If you’re like 99% of the population, your wedding wear is going to need a little help in order to fit like it should. The alterations are the final touch needed to take a dress from pretty to perfect and can make or break your look. I can’t tell you how often I’ve cringed at photos of bridal parties, especially brides, in poorly fitted gowns- it just looks sloppy and really ruins the effect. Trust me, you do not want to spend a pretty penny on a gown and then have it look like you bought it in the bargain bin because it doesn’t fit. (If you DID buy your gown in the bargain bin, get it fitted right and it’ll look like a million bucks!) Below are some things every bride/maid should know before she steps into that seamstress’s shop and sends her dress under the scissors.
1) Pick someone with EXPERIENCE ALTERING BRIDAL ATTIRE. Not all needlepersons are created equal in this area. I don’t care how many outfits your Aunt Fanny has sewn by hand or how good your mom’s friend’s cousin is with her machine, you need someone who can alter a gown someone ELSE has made and deal with all the delicate fabrics, boning, and beading. It is better to pay a little more than run the risk of ruining your gown. Asking around is usually the best way to find someone- talk to your friends and look at their pictures too.
2) Speaking of payment, you should be charged by the job, not by the inch. This is the way most seamstresses operate, but always check. What can make a difference in price is embellishment or if the dress requires complex restructuring. If the dress has a lot of embellishment (around the hem for example) that must be removed before the alteration can be made and then reattached afterward, that’s more work and will usually make the price higher.
3) Here are some price ranges from a bridal alterations establishment located in a retail space in Minneapolis. Prices are going to vary around the country but this should give you some idea of what you can expect. You may be able to find cheaper rates if you go with someone who works out of their home and doesn’t have to pay rent, but remember, go for experience!
Wedding Gowns: Hem:$75-$175, Take in Sides:$50-$80, Take in Zipper:$60-$100, Shorten Sleeve/Raise Shoulder: $25-$50, Press:$50-$80.
Bridesmaids: Hem:$35-$75, Take in Sides:$30-$50, Take in Zipper: $30-$50, Shorten Sleeve/Raise Shoulder: $30-$50, Hem: $15.
4) Leave yourself at least a month for alterations, possibly more depending on whom you’re working with. Call ahead and find out how far in advance your seamstress wants to see you, how much time she thinks it’ll take, etc. Different times of year are busier than others
5) If you’re a bridesmaid, find out from the bride what your hem length should be. For floor length gowns, most girls wear the gown as long as they can without tripping- the hem is an inch or so off the ground. For tea/knee length dresses find out if she wants it below the knee, mid calf, etc.
6) Strapless gowns should be fitted quite snugly through the bust and waist. I hear so many people say, “I don’t want strapless, it’ll be falling down the whole time.” Not if it fits correctly! Too many people don’t have their dresses taken in enough and in that case, yes, it will fall down. But if it’s fitted correctly (and that means as snug as it can without interfering with your breathing or having the top edge of the bodice dig in to your flesh) your body is going to hold it in place without you having to worry about it. You can always have some spaghetti straps made from your hem fabric if the dress doesn’t come with optional straps (and many do), but you shouldn’t need them if the gown fits properly.
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