Cost of alternations has gone up...

I think that sounds reasonable. I spoke to a bridal shop and they said for taking a dress in/out and making it the right length along with hemming and reapplication of any appliqué lace it should be about £300 ish. I have booked in my seamstress, but only done the deposit for now, until she looks at the dress and me she can’t give me a quote.


Along with a bustle I think £395 isn’t too bad. However, you could always shop around and see if there is a seamstress available around the time of your alterations and for a better price? However, I found it a little difficult to get a seamstress lined up for my October 2023 wedding as they are busy with summer weddings as well during the typical alteration window.

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Thank you! This is really helpful to hear!

You could shop around.

You should get the deposit back as long as you cancel within the timeframe they have given you.

I would recommend finding a local seamstress to help. My mum does wedding dress alterations and charges nearly half or less what a shop does. So look around

That sounds very reasonable. My alterations are looking to be around the £500 mark.

Had my first alterations appointment yesterday and mine came to just under £600 😩. The dress is being taken in by nearly a dress size, it’s huge so my bustle is actually 3 bustles, and it needs taking up and she kept finding more and more layers in the dress. It looks incredible but yes, a tad over the £400 I’d budgeted. Just so much fabric and it has an intricate design as well, so more work needed to get it finished properly.

I had my alterations appointment at the weekend. Its coming to a lot less than I was initially quoted. My dress is being downsized by 5 inches at the waist and 4 inches at the bust. I'm having cups put in, a bustle loop attached and the Bardot lace straps being made smaller. Its come to £280 in total.

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This sounds a great deal. Did it include hemming your dress?

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Not it would be another £180 for hemming, due to the amount of layers in the dress. However, luckily for me the dress is the right length, so I don't need it done.