2026-09-11
What alterations actually do, and what they cost
Almost every dress is altered. The question is only how much work it is and when it should start.
Four things happen to most dresses: the bodice is taken in, the hem is set to your shoe height, cups are sewn in so no bra is needed, and a bustle is added so the train lifts for dancing.
Each of those is priced separately and measured at the fitting, in writing, before anything is cut. Hem $120 to $180, bodice $140 to $260, cups and straps $60 to $120, bustle $80 to $140. A full alteration of all four runs $260 to $420.
Time matters more than money. A simple hem takes three days. A full alteration on a beaded dress takes up to two weeks, because beadwork is removed by hand at the seam and sewn back afterwards.
Bring the shoes you will wear, or shoes of the same heel height. A hem set to the wrong height is the single most common reason a dress is altered twice.
Work booked under seven days before the wedding carries a 35% surcharge, and in the last week some work cannot be promised at all.