Terms and conditions

1. Appointment Cancellation Policy

Alter Me requires a minimum of 24-hour notice to cancel or reschedule an appointment. I understand that if I cancel or reschedule within 24 hours or do not arrive for any reason other than an emergency outside of my control, I will be charged a $30 fee for the appointment I had reserved unless otherwise discussed with the head designer. (Replying to your text reminder at the time it is sent to you, is considered enough notice to cancel an appointment.)

2. Payment Policy

We accept payments via Eftpos, Bank Transfer & Cash.

Full payment is required at the time of placing an alteration order unless Alter Me has discussed other arrangements at your consultation. No work will be started without payment. If Alter Me receives payment less than 5 days of my pick-up date Alter Me will reschedule my pick-up appointment.

Alter Me’s Dressmaking Service payment policy works in 50% deposits. First 50% will be paid prior to Alter Me taking measurements in order to start the pattern-making and mock-up process. If you’re unable to pay the 50% deposit at your consultation but would like to get your measurements taken, a $30 fee will be charged. This amount will come off your total invoice. The remaining 50% will be due at your second fitting. I understand my garment won’t be completed unless the invoice has been paid in full.

If you require Alter Me to purchase fabrics on your behalf the amount will need to be paid prior to Alter Me making the purchase.

3. Service Cancellation Policy

Clothing Alterations Service –

Once Alter Me has received payment for your order, the order will be completed within your scheduled pick-up date. If you have a change of mind and your alteration is already completed there will be no refund given. If you have a change of mind and your alteration has not been started, Alter Me can choose to issue a part or full refund. The amount of time taken to pin the alterations will be considered when deciding to issue part or full refund.

With Alter Me’s extensive experience in clothing alterations, we carry out our work in a professional manner and at your fitting appointment will ensure you are comfortable with our pinning of your garment. We carry out the work as per the pinning, which you will approve before we proceed forward. If you have a change of mind after your garment is completed you will be charged for the extra alteration work.

Dressmaking Service –

Your design will be discussed in thorough detail at your consultation appointment before Alter Me proceeds forward to make the mock-up for the first fitting. If you have a change of mind about your design after the mock-up is made, you will be charged for the changes and for another mock-up to be made.

If you wish to stop your dressmaking journey after your mock-up is made the 50% deposit is non-refundable as we require the initial deposit to fund the pattern-making and mock-up.

If you plan on fluctuating with your body measurements it is your responsibility to liaise with Alter Me in advance so Alter Me can schedule your fittings accordingly. Once your garment is completed and you have fluctuated in body measurements, you will be charged for the required alterations to be made.

Once your custom garment is completed and you have a change of mind on a certain aspect of the design, you will be charged for the required alterations to be made.

4. Photo Rights Policy

Alter Me photographs all alteration and dressmaking work carried out so our audience can view the extensive work we achieve for our clients. We will utilise these photos on our website and social media to create awareness of our services. No client information will be revealed unless you have given Alter Me the permission.

At your fitting appointments Alter Me will take photos for a ‘before and after’ feature. These will be utilised on our website and social media to create awareness of our services. No client information will be revealed unless you have given us permission.

All custom garments are photographed and/or videoed for our records. These can be displayed on our website and social media to create awareness of our services. No client information will be revealed unless you have given us permission.

Any photos provided to Alter Me from yourself/friends/family members can be utilised for social media and marketing.

These Terms & Conditions apply to all products and services provided by Alter Me Limited trading as Alter Me (“Alter Me”, “we”, “us”, “our”) to the customer (“you”, “your”).

By booking an appointment, paying a deposit, purchasing a gown or accessory, or engaging Alter Me for bridal alterations, bespoke work, or any related service, you agree to these Terms & Conditions.

1. Our Services

Alter Me provides bridal gowns, sample gowns, bridal alterations, bespoke bridal wear, custom design work, fittings, veils, accessories, and related products and services.

2. Appointments and Online Booking Deposit

A $30 deposit is required when booking an appointment online for any service provided by Alter Me. A $50 deposit is required when booking an appointment online for Ready-to-Wear Bridal Consultation.

If you proceed with an order, purchase, or alteration service following your appointment, this deposit will be credited toward your invoice.

If you choose not to proceed, the $30 and/or $50 deposit will be retained as payment for the consultation and pinning time reserved for you.

If you cancel, reschedule within 24 hours of your appointment, or do not attend, the deposit is non-refundable.

Where sufficient notice is given, Alter Me may choose, at its discretion, to transfer the deposit to one rescheduled appointment.

3. Quotes and Pricing

Any quote provided by Alter Me is based on the information available at the time, including the garment, design brief, measurements, fabric, and scope of work discussed.

Quotes are valid for 14 days unless stated otherwise.

Quotes may be revised if:

the scope of work changes
hidden construction issues or pre-existing damage are discovered
additional fittings are required
measurements change
the customer requests further changes
fabric, freight, or supplier costs increase
timeline has changed

Any additional work requested after the original quote or fitting approval may incur extra charges.

4. Payment Terms

Deposits or staged payments may be required before we order gowns, purchase fabrics, begin bespoke work, or start alterations.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, full payment is required before any gown, garment, or finished product is collected or released.

Alter Me reserves the right to retain possession of any item until all outstanding amounts are paid in full.

Any costs incurred in recovering overdue payments, including debt collection or legal fees, may be charged to the customer where permitted by law.

5. Bridal Gown Orders

Bridal gowns may be sold as special order gowns, off-the-rack gowns, or sample gowns.

Delivery timeframes for ordered gowns are estimates only. While we will do our best to provide accurate timelines, Alter Me is not responsible for delays caused by designers, manufacturers, freight providers, customs, or other events outside our control.

Once a special order gown has been placed with a designer or supplier, it cannot usually be cancelled, changed, exchanged, or refunded for change of mind, wedding date changes, venue changes, or personal preference changes, unless required by law.

Bridal sizing varies between designers. Ordering a gown in a particular size does not guarantee a perfect fit, and most gowns require alterations for the best result.

6. Sample Gowns, Sale Gowns, and Off-the-Rack Purchases

Sample gowns, sale gowns, and off-the-rack gowns may show signs of wear from being tried on in-store. This can include minor marks, loose threads, missing buttons, or small imperfections.

These gowns are sold in their current condition, and the customer is responsible for inspecting the gown at the time of purchase.

Unless required by law, sample gowns, sale items, and clearance purchases are final sale and are not refundable or exchangeable for change of mind.

7. Bespoke and Custom Work

Bespoke garments, custom veils, custom sleeves, and other made-to-order items are created specifically for you.

Once work has begun, fabrics have been ordered, or patterns, mock-ups, or custom pieces have been made, payments made toward bespoke or custom work are non-refundable except where required by law.

Any changes requested after approval of the design, fitting, or construction stage may incur additional costs and may affect the completion date.

8. Bridal Alterations

Alteration quotes are based on the garment presented at the time of consultation and the agreed scope of work.

Alter Me will use reasonable care and skill in carrying out bridal alterations. However, alterations cannot always change the original design, balance, or structural limitations of a gown.

The customer acknowledges that results may be affected by the gown’s original construction, seam allowances, lace placement, fabric limitations, embellishments, boning, prior alterations, or the overall condition of the garment.

If additional adjustments are required because shoes, undergarments, accessories, or body measurements change after fittings, additional charges may apply.

9. Customer Responsibilities

You agree to:

attend fittings on time
bring the correct shoes, undergarments, and accessories to fittings
provide accurate information about your event date and requirements
advise us promptly of any body changes or styling changes that may affect fit
inspect your garment at final fitting and on collection
collect your garment promptly once notified.

Alter Me is not responsible for fit issues caused by different shoes, undergarments, body changes after the final fitting, or garments being altered, cleaned, pressed, stored, or handled by others after collection.

10. Customer-Supplied Gowns, Fabrics, and Materials

Where you provide your own gown, fabric, trims, measurements, patterns, sketches, or other materials, Alter Me may rely on the information provided.

We are not responsible for issues arising from inaccurate measurements, unsuitable fabrics, defective trims, poor-quality materials, or hidden faults in customer-supplied items.

Alter Me may refuse to use materials that we consider unsuitable for the intended purpose.

11. Delicate Fabrics and Pre-Existing Garment Risk

Bridal gowns are often delicate and may include fine fabrics, lace, beading, sequins, illusion mesh, boning, glued elements, aged stitching, or previous alterations.

While we will take reasonable care, Alter Me is not responsible for issues caused by pre-existing weakness, hidden damage, fragile fabric, prior workmanship, manufacturer defects, or normal wear and tear, except where caused by our failure to exercise reasonable care and skill.

Some alteration work carries inherent risk, especially on delicate, heavily embellished, very fitted, or previously altered garments.

12. Timelines and Completion Dates

Any completion date given by Alter Me is an estimate unless confirmed by us in writing.

We are not liable for delays caused by supplier delays, illness, emergencies, missed appointments, unpaid invoices, or any other circumstances beyond our reasonable control.

If work is requested urgently, a rush fee may apply.

If missed appointments or delayed decisions reduce the time available to complete the work, Alter Me may advise that some requested changes are no longer possible within the remaining timeframe.

13. Cancellations and Refunds

The $30 and $50 online booking deposit is dealt with under clause 2.

Payments made toward special order gowns, bespoke garments, custom pieces, ordered fabrics, or commenced work are generally non-refundable, except where required by law.

If you cancel after work has commenced, Alter Me may retain payments already made to cover time spent, work completed, and materials ordered or prepared.

Alter Me is not required to provide refunds for change of mind unless required by law.

Nothing in these Terms affects your rights under applicable New Zealand consumer law.

14. Final Fitting and Collection

You must inspect your garment at your final fitting and again on collection.

If you believe there is an issue with workmanship, you must notify Alter Me as soon as reasonably possible so it can be assessed promptly.

Where possible, any concerns should be raised before the garment is worn for the event.

15. Collection and Storage

Completed garments should be collected within 14 days of notification unless otherwise agreed.

Alter Me may charge a reasonable storage fee for garments left uncollected beyond that time.

We may retain uncollected garments until all outstanding amounts, including storage fees, are paid.

16. Photography and Marketing

Alter Me may take photographs or videos of garments, fittings, and completed work for record-keeping, quality control, and internal reference.

We may also use non-identifying images of our work for marketing, website, or social media purposes unless you request otherwise.

We will not publish identifying images of you, including your face or name, without your consent.

If you provide us with photographs, you confirm you are permitted to share them with us for the intended purpose.

17. Intellectual Property

All original sketches, patterns, mock-ups, templates, and custom design work created by Alter Me remain the property of Alter Me unless otherwise agreed in writing.

They may not be copied, reproduced, shared, or used by any other party without our prior written permission.

18. Consumer Law

Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts, or limits any rights or remedies you may have under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, the Fair Trading Act 1986, or any other applicable New Zealand law.

If you are acquiring our products or services in trade and both parties agree in writing, then to the extent permitted by law the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 may not apply.

19. Liability

To the extent permitted by law, Alter Me is not liable for indirect or consequential loss arising from delays, third-party supplier issues, event postponement, wedding cancellation, or circumstances beyond our reasonable control.

Where liability cannot be excluded, Alter Me’s liability is limited to the extent permitted by law.

20. Privacy

Alter Me collects and uses your information for appointment booking, communication, fitting records, order management, and service delivery.

We will take reasonable steps to keep your information secure and confidential.

21. General

These Terms are governed by the laws of New Zealand.

If any part of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining terms will continue in full effect.

Alter Me may update these Terms from time to time for future bookings and future orders by publishing the updated version on our website.