Unloading the car took absolutely ages with all our stuff! Pete’s Mum and Dad, brother and girlfriend had arrived moments before us so there were lots of re-introductions but I found it really difficult to properly talk to anyone as I was so mindful of the time. We transferred mountains of bags and boxes first into the hallway of the hotel and then to each of our rooms. I had treated my girls to a room for the night so we could all stay late and get ready together and I had booked the Veranda suite, a split level room with large lounge and dining area down stairs then a massive upstairs bedroom with bath in the bedroom and shower room off it. Off the lounge area there were 3 French doors which lead out onto the terrace and garden where we would be holding the rehearsal BBQ that night. With all the rain that week the garden looked incredibly lush and green with flowers in full bloom in the borders. It was perfect and exactly what I wanted.
As everyone settled in I stole off to the reception desk with my goody bags for the girls and mum, and asked for them to be placed on the beds ready for when we returned from the rehearsal. I then went back to my room to meet the girls and throw down a quick M&S sandwich before we headed out again. Typically mum didn’t have her eye on the time and was unpacking in a leisurely fashion upstairs and we had to hurry her out to leave for our 2pm nail appointment. As we went to leave I suddenly realised I had lost my key to lock the room! After turning the room upside down looking for it I eventually had to ask reception to lock it for me and we left already 10 minutes later than we intended. I was completely panic stricken now that we wouldn’t make our appointments and as mum drove in her usual snail like fashion my patience was wearing thin. Even worse we hit horrible Saturday traffic in the centre of town and by the time we got anywhere near to Harvey Nic’s it was 2.15! We left Mum parking and ran through the traffic for the appointment!
When we arrived there was a lot of conferring between the various receptionists about what could be done to salvage our appointments, I was booked in for a pedicure and manicure and the girls and mum all for manicures. Eventually it was decided that there was still time to at least paint and file my toes and I was promptly sat in a huge massaging chair, feet in the pedicure sink, massaging remote control in one hand and no sooner than I could say ‘Ahhhh,’ a glass of champagne was placed in the other. Now that is what I call service!
2 of the girls were sat down immediately and the therapists set to work on their French manicures, as the bubbles slipped down everyones fraught nerves started to smooth out and the laughter ensued. Soon Mum joined us with Jess who had taken her to park and I breathed my final sign of relief. After choosing a corally pink, aptly named ‘Gorgeous’, for my toes to blend with my shoes and the bridesmaid dress’s I had my first ever toe file and polish. I have to say, they looked great – I never usually bother with getting them done as I do them myself but it made quite a difference! As soon as they were done I went to join the others and admire their perfect fingers. Soon I was sat down again, glass still in hand having my French manicure done alongside my mum and Jess as Francesca and Laura looked on, also enjoying the bubbles.
To anyone looking for a manicurist in Manchester I would definitely recommend the Champagne Leighton Denny Nail bar in Harvey Nic’s. The attention to detail was amazing and after applying the white tip they used a paint brush dipped in remover to get the tip perfectly straight. My mum agreed it was the best she has ever had too. I unusually for me chose the bright white tips too as I realised they stood out much better from a distance, which is where they will mostly be photographed from and they looked fab in the pictures. 3.15 came and we decided it was time to make our way to the rehearsal, all slightly giddy with excitement and no doubt the bubbles! I purchased a bottle of ‘Gorgeous’ for the girls to paint their toes with that evening and we headed out onto the Shambles and towards St Ann’s square.
It was quite a feat getting through the throngs of shoppers packing Manchester city centre and the square itself was given over to a spring market with rows of plants, crepes, waffles and gifts as is common. It was as busy as I had seen it on any Christmas shopping weekend and I found myself wondering what it would be like the next day as I arrived to be married. I couldn’t believe it would be anything like this, would it? I had mixed feelings, the extrovert inside me thought what a spectacle it would be and how my dress and carefully chosen details deserved an audience, then part of me recoiled from the exposure, the public aspect of it all. You couldn’t pay me enough to be famous and lose all anonymity! (Little did I know I would be writing a wedding blog and plastering my story all over the internet a few months later!)
Loving this blog sooo much… sounds like the perfect run-up to your big day – full of excitement and frolics!! x