Hello ladies! Please could you give me an idea of how much I should budget...

Depends what you need. I found an independent seamstress and the shop was messing me around. I had mine taken in significantly around the bust and cost me £45

It depends on what you need done! Mine had a price list so to take in say the bust are was £45, to take the length up was like £65! I didn't need any done on mine in the end but know other brides have spent about £150-£250 on alterations!

The shop i got my dress from charged £190 to take mine up about an inch and attempted to take the bust in, which failed miserably. I was then advised to do the dress up tighter, giving me back boobs! Apparently nothing else could really be done! Was advised to try double sided tape and padded bras!

They also charged £70 for my bridesmaid dress - took it up about half an inch and added material to the side to make it bigger - it sat wonky.

My advice would be to look into the stores seamstress, are they contracted, or a 'seperate entity' (which mine was but was not told this at the time) and therefore the store didnt apparently have responsibility when i complained. Have they got any professional advertising with reviews and portfolios? Just because a store uses them means naff all, as i have experienced! I was mortified - my dress looked horrible, my sisters stupid, and i was dreading my day with 2weeks to go!

So,

I ended up taking mine to an independent seamstress who designs her own dresses too! She charged £60 for my dress to be corrected (bottom neatened, moved corset panel over and took the bust in to fit me properly - and quite alot). She charged £30 to amend the mess of my bridesmaid dress. Which i was going to have to replace completely otherwise! She was an absolute life saver!

Ask at the shops the charges and do your own research too :)