Dress Hire FAQ
The answers to the questions I am asked most. If yours is not here, send me an enquiry or message me on Instagram.
How much does dress hire cost?
Hire starts from €100 for six days. Dry cleaning is included. Tracked postage within the Republic of Ireland is €18 and includes the return journey. Collection from the studio in Drumconrath is free.
How do I check whether a dress is available?
Send an enquiry with the dress name and your event date. I will check the calendar and confirm before you commit to anything or pay.
How do I pay?
Once we have agreed the dress and the dates, I send you a payment link and the dress is held for you as soon as payment is received.
Can you help me choose?
Yes. Send me your occasion, usual size, height and anything you normally like or avoid, and I will narrow the collection down for you. If you want to understand your own shape first, the free body shape quiz takes a couple of minutes and gives us both a starting point.
How do I know which size to choose?
Each dress page shows the size on the label and the UK sizes it actually fits, because those are often two different things. If you are between sizes or unsure, send me your usual size and height and I will tell you honestly whether it will work on you before you book.
Can I try the dress before my event?
Yes, two ways. A home try on costs €40 for one dress, including tracked postage both ways. A second dress can be included for an additional €20. Return them within 24 hours of receiving them. The home try on fee is for the try on itself and is not deducted from a later hire. Or book a 45 minute studio appointment in Drumconrath with Lisa for €20, which comes off your hire if you book a dress and is valid for six months. Tell us which dresses you would like to try when you book.
How far ahead should I book?
Four to six weeks is ideal, especially for summer weekends and Christmas. If your event is closer than that, still ask. I can usually make it work, and if there is not enough time for a try on we go straight to a direct hire with a fit check by photo.
How long is the hire?
A standard hire lasts six days, beginning on the day the dress is posted or collected. For a Saturday event, the dress is normally posted on Monday and returned through An Post on the Monday after your event. If you need it for longer, ask when you enquire and I will tell you what is possible.
Can I hire two dresses for the same weekend?
Yes. The Weekend Double gives you a second dress at half price, both on the same six days and the same single €18 postage. Just mention it when you enquire.
What if I am not at home when the dress arrives?
An Post will leave a card and hold the parcel at your local office, and the tracking number I send you shows where it is. Your Eircode and mobile number matter more here than anywhere else, so please check both on your enquiry.
How do I return the dress?
Your parcel includes a prepaid tracked return label. Place the dress back in the packaging and hand it in at any An Post office. If day six falls on a Sunday or a bank holiday, post it the next working day. Please keep your postal receipt as proof of return. If you collected from the studio, drop it back to us after your event.
What if I am late returning it?
Late returns are charged at €20 a day, because there is usually another woman waiting for that dress. If something has gone wrong, tell me as soon as you can and we will sort it.
Do I need to clean the dress?
No. Dry cleaning is included in every hire. Please do not wash the dress or try to remove marks yourself.
What happens if the dress does not fit?
Tell me on the day it arrives and leave all the tags on. If there is time and another suitable dress is free, I will offer you an alternative. If that is not possible, and you gave me your size and height and had my fit advice before booking, I will give you a credit for 50 per cent of the hire price, valid for twelve months. The dress needs to come back to me promptly and unworn.
Can I cancel my booking?
More than 21 days before your event, you get a full refund. Between 7 and 21 days before your event, you get a credit for the full amount, valid for twelve months. Less than a week before the event, or once the dress has been posted, no refund or credit is available.
What if something happens to the dress?
Normal wear and small marks are expected and covered. If there is a significant stain, a tear or other damage, let me know as soon as possible. Charges may apply where specialist cleaning, repair or replacement is needed, and the full details are in the Dress Hire Terms.
What sizes are available?
The collection runs from UK 6 to UK 16, with the widest choice from 10 to 14. There are also a small number of size 18 dresses. Send an enquiry and I will let you know what is available.
Where are you based, and where do you deliver?
The studio is in Drumconrath, County Meath, and dresses are posted anywhere in the Republic of Ireland. Dresses are regularly hired for holidays, so that is not an issue, and if you need postage outside the Republic of Ireland, just pop me a message and I will do my best to help you. The Envi Band ships worldwide.
For full information about fit, cancellation, late returns and damage, please read the Dress Hire Terms.