Alterations Cost

View quoted message Where in ontario are you?

My dress is strapless with lots of lace. I have had to have some boing taken out at the hips, and the chest taken in. My dress is 5” too long so I am paying for crinoline 150.00. So I don’t have to spend hoards of money to have it hemmed. The total is 450.

My first dress was similar to this- my seamstress told me that horsehair hem lines take a lot of work especially if asymmetrical. So I can see the prices being a bit higher.
I had 3 layers of tulle with horsehair- added cups, let out bust and fix straps. It was about $475.
sadly after all that I won’t be wearing it ☹️

I am in Ontario, but I had to hem my dress (6 layers), 5 bustle points, open the cleavage area and take in the sides. I paid a little under $400 but my seamstress works from home.

Maybe find someone who works from home as it may be cheaper.

As a seamstress it is my time. It may seem expensive but it takes alot to do alterations. Honestly I think you look amazing and you got a fair deal for the changes. I normally charge 50/hour and I can tell by the turn around that she was fast. I am on the island, I try to avoid weddings but I would say for the work you got a fair price. Many happy regards

View quoted message Oops sorry! Thanks for the reply! Have a great day!

View quoted message Im in Ontario, sorry!

View quoted message Hi Stephanie could you share who your seamstress is if she’s in greater Vancouver area? Thank you!

I bought a lace dress with a halter neckline. My alterations came to 250, she sewed the belt onto the dress, changed it from halter to straps, and added cups. I will have a sizing and alterations as needed up until the wedding (im losing weight from my pregnancy) then she will steam clean my dress and I will pick it up just before my big day.

I recently picked up my dress and got a rough idea for alterations. Because my hips are larger, we had to order a bigger size to accommodate the hip area. This means the bust, shoulders, back and sides all need to be taken in (keeping in mind that I plan on loosing some weight before next year) as well as the length.

My dress has lots of lace detail and bead work. I've pretty much been quoted about $1,000 at the bridal shop. I live in BC and dress is from AB. Not too sure about having it altered here in my small town, even though it is expensive in AB to have done (at the bridal shop) I'd almost rather pay more and have it done right, but do worry about how much it's going to cost. I do understand the amount of work it's going to be! Not a job I'd want and not a job I'd trust just anybody with...

Mine has 5 layers. I also got the buttons replaced, and loose beads and threads tightened (my dress is a sample) plus one side of the bust was taken in. Altogether I paid just under $300.


The texture of your dress might be a factor. Plus there are so many variables. My seamstress runs a small business from her home, and I know ones that are connected to a bridal salon can be much pricier.

It seems high to me but I'm sure prices depend on where you live as well.


I'm mostly commenting because your dress is beautiful! It looks so flowy and comfortable .

My dress was two layers. It was $250 to hem plus a small alteration of removing some fabric around the zipper on the back.

The hemming seems roughly inline with what I would expect. My dress had 4 layers of fabric but they were all straight cut and had no lace or edging to reattach. And it was $225. The straps and cups seem high. Before getting other quotes, price out the fabric you are hoping to replace the straps with (or lace or beading)!and bra cups from a local fabric store, and ask if they can do a lower price if you provide the materials. Some seamstresses will. To replace your straps with anything other than spaghetti straps, they probably have to take apart the top of the bodice and resew all those pleats. So it can add up to more work than you might think. But ya, they usually want to see it in person because all dresses are built differently so taking them and apart and putting them back together isn’t as easy as we think sometimes.

View quoted message Thank you! It's actually a terani couture prom dress, I just contacted the designer to order it in white, which is probably why it was so affordable A lot of the seamstresses want to see the dress in person so comparing quotes has been a bit difficult

I cant suggest anything that you havent tried yet (local seamstress shops, etc) but I have to say I love that dress! If its an Eddy K I tried it on too but it was $$$ - great find! Maybe ask around on a FB wedding group for your area?