We are so excited to welcome you to Pearls & Lace and be part of such a special chapter in your wedding journey.
Whether this is your very first bridal appointment or you’ve already tried on elsewhere, our goal is simple — to make you feel relaxed, confident and completely looked after from the moment you arrive.
This page includes everything you need to know before your appointment so you can arrive excited and ready to enjoy every moment.
Your bridal appointment lasts 90 minutes and you’ll have one dedicated stylist with you throughout your experience.
We’ll begin by chatting through:
From there, your stylist will guide you through a personalised edit of gowns chosen just for you.
Most brides try between 4–8 dresses during their appointment.
And don’t worry if you don’t know exactly what you want yet — that’s completely normal and exactly what we’re here for!
If you’ve saved screenshots, TikToks, Instagram posts or Pinterest inspiration, feel free to bring them along or send them to us before your appointment.
But equally — don’t panic if you haven’t! Many brides end up choosing something completely different from what they originally imagined.
We recommend:
Most importantly — wear whatever makes you feel comfortable and confident.
One thing we always reassure our brides about is that bridal sizing is very different from high street sizing and generally comes up smaller.
Please don’t focus on the number on the label.
Our stylists are experts at clipping and pinning dresses to help you visualise how each gown would look fitted to you.
We always recommend bringing the people whose opinions matter most to you.
A smaller group often creates a calmer and more enjoyable experience, helping you focus on how you feel in the dress.
The most important thing is that your guests make you feel supported, excited and fully yourself.
Many brides worry they won’t get that ‘say yes’ moment instantly — but every bride experiences it differently.
For some it’s emotional.
For others it’s calm certainty.
Sometimes it takes trying on a few gowns to understand what feels right.
There is no right or wrong way to find your dress.
Our role is simply to guide you, support you and help you feel amazing throughout the process.
Once you’ve found your dress, your stylist will guide you through:
We offer payment plans because we understand this is a big and exciting purchase.
Not at all — most brides don’t.
Lots of brides have that worry. Trying dresses helps narrow down your style and is all part of the process.
Our sample gowns vary in size and our stylists are trained to expertly clip and style dresses on all body shapes.
Absolutely. However, sometimes taking photos can eat into a lot of time of your appointment and can distract from focusing on what you actually like and how you feel in the dress so we always leave photos to the end.
Yes we are in a retail park so there is parking right outside. Parking is free.
Yes, we are blessed in Donegal town with gorgeous places to eat when visiting us!
Breakfast & Brunch
Blas @ The Gateway Lodge have a fantastic breakfast & lunch menu for those brides coming to see us for earlier appointments!
Lunch
Again Blas @ The Gateway lodge have a lovely lunch menu.
The millpark hotel which is around 1km from the shop and have a gorgeous lunch and late evening menu.
Both the above are easily accessible from the boutique without having to go into Donegal Town itself.
The blueberry restaurant and tearooms are located in Donegal town and is a great central location if you'd like to visit some of the gift shops on the diamond after.
Dinner
If you are coming to visit us later in the evening or staying over in Donegal- we have some beautiful restaurants. We would recommend pre-booking for all of them.
La Bella Donna - Italian.
The Market House ( @ The Abbey Hotel)
Before your appointment, our brides also love reading:
Your appointment is about so much more than simply trying on dresses.
It’s about finding something that feels completely and unapologetically like you.
We cannot wait to welcome you to Pearls & Lace and be part of such a special memory.
