How much do wedding dress alterations cost?
By Cloe Pan, Stylist ·
At Lichée Bridal, alterations are free when you rent or buy your wedding dress from us. For a dress bought elsewhere, the cost depends on the dress and the work it needs — a simple hem on a plain skirt is a very different job from hemming several layers of lace or reshaping a beaded bodice — so our tailor quotes after seeing the dress on you at your first fitting.
What drives the cost
Tailors price the work, not the dress. The same change can take minutes on one gown and hours on another.
- Layers — a skirt with a lining, tulle and an overlay is hemmed layer by layer.
- Edges and embellishment — lace borders, beading and appliqué often have to be removed and re-set by hand.
- Construction — boning, corsetry and structured bodices take more care to take in or let out.
- How much changes — adjusting the fit a little is simpler than a significant size change.
The most common alterations
- Hem — so the dress skims the floor in your wedding shoes.
- Bustle — to lift the train off the floor for dancing.
- Straps — shortening, adding, or adjusting for support.
- Bodice — taking in or reshaping so it sits right without adjusting all night.
How to budget for alterations
Get a quote early, as soon as you have the dress and your date. Bring your wedding shoes and undergarments to the first fitting so the hem and fit are set once, for how you'll actually wear the dress. And if you're choosing between sizes, the closer the dress fits to begin with, the less work it needs.
Free alterations with a Lichée Bridal gown
When you rent or buy your dress from Lichée Bridal — including a gown special-ordered in your size — our in-house tailor alters it at no cost. It's one of the simplest ways to keep your dress budget predictable. (For rented gowns, all fit adjustments are made by our tailor; altering a rented dress yourself isn't permitted under the rental agreement.)
Questions, answered
- Do you alter wedding dresses bought somewhere else?
- Yes. Bring your dress to a fitting at our Milpitas studio and our tailor will quote the work before anything begins. Dresses rented or bought from Lichée Bridal are altered free.
- Are alterations free at Lichée Bridal?
- Yes, for any wedding dress you rent or buy from Lichée Bridal. Dresses bought elsewhere are quoted at the first fitting.
- Can I get a quote before committing to alterations?
- Yes. The tailor quotes after seeing the dress on you at your first fitting, so you know the plan and the cost before work begins.
- What makes wedding dress alterations expensive?
- Mostly layers and hand-work: multiple skirt layers, lace edges, beading and structured bodices all take longer to alter than plain fabric.
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