Hooray, it’s nearly the weekend and as this post reaches you I will be watching one of my bestest friends (and one of my two bridesmaids) Amy tie the knot to her lovely other half Noel. I bought myself little pack of Cath Kidston tissues as I know the tears will be flowing (yes that’s right, I’m afraid I’m a crier!), especially if her hen do in Oxford a few months back is anything to go by!
When we left off last time I’d told you all about our venue, photographer, videographer and wedding rings as some of the first and most important things we had ticked off the mammoth wedding to-do list.
Since then we’ve ticked off a couple more items, including one that is pretty darn important – the question of what I’m going to wear!
Magazine Overload
I looked through A LOT of wedding magazines, probably too many if I’m being honest. It was all the excitement of just being engaged and not really having any clue what I was doing or where to start with wedding planning (I still don’t really know what I’m doing half the time!). I didn’t know that there are literally thousands of different dresses out there until I picked up those first few magazines and started trying to work out what I liked.
That was easier said than done, as I was drawn to different features from different dresses but couldn’t find anything that seemed to “have it all”. But I was pretty sure of what I didn’t want, and when I went to go and try on some wedding dresses for the first time with my mum I went with the list of what I didn’t want firmly in my head.
From A Bit Meh, Really…
My first dress trying experience wasn’t exactly a nightmare but it didn’t exactly fill me with excitement either. The shop was small and had a reasonable selection of dresses, but when we arrived the lady in the shop told me to pick out 4 dresses that I would be able to try during the appointment. As it was my first dress shop I assumed this was pretty normal and got on with choosing. Everything I picked out was quite similar, except for one princess style dress with a mahoosive skirt and lots of layers (an attempt to satisfy my Disney addiction!). I walked out of the (really quite cramped) changing room feeling incredibly self conscious and also really uncomfortable and restricted. I felt huge, awkward and clumsy in all four dresses and although one of them stood out as looking better than the others it was still just a bit…well “meh” really.
…To Totally Amazing!
After that I stopped looking at wedding dresses and focussed on other things for a few months, until I met a lovely lady called Lisa at the same little wedding fair where we found our photographer. After chatting to Lisa about different styles of dresses I started to get excited again, and decided to book an appointment at Anya Bridal Couture.
So back in January I invited my best girlies along to the appointment, and I can honestly say it was one of the best bits of wedding planning so far! It was so much fun, and that is completely down to finding a bridal boutique that made it that way!
We had a two hour appointment, where we had the beautiful barn boutique in the middle of the countryside all to ourselves, and the whole experience was amazing! When we arrived there was a lovely welcome message on a heart-shaped chalkboard, and I was handed a little basket of cute heart shaped pegs and was told to peg the dresses I wanted to try.
Here are some photos of the barn, taken by our photographer Beki Young, who also happens to be really good friends with Lisa from Anya Bridal Couture! It’s so so lovely that I just wish I could go and play in there at weekends – heaven!
This time I went with much more of an open mind, and decided to try on some really different styles to see what suited me. I let my friends and sister peg a few for me too to make sure I had a good selection! One style that I thought would look horrid on me because of my hips (which I hate) was a soft, flowing Grecian looking beauty. I stepped out expecting to be horrified and was actually surprised to see it looked good! Before you get too carried away, that wasn’t THE dress. Although it was beautiful, I just didn’t really feel like a bride in it – but it would be my top pick if I was being whisked away to marry on a tropical beach somewhere!
Happily, I did find MY dress on that visit. It was the one pegged by my friend Amy which I had just breezed past without a second look! Now, my fiancé does actually read these posts, so I’m afraid I can’t reveal much information, apart from the fact that it is the most amazing thing I have ever worn! I felt like me, and was comfortable and could move in it easily (despite it being a size too small!) and I actually like the way my figure looks in it. OK I’m just going to come right out and say it – I look bloody brilliant in it!
Another thing I’m happy to reveal is that it’s also something I would have completely ruled out had I seen it in a magazine in those early stages of planning, and it even combines some of the things I that was adamant I didn’t want. I wanted to order it back in January but so Lisa knew which length I would need, I had to have my shoes.
Shoes Made For Me?
Fortunately for me, I won an employee of the month type thing at work – which bagged me a £25 John Lewis voucher. I put my voucher to good use and bought myself a beautiful pair of Rainbow Club shoes that share my full name (almost, if you substitute the “e” in the middle with an “a”)!
Here they are, Katherine by Rainbow Club (they do also make a style called “Kitty” but they weren’t as pretty!)
They’re quite high, but surprisingly comfortable, and in June I went back to Anya Bridal Couture to try them with my dress. I’m going to confess that I did also try on some more dresses, this time in the same sort of style as my dress, just to compare them with my dress to make sure that I was making the right choice.
It was still perfection, and happily my dress is now ordered and due to arrive in October – hooray!
The Search For THE Dress
So now I’m going to round off this post by going back to my friend Amy who, by the time you’ve read this far, will now be Mrs Goodwin! When Amy was looking for her wedding dress, she did know what she wanted. She walked in to one bridal shop with her mum, tried on one dress in the style she had in her mind and it was perfect for her. She ordered it right then and there, and as far as I’m aware has not had a dress wobble since.
We both had different experiences when searching for our perfect dresses, but the important thing is that we have both found them!
I’m sorry for the wordy post – I’ll make sure I get more visual things for your eyes to enjoy next time, but I thought that dresses, something that a lot of brides care about most (besides their groom of course), deserved a bit more attention!
Just for fun and some more photos, here’s the afternoon tea at Lilly’s in Wickham that we munched on in celebration after my dress was ordered!
Is anyone still looking for their perfect dress? Has anyone else had a simple search like my friend Amy, or has it been a bit trickier? Let’s talk dresses!
Kitty x
P.S. As I’m celebrating at Amy’s wedding today I will be a bit slow initially on the comment front, but will definitely be checking in and replying tomorrow!
Couldn’t agree with your experience more Kitty. My first dress shopping trip sounded very similar and I came away feeling really disheartened and left it a little while to try on anymore. I then went to an amazing mother/daughter run boutique and found ‘THE’ dress, which no doubt was helped by the amazing atmosphere and helpfulness of the owners! xx
Your post just made me jump because I became Mrs Goodwin last month! Dress shopping can be so different from place to place, it’s such a shame that in some of the shops you are just another bride to be on the conveyor belt, whereas at other places you are offered a drink, not rushed and made to feel so positive. At one shop the assistants even came into my cubicle to bitch about the annoying bride in the next door cubicle! Needless to say, I didn’t buy a dress there. xx
I just loved dress shopping! I was actually a bit disappointed I found my dress in the first shop I went to…I wish I had dragged out the experience a bit more! The shop you went to looks fab Kitty! I’ll be recommending it to my friends who are looking for dresses too! xx
My first dress shopping experience was a bit of a nightmare, it was one of the better known boutiques in Glasgow and it all felt a bit like a production line with people coming in and out of my changing room to take dresses I’d tried to someone else!
After a couple of false starts I found my dress in a vintage boutique where the owner was lovely and encouraged me to try lots of different styles.
My advice to anyone would be try to have an open mind and try on lots of dresses, you’ll be amazed at all the different styles and how good they can look!
Oh my goodness Kitty, your dress experience sounds divine!! And afternoon tea, what a treat! I went a tea length dress which never even occurred to me at the beginning at the process but I love my dress more than anything, and I get to wear it in 16 days!!! Yay!!! Your shoes are absolutely gorgeous, a little bit jel I think!
xxx
Fabulous post Miss Kitty!
Soooooooo excited you’ve got your dress ordered & that you are so over the moon about it
Definitely agree that finding a nice bridal shop is the key, especially for those of us who find it somewhat overwhelming!
I went to a big bridal retail shop in London with a friend (mainly to get her a dress but also to finally get me to try some on)
My friend had a wonderful lady help her and found THE dress, I on the other hand had the worst lady ever who would only let me try on 3 dresses and made me feel as though I was wasting her time. Admittedly I was never really going to buy a dress that day but if I had been blown away I would definitely have gone back with my mum, but she definitely made me cross them off my list of shops to visit!!!
It can be such a lot of money you are spending on one dress that surely you deserve to be treated with some respect and care?
heehee
Although I am slightly dissappointed that sipping champagne while trying dresses on only really happens in the movies
xxx
@Hannah – yes, that’s it….that’s how I felt on the journey home ofter ordering my dress! That sinking feeling that I’ll never really get to go and try on more of those gorgeous dresses again…….eek! must stay positive!!
x
Great work Kitten, finding that gem of a shop and also your stunner of a dress! Hope you’re having fun today at Amy’s wedding and come back with a ton of ideas and pretty to show us
x
Kitty…..I love the sound of the wedding Barn!!
I went for my first dress experience about 2weeks ago and it was very interesting!! The staff/shop was great however the first dress I tried on was too small and looked horrid so it put a little dampener on the others.
Although the others all fitted (just) I am now nervous/scared about trying any more on incase they don’t fit (weird yes I know…I am trying to lose weight so I guess this is probably making me more self aware)
However I am biting the bullet and going down to visit my maid of honour to try on dresses next week
wish me luck!!
Your first wedding frock experience sounds a lot like mine – the women in the shop expected me to have looked through their website and decided which styles I wanted to try on beforehand, and couldn’t get their heads round the fact that A – I didn’t really know what I wanted and B – I didn’t want any sparkly bits (they kept saying stuff like ‘this one’s only a little bit sparkly!’ and ‘are you sure? Most brides want some bling!’. Ermm, I’m not ‘most brides’, nor am I P buggering Diddy! I’m looking forward to seeing your wedding report already! (also well jel of that afternoon tea!)x
Good post! Love talking dresses
my first dress trying on experience was quite stressful actually! The shop was very busy, lots of bustling around etc. Chose a number of dresses to try on and actually found The One…however, entre pushy sales lady who explained that she would give me 10% off the dress if I bought it there and then! I was still wearing the ruddy thing!! And it was only the 5th dress I’d tried!
Needless to say I did not purchase said dress then and there and left the shop in a panicy cold sweat! A few months later, having looked through various websites and magazines, I realised it was The Dress and thankfully they were having a Valentines special – 25% off every new purchase! After trying it on again, and having a different lady to help me, I ended up buying it that day
It just shows how much the experience influences your decision!
@Lou – oh God, it made me want to throw up and leave whenever a bride shop lady said a dress what ‘bling’ – eeeeeeee NO, people don’t even SAY bling anymore! You are NOT Mary J Blige!!!!
@Annie – the experience is a HUGE influence, as I’ve mentioned in an earlier post. I wish half the bridal shops around would actually realise that!
x
I’m always astounded and quite annoyed when i hear about the unpleasant experiences people have when dress shopping. I’m sure it must be a very demanding and sometimes stressful thing to run a bridal boutique but really, some of the treatment brides get is not what you expect.
I had a dream experience at The White Closet in West Didsbury. My request for an appointment with short notice was accommodated without issue. My friends and I were warmly welcomed and as it was late in the day, all the cupcakes bar one had been snaffled, for which the girls apologised profusely – we hadn’t even expected refreshments! The first dress I tried on was the one selected for me, and it turned out to be the one I couldn’t get out of my head when we left (Flo by Charlotte Balbier if you’re interested). The whole experience was an unhurried pleasure.
Yay!!!!!!!!!!
My happiness is partly because you have found your perfect dress and partly because I am glad that your first dress experience was the same as mine “a bit meh….”
I am still on the hunt for my perfect dress with 9 months to go (I know, I probably should get a wriggle on but I just can’t find one I love)
@Jenny – I feel the same as you. The dresses that I have tried on haven’t fit. It completely deflates you and makes you not want to try on anything else! I am also trying to lose weight and somehow trying on a wedding dress just makes you realise how much you need to lose! (well, for me anyway)
@Annie – I feel your bling pain. People tend to look at me like I have just told a child that Santa doesn’t exist when I say that I don’t want sparkle. Funnily enough, I get the same reaction when I say that I know what I DON’T want but not what I DO want.
I am going for round 7 in a couple of weeks. I’ve got everything crossed that I manage to find ‘the one’
xx
Hello Kitty *waves*
Afternoon tea sounds lovely – I love getting some girls together and indulging in a few finger sandwiches and cakes (or my Mum – Harvey Nics do a good one)
And I love those shoes – so simple and chic
Huge congratulations on the dress!!
Charlotte xxx
@Philippa – cupcakes?!!!! I NEED to go to that bridal shop!! heehee
@Lou/Karen/Amy – with you on the bling thing, I’m not one for lots of bling or lots of fuss at all, although maybe I may have been persuaded a little…..;-)
As for the dresses not fitting – the one place I did find this happen was at a cute vintage studio in London, the dresses were gorgeous but I’d say around 80% were size 10, mostly size 6-8 (my lady lumps just couldn’t squeeze in!) – So if you plan on going to a vintage shop check with the staff as to what sizes their dresses go up to
xxx
@Lou wow, they weren’t generalising or anything, were they? I also had one person tell me my dress was “nice and simple” because it didn’t have any bling. Erm, it’s tulle and lace, it doesn’t need bling as well?!
I thought I knew what I wanted but was only half-right. And it’s amazing how shops really do vary. Stephanie Allin’s flagship boutique let me go in at five minutes’ notice (total whim in my lunch hour) and didn’t blink an eyelid at my lack of appointment or totally unsuitable underwear. I didn’t buy anything, but I did think their service was fab.
Whereas some places are decidedly not. Happily there are enough decent shops out there that nobody needs to buy from the shoddy ones…
My first dress trying on experience was at the National Wedding Show back in Feb (I think?) and I wasn’t really expecting to find anything… I didn’t, but it gave me a few pointers as to what might work, and I actively resisted trying on dresses by my fave designer (in fact I was disappointed by what I saw of his there, I’m not sure why) as I had an appointment at a dress shop that stocked his designs coming up a couple of days later.
I went to that armed with my pointers, and after a brief tour was allowed to go around and tag what I wanted to try, guided mostly by what I knew I liked, with one or two that were completely different, taking advice from my sisters. I think I was allowed 6 dresses initially. (We had the first appointment on a Sunday, which is appointment only, and were the only people there for the first 30 min.)
My dress was the third I tried. And it was perfect.
And I knew it was because the assistant called the other assistant over so she could see it too. And the other people in the shop also took a good look, and were overheard to say that they didn’t understand why I’d want to try on anything else after that one… which I did, because I wanted to be sure. And after another couple of dresses I put my dress on again. I couldn’t stop smiling.
And now, because I am paying in instalments, I have the pleasure of being told what an amazing choice it is every time I call them.
@Lou, totally agree! I really didn’t want sparkle either and some of the dresses that were beautiful had big sparkly broach/belt things sewn to them which I was told couldn’t be removed…I thought this was crazy seeing as you could easily add something to a plain dress if you wanted it so why make them with it in the first place! So then I finally picked my dress and the assistant kept trying to get me to try sparkly veils…I decided she just didn’t get it! x
Oh sigh….are you allowed to go wedding dress shopping when you are already married??
Well done Kitty, great post and sounds like you are having a blast, enjoy every minute. Love the shoes and dress sounds awesome.
I had some lovely dress experiences – Stephanie Allin, v good, massive selection and yes, champagne (and London tourists cheering outside the window….honestly!), The Vintage Wedding Dress Co – gorgeous studio and lovely people and Luella’s Boudoir, lovely Rachel runs and I got my dress from (sans champers but with tea which was actually much more welcome!).
Sorry if anyone’s dress is from here, but I frankly couldn’t have had a worse experience at David Fielden. The shop is REALLY (read massively unflatteringly) bright and plays really loud, banging music (it is like being in Topshop). Add to that the fact that they won’t pin or even clip any of the dresses on you as it ‘damages the samples’ so at a size 8-10 I was trying on size 12 dresses with….and I still can’t believe this…New Look shoes!! Yes really, the shoes they had for you to try on with their designer dresses were minging pearly numbers with massive stillettos and only in a size 6 – and I have size 3 feet. so picture me looking like I was wearing a sack with my Mum’s shoes on. Gave the BMs a laugh at least. Icing on the cake was the boy (he was about 12) serving me, insisted on staying with me in the fitting room pretty much the whole time, and whilst stood their in my smalls asked me ‘if I planned to lose much weight before the wedding’. I think I actually laughed.
So needless to say didn’t go back – but shame really as a friend of mine had her epically lovely dress from there. Ho hum xxxx
What an amazing place that bridal shop is – wedding dress heaven indeed!
My dress shopping was quite simple. I went on my own, some people thought that weird but it’s how I like to shop. I knew my dress would probably be a-line with no bling but tried other styles on to make sure I wasn’t missing out! By the 20th dress I realised that the bigger the skirt, the bigger my smile, quite surprising as I’m not the girly princess type, however everything was far too sparkly or lacy (thought I would like lace but really didn’t look right on me) In the third shop which is a 5 minute walk from my flat I saw my dress from the other side of the room, peaking out from the rail. The biggest dress in the shop (oops) with just a delicate band of pearls and bead around the waist. Even better was that it was under budget!
Only my two bridesmaids and my mum have seen my dress, nobody else has any idea what it’s like. Can’t wait to surprise everyone – although I am worried about how I’m going to go to the loo?!
@Rebecca – I have absolutely NOTHING against sparkle at all, I love it (apart from my glitter phobia) – its the word ‘BLING’ …awful awful!! Surely it should have died along with J-Lo’s pop career but no, it’s still there lurking amongst those cringey ‘mum is trying to be hip’ moments!
x
Lovely post Kitty
The barn sounds and looks amazing, and such a good idea having little pegs to put on dresses you like! So glad you got the dress shopping experience every bride deserves, you’re going to look amazing on your big day!
Xxx
P.S. I agree with everyone on the bling, although there are some beautiful blingy dresses out there, it is just not for me and just because I’m getting married doesn’t mean I suddenly have to start wearing sparkly things, I never would in my normal clothes!
@Carys I don’t think you’re weird, I like to shop alone too and went wedding shopping by myself once so I could get an idea of what *I* liked before taking anyone with me.
I bought my dress from Proposals in Oxfordshire who are FAB.
As to bling, I wanted to add that my dress is bling-free, and my veil and headpiece have just the tiniest hint of sparkle. Subtlety, innit.
This is my first time leaving any comments on here but your post got me all excited!
I’m going dress shopping a week today….I’m
trying not to build my hopes up on finding THE dress but finding this really tough! It’s nice to hear the good and bad bits!!
Can’t wait to hear more!
I am having a massive dress wobble! I love it when it is on me – I feel a million dollars – but the photos my friends of me in it at the store look awful and I’m afraid it doesnt photograph well! That sounds silly i guess but is it possible a dress looks amazing in person but bad in photos?? oooo what to do! Also it clashes massively with my bridesmaid dresses – yellow and chiffon versus ivory and lace…. not sure
I’m so glad it’s not just me with the anti-’bling’ thing! The word itself should be left to die in 2002! And @Hannah, I had the same kind of response in one shop – they’d already told me that 95% of the frocks had a 6-month lead, and I’d noticed that 99% of them had more sparkle than the glitter section of Hobbycraft. So I asked if any of them could be made without the sparkly bits and got a shocked expression in return, followed by ‘No no, the factory can only make them according to that design!.’ OK fine, but surely the sparkly bits go on last, so when they’re making mine couldn’t they just get to the point where they attach the sparkly bits and go for a teabreak instead? No, they seriously expected me to pay up to £3k and wait 6 months without being able to offer even a smidge of customisation – and it wasn’t like I wanted all kinds of extras or to change the overall structure of the frock, I just didn’t want the blimmin’ showgirl herpes all over it!!!
Still, I eventually found a lovely little shop that has sold me a beautiful non-sparkly frock, and the talented owner is even making me a Wang-esque sash for the big day…so all’s well that ends well!
I’ve not had amazing experiences in some dress shops- one designer (a big well known name) told me to go and try on their competitor’s dresses to see how inferior they are….errr no. Followed by telling me with 18 months to go I was leaving it far too late (untrue).
Had a better experience since then thankfully but having a break from dresses and starting again in the Autumn. I’m going to NYC in October and hoping to buy something there- White by Vera Wang is amazingly pretty and much cheaper than what I’ve looked at here.
Oh My God – this post has come at the perfect time for me – firstly because I too am at a very good friends wedding this weekend and soooo pleased for her and secondly – I CAN’T FIND MY DRESS AND I HAVE TRIED 66 ON SO FAR!
Ok, I’m a little dramatic over the whole thing but the fun is honestly being taken away from something I have looked forward to all my life and it’s turning into a stress.
Although the afternoon tea looked amazingly pretty, when and if I ever find my dress I’ll be knocking back the champagne I can tell you!
I’m moving from princess dress to plain and straight and tight and fitted all at the same time – I look at RMW for inspiration every day and love at least 90% of the dresses but none of them look right when I hunt them down and try them on. I think it’s just because I am so not used to seeing myself dressed in an ivory gown, that I just don’t know if I look right.
Totally totally agree though about the difference a good bridal shop makes – the care, attention and good advice some give makes the others pale into significance and I honestly wonder how some are still trading.
I’ve now got to accept that I may never have the “thats the dress” moment – I’m going to start looking again this week after a 4 week break and may even revisit some nigglers (I’m told that often works) so wish me luck…..
That barn looks amazing! Who wouldn’t want to spend Saturdays there?!
I had one dress shop experience in the most fab show with lovely attentive ladies who didn’t flap a lash that I was 1.5 hours over my allocated time, they gently guided my open mind to a fan-ta-bulous dress that I love. Dress wobbles must be awful but I always think until you try it on you’ll not know how it looks, so dont try any more on!
Shoe wobbles…? Now that’s a different matter altogether, it’s so easy to slip your foot into endless shoes. Doh!
Kitty, I am SO pleased you had such an awesome dress-finding experience
Hope your BF’s wedding went well
MrsA xx
PS: Nowt wrong with being a crier – wait until you see the video of me going up the aisle!!
Hello!
Sorry for the delay in checking in, it’s been a busy few days! Thank you sooo much for all the comments, I will try and respond to them all throughout today!
Amy and Noel’s wedding was totally wonderful, and as predicted the tears flowed! I caught a quick glimpse of Amy as she walked down the aisle – she looked heavenly and so so happy. Then I turned to look at Noel and managed to see him as he turned round to look at her for the first time and that moment had me full on crying!
It was a beautiful day, the weather was beautiful if a little too hot, and I felt so proud and pleased to see my friend so happy and in love!
Sorry for all the gushing, am a little tired from watching the Olympics ceremony last night!
I did the bridal shop thing, even though I wasn’t sure if I wanted to spend lots on my dress (more into flowers than dresses!). I went into one shop and it was truly awful… I was told I couldn’t try on the dresses I wanted to (empire-line bohemian numbers) as they were for ‘destination brides’, and that I really had to go for a-line because of my large hips! Now, I’m not a twig, but I never realised I had such problematic hips… mainly because they’re perfectly normal! I was so offended by the woman’s attitude, that I just played along to see how far she’d go and see if I could at least get an amusing story out of it. When I asked her to pick out what she thought I ought to try, she came to the changing room with the most hideous dresses you could ever imagine- totally not me and not what I had told her I liked at all. I felt like a loo-roll cover in all of them and they weren’t even flattering to my ‘large hips’.
Luckily, the second shop I went to was wonderful… lovely relaxed service and knowledgable staff who completely ‘got’ what I wanted from the start. I was extremely tempted by two Jenny Packhams, but just couldn’t justify the cost. I actually found a fab frock in Monsoon in the end, but I’m really glad I had the wedding-dress-shopping experience. I recommend the boutique to everyone I know who is getting married.
I was privileged enough to be one of ladies who got to ‘peg’ dresses for Kat…’THE’ dress was saved for last and it certainly does look amazing! The barn was incredible- you would assume due to the setting that everything would have had a large price tag but actually there was a range of prices and some extremely affordable. We all wanted to try them all on! . It felt very special! : ) <3 xxxx
@Sam “is it possible a dress looks amazing in person but bad in photos?”
YES!!!! This is why pro wedding photos are so much better. Because photography is a skill and the camera can and does lie. I hated the photos my mum took and the shop lady said the lighting really doesn’t help. I’m sticking to believing my own eyes.
Ohemgee, kitty I was at Noel and Amy’s wedding too, if only I’d read this thurs morning!! I was one of the ushers other halves(the one that did the reading!) would have been great to say hi!!
Anyways, just off back to read your post as got so excited I had to comment straight away!
My lovely friend Kitty – you looked beautiful in your dress, absolutely stunning. It was the one for you! I loved shopping with you. It was such a wonderful experience to share with you!! Thank you so much for the mention, had such an amazing incredible time. Lots of love xxxx
@Eve – isn’t it astounding what a difference service can make to your experience? Part of me thinks that you could try on “The one” in a shop where the service isn’t up to scratch and you’re not given the VIP treatment and it won’t feel right…try the same dress on in a shop where you’re made to feel special and important and voila – dress found!
@Helen – I can’t believe the assistants would do that, I’m not surprised you didn’t give them your custom!
@Hannah – Even though I went to two places and tried on a few dresses part of me still wishes I could drag the experience out a bit more! I’d love love love to own a bridal boutique so I could constantly be around beautiful dresses!
@Lu – completely agree with you about the open mind, particularly if you don’t have a specific dress you know you want to try. I’ve spoken to a lot of people who ended up with dresses they didn’t expect would suit them.
@Jenny Lane it was amazing! i can’t wait for my dress to arrive in October so I can go back to the barn!
On the shoe front, is there not room for you to incorporate a cheeky second pair?
@Rebecca – it is a shame about the champagne sipping, although it is quite costly for the boutique I imagine…surely some fancy elderflower cordial or something wouldn’t go amiss though? x
@Jenny – I’d definitely recommend a trip to the wedding barn if you are anywhere near it!
It can be a real confidence knock when you try on samples that are too small, the first shop I went to all had small samples that wouldn’t do up on me, which is partly why I felt so huge and unattractive… I can understand that a boutique can’t have every dress in every size but something that leans a bit more toward the average would be good!
@Lou Some brides know what they want and don’t want any input from sales assistants but I think assistants should be prepared to offer help and advice and identify when their help is needed!
@Kelly – woah small world! I wish I had known, would have been lovely to say hello!
Wasn’t it an amazing day though, and Henry is ADORABLE! xxx
Wow Kitty, I just read your post and it all sounds really amazing. I cannot wait to see The Dress…I wonder if it is anything like what I am picturing. Keep up the good work you. x
I loved Anya Bridal too, and had a very similar experience before going there! I now have ordered my amazing dress which should be in for November! Yay!!! X