Bridesmaid dress shopping made easy - with Folkster! 

We want your bridesmaid dress journey to feel calm, clear and fun. If anything is missing, just jump onto live chat or email hello@folkster.com, we’re here for you.

1. Appointments and walk‑ins

Do I need an appointment to try on gowns?

No!  You can actually walk in to Folkster Dublin 2 or Kilkenny 7 days a week! However appointments give you a private fitting room with your own changing rooms away from the hustle and bustle of the floor, and with a stylist dedicated to helping you with sizing, colours etc - so we do HIGHLY recommend booking an appointment :) You will also be served prosecco once you decide which gown you love! 

The downside to walking in versus booking an appointment is that during busy times, your group will be asked to take it in turns to use the fitting rooms, whereas in the app space you get more fitting rooms to use :) 

When should I book?

Ideally, come see us in the season - so if you're a Winter 2026 bride - come see us in Jan/Feb 2026 when we have stock! SO much relies on you getting your gown and the bridesmaids sorted - like suits, flowers, stationary, mother of the bride/groom, hair and makeup, underwear..! So just treat it as one of the top tier items and don't be afraid to commit to a gown early. (Think of it as practice for marriage - there will always be loads of gowns, but at some point you have to commit and stop looking ;D ) 

We recommend booking at least 6–7 months before the wedding. That gives you time for pre‑ordering, delivery and any alterations. BUT! We will ALWAYS try to accommodate you if you don't have that kind of time, don't worry! 

To book - just use our online scheduler to pick a slot that suits you - and if you can't find one, just reach out :) 

2. Ordering timelines and shipping

How long does ordering take?

It totally depends on where the gown is - here's an idea! 

In store: if your size is here, you can buy it immediately.
In the warehouse or another store: usually ships in 3–5 business days in Ireland. Shipping is €5.95 by A Post or €9.95 express to one address. You can also do in‑store pickup. Allow up to 10 days if it’s coming from our warehouse; we’ll call when it arrives!
Pre‑order: if a gown is sold out but coming back, you can pay now to secure it, read more about this below! 

3. What pre‑ordering means

Pre‑ordering locks in your dress now so we send it as soon as stock arrives - yay! 

Why pre‑order with us?

• We produce small, sustainable batches. We dye exclusive shades and design our Irish gowns, made to order, with a production partner in Spain.

• Styles restock based on demand—some regularly, some limited, some only twice a year. We review styles every three months :) 

• Because pre‑orders are made to your request, they are non‑returnable. We are women ourselves though and know our bodies can change for a variety oof reasons so please know we’ll always do our best to help if size changes are needed! Just make sure not to alter them as we can't help if they're altered :) 

• Delivery can take weeks or months depending on the next scheduled delivery of that style and shade. That’s why we highly recommend ordering 6–7 months before the wedding—so you have time for delivery and alterations. We will always advise and do our best for you!

4. What happens in an appointment

• Each appointment is 1 hour 30 minutes—enough time to explore colours, fabrics, and find the right fit.

• Our private rooms fit up to 6 people plus the bride. If your group is bigger, email hello@folkster.com and we’ll try to help :) 

• A stylist will greet you, show gowns that are likely to be available in time for your wedding, and guide your picks according to your moodboard, fits, and our recommendations! 

• The gowns you try on are samples to reduce waste; the ones you buy will be fresh and new. Yay! 

5. Locations and booking

Appointments are available at:

• Folkster Kilkenny

• South William Street
  

Each location has a selection of gowns, belts and accessories to try on. Check availability and book in our appointment calendar. If you need help, just message us.

6. Deposit, cancellation and changes

Is there a deposit?

Yes—a €20 non‑refundable deposit secures your appointment. After your appointment, you receive a €20 Folkster gift card you can use in store for any purchase. The €20 is always issued as a gift card, even if you return a purchase later; it remains store credit.

Need to cancel or change?

Please email hello@folkster.com at least 72 hours in advance to cancel. You can also call 056 770 3312—note the assistant’s name and time of call so you can claim your deposit back :) 
Late cancellations mean the deposit is forfeited and cannot be transferred to another appointment, stock or store credit, sorry!

7. What to bring

You don’t need to bring anything - BUT! if you want, bring shoes and wear underwear similar to what you’ll use on the big day, that will really help :) 

8. Pre‑order status and alerts

How will I know my pre‑order is ready?

When the dresses arrive, we ship them right away and send a confirmation email.
If you’d like updates, email hello@folkster.com with your order details. We’ll also reach out if there are any issues or delays - dont' worry!

Pre‑order vs restock alerts

• Pre‑order: you pay now and secure the dresses for when stock returns.

• Restock alert: you’re notified when an item is back, but it isn’t reserved; stock is first‑come, first‑served.

9. Shade and colour variations

Because we’re a small retailer producing small batches with hand‑dyeing, shades can vary slightly between batches or restocks. If you’re unsure or want to check a colour, reach out at hello@folkster.com. We’re happy to help, and can organise swatch cards too as soon as we can! 

10. Sizing 

Sizing is SO important to us, and it's important your bridesmaids feel confident coming in to a store where they know they can try on their size (sometimes in other colours if sold out in one shade) - and our sizing goes up to 5xl in many of our gowns! (5XL is approximately UK20/22). As women ourselves of various sizes - we truly understand our bodies and what we feel our best selves in..so you can trust us! 

11. Alterations, exchanges, and returns

Do you offer alterations?

We unfortunately don’t offer alterations in store. We recommend finding a reputable bridal alterations service through recommendations or online reviews :) 

Can I exchange for a different size?

We will do our very best to help! Pop an email hello@folkster.com  :) If a style is older, sold out and won’t be restocked, we might not be able to accommodate an exchange, but we’ll try!

What is the return or exchange policy?

• Pre‑order gowns: non‑returnable due to made‑to‑order nature.

• Regular in‑stock gowns: return within 14 days of receipt for a full refund or exchange.
  Returns can be by post or in store with prior email arrangement at hello@folkster.com . The address for returns are listed on our returns page :) .