 400 dollars for a wedding dress for alterations when she could have gone to a bridal salon and paid the same! Especially that it's someone she knows.
