Folkster Bridal FAQS
Here's some information our Folkster brides have found helpful! However if we've left anything out, we are always more than happy to help - just pop us a mail to bridal@folkster.com :)
APPOINTMENT INFO
WHERE IS FOLKSTER BRIDAL?
Folkster Bridal is on 27 Patrick Street, Kilkenny, County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is the only Folkster Bridal store. We do not stock our bridal collection in our regular Folkster stores in Dublin or Kilkenny - so sorry about that! We hope you find the trip to Kilkenny worth it if you're not from here, it's a beautiful city :)
IS FOLKSTER BRIDAL APPOINTMENT ONLY?
Yes, our Folkster Bridal store is appointment only. :) We take pride in offering the best customer service possible and we just want to really ensure you have our full attention! :) Our head of bridal Roisin Hennessy along with our brilliant styling team would be delighted to help you on your gown journey! Please use our online scheduler via "Book A Bridal Appointment" to book in a date that suits you, and we'll look forward to seeing you then!
WHEN SHOULD I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
We recommend that you make an appointment when you're ready to make a purchase. :) Feedback is that it's best to search magazines and pinterest, and look through our instagram for inspiration first - instead of using appointments as research as a lot of brides say it can feel overwhelming otherwise - but of course, it's totally up to you! :) Brides also say that being prepared to invest in 'the one' before your appointment can help because you feel ready for the very first gown you try on - it might just be the one take your breath away! (wouldn't that be lovely!)
However it's equally important that you don't feel rushed, and that our designers have time to make your gown. :) We recommend beginning to shop at least 9-12 months before your wedding date for our made-to-order gowns!
WHAT DESIGNERS DO YOU STOCK?
We have a beautiful curated selection of gowns from talented designers around the world!
Our collection includes gowns from:
- Anna Kara
- Jenny Yoo
- Zoe Rowyn
- Folkster Bridal
- Esty Style Bridal
- Rara Avis
- Novia D'Art
We offer so many amazing unique styles for all brides, and hope you'll find your perfect look with us :)
HOW LONG WILL MY APPOINTMENT BE?
Our private fittings are scheduled for one hour and 15 minutes, which seems to be the perfect amount of time to try all the ones you believe could end up being the one!
HOW WILL MY APPOINTMENT RUN IN FOLKSTER BRIDAL?
So in your first appointment, we will help you select some styles that appeal to you. Most brides find their gown in the first appointment, but please don't worry if you need to make a second one to be sure! :) Don't worry about committing to a gown, everyone feels the nerves of the 'fear of finding something else'. (FOFSE?) - that's completely natural. Just trust your instincts! Don't worry, we will never pressure you to make a purchase, we're just happy to help you with your decision in any way we can.
Once you've found the gown you love, and you're sure you want to proceed - you'll secure it with a 50% deposit. (Please note that once you sign the deposit form, there is no changes, exchange, return or refunds but we will go through everything with you in your appointment.) We'll keep in touch with you by mail, and once the gown arrives in to Kilkenny, you'll come back in for a follow up appointment to pick up your gown and do final inspections. Then you get to take home your lovely, amazing, lovely, lovely gown! (Did we mention that it's lovely?)
HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN I BRING TO MY APPOINTMENT?
Our beautiful showroom and fitting rooms can accommodate the bride plus 3 guests maximum :)
While the feedback from other brides is always in general is that the less people you bring with you, the easier you will find it to focus on how the gown makes YOU feel (because at the end of the day that is what's really important) we also know that you may want to show more special people, your best cheerleaders, your choices. So during your appointment - you can feel comfortable to arrange a video call to show off your dream wedding day style to your favourite crew.
ARE CHILDREN ALLOWED IN FOLKSTER BRIDAL?
While we absolutely adore children - due to the high value and delicate nature of our bridal gowns, we sincerely regret that children are not permitted in Folkster Bridal. We are so sorry and really appreciate your understanding!
HOW ABOUT PETS?
No unfortunately - pets of any kind are not allowed in Folkster Bridal. (Of course if you or one of your party has a medical service dog - they are always welcome, just please contact us prior to the appointment.)
ACCESSIBILITY: Due to the older nature of our building we regret that the
Kilkenny premises and Folkster Bridal is not wheelchair accessible at this time. We will always do our very best to accommodate any additional requirements for our customers so please do get in touch with us to see how we can help :)
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?
We highly recommend wearing nude underwear, as the majority of our gowns are Ivory so this colour works best underneath :)
There is nothing else you need to bring!
IS THERE AN APPOINTMENT DEPOSIT?
Yes, sadly due to no-shows we now require a €20 booking deposit to confirm your Bridal appointment. This amount will be deducted from your bridal order when you purchase your bridal gown with us, or if you do not make a purchase with us that's ok too - the deposit is sadly non-refundable in these cases. For info on how to cancel: see the next question :)
NEED TO CANCEL OR CHANGE YOUR APPOINTMENT?
To ensure proper tracking of cancellations, we ask that the cancellation is in writing to BRIDAL@FOLKSTER.COM with your appointment date and time and the name on the booking to ensure cancellation.
Please note: The appointment booking deposit cannot be returned in any form including transferred to another appointment or stock or gift voucher or store credit. Deposit is non-refundable once payment is received by Folkster.
We are so grateful for your understanding of this situation, which we had to introduce a non-refundable deposit to be fair to our team, all of our brides and waiting lists :)
I ONLY NEED BRIDAL ACCESSORIES - DO I STILL NEED AN APPOINTMENT?
Yes you do - but we will make it a shorter appointment so pop us a mail to bridal@folkster.com and we will organise that for you :) Please feel free to bring in your gown to try on with accessories (even if it's not a Folkster Bridal gown, we're more than happy to help!)
I'M LOOKING FOR BRIDESMAIDS GOWNS TOO!
We can help you with that - or more precisely - the lovely team in the main Folkster Kilkenny or Dublin can... they have a huge range of gowns for your bridesmaids to try on, we recommend coming for your bridal appointment first. Then head downstairs with your bridesmaids to find something that will complement the gown you've (hopefully!) found with us in Folkster Bridal.
P.S. - You can walk-in to the main Folkster store to browse, however if you have a group of your bridesmaids with you, we would highly recommend booking an appointment to try on options in store :)
You can book a bridesmaids appointment directly here
WHERE SHOULD I PARK ?
There are 2 large car parks on Ormonde Street which is 2 min. walk from our store :)
ORDERING YOUR GOWN INFO
WHAT IS THE PRICE RANGE OF YOUR GOWNS?
Our made-to-order gowns range from €695 - €3500 - and yes we have separates too!
We also have a range of accessories that we hand pick to complement our gowns. Our brides appreciate the ease of finding it all to suit under one roof, so we do recommend keeping an overall budget in mind for your full look! :)
WHAT DOES MADE-TO-ORDER MEAN WHEN ORDERING MY GOWN?
Made-to-order means that the making of the gown begins once you place your order. The most important thing to note is that made-to-order gowns are ordered to the closest numerical dress size (UK6/8/10 etc or S/M/L/XL dependent on designer) The gown is not made to the exact measurements of the bride (which is referred to as "made-to-measure" - we do not offer this service, sorry!). In order to achieve the perfect fit, the bride seeks the assistance of her own seamstress or tailor.
WHO IN MY FAMILY/FRIENDS CAN TALK TO FOLKSTER BRIDAL ABOUT MY GOWN ORDER?
Due to privacy and data protection guidelines, Folkster Policy is that we are not allowed to discuss the details of our orders with anyone EXCEPT the bride herself. We are sorry if this causes any inconvenience - but hope you can understand that not only does this protect our most important customer - you, our bride, but it also helps us to make sure our communication with you is as clear and smooth as possible. :)
I NEED A GOWN PRONTO!
Need a gown in a hurry? We do have some off-the-rack gowns, so don't worry if you're a last-minute bride. Just pop us a mail to BRIDAL@FOLKSTER.COM and we'll do our very best to help you! :)
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR MY MADE-TO-ORDER GOWN TO ARRIVE?
Depending on the designer of the gown you choose, there is a 6/7 month lead time for all made-to-order gowns. We may be able to secure it sooner - but please note, 'Rush Fees' will be applied by the designer - sorry!
DO YOU OFFER/INCLUDE ALTERATIONS?
No unfortunately not - we are a made-to-order based store and we do not offer alterations. We recommend seeking our a reputable Bridal Alterations service, either through friends recommendations or online reviews :)
WILL THE DESIGNER MAKE CHANGES OR SEND EXTRA FABRIC?
Each of our designers has their own unique way of working, some will make changes, and some won't.
Raising a neckline, closing a leg slit, or shortening a train are some commen changes that the majority of our designers are able to accommodate :)
For those that will make small changes, there is usually an additional charge for this, which we will be able to advise you of during your appointment :)
Please reach out to us if you have any questions on changing elements of gowns, and we can advise you better!
Additional fabric can sometimes be ordered, and would have an additional charge.
WHERE CAN I COLLECT MY GOWN?
Folkster Bridal Kilkenny is separate to regular Folkster stores and Folkster Bridal Gowns can only be collected from the Folkster Bridal store in Kilkenny. We'll be in touch along the way to make an appointment to suit you once we receive your gown from the designer!
WHAT ABOUT RETURNS + EXCHANGES?
We do not offer returns or exchanges once the deposit form has been signed. Folkster Bridal is a separate store to both Folkster and Folkster.com and has separate policies. We appreciate your understanding :)
If you need any other information at all - please contact us!
CURVE BRIDE?
Some of our best loved gowns in size 16+ include:
Louise