Attire

Wedding dress & attire contract: what to check before you sign

A wedding dress or suit is usually a special order — made or shipped to a deadline you can't move, with alterations on top and a deposit you can't get back. The contract decides what you're really paying and what recourse you have if it arrives late or wrong. Here's the checklist, written for the couple.

1. Special order: exact item and deposit

Most gowns are ordered from the designer in your size, not sold off the rack. Confirm the contract records the exact designer, style number, colour and size being ordered, and the deposit (often 50–60%, usually non-refundable once the order is placed). Once that order goes to the maker, your money is committed — so make sure every detail on the order is correct before you sign, because "we ordered what the paperwork said" is the shop's defence.

2. Delivery dates and the rush fee

Get the expected delivery date in writing, with enough buffer before the wedding for alterations. Gowns commonly take months; if your date is tight, there may be a rush fee — confirm the amount and that it actually guarantees arrival in time, not just "priority handling". Ask what the shop's remedy is if the dress arrives late, since a designer delay can leave you with no time for fittings.

"What's the guaranteed arrival date, and what happens if it's late — not just 'we'll follow up with the designer'?"

3. Alterations — almost always extra

This is the cost couples underestimate most. Alterations are rarely included in the dress price and can run to hundreds — hems, bustles, taking in/out, adding straps or cups. Ask for an alterations price list up front, how many fittings are included, and whether alterations are done in-house or referred out. Build the alteration cost into your real budget, not the sticker price.

4. "As-is", final sale and damage on arrival

Many bridal contracts state the gown is sold "as-is" and final sale, with the shop not liable for minor variations in colour, beading or the designer's construction. That's common — but you still want a clear process for genuine defects or damage on arrival: inspect the gown with staff at pickup, note any issues in writing immediately, and understand the window to report a defect before "final sale" shuts the door.

5. Rented suits and attire

For rented suits, tuxes or attire, you're back in rental territory: there's a return deadline, a late fee per day, and a damage/replacement charge for stains, tears or missing pieces (don't forget the small stuff — ties, cufflinks, shoes are often itemised). Confirm who returns each piece and by when, and what counts as "damage" versus normal wear. The same return-and-replacement logic in our rental contract guide applies here.

6. Cancellation and store credit

Understand what you can get back if plans change. For a special order, the deposit is usually gone once placed; some shops offer store credit rather than a refund, and credit is only worth something if you'll use it. Read the cancellation terms before signing, and see our deposits guide for how "non-refundable" actually works.