It's a good idea to budget a couple of hundred pounds for basic alterations – turning up the hem, a small amount of adjusting, and a simple bustle. Everything on top of that is serious work and it doesn't come cheap and nor should it – tailoring is a craft and wedding dresses are supposed to be ornate and incredibly structured, it's what makes them special, after all.
"Brides often underestimate the cost of restyling a dress. Lowering the back and redesigning the bodice of their dress," says Richard. "There's also a huge amount of work involved in altering a heavily beaded or appliquéd dress." So consider this when you're trying on. If you're looking for a dress with delicate beading and lace, make sure you buy one that really fits you, otherwise you're going to see that final bill rocket.
It can be easy to see the cost of wedding dress alterations as just another thing on the wedding budget, but it's a huge part of your comfort on the big day and that's really important. If you find the right tailor, they can transform how you feel about your dress. If you buy off the rack or at a sample sale, you might not get that "wow moment" until the dress alterations are finished. Mine came during my second fitting, when I could walk around in my dress without treading on it and finally picture how it was going to look on the day as it swooshed down the aisle. And swoosh it did. The work and time was worth every penny.