So, your friend asked you to be her bridesmaid. Congratulations! You’re probably feeling honored, excited, grateful… and maybe a little financially stressed, too. That’s totally normal! From hosting a bridal shower to buying (and altering!) the dress, there are a lot of small costs that are often overlooked. Dress alterations are one of those bridesmaid costs that can sneak up on you, so it's important to plan financially!

If you've been in a wedding before, you know that bridesmaids need a wedding budget just like the couple does! Although you aren't spending nearly as much as the bride (thank goodness), being a bridesmaid does come with extra financial responsibility. That's why it's important to have a bridesmaid wedding budget to account for travel, gifts, events, and - of course - alterations!

Being able to stand beside your best friend on one of the most important days of her life is a huge deal. However, after buying a formal dress, the last thing any girl wants to hear is “your dress hem will come to $100.” Seriously!? Well, yeah. Bridesmaid dresses, like most clothing we purchase, are not custom made to your body. Therefore, alterations are necessary to create a perfect fit. 

It's tempting to believe that alterations are not really necessary. The first time I was a bridesmaid, I thought: “well, I’ll just use very high heels…” but that didn’t work. I really needed that hem adjustment. It’s an unfortunate truth and a common expense.

But we have good news! Check out the tips and tricks below for reducing your alterations costs! 

 

First Things First: What Dress Style Fits You Best?

In our Online Shop, you’ll find a wide variety of dresses to choose from. You can choose solely by picking the one that catches your eye, or you can also follow a bit of fitting advice on what styles will greatly flatter your shape—and camouflage the features you want to. Hey, we get it! 

So I recommend to:

• Have fun and do this quiz to find your bridesmaid dress, and, at the same time, find some tips about what dresses fit your body best.
• Learn how to make an informed decision about the dress prices and extra expenses of being a bridesmaid.

Why do I need bridesmaid alterations?

Bridesmaid dresses come in standardized sizes, so it’s more common than not to find yourself navigating through skirts that are too long or straps that have extra length. Dresses are made this way to accommodate a variety of heights and shapes. Even when Kennedy Blue bridesmaid dress sizes fit close to normal dress sizes —a feature that it’s not easy to find, especially amongst other wedding designers— there’s always a thing or two that you might want to fix in order to customize the fit of your bridesmaid dress.

What are some common bridesmaid dress alterations?

Hemming the Skirt

A “hem” is when the length of the dress is adjusted to fit your height. Bridesmaid dresses come in different lengths based on the designer and style so it’s not uncommon to require the dress to be hemmed to your ideal length.

• If your dress is floor-length, remember that the fabric must touch the floor while you’re standing.
• Kennedy Blue bridesmaid dresses have a hem of 61”.
• Most dresses are designed for someone around 5’8”or 5’9” with long waists. But yes, we know that most women aren’t that height or shape, so it’s always a good idea to try on the dress with enough time before the wedding.
• A quick tip from Lois, the owner of the Wedding Shoppe: “Be aware of hem lengths on long styles. By wearing a taller shoe, you may be able to eliminate a hemming charge.” Of course, if you are on the shorter side you'll likely need to plan on a hem regardless - unless you're planning to learn how to walk on stilts before the wedding!

Taking a Dress in

Sides are taken in when the dress needs to be adjusted to fit your body shape. For instance, I’m really small on top (size 2-4), but have a curvier bottom (size 6-8) so it would be recommended for me to order a size 8 dress and then have the sides of the bodice taken in to measure closer to a size 2-4.

Generally, the price shouldn’t change whether you take in 2 inches or 4 inches, as it’s not about the measurements but the work invested in the alterations. Taking in a little or a lot will usually cost the same.

Shortening the Straps

It’s not uncommon for a designer to make their straps slightly long so that they are able to fit broader figures. It’s pretty uncomfortable to have slipping straps when you’re trying to join your friend down the aisle while holding a bouquet of flowers! That’s why I strongly recommend to adjust your dress’ straps to ensure a snug fit.

Our Ginger style has a strap length that’s comfortable from the very first try-on and also has a high waistline that creates an hourglass figure. Seriously, you guys, it’s really flattering!

So, What about the Costs?

Alteration prices can vary, but generally cost a bridesmaid around $75-150 (in Minnesota). Of course, when putting that in perspective, if you paid $150 for your dress, paying a similar price for alterations can become a surprise—and not a pleasant one. 

How do I minimize bridesmaid alterations costs?

Try on the bridesmaid dress in the correct size.

Many bridal salons only offer each dress in a single size and, usually, it’s no bigger than a size 12—which is definitely frustrating for plus size or pregnant bridesmaids. In order to properly fit the dress, most bridal salons insist on taking a ‘maids measurements. While this is a great method, I strongly recommend trying on the dress, too. Using a tape measure is great in the event that you are not able to try on the dress and can provide extra assurance that the dress will fit well, but it's nice to get a sense of what the gown will look like on your body!

There are two main benefits of trying on the actual dress:

• You make sure that the dress or dresses you’re trying on will flatter you and your body for the wedding
• You can make a final decision and ensure what parts of the dress will need alterations down the road and in the meantime – call around to get some alterations quotes.

Dress samples, like the ones available to try on off the rack at the salon, get tried on multiple times per day, meaning they can stretch out up to 1-2 inches. As important as it may be to try on a dress in your actual size, we still stress the importance of having your measurements taken, just in case the sample you tried on has been stretched out.

If you are in Minnesota, our exclusive bridal salon, the Wedding Shoppe offers the entire Kennedy Blue collection in sizes 0-24 in multiple sizes and colors. If you’re not in Minnesota, we offer an At Home Try-On program that allows you to try on most dresses in the comfort of your home in sizes 0-24 and in many colors. If you are looking for styles other than Kennedy Blue, I recommend asking your local bridal salon before making your appointment.

Does Kennedy Blue offer two piece dresses? 

Yes! Two-piece dresses are great because they can be customized to an extent! If you wear a certain size on top and a different one on the bottom, you can mix up the sizes—and the styles! This is something you cannot do with a regular dress, of course. As I mentioned before, I’m a size 4 in my bust and a size 8 through my hips, so I can order a different size top and a different size skirt to completely avoid the need for alterations, with the exception of a hem.

What style dress can help me avoid alterations?

A-line is key—it creates a long, lean shape and isn’t fitted in the hips – the most common “problem-area” for most women. Since this dress style is really only fitted through the bust and waist, those measurements will be the most important to know.

Parker, our high-waistline style, is perfect for this purpose—you really just need a good fit through the bust and waist.

Or you can consider Gabby, a style that combines an a-line skirt with a beautiful v-neck— which is great if you’re bustier and need some extra coverage.

Final Advice

Lois, the owner of the Wedding Shoppe, recommends to “order a dress that flatters and works best for your figure. A shape that has a smaller bust and waist, with a fuller hip, should order a-line dresses with a fuller skirt. If you would prefer a fitted skirt, you would probably have to order a dress 1 to 2 sizes bigger just to fit the hip area. Costly for alters, because you would have to have the entire top taken in.”

However, if you’re decided on your style and it’s now non-negotiable—I know, it happens!—why don’t you consider an in-home seamstress? They’re usually significantly cheaper than going to an actual business. They usually have more time to ensure that the job gets done well, too!

Let's Chat!

As you can see, there’s a number of alterations that need to be done when you want your bridesmaid dress to be perfectly fitted. Sometimes, the alterations are almost as expensive as the dress. Does that seem like too much to you? Or do you think that’s the price one has to pay for perfection? Let us know in the comments section!