OUR ALTERATIONS SERVICES
Freedom Brides maintains its impeccable service record, integrity and business practices towards our wonderful brides. We expect all brides to familiarize themselves with our alterations policy and ask any questions to prevent unfulfilled expectations.
PLEASE READ OUR ALTERATIONS POLICY BELOW.
Thank you!
About Alterations
The Full Story
Ever since we began providing wedding gowns for brides, Freedom Brides has offered complementary or low-cost Basic Alterations. This saves our brides so much money and ensures that there will not be a huge additional bill to pay later when the dress arrives. This peace of mind is a winner for our customers. We strive to serve every bride to the best of our abilities.
Sometimes we still offer complementary services, however most alterations are not free. Here are some examples of the cost of alterations:
-
Basic Alterations cost between $100-$300, much less expensive than other salons.
-
Extensive alterations may cost about $400 - $600. Many salons start at $400.
-
Reconstruction services could be as much as $700 and up.
PLEASE READ OUR FULL ALTERATIONS POLICY, CLICK THE LINK ABOVE.
Basic Alterations
Our gowns rarely need extensive alterations because we get it right the first time! We measure our brides carefully and our gowns almost always fit perfectly.
We offer BASIC alterations which includes hemming, one bustle, and some nips and tucks to get the perfect fit.
This does not include altering if the bride has changed her weight or changed her mind about shoes, etc. We charge more for alterations when more extensive alterations are required, however, we do not overcharge.
Your gown may require major reconstruction.
This might happen if you choose a gown off the rack, change your weight extensively, or if you change the basic structure of the gown.
When there is a situation that requires more extensive alterations than we can provide, we may refer you to our favorite local alterations professional. In this situation you will need to pay for the alterations done by someone else.
Beaded gowns are much harder to alter, so please remember that!
Alteration Appointments
Alterations are completed on site, saving many trips for the bride. Several ftttings may be accomplished on the same afternoon with our "while-you-wait" service. More complicated alterations may be sent to our local affiliates.
You will be notified when your dress is here. Please plan on spending an hour to try on your gown for your first fitting.
Bring your shoes if you have them, or shoes with the same size heel you planned on when you ordered your dress.
Please also bring any undergarments you plan to wear.
Sometimes a dress may require several fittings. Every time an adjustment is requested there may be another fitting. Be sure to clearly explain everything you need the first time!
Please be prepared to return each time the seamstress needs you.
Thank you!
Weight Changes
IF YOU PLAN ON LOOSING WEIGHT please let your stylist know. We are very experienced at ordering gowns for brides with plans for weight loss. Your stylist will suggest options.
Our gowns are ordered in the bride's exact size, with custom measurements. If a bride changes her weight then we charge for alterations. We ask to be notified of any significant weight changes. Sometimes we can adjust a gown in the manufacturing process.
We are not able to keep up with every bride's personal weight. We are not responsible for any costs related to weight changes, even if you have informed us. We will do our best to assist you and provide you with a fitted dress every time.
However, If a you are a bride who has worked hard to reach your goal weight and you need alterations, we applaud your efforts! We hope you will be encouraged and thrilled, even if it costs more to alter your gown.
WEIGHT GAIN
]Sometimes a bride may gain weight. We are very experienced at adding sizes to a gown and there are many options to provide a beautiful gown alteration.
In some cases it may be more cost-effective to re-order your dress in a different size. In this situation you are responsible to pay for any additional charges. No refund will be given for the first dress.
Freedom Brides makes no guarantee to sell a bridal gown in the event of weight changes.
Freedom Brides may offer to consign a gown, but we cannot ensure when the gown will sell. Consigned gowns are subject to fees to compensate for stylist time. Each case will be evaluated individually.
Freedom Brides
ALTERATIONS POLICY
2024
This policy is always made clear with the purchase of every gown. We include an abbreviated alterations statement with the invoice.
Please note there is a copy in the guest seating area of the salon. We expect all brides to familiarize themselves with our policy and ask any questions to prevent any surprise or disagreement.
We are happy to offer alterations at a fair market rate. An estimate for those items will be given before work begins. Time and materials will be estimated but may change as the work progresses. Sometimes the final bill will be less, sometimes more. The bride will be kept informed along the way.
"Could you just..." is another alteration. We can accommodate most wishes and will let you know the cost.
Complementary Alterations:
-
adding custom cups
-
one bustle
-
hem lining
-
reduce straps
Freedom Brides does not guarantee complementary alterations.
Basic Alterations:
-
hemming up to 5 layers of the gown
-
taking in straps
-
small darts
-
adding a few appliqués
This service may save a bride up to $700 of alterations elsewhere.
Extensive Alterations:
-
any re-construction of the gown
-
extra hemming
-
taking in seams
-
altering armholes or sleeves
-
creating custom straps
-
adding sleeves
-
extra beading
-
extra appliqués or lace
-
corset lace-up backs and modesty panels
-
any new design modification
YOUR FIRST FITTING
Alterations are completed on-site, saving many trips for the bride. Several ftttings may be accomplished on the same afternoon with our "while-you-wait" service. More complicated alterations may be sent to our local affiliates.
You will be notified when your dress is here. Please plan on spending an hour to try on your gown for your first fitting.
Bring your shoes if you have them, or shoes with the same size heel you planned on wearing when you ordered your dress.
Please also bring any undergarments you plan to wear.
ADDITIONAL FITTINGS
As with any store several fittings may be necessary, depending on the extent of the alterations. These fitting are often time-consuming and are another free service we offer to our brides.
Sometimes a dress may require several fittings. Every time an adjustment is requested there may be another fitting. Be sure to clearly explain everything you need the first time!
Please note that any additional alterations requested by the bride will add to the cost and time of delivery.
We will only ask you to return as many times as necessary to ensure a good fit. This is standard practice. Be prepared to have 1-3 fittings for most alterations, or 3-4 fittings for extensive alterations, especially if additional work is requested.
Please be prepared to return each time the seamstress needs you. Thank you!
DELIVERY DATE
Our brides have never received a gown late for their wedding and never will.
Please be sure to order your gown in plenty of time to allow at least 2 months for alterations. We accommodate every bride and do our best to avoid stress.
Most bridal stores require months for alterations, we make every effort to complete our alterations within weeks or even days.
We understand the concerns of brides nearing a wedding date. Please be assured we make every effort to keep our brides from being anxious. The bridal industry recommends ONE YEAR to purchase a gown. Gowns ordered prior to 6 months may be delivered fairly close to the wedding date.
Our staff will give you an approximate date which will not be considered a promise or breach of agreement if that date is not possible to be met. Absolutely nothing said in a conversation is a contract or expectation of the actual delivery date. These are discussions, evaluations and a decision-making process. This is an estimate of how much time a project might take, but different situations require different amounts of time as the project is worked on.
The expected delivery date is an estimate and may change. When the seamstress gets into the project she may find it more extensive and therefore the date may change. We do not make any guarantee as to the delivery date of a gown that requires extensive alterations.
We will do our best to ensure the gown is a priority, however supplies may take longer to arrive, or circumstances beyond our control with an affiliate vendor do happen.
We “triage” every situation. The bride with the closest wedding deadline will have priority over all other work.
WEIGHT CHANGES
IF YOU PLAN ON LOOSING WEIGHT please let your stylist know. We are very experienced at ordering gowns for brides with plans for weight loss. Your stylist will suggest options.
Our gowns are ordered in the bride's exact size, with custom measurements. If a bride changes her weight then we charge for alterations. We ask to be notified of any significant weight changes. Sometimes we can adjust a gown in the manufacturing process.
We are not able to keep up with every bride's personal weight. We are not responsible for any costs related to weight changes, even if you have informed us. We will do our best to assist you and provide you with a fitted dress every time.
However, If a you are a bride who has worked hard to reach your goal weight and you need alterations, we applaud your efforts! We hope you will be encouraged and thrilled, even if it costs more to alter your gown.
WEIGHT GAIN
]Sometimes a bride may gain weight. We are very experienced at adding sizes to a gown and there are many options to provide a beautiful gown alteration.
In some cases it may be more cost-effective to re-order your dress in a different size. In this situation you are responsible to pay for any additional charges. No refund will be given for the first dress.
Freedom Brides makes no guarantee to sell a bridal gown in the event of weight changes.
Freedom Brides may offer to consign a gown, but we cannot ensure when the gown will sell. Consigned gowns are subject to fees to compensate for stylist time. Each case will be evaluated individually.
VEILS
Free veils are plain veils. Custom veils are priced individually, according to the embellishments.
Lace, appliqués, beading and other embellishments are available at a reasonable cost to the bride. Brides may design their own veil and be assured our seamstresses will complete their design at a reasonable hourly rate.
OTHER ALTERATIONS VENDORS
Our preferred alterations specialists are in various locations. They are professional and highly courteous and will do an amazing job! If you require a shop closer to your area we will try to find one for you, but at this time we cannot promise the same quality of work from any other alterations service. We are not responsible for outside vendors.
CONCERNS
Freedom Brides maintains its impeccable service record, integrity and business practices towards our wonderful brides. If you find yourself in the situation where you need to express concern, we always want to hear your opinion and we will direct you to our Business Manager who will take care of your needs.
Our staff will under no circumstance be treated with rudeness or be subjected to unfair demands from the bride or guests. We reserve the right to refuse service to brides who are demanding and unappreciative of our professional efforts.
ALTERATIONS is a privilege extended to our brides to help them. If we are not respected for giving hundreds of dollars of discount to our brides we will terminate the offer of alterations and services.
In these circumstances we will return the UNFINISHED gown and suggest the bride go to a different alterations shop. We will expect payment for ALL alterations before releasing the gown.
_________________________________
BRIDE
________________________
DATE