First of all keep in mind that bridal alterations are as close as you can get to haute couture* sewing and it comes with a price that you need to consider in forming your wedding budget.

             Second, allocate enough time for fittings. The first fitting can take as much as one hour. An average wedding gown will need at least three fittings and it might take up to eight weeks from start to finish.

 
Question: What is the cost for wedding gown alterations?

            Most gowns need hemming it starts at $80 and can easily go up with the type of hem needed, the number of layers, the type of fabric and the type of bottom finishing and decoration. A hem alone can easily top $350. 
            Other alteration to consider is the bodice area. Any lace, beading, embroidery etc. must be removed and then reapplied. This process can get very expensive but most gowns don't need anything this complicated. A good guess would be around $80 for the average gown but it can go up to $300 for custom work. 
            The last main alteration is a bustle. There are a few alternatives in the ways gowns are bustled, and they all are determined by what we call points. Our charge for bustling depends on the number of these points - the longer the train the more points will be necessary. The average gown needs around 3 points so the cost is $90-$125 but can go up to $330 for custom bustle.

Answer: The cost for wedding gown alterations: 

AVERAGE - $300
MIN- $10 
MAX - $990

            You should see now how wedding gown alterations can put a major dent in your budget, but knowing what you are getting into should help you to stay within your budget.

 Question: What is the cost of bridesmaid and formal alterations?

Most bridesmaid dresses need a hem and taking-in the bodice. Hems start at $40 and can go up to $80 if there is an overlay and a lining. Taking-in the bodice is ranges from $20 to $100. If you have the problem of the bridesmaid's dress being too small due to pregnancy or other factors, letting seams out can cost more than taking them in. Sometimes a bridesmaid dress can be just as expensive as the wedding gown to alter. The same goes for mom's and flower girl's dresses.

Answer: The cost of bridesmaid and formal alterations: 

AVERAGE - $100 
MIN - $10 
MAX - $300  

Pressing

Our pressing charges are:

Wedding gown – from $80 up to $150

Bridesmaid/Formal dresses – from $40 up to $60

Flower girl dress – from $10 up to $25

Slip pressing – $30

Appointments

We reccomend to make an appointment for bridal alterations by calling any of our three locations ASAP to avoid rush charges.

 
 Casual alterations and custom sewing.
  To save money on casual alterations try to find a garment that needs as little alterations as possible because you might spend on alterations more than the cost of a garment. Also keep in mind that making garment smaller is always easier than making them bigger.
    If you decide to make a garment from scratch, be ready to invest time and money, but the final result could be one of a kind outfit.