How Much Do Wedding Dress Alterations Cost in Jupiter, FL?

Ever wonder what wedding dress alterations cost? When you say "yes" to the dress, what you pick at a wedding dress salon is unlikely to be the same dress for your walk down the aisle. 

Your wedding gown must undergo changes when the brand new one arrives. According to Nicole Craine, owner of Westside Cleaners in Jupiter, FL, "Few of us fall exactly into the designer's size chart, so wedding dress alterations should be expected." At the very least, says Craine, most will need a seamstress for the hem and the bustle. For others, custom-fitting the bra cup and other parts of the dress deserve special attention for your special day.

What does it cost for wedding dress alterations?

How Much Do Wedding Dress Alterations Cost?

According to Craine, the average cost of wedding dress alterations can be $700 to $1,000 in Palm Beach. At Westside Cleaners, costs sometimes start lower, such as $400 or $500 when the dress is more sleek or if the needs of the bride are modest.

This price range reflects what she considers to be standard alterations, which would include a hem, bustle and some type of adjustment to the top or bottom of the gown. "Sometimes we have clients that fall below this window when they need fewer alterations or have simpler gowns, but it could also cost more if we are dealing with multiple pieces, complex changes, or high-level details," she says. Craine explains that wedding dress alterations costs also may be impacted by your geographic area, its cost of living, and the atelier's level of expertise.

While you cannot predict specific bridal gown alterations cost before you purchase a dress, Craine recommends factoring an estimated price range, right alongside your total wedding budget, early in your planning process. When couples get excited but do not factor dresses, flowers, transportation, and other things, they are more likely to cut corners or even feel cheated to some degree. This can greatly distract from the joy and beauty of the ceremony and sacrament of a wedding.

Wedding Alteration Cost Factors

Even if you buy your wedding gown off the rack, how it fits will be unique to you and your body. Whether you want your dress to fit like a glove or drape loosely, there are specific adjustments you can make to tailor it to your shape. Here are the main things that could impact how much you pay for wedding dress alterations.

Average Cost of Wedding Dress in West Palm Beach

Wedding dress tailoring costs vary based on the type of alterations, and that has to do with both the finery and design of the dress along with what will make the bride shine on her special days. 

Craine explains, "Designers vary on the construction or details like beads. Beads and lace can have an impact if we need to deconstruct and reconstruct a garment." In places like Jupiter and West Palm Beach, it is not uncommon for Westside Cleaners to see clients seeking something unique regardless of the designer’s brand.

The scope of work and time it can take to alter a wedding gown affect the costs and the timeline. The total costs of wedding dress alterations vary, so here are some of the primary factors that make up those costs.

Cost to Hem a Wedding Dress

Wedding dresses typically come in a standard length. This allows the bride to be to have the dress hemmed to their measurements and tastes. Yes, shoes play a role, too! 

How much does it cost to for a wedding dress hem? At the time of this writing, Westside says the costs to hem a wedding dress range from $125 up to $450.  Again, hemming means length and contour along the bottom or bell of the dress.

"Sometimes we see trends here in South Florida for very sleek, elegant gowns. But most traditionally incorporate lace and trim that’s more time-consuming–and you have to be more careful–so, it will cost more," Craine states.

Cost to Taper or Take in a Wedding Dress

Who does not want to flatter her figure on her wedding day? Whether shapely, athletic, or petite, most every dress involves being taken in or tapered along the sides. 

Similar to hemming a wedding gown, this wedding dress alteration usually involves the bodice. How much do alterations cost for a wedding dress that needs to be taken in? Taking in a wedding dress can cost from $100 and $300 or more. Again, the brand, the complexity, and your tastes affect the time required to do the work. 

Like with hemming, costs can be more if your dress has intricate details or maybe you want your mother’s or grandmother’s lace incorporated into an element of the new wedding dress.

Cost to Add Straps to a Wedding Dress

Strapless is always stunning, but for some ladies, the strapless dress is not the most secure or the look they are going for. Did you know you can very tastefully add or change the shoulder straps to a wedding dress? The cost to add straps to a wedding dress are relatively modest–likely under $200. Need something more detailed, like lace with beading? The price will reflect the additional time and labor plus any sourcing of fabrics that you may ask the seamstress to match and source for you.

Cost to Add a Bustle to a Wedding Dress

Wedding dress bustles secure the train of the gown for that stunning walk (and the dancing that follows…) to avoid tripping–and maybe an easy way to remove it for the dancefloor at the reception. 

Some come with a bustle built-in, while other dresses need one added. How much does it cost to tailor a wedding dress bustle? 

According to Craine, wedding dress alterations costs for a bustle “run between $75 to $200, and it is a function of how many layers the dress has and the bustle you choose." Gowns with multiple layers may involve several actual bustles, and adding them or altering them come at an additional costs.

Cost to Add a Corset to a Wedding Dress

By and large, wedding gowns have a standard with a zip-up closure on back. But some brides may choose to have that zipper swapped out with a corset. 

Corsets are sexy, and they allow you to adjust the bodice to your liking before the ceremony–and maybe loosen it afterward. 

A corset closure can easily be loosened when the party begins whereas a zipper is a fixed feature. How much should wedding dress alterations cost for the corset? Adding a corset to a wedding gown is considered a standard alteration and typically costs between $100 and $300.

Does It Cost More to Alter a Wedding Dress?

The average price for wedding dress alterations is always going to be more than what you are used to paying for a business suit or even a nice dress. 

Modifications to wedding gowns are handled by an experienced wedding dress seamstress. 

"The seamstress brings years of expertise and probably have worked for a major brand at some point as a pattern maker or similar role. There also is a bit of intensity,” adds Craine, “because there is no easy way to go back after deconstructing a dress. There is a lot at stake for us when handling a gown that costs thousands of dollars and which must be completed on time.”

"Bridal gowns are constructed very differently from even fine brands of dresses–such as many layers, seams and fabric types," she says. 

But the main reason for the difference in cost is time. It takes time and attention to detail to alter a wedding gown versus altering everyday wear.

Why Westside for Your Wedding Dress

Westside Cleaners is a trusted fixture in Jupiter, and voted the #1 dry cleaner and alterations store in the state of Florida, our reputation is solid. There are other fine seamstresses in the area, and you should choose who makes you the most comfortable. Cost is always an issue–and so is the quality and craftsmanship of the seamstress.