First Holy Communion Q & A's Blog

With 16 years of experience in selling Communion dresses, we felt it was the perfect time to create a blog dedicated entirely to Communion. We've compiled a list of frequently asked questions that we receive every year, and we hope the answers will provide valuable guidance.

We look forward to welcoming you in-store for an exciting and memorable experience as you choose your very special dress.

Q - When should I start looking for a Communion dress?

A: Our advice is to begin shopping when you are ready to make a purchase.

We start taking appointments in October of the year before the Communion date. Orders can be placed from October until the end of January. After January, we sell dresses from stock/off-the-peg, as there is insufficient time to order a new dress.

If getting the first pick of the dresses is important to you, we recommend starting early (in October), as we have a policy of one dress per school.

If you are concerned about your child's growth between the order date and the Communion date, shopping in December may be beneficial as it's closer to the wear date. Alternatively, you can select a style early and leave measurements until December.

We require a 50% deposit to secure a dress for your school. This deposit is non-refundable if you change your mind, as we will have reserved the dress, preventing other children from the same school from choosing it.

Q - How long does a dress take to order in?

A - They can take up to 15 weeks depending on the Designer.

Q - If I buy a dress from you will it be sold to another child from the same school?

A: We have a one dress per school policy. If you purchase a dress from us, we will not sell the same dress to another child from the same school in the same year. However, we cannot guarantee that a child from a previous year at your school hasn't purchased the same dress, which could be worn by a younger sibling or family friend. Additionally, we cannot control if someone purchases the same style from another retailer.

Q - Are all your dresses white?

A - No, not all the dresses are white. We would say 90% of our Communion dresses are white but some of the Rosa Clara / Aire Barcelona dresses are available to order in their Natural / off-white / Ivory colours. A Lot of the Spanish dresses will also have colourful flowers attached, in pink / green/ blue colours.

Q - Do you sell Shoes and Accessories?

A - Yes! We have a fantastic selection of Rainbow shoes that are super comfortable to wear. We also sell Communion veils, headpieces, gloves, umbrellas, socks and bags.

Q- How many people can I take to the appointment?

A- We recommend that you bring a maximum of two adults to accompany your child to the appointment. To keep the focus on the child we would advise where possible to not bring other siblings. This is only advice, you will know your child better than anyone, but from experience when the child has undivided attention it makes it so much more special and enjoyable.

Q - What price range are the dresses?

A - Our Rosa Clara and Aire Barcelona Communion dresses range in price from £360 - £590.

All other ranges that we stock start at £200 - £350.

We also have a full rail of discontinued Communion dresses that range in price from £100 - £200 that can be purchased off the rail.

Q- Why is there a charge this year for the appointment?

A- We took the decision this year to charge a £15 booking fee because of the high volume of last minute cancellations and no-shows for Communion appointments. Part of the appeal of booking a private one to one appointment in our shop is the use of the Communion suite exclusively for you and your child. As our appointment availability is limited, with Saturday appointments being highly in demand, unfortunately if we receive a last minute cancellation we don’t have time to fill the slot. From a business perspective a no show or last minute cancellation actually costs us money.

The Appointment fee is fully redeemable against the purchase of a dress made on the day of the appointment. The fee is non-refundable/ transferable if we receive less than 48 hours notice to cancel/ rearrange an appointment. 

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If you would like to book a Communion appointment please complete the online booking form and we will do our very best to help you find the perfect dress for your special little lady! 

For more Communion inspiration please follow us on Instagram @Communiondressesni