Wedding Dress Alterations: Cost, Timeline, and Tips
Here's all you need to know about the cost of wedding dress alterations, including when to get your wedding dress altered.
Things really ramped up at our lil' South Jersey bridal shop this spring, where we had the privilege to match more brides-to-be than ever before with their perfect pre-owned gown.
And after that serendipitous moment (yes, we pop a bit of bubbly!) there's usually some time spent during a typical bridal appointment to discuss the topic of wedding dress alterations.
In fact, one of the most common questions that we've been getting asked by our brides recently is, "How much do wedding dress alterations cost?"
We know from firsthand experience that leaving space for gown alterations (cost-wise and scheduling-wise) is super important in the wedding dress shopping process. To help you, we've put together this blog post to answer all of your FAQs related to wedding dress alterations.
Do I need to get my wedding dress altered?
More often than not, buying a wedding dress means that you'll have to get it altered at some point. Although this pretty much goes for any type of gown, one major thing that makes wearing a wedding dress different than your average dress is that it should really fit like a glove. It's all about getting that "couture" look. Some experts even go so far as to say that all bridal gowns need some sort of alterations done.
Outside of getting your dress altered for that perfect fit, unaltered gowns are typically made long. This means that brides shorter than around 5’9 or so will normally need a few inches taken off the bottom of their gowns to walk comfortably, and won’t have a bustle for your train yet which would prevent you from dragging it around all night.
So, what should be top-of-mind when trying on different wedding dresses is how a gown fits on you off the rack. The best wedding dress silhouettes tend to just flow, and this is when you know you've found a potential match. And once you feel that fit, alterations are there to help you add any elements to the gown, take it down a size or two, or just adjust the hem and straps. There's really a science to it all, and we've gotten to know this formula well.
“Almost no one will be able to wear their dress without alterations. Even when ordering a brand new gown, the designer won’t be able to predict your body perfectly and you will still need to make alterations (think: height of your heels, body weight fluctuation, length of your torso or broadness of your shoulders, etc),” Caitlin Macri of Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal advises.
“Alterations are a specialty skill that you don’t want to skimp out on since it CAN be the most stressful part of the process. Don’t panic, they always turn out ok in the end!”
What are wedding dress alterations, exactly?
You can break down bridal gown alterations into two parts: needs vs. wants. Does your gown's train need to be shortened by a few inches? Do you absolutely love a traditional or trendy wedding dress style but it needs to be taken in a size or two? These types of wedding dress alterations are in the 'must' category.
But there’s also a type of wedding dress alteration that involves adjusting the gown's style and overall look, such as adding some sleeves to the dress, or some sparkle to the train or skirt. This we would classify in more of the 'want' category.
This 'need' versus 'want' aspect also plays a big part in how many fittings will be required to get the right alterations.
From experience, Caitlin says that 3 dress fittings is about the average amount needed to get your wedding dress perfectly altered.
“Most alterations take place over 3-4 months, and will normally require the bride to come back in for tweaks and progress every 4-6 weeks. Your alterationist might need more or less time with you ‘on-location’ depending on the adjustments that are needed. We find that 3 visits seems to be about normal, so pick an alterationist fairly close by so you can easily make those appointments,” Caitlin recommends.
When to get your wedding dress altered
In our blog post about when to start shopping for your wedding dress, we advise that the best time to buy your wedding dress is 6-15 months before your wedding day. And one of the reasons that we suggest making it 6 months at the very latest is that you want to leave time for getting wedding dress alterations. There's a handful of steps involved in the alterations process, so it's not something that's one little errand.
To get your wedding dress altered, it involves:
Figuring out what alterations to get (needs vs wants)
Selecting a professional seamstress
Scheduling your first fitting
Dropping off your wedding dress to get altered
Leaving time for additional fittings
So basically, it's best to start looking into getting your wedding dress altered as soon as you can!
Some brides expect body changes during the dress process and would like to wait as long as possible, but we really advise you stick to 3-4 months before the Big Day to avoid some big-time rush fees, and give the alterationist time to do their magic.
So depending on the date of your wedding, you could also run into a busy season (think prom season or something similar) that might have your preferred seamstress all booked up, so it’s best not to schedule your wedding dress alterations at the last-minute.
How much do wedding dress alterations cost?
The total cost of your wedding dress alterations will depend on a few key things, such as the services needed and your timeline. Here’s a breakdown:
How many fittings/appointments needed
What alterations you need done
The fabric and construction quality of the dress
Timing (like with any type of purchase, rush comes at a higher cost)
Typically, the more work done on your gown and the more time involved will mean a higher cost for your wedding dress alterations. If you think you'll just need only a slight alteration like a basic hem, then your wedding dress alterations will definitely be on the lower end of the pricing scale. The important thing is to talk to your seamstress to make sure they break down all the alteration costs for you.
That being said, the cost of wedding dress alterations nowadays can range from $200 to well over a thousand dollars. To play it safe, we always recommend that our brides plan for a budget of $400-800 to get their wedding dress altered.
Caitlin can shed a little more light on this topic: “Brides are almost always surprised by the cost of alterations! Depending on your budget, if you snag one of our gowns for under $1,000, you might spend almost as much on alterations as the dress itself! Although if you’re lucky, some of our pre-owned gowns have already been altered and might be hemmed and bustled to your height which could save you a lot on alterations costs…”
Whatever type of bridal gown you have, the best way to keep your alterations cost down is to give yourself enough time. “The most important cost-cutter is…TIMELINE! There’s nothing that will make alterations more costly than trying to get it altered in less than 2 months!” Caitlin emphasizes.
Your wedding dress alterations calculator
On top of emphasizing that alterations will be needed, Caitlin says that there’s plenty of ways to calculate how much getting your wedding dress altered will end up costing you.
“There are a million factors in why some alterationists might charge more to alter one dress over another, but here are some common things that may make a gown easier to alter. They are:
The alterations are within two dress sizes to your true size (closer the better, and bigger is better than smaller)
having a simple hemline
having lots of seam access points
Your bridal gown alterations might run a bit on the pricier side if you are giving in a gown that’s more intricate, however. Caitlin shares with us that, “Some common things that make a bridal gown harder to alter are with styles that are heavily sequined or beaded (that may need to be individually re-sewn), shiny plain satin styles (since they show any small bumps or imperfections in the fabric or construction), gowns with more intricate hemlines (like handkerchief style skirts),” she explains.
Where should I get my wedding dress alterations done?
Are you basking in the glow of your bridal appointment – one that was filled with love and support from your family and friends, not to mention your bridal stylist?
Our bridal shop recommends a seamstress right here in Downtown Hammonton just across the street from our bridal shop. If you’re looking for even more local options, we’ll also provide you with a list of over 10 alterationist options around the South Jersey area who are all highly recommended.
It’s also helpful to talk to other brides in forums and social media groups for someone near your hometown, as they’ll have even more up-to-date recommendations and experiences when getting their wedding dress altered.
Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal
Are you a bride on a budget but don't want to give up on quality? Buying an affordable wedding dress means that you can better factor in that extra money for alterations into your budget.
We just gotta throw that in there because, ahem, the preowned option means that you don't have to compromise on your gown's quality but can still find one that you adore at a more affordable price. There's the sustainable fashion aspect, too.
If you want to see what we're all about, start by checking out Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal on social. And if you’re in the market for a stylish and affordable gown, book an appointment at our New Jersey bridal shop and you'll be on your way to finding your dream wedding dress.