Bridelily Returns and Alterations: What Happens If It Doesn't Fit

If a dress needs adjusting, Bridelily reimburses part of a local tailor's bill against a receipt — up to $20, $35, $50 or $75 depending on what the dress cost.

That is the answer most people are actually looking for, because on a made-to-order gown the realistic outcome is a small alteration, not a return.

Every dress here is cut after the order rather than pulled from stock, which is why the returns rules differ from a normal retailer's. This page sets out what applies, in the store's own terms.

Key Takeaways

The rule worth saving: contact customer service within 3 days of delivery for a return request and within 7 days for anything damaged, defective or mis-shipped. Once a refund is approved it is credited within 10-15 days, and your bank may add a further wait.

What Happens If the Dress Does Not Fit?

The first thing to know is that a small fit adjustment is expected and paid for, not treated as a fault.

Alterations are reimbursed against a receipt

Take the dress to a local tailor, then email a photo of the receipt to service@bridelily.com. The reimbursement is capped by what the dress cost, at the four tiers in the table above.

This applies to standard-size and custom-measurement dresses alike. It is not a goodwill gesture reserved for problem orders.

If it arrived damaged, defective or wrong

Contact customer service within 7 days of delivery. A damaged, defective or mis-shipped item is refunded in full, including the shipping fee.

Send photographs with the request. They are what lets the team resolve it without a return shipment in many cases.

If you simply changed your mind

A non-quality return is refunded at 50% of the item price after the dress comes back. Shipping, plus-size and rush fees are not refunded, and you pay the return postage.

That is a real cost, and it is the honest reason to order a $2 swatch and check the size chart before ordering rather than after.

Why the rules are not a standard 30-day return

Retail return windows exist because stock sits in a warehouse. Here each dress is sewn for one order, so there is no shelf for it to go back to.

US shoppers keep their general consumer protections regardless — the FTC guidance on returns and refunds explains what a seller's stated policy does and does not settle.

Which Items Can Be Returned, and Which Cannot

The category matters more than the price. Three groups behave differently.

Dresses: returnable within the stated window

Submit the request within 3 days of delivery, ship within 7 days of approval using a trackable local post service, and have the parcel back within 15 days of delivery.

Items must come back unworn, unwashed, unaltered and undamaged with the original tags attached. Anything altered has left the policy.

Shoes and accessories: full refund of the item

Contact customer service within 7 days of receiving them. The item cost is refunded in full, though neither the original nor the return shipping is.

The same original-condition requirement applies.

Final sale: swatches, clearance and intimates

Fabric swatches, clearance items and intimate items — corsets, petticoats, garters and similar — are final sale. No returns or exchanges for any reason.

Worth knowing before ordering: the $2 swatch cards are in this group, which is fine at $2, and structured corset tops are too, which is worth a moment's thought.

There is no exchange service

Because nothing is stocked ready-made, there is no dress waiting to be swapped for yours. A return followed by a new order is the route, and that route is offered once.

Prior promotional pricing is not carried over to the replacement order, so re-check colour and size carefully before placing it.

How the Timeline Works, From Order to Refund

Two timelines matter: the one before the dress reaches you, and the one after you ask for a refund.

Order to delivery

Order review takes 1-3 business days. Tailoring takes up to two weeks, and sometimes three on heavier styles. Delivery is 5-8 business days, with about a week more for Europe.

Orders over $150 ship express. Once the order is in production, 72 hours after it is placed, the shipping address can no longer be changed.

The 24-hour change window

Colour, style and measurements can be changed within 24 hours of payment. After that the tailoring has started and changes carry a fee.

Set a reminder for the day you order. This one window prevents most of the problems the rest of this page is about.

Cancellation, tier by tier

Cancel within 24 hours of payment for a full refund. Between 24 and 72 hours you get the shipping cost plus 70% of the item price; between 72 and 120 hours, shipping plus 40-60%; beyond 120 hours, shipping plus 30%.

Once an order has shipped it cannot be cancelled. Items that are not made to order can be cancelled for a full refund any time before dispatch.

Refund processing

Once your parcel arrives back it takes 3-7 business days to inspect and process, longer in peak season. The refund is then credited to the original payment method within 10-15 days.

Your bank may add another 7-10 business days on top of that. Plan the calendar accordingly if the money is needed for a replacement dress.

The Bridelily Difference: Alterations Are Budgeted, Not Improvised

Most retailers treat alterations as your problem after the sale. Building a reimbursement into the policy assumes the opposite — that a dress made for a real body usually wants a final adjustment.

The reimbursement scales with the dress

A $70 bridesmaid dress and a $250 gown do not need the same tailoring budget, so the tiers scale: $20, $35, $50 and $75. It is the same idea as a warranty that matches the product.

Keep the tailor's receipt. That is the only thing the claim needs.

Made to order, US 2 to US 26W

Every piece is cut after the order, in standard sizes across that range or to your own measurements. Ordering to measurements is what reduces the alteration to a hem rather than a rebuild.

Sizing shifts above a US 14, and our guide to plus size evening dresses and sizing to US 26W covers which measurements decide the fit.

Swatches and size charts exist to prevent the return

A $2 swatch and five minutes with the size chart on the product page cost less than a 50% non-quality return. That is the entire argument for using both.

Ordering for a group makes this more important, not less — our guide to mixing mismatched bridesmaid dresses covers coordinating several orders at once.

Shop the Look

Six dresses, one for each reimbursement tier and a couple either side, so the tiers stop being abstract.

Chiffon appliqué gown at $59.99 — the $20 tier, and the lowest-priced long dress in this set.

Sleeveless chiffon A-line at $69.90 — the $35 tier, a typical bridesmaid price point.

One-shoulder pleated chiffon in burgundy — also the $35 tier, and offered as a group order.

Off-the-shoulder chiffon short dress at $106 — the $50 tier, available in 21 colours.

Beaded tulle A-line at $203 — the $75 tier, where a structured bodice most often wants a final fitting.

Sequinned mermaid with long sleeves at $202 — also the $75 tier, and the least forgiving fabric of the group.

Browse the bridesmaid dresses, special occasion dresses and wedding dresses collections, and read the full terms on the store's refund policy page before ordering. If you are choosing a backless gown, the fit stakes are higher — see our guide to backless wedding dresses, venues and bra support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Bridelily pay for alterations?

It reimburses part of a local tailor's bill against a receipt — up to $20 on a dress of $59 or less, $35 between $60 and $99, $50 between $100 and $199, and $75 above $200. Email the receipt to service@bridelily.com.

How long do I have to request a return?

Three days from delivery for a return request, and seven days for anything damaged, defective or mis-shipped. All after-sale requests have to be raised within seven days of the item arriving.

What refund do I get if I just changed my mind?

Fifty percent of the item price, once the dress is back and inspected. Shipping, plus-size and rush fees are not refunded, and the return postage is yours.

Can I exchange a dress for a different size?

No — there is no exchange service, because nothing is stocked ready-made to swap. You return the dress and place a new order, and that route is offered once.

Which items cannot be returned at all?

Fabric swatches, clearance items and intimates such as corsets, petticoats and garters are final sale. Custom-measurement dresses are also final sale unless there is a quality problem.

How long does a refund take to arrive?

Three to seven business days to inspect and process after the parcel arrives back, then 10-15 days to credit the original payment method. Your bank can add another 7-10 business days.

Can I change the colour or size after ordering?

Yes, within 24 hours of payment. After that the tailoring has begun, so changes carry a fee and the shipping address locks 72 hours after the order.

About the Author

Emma Clarke is a bridal fashion writer and wedding style consultant with over 8 years of experience helping brides find their dream dress. From classic ball gowns to modern minimalist silhouettes, Emma covers everything from prom trends to plus-size bridal styling. Her work has been featured across leading wedding lifestyle platforms, and she believes every woman deserves to feel extraordinary on her most special day. She writes practical shopping guides that focus on how silhouette, fabric, customization, and measurements affect how a dress looks in real life, not just in product photos.