Sales & services 2 signers 2 pages 17 blanks to fill in

Bridal Alterations Agreement Template

List every alteration and fitting, explain the fabric risks, and set a pickup deadline for the gown.

Use this template — free See the agreement Signers don’t need an account
Bridal alterations agreement
The blanks in brackets are what you fill in. FileIt adds each signer’s signature and date boxes.
Bridal alterations agreement — page 1 of 2
Page 1 of 2
Bridal alterations agreement — page 2 of 2
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Use this template Fill in the blanks, name who signs, and send — from FileIt eSignature.

What is a bridal alterations agreement?

A wedding dress arrives with a fixed date and a lot of feeling attached. Most disputes over bridal alterations come from things nobody said at the start: that lace can't be re-hemmed without changing its look, that a seam can only be let out as far as its allowance, or that a dress left for months after the wedding takes up rack space. An alterations agreement covers all of that, gently and in writing.

This template describes the garment, its condition on arrival and each alteration with its price, and records the event date and fittings schedule. It asks the client to bring their shoes and undergarments to fittings, and warns about weight change and missed fittings. It lists the usual risks with silk, tulle, lace and beading, and what the seamstress does if they damage the garment through carelessness. It sets the deposit, balance and an optional rush fee, with no refunds once cutting begins. It also gives a pickup deadline, a weekly storage fee, and a final-notice process before an uncollected garment is treated as abandoned.

Best for
Seamstresses, bridal alterations studios and tailors
Signed by
The seamstress and the client
Payment
Deposit on signing, balance at the final fitting
Length
About 2 pages

When to use a bridal alterations agreement

  • Taking in a wedding gown, hemming and adding a bustle
  • Altering a mother-of-the-bride dress and jacket
  • Remodelling a family heirloom dress for a new bride
  • Hemming bridesmaid dresses for a wedding party
  • Last-minute alterations to a prom or gala gown with a rush fee

What you fill in

17 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: seamstress, client.

1 The parties

  • Seamstress or studio (your business)*
  • Your phone or email*
  • Client*
  • Client phone or email*

2 The garment

  • Garment*
  • Condition on arrival (optional)

3 The work

  • Alterations and prices*
  • Wedding or event date*
  • Fittings schedule*

4 Price

  • Currency*
  • Estimated total*
  • Deposit on signing*
  • Rush fee (optional)

5 Pickup and storage

  • Days to collect after the work is ready*
  • Storage fee after that, per week*
  • Days after the event before an uncollected garment is treated as abandoned*
  • Governing law*

6 Who signs

  • Seamstress signature and date · The seamstress, tailor or alterations studio.
  • Client signature and date · The person whose garment is being altered.

What the bridal alterations agreement covers

  1. The garment
  2. Alterations and price
  3. Fittings
  4. Fabric and garment risks
  5. Deposit and payment
  6. Pickup and storage
  7. General

Using the bridal alterations agreement, step by step

1 Describe the garment

Enter the dress or garment, fabric and label, and note any marks or missing beads when you receive it.

2 List the alterations

Enter each alteration with its price, the event date, and edit the pre-filled three-fitting schedule.

3 Set the price

Enter the estimated total, the deposit and any rush fee.

4 Pickup and send

Set the pickup window, weekly storage fee and abandonment period, add the governing law and send.

Tips before you send it

  • Photograph the garment at drop-off and note its condition in the agreement. It avoids arguments over marks that were already there.
  • Talk through the fabric risks before the first cut. The template only protects you for risks you explained.
  • Remind the client to bring their wedding shoes to every fitting. Hems are measured to them.
  • Check local rules on uncollected goods before disposing of a garment, and keep a copy of your final notice.

Sign it online in minutes

  1. Fill in the blanks. Names, dates and amounts go straight into the agreement — the preview shows exactly where.
  2. Name who signs. Tick “This is me” for your own part. FileIt builds the PDF with every signature, date box on the right line, and you can check or move anything before sending.
  3. Send it. Each signer gets a secure link and signs from any device — no account needed. The signed PDF, with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion, is filed in your vault and emailed to everyone.
Use the bridal alterations agreement template — it’s free

Bridal alterations agreement: frequently asked questions

Can the client get a refund after alterations start?

No. Before cutting or sewing begins, the deposit is refunded less time spent. Once work starts, the deposit and work done aren't refundable, though the client's rights over poor workmanship are kept.

What if the client's size changes before the wedding?

Extra work is priced and agreed before it's done. Close to the event it may not be possible, and the template says so.

What if the seamstress damages the dress?

If it's their carelessness, they repair it free, or pay its fair value allowing for age and condition, up to what the client paid for it where that's known.

What happens if the dress isn't collected?

A weekly storage fee applies after the pickup window. After the abandonment period, the seamstress sends a final notice and follows any legal steps before treating it as abandoned.

Is the template free?

Yes. It's free with FileIt eSignature, and the client signs from the email link without an account.

Use this template — free