Wedding dress, by committee June 23, 2008

You’ll know from this post, and this post, that I’ve been trying on Wedding Dresses for a while, with varying degrees of hilarity and disgust.

Anyhoo, Saturday was decision day, as I took along a gang to look at my shortlist, with the aim of ordering one (no point hanging about, eh?).  In the gang was younger sis (+ BM), Best Mate (also a BM), Mother and adopted Grandma Joan - all honest, supportive and raring to go.

The five of us got on with the job well. In the first shop, where I tried a close contender on, Best Friend was very useful in taking pics on her phone to compare later and Ma was good in helping me rule it out (she’d seen the hot fave dress before).

Then we popped to Heart of the Shires, where a relative has a gorgeous hairdressers, also selling accessories.  They have got some really nice, high end, bespoke stuff available and will basically get stuff made how I want it. I like that!  The BMs tried on some fab fascinators, including a pearl/crystal wire one which we were keen on, then it was my turn.  As I sat to try on a tiara, all the women gathered round cooing, pampering and preening. I decided, I could get used to this.  It was great to hear advice from the experts about how it might look, and one of the tiaras I tried was absolutely beautiful. I was keen - but the dress has to come first!

After lunch it was on to our final destination, Shop for Brides in Daventry, and basically I’d already decided I wanted the dress I tried there.  When Ma and I went before, we were so so keen on it - I was hoping it would be just as good again. The shop lady was absolutely lovely - really down to earth and helpful. She was on hand throughout and a welcome change from some of the snottier wedding dress shop people I’ve come across.

The girls all made the right sounds when I emerged with the get up on, and lots of preening, adjusting the train and playing with the fabric went on.  I walked around, sat down, swished round and my mind was made up. This was the frock for me.  I just didn’t want to take it off!  The lovely lady showed my Ma how to do up the back and adjust stuff and the BMs were fab in getting me a veil on and providing feedback.  Everyone was keen, I was keen, and decided this was IT.  After about 30 mins swanning round after that I thought I had best take it off at last before they think I am a psycho, so off it came and it was group hugs all round.

I felt very lucky to have my girls there with me on Saturday - it’s a massive decision and I can’t believe I don’t get to see the frock again until next YEAR!  I’m SO excited now I have that bit done.  In a wedding daze, I spent the rest of the day trying not to spill any beans to H2B, whilst being ultra excited - in my fervour I was efficient enough to order invite samples and start checking some websites for shoe options…bring it on!!