Fullerton: 2460 E Chapman Ave, Fullerton, CA 92831. Anaheim (opening soon)
Mon–Fri 7a–7p · Sat 9a–4p(714) 738-1511Walk-ins welcomed
10% off for LEO & First Responders
Stitch & Press
Contact
Services
Specialties
Explore
Book a FittingGet an EstimateContact
Wedding Dress Alterations in Fullerton, CA

Wedding dress alterations, fitted by hand.

Bustles, hems through lace and beadwork, bodice and bust fitting, and the rest of the party alongside the bride. First fitting eight weeks out, two to three fittings, and cleaning and preservation after the day.

A wedding dress is the most demanding alteration in tailoring, and the one with the least room for a second try. The hem has to fall exactly to the shoe through three or four layers, the bustle has to hold for six hours of dancing, and the bodice has to fit the body you will have on the day, not the one the sample was cut for. We do all of it in-house, by hand, with the same tailor from your first fitting to the final press.

Across Orange County a full set of wedding dress alterations usually runs $450 to $950 once a hem, a bustle, and bodice work are added up. Our starting prices are below, and the bridal calculator adds them up for your dress before you bring it in. Bridal salons send alterations out; we are the shop they would send it to, and you deal with us directly.

Estimate Your AlterationsBook a Fitting

What we alter

Everything a wedding dress needs.

  • Hems: plain fabric, lace, beaded and embroidered, horsehair and multi-layer tulle
  • Bustles: American (1–2 or 3–5 points), French or under-bustle, ballroom (6+ points)
  • Bodice and side seams, taken in or let out
  • Bust contour and sewn-in cups
  • Straps shortened, added, or removed; neckline conversions
  • Sleeves shortened, cap sleeves added, full sleeve alterations
  • Pre-wedding steaming and final press
  • Cleaning and preservation after the wedding, in an acid-free archival box

Pricing

What wedding dress alterations cost.

Starting figures from the bridal calculator, confirmed at your first fitting once we see the construction. Lace, beadwork, and layers are what move the price.

  • Hem, plain fabricfrom $150
  • Hem, lace edgefrom $250
  • Hem, beaded or embroideredfrom $375
  • Hem, multi-layer or horsehairfrom $450
  • American bustle, 1–2 pointsfrom $85
  • French or under-bustlefrom $135
  • Ballroom bustle, 6+ pointsfrom $185
  • Bodice and side seams, minor / standardfrom $95 / $165
  • Sewn-in cups$45
  • Shorten straps$40
  • Neckline conversionfrom $145
  • Add cap sleevesfrom $115
  • Pre-wedding steam and press$85
  • Cleaning and preservation, after the weddingfrom $295

Wedding dress alterations are not yet on the shop's printed menu, so these are estimates rather than fixed prices. Rush work inside four weeks adds 25%, agreed before we start.

Open the bridal estimate calculator

The timeline

When to do what.

  1. 10 to 12 weeks out

    Buy the shoes and the undergarments you will wear. The hem and the bodice are fitted to them, so they come to every fitting.

  2. 8 weeks out

    First fitting. We pin the hem, mark the bodice, and decide the bustle together. You leave with a written estimate.

  3. 4 weeks out

    Second fitting. The major work is done; we check the fit and the hem length and adjust for any change in your shape.

  4. 1 to 2 weeks out

    Final fitting and steam. Bring whoever will bustle the dress so we can show them; the dress goes home pressed and bagged.

  5. After the wedding

    Bring it back within a month. Champagne and grass stains set with time; we clean, treat, and box it for the long term.

Be ready

What to bring to a bridal fitting.

  • The dress, in its bag
  • The shoes you will wear, heel height decided
  • The bra, corset, or shapewear you will wear under it
  • The veil, belt, or any accessory that hangs from the dress
  • A photo of the look you are going for
  • For the final fitting, the person who will bustle the dress

The rest of the party

Everyone who stands next to you.

  • Bridesmaid dresses: hems, straps, side seams, and matching lengths across the party
  • Mother of the bride and mother of the groom dresses and jackets
  • Groom and groomsmen: suit and tuxedo jackets, trousers, and vests
  • Flower girl and junior bridesmaid dresses
  • Prom, quinceañera, and formal dresses on the same standard

Where we are

Serving Fullerton and north Orange County.

One shop at 2460 E Chapman Ave, Fullerton, drop-off and pickup in person, walk-ins welcome. Customers come to us from across the county:

Directions →Call (714) 738-1511 →Hours and contact →

Good to know

Questions we get about wedding dresses

How far in advance should I book wedding dress alterations?
Book your first fitting at least eight weeks before the wedding. That leaves room for two or three fittings and the final press without rushing anyone. We can work inside that window; rush work adds 25% and depends on the calendar, so call the shop before you assume it is too late.
How much do wedding dress alterations cost?
A hem starts at $150 for plain fabric and $250 for lace; a bustle starts at $85; bodice work starts at $95. Most brides land between $300 and $700 for a full set, below the $450 to $950 typical across Orange County. The bridal calculator gives you a starting figure for your dress; the price is confirmed at the first fitting.
How many fittings will I need?
Two or three. The first sets the hem, the bodice, and the bustle; the second checks the major work; the third is the final try-on with a steam. A simple hem-and-bustle can be done in two.
Can you alter a dress I bought online, secondhand, or a size too big?
Yes, and we see a lot of them. Taking a dress in one or two sizes is routine; more than that depends on the construction and the seam allowance, which we check at the first fitting before you commit to anything.
What if my weight changes before the wedding?
That is what the second fitting is for. We do the major work after the first fitting and leave the final adjustment for the last few weeks, so a change of a few pounds either way is absorbed without redoing anything.
Do you clean and preserve the dress afterward?
Yes. Wedding dress cleaning starts at $125 and the cleaning-and-preservation package at $295, with hand stain treatment and an acid-free archival box. Bring it in as soon after the wedding as you can.

Eight weeks out is the right time to call.

Book the first fitting, bring the shoes, and we take it from there.

Book a Bridal FittingEstimate Your Alterations