average prices for dressmakers to do wedding dress?

shelovestobuystuff

I have contacted a local dressmaker who works from her home and would just like to get an idea from you all how much it usually costs to have a wedding dress made by a dressmaker.
I know what I want made and have found the silks I want the outfit in already,I will buy that myself and the fabric costs about £200.Its to be a 2 piece with a wide stole and quite a simple design with short train.
Any ideas on a price would be great just so I know roughly what sort of price I may be looking at before I meet her next week.I hope that as she has no business premises and no staff to pay that it is going to be cheaper than a couture or bespoke outfit from a higher profile designer.

flea72

depends on the style and hours involved to make it - also all the extras, ie boning, laces, linings, etc.

i would expect to pay £400+ fabric, as usually you make a mock of the dress first, or at least the boddice, for sizing/alteration (and also the bride might not like the style once made up)

You say she has no business premises, but even if working from home, she would still have overheads, but very few dressmakers do have 'shops' as its not a trade that requires a frontage.

However, people dont seem to realise the time, and skill that goes into dressmaking. Even a simple Tshirt would take over 1hr to run up, so based on that a wedding dress is alot of manhours

hth Flea

lindaatno9

As I am a dressmaker who works from home I will tell you how I work. A bride comes to me and we discuss what she wants. I work out the fabric price and then charge a fee according on how simple or complicated the gown is. Based on a pattern I have for a 2 piece with stole, (top being corset/strapless) in a size 14 your fabric requirements will be about 5m. (This allows for a stole and a little over) In Duchess poly satin the total cost for the material will be approx £40. In pure silk dupion/slub silk approx £70. I then add my fee ontop. £300-£350. But, until I have the discussion with the client this fee is subject to change.
I've just put a quote together for a 100% pure silk chiffon and crepe silk gown (simple slipper type with train for a beach wedding abroad) and the cost came in around £495. This includes the fabric!

The reason I can be so competitive is because I pass on my fabric prices to the customer, but just because I have no business premises, doesn't mean my skill is any less than a high profile dressmaker. Sometimes, these people use outworkers. You pay for the name rather than the quality of the product.
HTH