Heyy,
So wedding planning has been put on hold for a while, considering Halloween, Christmas and all those wintery, autumnal activities. However with Christmas fast approaching I have word from Santa and his Elves that our Tweedle is coming home for the Holidays! After a brief phone-call a moment ago with Mrs Tweedle-Dumb, I am pleased to announce that she will be coming back to the UK with her husband for Christmas, flying in on the big day and staying until New Years. Plenty of time for catch-ups, chats, sleepovers and wedding stuff.
One of the things I really need to hammer down on and get arranged when Mrs Tweedle-Dumb is back will be the bridesmaid's dresses. Now it is all good and well-going shopping and trying on dresses, however, I know that I will never buy them from a shop and more likely to buy online, almost certainly shipping them in from China or Asia as far cheaper and generally of acceptable quality.
Now initially, back in the day, I was suspicious of the pricing and the quality of goods from Asian countries, however, whilst looking for a cheap bargain on dresses for other peoples weddings or events I was going to, I began to trust and even become pro in ordering stuff online from cheap websites such as AliExpress, Wish.com and eBay. Our culture tells us that things are priced at specific points for a reason and to question anything that is below or higher than this.
Sizing is a big deal and I can honestly say it has been the one bugbear I have with ordering from Asian countries. There is no fat size? Now it is common knowledge that Chinese sizings often run small but some sellers are getting better and along with the bog-standard small, medium, large and extra-large, very often they will now post measurements in centimetres or inches to check against so that you order something that fits you right. This being said however they also they jump from country to country for dress sizes so be sure you are looking at the right one as a US, Australian, EU and UK dress size are not the same. Scour the listing very carefully to check which they're using, although on the other hand, if they're a Chinese designer/manufacturer and are making things for you themselves rather than a wholesaler, they will sometimes do made-to-order custom stuff, something I will definitely be keeping an eye out for when purchasing the real deal.
Now, this is not to say everything I have ordered from the East has been a success with multiple failures, returns and refunds made along the way the last few years, nevertheless I find a lot of the time you are buying the same goods but directly from the wholesaler or manufacturer, effectively cutting out the middle man. This can mean you get the exact same product for less than you would pay in the high street or online retailers and whilst sometimes it means the product is better, sometimes it means the product is worse because of that annoying middleman would order a sample before deciding which items are worth investing in fully. You win some and you lose some but if you're happy with a gamble it could be worthwhile.
On the subject of returns and refunds, be prepared that trying to return broken/damaged items to China are difficult at the best of times and sellers will make every effort not to accept returns, even if their listing says it does. Truth is, the return postage costs more than the original item itself so if you are going down this route, be prepared to save yourself the effort and either buy something you know you definitely want or be ready to make a decision to write off the cost.
Getting your item in the first place can always be a bit of an ordeal too and you will not have to search long or hard in order to find horror stories of dresses, wedding, bridesmaid or otherwise as well as many, many other things that are ordered and never show up. Sometimes they can take the expected four-weeks to a month to turn up, but other times they take well over that to arrive. Then again, other times, they amaze you by turning up in a week. The reasons for such a difference in postal timings is entirely dependant on the seller and their choice of the postal carrier. When it's free postage, you can't really complain though and ticking the "gift" column on customs declaration card can help smooth things along the way of providing faster delivery. Sometimes they say "commercial sample" in which case you may or may not get hit by customs charges but to avoid customs charges on personal purchases, make sure you put multiple purchases through separately and ask for separate shipping as it will save you many moula's and is completely legal in the UK - as long as you're not a business.
And so as I placed my order through eBay (all £600.00+ of dresses) I excitedly listened to my phone ping with notifications of the orders being accepted and shipped. Initially, my thought process is to order several types of different dresses and styles to check out quality, shape, fit, sizing and colour. Then I will send them all back, get a refund and then purchase similar or even better with the middleman cut out the same dress via a China-based store/seller, thus saving in the long run.
Yes it is a faff and yes it is a hassle, however with Mrs Tweedle-Dumb back for only a couple of short weeks, I need to make sure that what I am ordering is something that both her and Miss Tweedle-Dee will both wear and be happy in come my wedding day. The problem is that there are so many variations and even with these ones I get the girls to try on there are so many things that could change or be different about the ones ordered from China. UK ordered dresses may fit better and vice-versa or measurements might be out slightly. Don't even get me started on colours either - Is red a dark red or bright red? Is Burgandy the same colour as Wine? Are two Wines the same colour tone? Is Blush and Pink identical? Is plum actually just a lilac or a deep cherry? And what the fuck is a dusty peach?
Calm. Stressing aside, as long as I follow all the simple guidelines I have used for years I will be fine. Remember ladies (and maybe gents too) if you are buying from far-flung destinations make sure the seller has at least 98% positive feedback, be patient and size correctly and you should be fine. She says until all twenty-odd dresses turn up either late, way too small or damaged from being thrown over the fence.
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
Showing posts with label Bridesmaids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bridesmaids. Show all posts
Monday, 16 December 2019
Monday, 22 April 2019
The Bride Bible
Afternoon All,
Lying in the sun on my newly purchased sun lounger I was enjoying my garden far more than I ever thought was possible. Obviously, I knew from living in a top floor penthouse apartment I would relish having a garden of any sorts. Then, when I moved downstairs to my ground floor flat I excitedly planned parties and patio barbecues on my new outside space. Soon however I grew tired of the Courtyard garden I had and longed for some grass and maybe a shed. Now I have it I wonder where and what I will want for next, however as I spent my long Easter bank holiday in the sun, Pooch by my side and with the noise of Mr Warehouse's gaming in the background I delved deeper into wedding magazines and planning books.
Following on from last weeks blog post, I have taken great joy in trawling the wedding planning website "Hitched.co.uk". This got me thinking and after some more research found tonnes of wedding websites dedicated to giving the best advice possible to a successful big day! Scrolling through the websites, blog posts and articles online (in-between cocktails and trips indoors to make said cocktails) I came across some more helpful tips and tricks from "Brides.com".
Top advice from "Brides.com" comes in the form of crafting. They say that it is essential to remember that you’re not in this alone! After all, a wedding is the coming together of two people and their friends and families so take your bridal party, family members and maybe even your fiancé and ask for their help. Be sure to delegate some tasks to take some of the load off of you. Have you got a friend with flare, a crafty cousin or a baking bestie? If yes then rope 'em in too and get your address book to be your vendor list. I can almost guarantee as in our case you will have someone who knows someone and no doubt they will be able to give you not only a genuine quotation but also maybe make a little more of an effort or even do you a freebie if you're lucky! People love to help and in my experience as soon as I started discussing wedding planning, friends, family and associates were throwing themselves at me to offer up services or names of people that could help.
I would summarise that most people nowadays be the cost of a wedding and probably keel over from a heart attack. If however, they have not succumbed to the shock then I would imagine they would think that the DIY could be a cost-effective way of creating your dream day on a budget. Doing it yourself can add some nice personal touches too, just don’t go overboard or you’ll end up with more work than you know what to do with. Feel free to go the DIY route with things that can be done well in advance, like favours, table numbers, etc. For things like flowers or food that need to be done close to the wedding date, professional help is best, however, I have decided myself to cut down on costs entirely and make all of my bridal parties flowers and arrangements myself. I have chosen to do this on the basis that the boutonnieres for the groomsmen and best men and the bouquets for the bridesmaids and maid of honour can be kept as a gifts. I also happen to have a bunch of faux flowers that I have picked up along my way through wedding buying, most of them fairly inexpensively on ye olde Facebook Marketplace.
Another interesting take on modern wedding etiquette that certainly didn't happen in either mine nor Mr. Warehouses parents time was that of social media. Whether you want to broadcast your wedding to the world or have an unplugged wedding, the strategy is important. Hashtags, signage and photo booths are a great way to get guests posting on social. If you’re more private, include signage about an unplugged ceremony or have the officiant make a quick announcement before proceedings begin. Mr Warehouse and I have yet to have the discussion as to whether we would like people to hold off posting until we have, although I am almost certain that he will tell me I would be a major bridezilla by asking people not to post before I do. I love the idea of having our wedding just for those that are there in the moment and not having mobile phones in your face, just like so many generations before us. However, that being said I also enjoy the attention and the fact that my wedding would be broadcast to my following on social media including old school friends that I no longer speak to, ex-boyfriends that could have been and maybe a few enemies along the way would fill me with great joy.
It seems that organisation is key when planning your own wedding, and I think that this will be especially true, if, like us, someone is on a shoestring. There are so many balls up in the air at once, you need a way to keep track of everything. My advice - Spreadsheets. One of the many wedding planning management apps or programs out there can help and places like "Hitched.co.uk" and "Brides.com" both have helpful budgeting tools. I suppose though that I will just remember that even with the most meticulous planning and organisation system, there is bound to be some chaos from time to time.
Whatever happens, the control freak inside me says I should probably try my best to plan ahead and not be too hard on myself when the inevitable happens on the big day. however, we've still so much left to plan and the plenty of time to do it in a very much doubt that there will anything left till last minute.
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
Lying in the sun on my newly purchased sun lounger I was enjoying my garden far more than I ever thought was possible. Obviously, I knew from living in a top floor penthouse apartment I would relish having a garden of any sorts. Then, when I moved downstairs to my ground floor flat I excitedly planned parties and patio barbecues on my new outside space. Soon however I grew tired of the Courtyard garden I had and longed for some grass and maybe a shed. Now I have it I wonder where and what I will want for next, however as I spent my long Easter bank holiday in the sun, Pooch by my side and with the noise of Mr Warehouse's gaming in the background I delved deeper into wedding magazines and planning books.
Following on from last weeks blog post, I have taken great joy in trawling the wedding planning website "Hitched.co.uk". This got me thinking and after some more research found tonnes of wedding websites dedicated to giving the best advice possible to a successful big day! Scrolling through the websites, blog posts and articles online (in-between cocktails and trips indoors to make said cocktails) I came across some more helpful tips and tricks from "Brides.com".
Top advice from "Brides.com" comes in the form of crafting. They say that it is essential to remember that you’re not in this alone! After all, a wedding is the coming together of two people and their friends and families so take your bridal party, family members and maybe even your fiancé and ask for their help. Be sure to delegate some tasks to take some of the load off of you. Have you got a friend with flare, a crafty cousin or a baking bestie? If yes then rope 'em in too and get your address book to be your vendor list. I can almost guarantee as in our case you will have someone who knows someone and no doubt they will be able to give you not only a genuine quotation but also maybe make a little more of an effort or even do you a freebie if you're lucky! People love to help and in my experience as soon as I started discussing wedding planning, friends, family and associates were throwing themselves at me to offer up services or names of people that could help.
I would summarise that most people nowadays be the cost of a wedding and probably keel over from a heart attack. If however, they have not succumbed to the shock then I would imagine they would think that the DIY could be a cost-effective way of creating your dream day on a budget. Doing it yourself can add some nice personal touches too, just don’t go overboard or you’ll end up with more work than you know what to do with. Feel free to go the DIY route with things that can be done well in advance, like favours, table numbers, etc. For things like flowers or food that need to be done close to the wedding date, professional help is best, however, I have decided myself to cut down on costs entirely and make all of my bridal parties flowers and arrangements myself. I have chosen to do this on the basis that the boutonnieres for the groomsmen and best men and the bouquets for the bridesmaids and maid of honour can be kept as a gifts. I also happen to have a bunch of faux flowers that I have picked up along my way through wedding buying, most of them fairly inexpensively on ye olde Facebook Marketplace.
Another interesting take on modern wedding etiquette that certainly didn't happen in either mine nor Mr. Warehouses parents time was that of social media. Whether you want to broadcast your wedding to the world or have an unplugged wedding, the strategy is important. Hashtags, signage and photo booths are a great way to get guests posting on social. If you’re more private, include signage about an unplugged ceremony or have the officiant make a quick announcement before proceedings begin. Mr Warehouse and I have yet to have the discussion as to whether we would like people to hold off posting until we have, although I am almost certain that he will tell me I would be a major bridezilla by asking people not to post before I do. I love the idea of having our wedding just for those that are there in the moment and not having mobile phones in your face, just like so many generations before us. However, that being said I also enjoy the attention and the fact that my wedding would be broadcast to my following on social media including old school friends that I no longer speak to, ex-boyfriends that could have been and maybe a few enemies along the way would fill me with great joy.
It seems that organisation is key when planning your own wedding, and I think that this will be especially true, if, like us, someone is on a shoestring. There are so many balls up in the air at once, you need a way to keep track of everything. My advice - Spreadsheets. One of the many wedding planning management apps or programs out there can help and places like "Hitched.co.uk" and "Brides.com" both have helpful budgeting tools. I suppose though that I will just remember that even with the most meticulous planning and organisation system, there is bound to be some chaos from time to time.
Whatever happens, the control freak inside me says I should probably try my best to plan ahead and not be too hard on myself when the inevitable happens on the big day. however, we've still so much left to plan and the plenty of time to do it in a very much doubt that there will anything left till last minute.
Monday, 15 April 2019
Getting Hitched!
Hi everyone,
Sitting there in the darkened corner of the dancefloor I watched as the bride and groom skitted across the parquet flooring watched by all their family and friends I thought about how that would be me one day. As Mr Warehouse sat beside me I could tell he too was getting emotional as their children joined them in their union to become a family once again and that was it. Hearts stopped! As my fiance and I joined the happy newlyweds on the dance floor surrounded by twinkling lights and disco music we thought about how our day would be. With less than eighteen months ago it was certainly whizzing by in a flash.
What with Vivienne being a right off and getting a new car, as well as work and social life, planning our special day, was put slightly on the backburner and it had been some weeks since I had checked our emails. Having a little peak in the inbox I realised that we had yet to try and secure our caterer and after a meeting with him at the Stagsden Village Hall where we will have our reception and our wedding breakfast, we have yet to hear back from him.
Mr Warehouse and I had indulged in wedding planning and had booked the bar, the ceremony and the reception venue. I had researched into the perfect dress and been to try quite a few on too. My fiance had looked into suits and I think we have a colour scheme in mind. The flower-girl has met her dress and demanded her shoes to match ( as it should) and the mother of the groom outfit has already been chosen.
But there is still so much more left to plan. The wedding planning website "Hitched.co.uk" says that when it comes to wedding planning there’s no right or wrong way to do it. However, there is a simple way to organise your wedding planning tasks that’ll reduce your stress levels and ensure you actually enjoy this exciting time!
One of the websites top tips is to create a budget - And stick to it! Like most couples, we sat down together and had an open discussion about finances and realistically after buying a house and managing debts, how much we could both afford and how to save over the coming years and months. Unlike some newly engaged couples, we are not fortunate enough for our parents or other family members to help pay for the wedding, and I think to be fair I wouldn't want them getting involved financially as it becomes a bit too messy in terms of who is paying for what and when and how much. This is our special day and we will finance this on our own.
When it comes to wedding inspo, "Hitched.co.uk" has got you covered with their helpful website and suggests making mood boards to gain a theme or style. There are so many sources of inspiration out there which can make everything a bit overwhelming sometimes, so I choose one medium and have stuck with it. You can’t beat Pinterest – it’s a great way to gather ideas and create boards for each aspect of your wedding. The great thing I love about Pinterest is that you can collect all of the table décor, dress, cake, photo ideas all in one place that takes your fancy, and I can share them with friends and family, although Mr Warehouse doesn't love it as much as I do. The social media platform comes into its own when getting closer to the big day as I can ping across ideas and thoughts to suppliers when the time comes for a better understanding of what I want and how I want it!
Another tip from the wedding planning website is that before the hunt for the venue begins, the Bride and Groom should sit down together and talk about what wanted from the wedding venue and this is certainly something we chose to do very early on in our wedding planning process. Nothing else could ah[[en until we found it. And so we searched and searched but nothing was perfect enough. Mr. Warehouse and I knew we needed somewhere fairly sizable as our wedding party would be at least seventy. We ideally wanted some outside space to enjoy the hopefully warm setting sun and space for the kids to exhaust themselves. A bonus would have been a separate area for dinner and dancing but not essential. A bar would have been nice as well as some additional space for a quiet moment whereas parking and accommodation nearby was a must. Luckily we found most of it all in the Stagsden Village Hall.
Some more helpful advice from "Hitched.co.uk" was about the wedding party and choosing well. Now I instantly knew who my bridesmaids would be and wanted to ask Mr. Warehouse Neice, the only little girl in both our families if she would like to be my flower girl. However, Mr Warehouse had a bit of a harder time choosing between his brothers as who would be Best Man and so just settled and chose both. My advice would be if you’re not sure then don’t feel rushed into your decision. Think carefully about who will be the best people to support you and your fiance on your special day and in the run-up to it. You may also want to consider the cost as your bridal party will need outfits, bouquets, buttonholes and thank you gifts, so the more people you have, the more this could impact your budget. They will be in your photo's on your mantlepiece forever so be sure to make a wise choice.
There are so many more decisions to make, most of the ones I talked about both Mr. Warehouse and I have already done, and more. Here's hoping that the next few weeks I can get the catering sorted and maybe even onto some more exciting things!
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
Sitting there in the darkened corner of the dancefloor I watched as the bride and groom skitted across the parquet flooring watched by all their family and friends I thought about how that would be me one day. As Mr Warehouse sat beside me I could tell he too was getting emotional as their children joined them in their union to become a family once again and that was it. Hearts stopped! As my fiance and I joined the happy newlyweds on the dance floor surrounded by twinkling lights and disco music we thought about how our day would be. With less than eighteen months ago it was certainly whizzing by in a flash.
What with Vivienne being a right off and getting a new car, as well as work and social life, planning our special day, was put slightly on the backburner and it had been some weeks since I had checked our emails. Having a little peak in the inbox I realised that we had yet to try and secure our caterer and after a meeting with him at the Stagsden Village Hall where we will have our reception and our wedding breakfast, we have yet to hear back from him.
Mr Warehouse and I had indulged in wedding planning and had booked the bar, the ceremony and the reception venue. I had researched into the perfect dress and been to try quite a few on too. My fiance had looked into suits and I think we have a colour scheme in mind. The flower-girl has met her dress and demanded her shoes to match ( as it should) and the mother of the groom outfit has already been chosen.
But there is still so much more left to plan. The wedding planning website "Hitched.co.uk" says that when it comes to wedding planning there’s no right or wrong way to do it. However, there is a simple way to organise your wedding planning tasks that’ll reduce your stress levels and ensure you actually enjoy this exciting time!
One of the websites top tips is to create a budget - And stick to it! Like most couples, we sat down together and had an open discussion about finances and realistically after buying a house and managing debts, how much we could both afford and how to save over the coming years and months. Unlike some newly engaged couples, we are not fortunate enough for our parents or other family members to help pay for the wedding, and I think to be fair I wouldn't want them getting involved financially as it becomes a bit too messy in terms of who is paying for what and when and how much. This is our special day and we will finance this on our own.
When it comes to wedding inspo, "Hitched.co.uk" has got you covered with their helpful website and suggests making mood boards to gain a theme or style. There are so many sources of inspiration out there which can make everything a bit overwhelming sometimes, so I choose one medium and have stuck with it. You can’t beat Pinterest – it’s a great way to gather ideas and create boards for each aspect of your wedding. The great thing I love about Pinterest is that you can collect all of the table décor, dress, cake, photo ideas all in one place that takes your fancy, and I can share them with friends and family, although Mr Warehouse doesn't love it as much as I do. The social media platform comes into its own when getting closer to the big day as I can ping across ideas and thoughts to suppliers when the time comes for a better understanding of what I want and how I want it!
Another tip from the wedding planning website is that before the hunt for the venue begins, the Bride and Groom should sit down together and talk about what wanted from the wedding venue and this is certainly something we chose to do very early on in our wedding planning process. Nothing else could ah[[en until we found it. And so we searched and searched but nothing was perfect enough. Mr. Warehouse and I knew we needed somewhere fairly sizable as our wedding party would be at least seventy. We ideally wanted some outside space to enjoy the hopefully warm setting sun and space for the kids to exhaust themselves. A bonus would have been a separate area for dinner and dancing but not essential. A bar would have been nice as well as some additional space for a quiet moment whereas parking and accommodation nearby was a must. Luckily we found most of it all in the Stagsden Village Hall.
Some more helpful advice from "Hitched.co.uk" was about the wedding party and choosing well. Now I instantly knew who my bridesmaids would be and wanted to ask Mr. Warehouse Neice, the only little girl in both our families if she would like to be my flower girl. However, Mr Warehouse had a bit of a harder time choosing between his brothers as who would be Best Man and so just settled and chose both. My advice would be if you’re not sure then don’t feel rushed into your decision. Think carefully about who will be the best people to support you and your fiance on your special day and in the run-up to it. You may also want to consider the cost as your bridal party will need outfits, bouquets, buttonholes and thank you gifts, so the more people you have, the more this could impact your budget. They will be in your photo's on your mantlepiece forever so be sure to make a wise choice.
There are so many more decisions to make, most of the ones I talked about both Mr. Warehouse and I have already done, and more. Here's hoping that the next few weeks I can get the catering sorted and maybe even onto some more exciting things!
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
Monday, 25 February 2019
If you're not the one then why does my soul feel glad?
Hi!
Each of them I tried on and each of them I loved more than the last. I realised only after leaving the shop and flicking through the photos that my bridesmaids took of me wearing the gowns was that actually, I had already tried on two of them in a different store next door to the bridal boutique where I won the afternoon tea experience. Now I must say that at this point if I have already tried on the same dress twice then it must say a lot about it and how I feel wearing it. Although the full gather skirt on the Camellia Ball Gown gives the most incredible shape with the beaded lace appliques making for the ultimate princess gown, I had fallen for Tilly, a very similar glamorous take on a classic sweetheart wedding dress with yet more feminine tulle skirt which floated as I walked and once again, finished with irresistible appliqués in the Northampton branch of Wed2B. But whilst were just as beautiful as each other, and mostly fitted well considering my odd sizing, they were not the one dazzling my head when daydreaming. The dress in question was Letitia. The exclusive Platinum Edition waterfall ball gown was the ultimate princess wedding dress. With long creamy folds and layers detailing the skirt and the luxurious bodice, encrusted with beaded embroidery adding the perfect sparkle.
However despite Mrs Tweedle-Dumb, Miss Tweedle-Dee, the lady who was helping me, and her colleagues all telling me that I looked beautiful and stunning at the time in the shop, I just wasn't feeling it. With each curtain swish to reveal the outfit, I could tell everyone was growing impatient but with the biggest expense so far I was hesitant to say yes to the dress. I suppose just being in receipt of something so expensive I will only wear for a few hours is in itself a little daunting.
That is why this week I have decided to take up the task of not only trying to secure a caterer but also to have a look online for a wedding dress. My first go to was eBay as I figured that most of the styles I like would be there on the website both used and new. I was right! Hammering down some of my choices in the filters tabs I was looking for something that would resemble a combination of Tilly, Camellia and Letitia. As I have said before, I am not searching for the floods of tears, whoops and holla's that I would expect from a "Say yes to the dress" TV moment, but I do need a dress that is going to tell a story about me and how unique and funny and different I am. I need it to embrace my curves and show off my incredible parts and hide those that I don't like so much. I need something that says "That is so her". I need a dress that says me without me even wearing it. Continuing my search online, I have yet to find the one, but I am optimistic in finding it and maybe I will have a little rest until maybe some family are over in the summer and we can go again. In the meantime, however, I will record more episodes of Say Yes To The Dress UK.
Confetti & Lace for over three decades has provided a personal and professional service to all brides but the best bit is that the store opens their doors time and time again to the hit TLC television program following brides on a quest to find the perfect gown for their big day. With the help of David Emanuel, the designer of Princess Diana's iconic wedding dress, Gown designer Christine Dando and the attentive staff with all their knowledge and expertise the help to guidance to the show's brides (and their sometimes testing entourage too) gets intense on the journey to find the to the dress of their dreams! Uhh if that doesn't scream Saturday indoors with blankets and PJ's, I don't know what does!
So one week on from being the "The Goldilocks of Dress Shopping" and following the so-called biggest wedding show in the UK - The National Wedding Show, I just cannot stop thinking about that dress! Which one you may ask? Well, after stepping into the final store of the day and with my entourage of Mrs Tweedle-Dumb & Miss Tweedle-Dee for company lagging behind from lack of caffeine, sugar and sleep most likely, I picked out a few dresses that I was happy to try on and headed through to the dressing room.
Each of them I tried on and each of them I loved more than the last. I realised only after leaving the shop and flicking through the photos that my bridesmaids took of me wearing the gowns was that actually, I had already tried on two of them in a different store next door to the bridal boutique where I won the afternoon tea experience. Now I must say that at this point if I have already tried on the same dress twice then it must say a lot about it and how I feel wearing it. Although the full gather skirt on the Camellia Ball Gown gives the most incredible shape with the beaded lace appliques making for the ultimate princess gown, I had fallen for Tilly, a very similar glamorous take on a classic sweetheart wedding dress with yet more feminine tulle skirt which floated as I walked and once again, finished with irresistible appliqués in the Northampton branch of Wed2B. But whilst were just as beautiful as each other, and mostly fitted well considering my odd sizing, they were not the one dazzling my head when daydreaming. The dress in question was Letitia. The exclusive Platinum Edition waterfall ball gown was the ultimate princess wedding dress. With long creamy folds and layers detailing the skirt and the luxurious bodice, encrusted with beaded embroidery adding the perfect sparkle.
However despite Mrs Tweedle-Dumb, Miss Tweedle-Dee, the lady who was helping me, and her colleagues all telling me that I looked beautiful and stunning at the time in the shop, I just wasn't feeling it. With each curtain swish to reveal the outfit, I could tell everyone was growing impatient but with the biggest expense so far I was hesitant to say yes to the dress. I suppose just being in receipt of something so expensive I will only wear for a few hours is in itself a little daunting.
That is why this week I have decided to take up the task of not only trying to secure a caterer but also to have a look online for a wedding dress. My first go to was eBay as I figured that most of the styles I like would be there on the website both used and new. I was right! Hammering down some of my choices in the filters tabs I was looking for something that would resemble a combination of Tilly, Camellia and Letitia. As I have said before, I am not searching for the floods of tears, whoops and holla's that I would expect from a "Say yes to the dress" TV moment, but I do need a dress that is going to tell a story about me and how unique and funny and different I am. I need it to embrace my curves and show off my incredible parts and hide those that I don't like so much. I need something that says "That is so her". I need a dress that says me without me even wearing it. Continuing my search online, I have yet to find the one, but I am optimistic in finding it and maybe I will have a little rest until maybe some family are over in the summer and we can go again. In the meantime, however, I will record more episodes of Say Yes To The Dress UK.
Confetti & Lace for over three decades has provided a personal and professional service to all brides but the best bit is that the store opens their doors time and time again to the hit TLC television program following brides on a quest to find the perfect gown for their big day. With the help of David Emanuel, the designer of Princess Diana's iconic wedding dress, Gown designer Christine Dando and the attentive staff with all their knowledge and expertise the help to guidance to the show's brides (and their sometimes testing entourage too) gets intense on the journey to find the to the dress of their dreams! Uhh if that doesn't scream Saturday indoors with blankets and PJ's, I don't know what does!
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
Monday, 11 February 2019
No Ruffles or Puffy Sleeves - Be My Bridesmaid Pretty Please!
Afternoon Ya'll!
Within hours of Mrs Tweedle-Dumb's flight landing, she was stood on my doorstep. wrapped up warm in a winter coat and jeans she looks comfy yet tired from her travels, and I don't think that I have ever given her a bigger hug than I did then before welcoming her into my new home which she had yet to see in the flesh. As I gave her the tour of my new abode we giggled and laughed like we always had.
With Miss Tweddle-Dee by her side, it was as though we had never been apart. On finishing at the house tour we decided to get down to the nitty-gritty of wedding planning and some of the ideas that Mr Warehouse and I had in mind for our big day. Honestly, I suppose that I really thought that the distance would have made our friendship completely different, but sat there on Thursday evening watching telly and cracking jokes I had almost forgotten that we had not actually been altogether since September of last year, more than five months ago.
As nice as it was having my girls around me once more, there was a reason they were there, something I will not dive too deep into but emotionally has been draining me and sucking me dry for months now. I don't think that I ever said it to them both but I appreciated them being there more than I think they could have ever known. Their help and support has been completely invaluable in the last few years, and especially so in the last twelve months. I know that they will think I am a soppy old wet bag but I honestly don't know where I would have been without them.
Reading an article the other night in bed, "The Brides Guide to Bridesmaids" I realised that I had some good candidates for the job. Planning your wedding is not easy. Everyone has advice. Everyone has an opinion. I am certain that over the next few months before my big day with Mr Warehouse there will be many an argument or disagreement with friends and family to include everything from the seating plan to who is invited and what is being fed to everyone. I need a strong entourage that will be able to swat out anything (or anyone) that is going to ruin my wedding day and preparations. I think that most of my family know that I am a force to be reckoned with and that any criticism will not be taken well, therefore I do not expect there to be many disagreements, however people do strange things will the run-up to getting hitched.
As a bride-to-be, wedding chief executive and senior creative officer, I know I will be faced with a barrage of questions, comments and suggestions from everyone, including my bridesmaids. I hope that Miss Tweedle-Dee and Mrs Tweedle-Dumb's help, direction and guidance will make the prep and planning much more effective and waay easier.
In historical references, the bridesmaid and her duties were varied across cultures, religions and time periods. In early Roman times, bridesmaids formed a kind of bridal infantry as they accompanied the bride to the groom's village. This "protective shield" of similarly outfitted bridesmaids was supposed to intervene if any wayward thugs or vengeful suitors tried to hurt the bride or steal her dowry. In Western society, however, bridesmaid tradition seems to have originated from later in the Roman law in which a wedding required ten witnesses in order to outsmart evil spirits believed to attend marriage ceremonies. The bridal party all dressed in identical clothing to the betrothed so that the evil spirits wouldn't know who was getting married. Even as late as 19th century England, the belief still continued that ill-wishers could administer curses and taint the wedding still existed and can be depicted by Victorian wedding photographs where it can take quite a bit of inspection to pick out the bride and groom from among the other members of the bridal party!
In more modern times though whilst these early customs continue to have an influence today, the bridal party continues to serve a vital role in the wedding process, not by fending off hexes and robbers, but by providing key support staff and an advisory board. 21st Century bridesmaid skills include caring helpers, thoughtful organisers and skillful liaisons. Besides being an honoured member of the wedding party and special guest at the reception, today's bridesmaid is also designated as the bride's assistant. From shopping for dresses to writing place cards, their first duty is to be helpful. The payoff is that walk down the aisle, looking absolutely beautiful in a gown that is stunningly stylish, super sophisticated, and absolutely wearable.
Some brides in modern society decide to go with every Sarah, Lilly or Beatrix to be a bridesmaid, including everyone on the list from work colleagues to old school friends and that lady who serves you in the Costa drive-thru every Friday morning. Come on ladies it's just too much - Honestly, are you going to look back on those photos on your mantelpiece in years to come and answer your children's questions about who are beside you in your wedding photos. In most circumstances, they will be people that you will probably fall out with or would have not heard from in many years. It also seems to take away from the special-ness of the occasion and the absolute honour it is to be part of the bridal party. I suppose with these details in hand and the fact that Miss Tweedle-Dee and Mrs Tweedle-Dumb are highly skilled in keeping me calm and relaxed (usually by laughing to the point I pee) as well as comforting me in times of emotion and overwhelming-ness that I have asked them to be my bridesmaids. The question is - Will they accept?
Within hours of Mrs Tweedle-Dumb's flight landing, she was stood on my doorstep. wrapped up warm in a winter coat and jeans she looks comfy yet tired from her travels, and I don't think that I have ever given her a bigger hug than I did then before welcoming her into my new home which she had yet to see in the flesh. As I gave her the tour of my new abode we giggled and laughed like we always had.
With Miss Tweddle-Dee by her side, it was as though we had never been apart. On finishing at the house tour we decided to get down to the nitty-gritty of wedding planning and some of the ideas that Mr Warehouse and I had in mind for our big day. Honestly, I suppose that I really thought that the distance would have made our friendship completely different, but sat there on Thursday evening watching telly and cracking jokes I had almost forgotten that we had not actually been altogether since September of last year, more than five months ago.
As nice as it was having my girls around me once more, there was a reason they were there, something I will not dive too deep into but emotionally has been draining me and sucking me dry for months now. I don't think that I ever said it to them both but I appreciated them being there more than I think they could have ever known. Their help and support has been completely invaluable in the last few years, and especially so in the last twelve months. I know that they will think I am a soppy old wet bag but I honestly don't know where I would have been without them.
Reading an article the other night in bed, "The Brides Guide to Bridesmaids" I realised that I had some good candidates for the job. Planning your wedding is not easy. Everyone has advice. Everyone has an opinion. I am certain that over the next few months before my big day with Mr Warehouse there will be many an argument or disagreement with friends and family to include everything from the seating plan to who is invited and what is being fed to everyone. I need a strong entourage that will be able to swat out anything (or anyone) that is going to ruin my wedding day and preparations. I think that most of my family know that I am a force to be reckoned with and that any criticism will not be taken well, therefore I do not expect there to be many disagreements, however people do strange things will the run-up to getting hitched.
As a bride-to-be, wedding chief executive and senior creative officer, I know I will be faced with a barrage of questions, comments and suggestions from everyone, including my bridesmaids. I hope that Miss Tweedle-Dee and Mrs Tweedle-Dumb's help, direction and guidance will make the prep and planning much more effective and waay easier.
In historical references, the bridesmaid and her duties were varied across cultures, religions and time periods. In early Roman times, bridesmaids formed a kind of bridal infantry as they accompanied the bride to the groom's village. This "protective shield" of similarly outfitted bridesmaids was supposed to intervene if any wayward thugs or vengeful suitors tried to hurt the bride or steal her dowry. In Western society, however, bridesmaid tradition seems to have originated from later in the Roman law in which a wedding required ten witnesses in order to outsmart evil spirits believed to attend marriage ceremonies. The bridal party all dressed in identical clothing to the betrothed so that the evil spirits wouldn't know who was getting married. Even as late as 19th century England, the belief still continued that ill-wishers could administer curses and taint the wedding still existed and can be depicted by Victorian wedding photographs where it can take quite a bit of inspection to pick out the bride and groom from among the other members of the bridal party!
In more modern times though whilst these early customs continue to have an influence today, the bridal party continues to serve a vital role in the wedding process, not by fending off hexes and robbers, but by providing key support staff and an advisory board. 21st Century bridesmaid skills include caring helpers, thoughtful organisers and skillful liaisons. Besides being an honoured member of the wedding party and special guest at the reception, today's bridesmaid is also designated as the bride's assistant. From shopping for dresses to writing place cards, their first duty is to be helpful. The payoff is that walk down the aisle, looking absolutely beautiful in a gown that is stunningly stylish, super sophisticated, and absolutely wearable.
Some brides in modern society decide to go with every Sarah, Lilly or Beatrix to be a bridesmaid, including everyone on the list from work colleagues to old school friends and that lady who serves you in the Costa drive-thru every Friday morning. Come on ladies it's just too much - Honestly, are you going to look back on those photos on your mantelpiece in years to come and answer your children's questions about who are beside you in your wedding photos. In most circumstances, they will be people that you will probably fall out with or would have not heard from in many years. It also seems to take away from the special-ness of the occasion and the absolute honour it is to be part of the bridal party. I suppose with these details in hand and the fact that Miss Tweedle-Dee and Mrs Tweedle-Dumb are highly skilled in keeping me calm and relaxed (usually by laughing to the point I pee) as well as comforting me in times of emotion and overwhelming-ness that I have asked them to be my bridesmaids. The question is - Will they accept?
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
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