Affordable Wedding Dress Alterations in Birmingham, AL: Big Silver Thread

MAGIC HANDS! She has MAGIC hands!

Those are the words that came to mind to describe the seamstress that perfectly altered my dream dress.

When I had asked around for alteration recommendations, the name Vickie Culver, at Big Silver Thread, kept coming up. Tons of Birmingham brides recommended her! Not just for her incredible craftsmanship, but for her reasonable prices.

With my dress having lace and an open mesh back, I was worried about the complicated nature of needing alterations. Was it going to cost me a fortune?

Here is me trying on my dress at Church Street Bridal.

Since their dresses cost between $200-$600, I couldn't pass up this steal of a deal (sorry Alabama brides, this place is in Virginia, where I'm originally from). I simply had to buy it, even though I knew I was probably going to have to spend a ton on alterations.

I needed it hemmed, taken in, bustled — 7 bustles! — all with the lace intact and still having the perfect flow.

When I received my dress back from Vickie, all I could say was, "It's incredible. I can't even tell that it's altered!" She smiled with joy at her accomplishment and said, "That's always the goal!"

So, see for yourself! Here's me on my wedding day and I have never felt more beautiful in my entire life!

In regards to everything she had to do to create this masterpiece, Vickie had to first take pictures of my dress to make sure the lace could be put back close enough to where it originally was. Then she took all the lace and beads off the back, altered the lower back to fit (so my butt wouldn't show!!)... repositioned the mesh and then mirror imaged all the lace and hand-stitched everything, including the beads, all back into place on the lower back and mesh.

She also adjusted the straps, hemmed the underskirts and trimmed the tulle with a rotary to get a smooth clean cut, and finally added the bustle.

IT WAS A TON!

The best part is that with the 7 bustles she included, I was able to get down on the dance floor!

So how much do alterations cost?

At this point, you're probably wondering, how much does it cost? Well, I won't say because I don't want to give anyone the wrong information, simply because every dress is different and requires more or fewer alterations depending on what needs to be done.

However, on average, data shows that a typical flat fee for wedding dress alterations can range from $500 to $700, depending on the salon and the expected alterations. If they do fee-per-service instead, you can expect average prices including:

• Taking in the sides: $50-$200

• Adding a bustle: $55-$95

• Adding bra cups: $20-$40

• Modesty panel: $30-$50

So yes, alterations can cost a signification amount of money since it does require a lot of time. But thankfully I spent well below the fixed fee price since Vickie charges a fee-per-service! So I would highly encourage you to talk to Vickie FIRST because I've already done the research for you. She offers incredible prices for the quality of work she provides!

Keep in mind, you do NOT want an inexperienced seamstress working on your most important dress. Since she works from her home, she doesn't have all of the other business overhead costs that other alterations have to include in their fees.

How do you book an appointment?

So how it works: You contact her on her business Facebook Page, and tell her the date you would need your dress by. If she isn't booked, she'll then proceed to schedule you for an initial dress fitting.

How long will it take?

Depending on when your wedding date is, she will ensure you have your dress done in time for the big day. But she'll also make sure not to start on it too early, in case your weight fluctuates to the point it would no longer fit! Once she starts on your dress, the process is very fast, as she only works on one dress at a time.

All that to say, I highly recommend Big Silver Thread. Absolutely check her out, Vickie was so sweet and easy to work with! She absolutely LOVES what she does and it makes all the difference.

Your dress won't just be another number to check off her to-do list. She is so personable and wants your dress to be absolutely perfect for your wedding!

Thank you Vickie for helping make my dream wedding come true by altering my dress to perfection!

Photography by Tommy Tran

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