Pricing guidelines

Projects are evaluated and priced on an individual basis, based on how much work is required, the complexities of that work and timescale. All I can offer without meeting you and discussing your requirements in full detail are rough guidelines. This may help you evaluate my likely price against your budget.

Custom dressmaking is the most expensive process I undertake. It’s labour intensive and a minimum of 6 months is usually required to custom make a formal gown.

For this example, our garment is a wedding gown. Your special gown will be created from design to completion. You tell me your dreams, and we’ll work together to create it. Once the design has been signed off, your pattern will be drafted to fit your measurements, and we’ll achieve the perfect fit with multiple fittings and toiles (test garments). Your dress will be made in your selected fabrics, with, again, multiple fittings. Hand embroidered details, beading and other details can be incorporated to create your special dress. As you can see, bottle green seems to be a favourite with Bluebell Design brides.

From £2000 + fabric costs

Nicole’s silk and georgette dress
Gemma’s bias cut dress – this is the final toile
Gemma’s finished dress and what a back view!

Altering a bought wedding gown – the cost of these alterations vary, again, depending on what is needed and how easy the alteration will be for me to do. The most common alterations I deal with are shortening the hems and taking a dress in at the bodice.

Shortening a dress at the hem

From £40 per layer

Take in a formal gown bodice at seams

From £90

Re-shape or remove a wedding gown train

From £120

Add underarm or centre back panels to a too-small dress

From £140 plus fabric cost

Apply bustle loops and buttons to a gown with a train

£15 per bustle point

Basic alterations to every day garments are also offered by Bluebell Design.

Shorten trousers by machine

From £15

Replace a skirt or trouser zip

From £45

All alterations are based on a fitting undertaken in my studio. I will ask you to try on your garment and between us we will determine what needs to be done to get it to fit you properly. For this reason I ask you to bring the correct shoes with you to all fittings, and ensure you are wearing appropriate undergarments. If you need a strapless bra with your dress, please ensure you are wearing it for our fitting to help me to assess your garment properly.