Bridesmaid by JB

Alterations Pricing Guide

A transparent guide to our in-house alterations service, what different adjustments may involve, and the skilled work that takes place behind the scenes to beautifully reconstruct and re-finish your dress.

Understanding your quote

What goes into altering a handmade dress?

Every Bridesmaid by JB dress is individually handmade, and altering one can involve considerably more than simply changing a measurement. Depending on the adjustment required, sections of the original garment may need to be carefully unpicked, separated, reshaped, re-cut, reconstructed and professionally finished again.

Our prices reflect the work involved, not simply the amount being changed.

An alteration of 1cm does not necessarily involve less construction work than an alteration of 3cm. In many cases, the same seams, layers and sections of the garment still need to be opened and reconstructed. Our guide prices therefore reflect the skilled production time, construction and finishing involved in carrying out the alteration.

Length & hems

Dress length alterations

Length alterations can look wonderfully simple once finished, but achieving that original finish may require several stages of deconstruction and reconstruction.

Shortening the dress

Guide price: from £25

Shortening a dress is not simply a case of cutting fabric from the bottom. The finished length needs to remain balanced across the front, sides and back of the garment while retaining the correct shape and finish.

The work may include

  • Confirming and marking the required finished length.
  • Assessing the existing front, side and back balance.
  • Opening or removing existing finishing where required.
  • Recalculating the correct hem allowance.
  • Carefully trimming the dress to its new length.
  • Balancing the back and any existing puddle train.
  • Re-finishing raw edges and multiple layers where applicable.
  • Re-sewing the required sections using the original construction method.
  • Pressing and steaming the finished garment.
  • Final quality control of the new hemline.

Removing the puddle train

Guide price: from £25

Our adult gowns are designed with a small puddle train at the back as standard. If you would prefer the dress to sit evenly around the floor, this can usually be removed.

The work may include

  • Assessing the existing front-to-back hem balance.
  • Marking a new graduated back hemline.
  • Removing the excess train fabric.
  • Blending the new back length smoothly into both side seams.
  • Re-finishing the altered edge.
  • Pressing and checking the completed hem for balance.
Fit alterations

Taking in & resizing

When body measurements reduce after production measurements have been confirmed, the dress may need to be reshaped through one or several areas to restore its intended fit and silhouette.

Take in — skirt side seams

Guide price: from £35

Taking in the skirt requires more than simply sewing a tighter seam. Both sides need to remain balanced so the skirt hangs correctly and the centre front and centre back remain correctly positioned.

The work may include

  • Comparing current measurements with the original production measurements.
  • Calculating the required reduction across both sides.
  • Opening the required side-seam construction.
  • Redistributing the reduction evenly.
  • Reshaping the hip and skirt line where necessary.
  • Re-sewing and re-finishing both side seams.
  • Checking that the skirt remains balanced on the body.
  • Pressing and final quality control.

Take in — waistband

Guide price: from £25

Where the waist measurement has reduced, the waistline may need to be reconstructed so that the top and skirt continue to meet correctly.

The work may include

  • Assessing the required waist reduction.
  • Opening the waist construction where required.
  • Separating affected sections of the top and skirt.
  • Reducing and reshaping the waistline.
  • Ensuring adjoining seams continue to align.
  • Reattaching the affected garment sections.
  • Re-finishing and pressing the reconstructed waist.

Bust / waist / hip / bum resize

Guide price: £35–£95

Where measurements have changed through several areas of the body, altering the dress can become a multi-panel reconstruction rather than one simple seam adjustment.

The work may include

  • Comparing each current body measurement with production measurements.
  • Calculating how much reduction is required in each individual area.
  • Assessing how the changes affect the overall garment balance.
  • Opening several seams or construction points.
  • Reshaping individual garment panels.
  • Recalculating curves through the bust, waist, hip or bum.
  • Reconstructing adjoining sections so they meet correctly.
  • Re-sewing and re-finishing each altered area.
  • Checking the overall silhouette before final pressing.
The final price depends on how many areas and garment panels require reconstruction.

Significant size reduction / full rework

Guide price: from £95

Significant weight loss can affect several measurements simultaneously. In these cases, the dress may require extensive reshaping throughout rather than a standard take-in.

The work may include

  • A full comparison of current and original body measurements.
  • Assessment of the entire dress silhouette.
  • Deconstruction of multiple areas of the garment.
  • Recalculating several pattern and seam positions.
  • Reshaping both top and skirt where required.
  • Reconstructing the garment to its revised proportions.
  • Re-finishing multiple seams and edges.
  • Pressing and complete final quality control.
Bodice & top

Top alterations

The upper section of a dress can contain several interconnected seams, design details and structural elements. Adjusting one area may therefore require several parts of the top to be reconstructed together.

Size down — top only

Guide price: from £35

Used where the top has become too large but the skirt remains suitable.

The work may include

  • Assessing bust and waist measurement changes.
  • Calculating the required reduction.
  • Opening the relevant bodice seams.
  • Reshaping side seams, bust areas or adjoining panels.
  • Maintaining the original neckline and design proportions.
  • Reattaching affected sections to the skirt where required.
  • Re-finishing and pressing the altered bodice.

Reshape — top only

Guide price: from £35

A reshape may be appropriate where one particular area of the bodice requires refinement rather than an overall size reduction.

The work may include

  • Identifying the exact area affecting fit.
  • Opening the relevant original construction.
  • Re-marking or reshaping individual bodice sections.
  • Adjusting curves and seam lines.
  • Reconstructing the affected area.
  • Checking neckline, armhole and waist positioning.
  • Re-finishing the garment to its original appearance.

Replace — top only

Guide price: from £65

Sometimes altering the existing top is either not technically possible or would involve more reconstruction than replacing that section of the garment.

The work may include

  • Reviewing and confirming the revised measurements.
  • Preparing or adjusting the required pattern pieces.
  • Cutting new fabric for the replacement top.
  • Constructing the new bodice from the beginning.
  • Recreating the original neckline and design details.
  • Removing the existing top from the skirt.
  • Attaching the newly made top to the existing skirt.
  • Pressing and full quality control of the reconstructed dress.
Skirt alterations

Reshaping & replacing skirts

Skirt alterations can affect the waist, hip, bum, side seams, hem and train simultaneously, so careful balancing is required to retain the intended silhouette of the dress.

Reshape — skirt only

Guide price: from £55

A skirt reshape may be required where the existing skirt can be retained but needs more substantial adjustment than a standard side-seam take-in.

The work may include

  • Assessing waist, hip and bum measurements.
  • Opening the waistband or waist seam where necessary.
  • Separating the skirt from the top where required.
  • Reshaping several skirt panels or seams.
  • Rebalancing the skirt silhouette.
  • Checking the position of any train or leg split.
  • Reattaching the skirt to the top.
  • Re-finishing, pressing and quality checking the garment.

Replace — skirt only

Guide price: from £95

A replacement skirt may be required where the existing skirt cannot safely be altered to the measurements or length required.

The work may include

  • Confirming the new waist, hip, bum and length measurements.
  • Preparing the appropriate skirt pattern.
  • Calculating the required finished length and train.
  • Cutting an entirely new skirt from fabric.
  • Constructing and finishing the new skirt.
  • Removing the original skirt from the existing top.
  • Attaching the newly made skirt.
  • Completing the hem and any split details.
  • Pressing and complete quality control.
Finishing adjustments

Straps, splits & design details

Smaller-looking adjustments still require careful construction to ensure the finished dress retains its original balance and appearance.

Shorten / adjust straps

Guide price: from £15

Strap adjustment can alter how the entire upper bodice sits, including the neckline, bust position and underarm.

The work may include

  • Establishing the required new strap position or length.
  • Opening the existing attachment point.
  • Shortening or repositioning the strap.
  • Reconstructing the attachment point.
  • Checking that both sides remain symmetrical.
  • Assessing the resulting neckline and bust position.
  • Re-finishing and pressing the altered area.

Add or adjust a leg split

Guide price: from £35

Adding or changing a split requires the skirt construction to be opened and professionally re-finished so that the new opening appears intentional and forms part of the original design.

The work may include

  • Confirming the required split position and finished height.
  • Opening the appropriate skirt seam.
  • Measuring and balancing the new opening.
  • Reconstructing the seam above the split.
  • Professionally finishing both sides of the new opening.
  • Reinforcing the top of the split where required.
  • Pressing and checking the finished skirt.
Larger adjustments

When an alteration becomes a replacement or remake

Not every fit change can safely be achieved by altering the original garment. Where measurements have increased significantly, a dress is too short, or extensive reconstruction would compromise the garment, making a new section may be the safest solution.

Replacement top

Guide price: from £65

A completely new top is individually cut and handmade before being joined to the existing skirt.

This can involve

  • Updated measurement assessment.
  • Pattern preparation.
  • New fabric consumption.
  • Cutting individual bodice pieces.
  • Construction of a new top.
  • Deconstruction of the existing dress.
  • Joining the new and existing garment sections.
  • Complete finishing and quality control.

Replacement skirt

Guide price: from £95

A new skirt may be required where additional length or increased body measurements cannot be safely created from the existing garment.

This can involve

  • Updated measurement and length assessment.
  • New fabric consumption.
  • Pattern preparation and cutting.
  • Construction of an entirely new skirt.
  • Removal of the original skirt.
  • Attachment to the existing bodice.
  • Creation of the finished hem and train.
  • Full pressing and quality control.

Whole dress remake

Price: current online RRP of the dress

Where the required changes are beyond what can safely or practically be achieved through alteration, a complete remake may be recommended. This means producing a new made-to-measure garment using the revised measurements.

  • Updated measurements are confirmed.
  • The appropriate patterns are prepared.
  • New fabric is allocated and cut.
  • Every individual garment component is produced again.
  • The complete dress is reconstructed from the beginning.
  • The finished garment is pressed and quality checked before dispatch.
Please read

A guide, not an automatic quote.

Every dress and alteration is different. The prices shown on this page are intended to help you understand the approximate starting cost of common alterations rather than provide a fixed quotation.

Your alteration will always be assessed individually.

The final cost depends on the dress design, construction, number of garment areas involved, extent of the adjustment and the work required to safely reconstruct and finish the dress. Our production team will assess your request before confirming what is required and any applicable cost. No chargeable alteration work will begin until the next steps have been discussed with you.

What if there has been a production error?

If our assessment concludes that an error has been made during production, the required corrective work will be completed by our team at no alteration cost to you. Alteration charges apply where adjustments are required for reasons outside of a production error, including changes in body measurements, shoe height, pregnancy, growth, personal fit preference or other changes following measurement confirmation.

Junior bridesmaid alterations

Children's growth can be particularly difficult to predict between measurement confirmation and the wedding. Junior alterations are therefore assessed individually depending on the design, the child's current measurements and the adjustment required. Our team will discuss the available options and any applicable cost following assessment.

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