Dress alterations-please help!

[MrsGidget]

The price seems reasonable to me, my great aunt is a dressmaker and from her experience she said that most people think that dressmaking is easy, ie. people think 'oh I can just get a dart here, easy' but it is very time consuming, not to mention fiddly, and a lot of it cant be done on a machine.
I kind a figure into a per hour type cost when thinking if its reasonable eg. if she was charging $25 p/hr it only amounts to 23 hrs work, which for a wedding dress is quite quick. And adding to that the cost of any materials/overheads the dressmaker may have to pay.

As the gals have said dont leave till you are happy.

On another note, and I apologise if this puts worry in your mind, but how is that dress going to be bustled? I have never seen one of that style bustled before, and it intrigues me as to how it will look when bustled. I've only seen fuller skirts bustled, and am a little concerned as to what it will do to the fabric and hang of the dress.
I wanted my own dress bustled, but it wasnt going to be possible(well it would, but it would look bad!), so I went for a wrist strap, and carried it rather than bustling.

BTW - That dress is amazing! Maggie Sotero dresses are amazing!

[Melsy]

thanks everyone. I wish i had taken my fmil and mum from the start as they are a bit more outspoken,and knowledge is power! The stain wasnt there,it was the first thing i noticed.will clear that up with them too.

They say the bustle will be little bows which will pull the dress together when i hook up the main one.I didnt want bows,i wanted crystals but she thought only bows would work. i hope that makes sense,i didnt want the bows, but thought of when i dance etc it might be hard with the wrist strap? how did u go Mrs Gidget? I dont think they have started yet and it wont take much convicing to stop it as i wasnt happy with the bows being on the back of my dress!

As for the cost,i dont mind paying it so much if i was happy with it.Also,they measured me but still ordered a bigger size,i dont really think i should have to pay for them to take it in.they had to take in like 5cms on each side. I see them again on the 16th so will see what happens!

P.S Mrs Gidget,Could you please let me know about that wrist strap? thanks! :)

[shazza2007]

I had my dress taken up (just the outer satin layer, as the petticoats were already the correct length), ribbons on the underside of the train for bustling, and had satin cap sleeves attached. Went through a lady who works from home and only cost us $70. However, we're in a country town, so might be different in a big city. We also didn't pay until it was all done, 2-3 days before the wedding!

(Bought my dress off the rack, otherwise would've gotten alterations done at the shop, and have no idea how much that would've come to.)

[MrsGidget]

The wrist strap was great for me, I just hoiked it up whenever it annoyed me. Oh and my dress was a big poofy thing too, so it would be a lot heavier than yours. It only annoyed me when I got tired!

IMO I think the bows would change the way the gown flows, and thats personally why I love that dress, but Im imagining a few bows down the centre-back of the skirt, so if thats not right just ignore me!
I would just be really worried that whatever they do will put pulls in the fabric which can be pretty much irrepairable (sp?)

Bridal shop alterations seem to cost more though, it may be worth checking out a dressmaker who has their own shop, or works from home. I do remember gals having bridal shop quotes and shop quotes that varied quite a lot.

Just wondering, you said they ordered the bigger size, so if they ordered say size 'Z', did you try on the size down from that? If so they shouldnt be ordering you the 'Z', as this will end up in extra unnecessary costs, but some bridal shops like to do that unfortunately. If thats the case I would be calling them and getting them to explain why they did so. If they cant give you a satisfactory explanation then make them pay for the size alterations. Or threaten to take it further!

ETA: ^^^^^^ I just re-read your post, LOL! If they have measured you correctly they shouldnt be ordering the larger size, unless it was spot on to the mm of the smaller size. But still get them to do some explaining re:size ordered
XXX

[MrsGidget]

Have a look at this site, it has different types of bustles.
Bustles

[Melsy]

thankyou MrsGidget!! I am ringing in the morning to stop the bustle! They shouldnt have done it yet(god i hope not!)
I really didnt want the bows etc on the bavk of the dress.my main concern was when we danced if it would be ok.I am sure it will be fine.Its not a big heavy dress (Well compared to others) so it should be fine.

I just rang and left a message and will call in the morning

THANKYOU SOOO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!!

[MrsGidget]

Your welcome honey, thats what Im here for! Been there done that LOL!