Happy New Year lovely people!
I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year! Ours was spent celebrating with family and friends and as the clock struck 12 and after lots of hugging and kissing and the obligatory rendition of ‘Old Lang Syne’ we jumped around to The Killer’s Mr Brightside screaming ‘We’re getting married this year!’
I know we’ve already done this but as I write this we are only a few days into 2013 so to all you lovely brides getting married this year ‘YAAAAY it’s here, it’s finally our year!!’ *does a little dance in chair* and to all the lovely new brides to be that got engaged over the Christmas/New Year period ‘CONGRATULATIONS and welcome!!!’
Time to Stop Stalling
Now it’s 2013, it’s full steam ahead on project ‘let’s get married’. There were a lot of things that in the run up to December that when asked we would say
‘It’s fine, don’t worry…we’ll sort it out in the New Year 
‘
Yeah well now it’s the New Year and there is no excuse to put it off any longer booo!
If I’m honest before Christmas I caught a little bit of wedding burnout. I haven’t watched a single episode of the new series of Don’t Tell the Bride (which may sound particularly drastic – but I do watch it a lot) and I completely stopped going on Pinterest.
I had too many ideas and too many wedding projects. So after realising this was not physically possible, I’ve cut it all down to the most important aspects of our day. There will still be lots of handmade pretties and DIY creations, but I’ve realised that I don’t NEED to do every idea that pops into my silly little noggin.
We sat down and made a list of what we NEEDED and the stuff we REALLY wanted, cut out all the rubbish we were planning just because we (I) thought we should, and it’s made me feel loads better.
So now I’m BACK and raring to go!
My Best Girls
BRIDESMAIDS!! Yes I love them; getting to share your day with your best girls and making sure they look seriously beautiful in whatever dress we choose.
Firstly I thought I’d introduce you to my leading ladies. I always knew who I would have as my bridesmaids and I can’t think of anyone better to share the aisle with
Amarni/Maid of Honour
Amarni aka my little sister, maid of honour and the most beautiful person in the world, inside and out. She also has no idea of this fact. She’s been a massive help with the planning, including finding our beautiful bridal entrance song. It gives me tingles every time people!
I think I might just be the luckiest girl in the world to have her as my sister.
Beth
Beth and I bonded over our joint hatred of our A level history teacher.
She is one very special and gorgeous lady and it’s a complete honour to know her (even though she is a bad influence – see the drunken New Year’s photo above for reference). I feel very lucky to have her in my life. Love you bucket loads lady!
Robyn
Robyn is one of my oldest friends/partner in crime. We walked to school together every day (mostly ran because we were late – totally my fault), obsessed over Lee from 911 for most of our early teens, got mighty silly on cheap cider in the park and she was the first person to be introduced to Chris 8 years ago.
She’s a new yummy Mummy to the gorgeous and adorable Amelia and I’m so proud of her.
Finding my inner Gok
So now I’d chosen my lovely maids, it was time to think about what they would wear and I won’t lie to you it completely stressed me out… Like a lot! I mean, I can’t think of any other situation where I would have SUCH influence on what they wear.
We ploughed on regardless and the initial plan was to go high street in peachy natural tones. They were all going to have different dresses but with a similar style, feel and colour pallet.
When I first mentioned peach I’m pretty sure they had images of this:
Which is fine and all…and Katherine Heigl is still totally rocking it but I was actually thinking something a bit more like this:
.
Well I don’t know if it’s just me, but this seemed blimmin hard.
I spent hours scouring the internet for affordable dresses that went with my ‘theme’. I sent so many emails to my poor bridesmaids and just generally got myself in a right tizz wozz that I was never EVER (complete drama queen) going to find anything…
…completely unnecessarily.
So I eventually stopped stressing, and started from scratch.
On a bit of a whim we completely changed the colour, so instead they will be stepping out in these ethereal shades with a bouquet of peachy blooms:
Let’s all take moment to admire K-Middy…
So anyway… I still couldn’t find what I was looking for or when I did it was completely out of my price range. Then my lovely Mum came to the rescue and mentioned her friend’s husband’s mother in law (bit of a mouthful) was a fantastic seamstress and had made lots of lovely bridesmaid dresses in the past. So off we went to her house one Sunday morning, showed her some inspiration pictures of dresses we liked and she agreed to make them for us – huzzah!!
Next job was to find the right fabric and a sewing pattern to use as a basis; I still wanted to have them in an individual style of their own choosing so the pattern had to be adaptable. No easy task let me tell you. Most of the patterns I found looked like they had come straight out of the 80s.
So to cut a long story short, fabric – found! Sewing pattern – (eventually) found! I won’t reveal too much now but it’s safe to say they’re going to look the bee’s knees!
To end
So the moral of this story, and my New Year’s resolution, is – when you’re struggling, always ask for help! Generally I’ve found people, especially friends and family are willing to help in any way they can and even if not, there’s no harm in asking. A problem shared is definitely a problem halved. If there’s one thing planning this wedding has taught me it is how amazing and generous people can be.
So I’m just about ready to sign off for today, next time we speak I will have hopefully moved into our love nest (still hasn’t happened yet urgh!) and I may just have a super pretty DIY project to share with you all. I’m not quite sure it’s going to work yet but I’m going to give it a go.
Let me know how your hunt for bridesmaids dresses is going, I’m hoping it’s not just me that has struggled?
Are you going for High Street or made to measure?
How about those New Year’s resolutions, any wedding (or non-wedding I’m not fussed) ones to share?
Love and hugs
Tabitha xxx
Totally empathise with that ‘we’ll sort it out in the new year’ suddenly becoming reality! I’m overhauling the to-do.xlsx as we speak – colour coding is keeping me sane.
Love the new BM dress palette, not a million miles from my own and will be very flattering for your girls. Can’t wait to see your mystery DIY project! xx
Oooh Tabitha, I love that you got K-Middy in there! Doesn’t she just look a picture in that dress? I can’t wait to see her with a bump too, and see her rocking maternity style!
I’ve had same problem with High Street bridesmaid dresses…there is NOTHING in the right colour or in a style that will suit both of my gorgeous ladies. I’m going to leave my full bridesmaid dress story/rant for one of my posts but BLEUGH basically! Funnily enough, I might also get with a colour change if what I’ve got doesn’t work out…
xxx
Oooooooo your new bridesmaid colour is just sooooo dreamy! I LOVE it
Can I please have the Keira dress & cardi combo – A. MAZ. ING!!
Am currently looking at dresses with my maids, they are all being far too nice! heehee
Lovely intro to your maids
Although I am extremely jealous of how effortless your little sis wears a red pout! Gorgeous!
Fab post lovely & so pleased you’ve managed to get dresses sorted
& I know what you mean about the putting off until New Year! Damn that New Year for being here already!!!
xxx
ps. YAY! WE’RE GETTING MARRIED THIS YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oops!
*effortlessly!
Also empathising with the whole “we’ll sort it in the new year” scenario – argh! I’m sure it’ll all get done, and what doesn’t won’t matter but still… ARGH!
LOVE K-Middy. She is just so lovely! I’d look a right muppet carrying round a parasol, she looks all ethereal and well…princess-like. *sigh*
Love your new bridesmaids colour! Looking forward to seeing the dresses. My bridesmaids have a very vague brief so far – one of them has got her whole outfit sorted (down to the super, suck-it-all-in knickers) and the others still haven’t got a stitch to wear! Still – shopping trip is planned for the 26th – fingers crossed that we can find some sort-of-matching-but-not-too-much-matchy-matchy super gorgeous frocks for my lovely ladies!
Good luck with the house!!
x
ARGH!! I’m the same the New Year seemed so far away for so long and now it’s here and there is so much to do!! It’s all so exciting, if a bit overwhelming.
We had similar issues with the maid’s dresses, one wanted high neck the other V neck and I wanted something a bit different, all of which couldn’t cost a fortune!! Nightmare!! In the end we got them made when we were out in Ghana for a holiday last year, big risk but they have ended up gorgeous and such a bargain! And only one needs some adjustment back here!! xox
Excellent bridesmaid colour choice! In fact… very close to mine, it’s been hard enough with just one bridesmaid to please so can’t imagine the stress with three! Monsoon has (hopefully) just come to the rescue and bought out new season bridesmaid dresses in a sagey green
Appreciating the NY stress-out, I’m also in middle of moving love nest = stress overload! xxxxx
Thanks for your comments ladies
@Philippa – Hehe I wouldn’t hold your breath on the DIY front, I haven’t even started it yet and I’m not 100% sure it will work…what was that about being raring to go in New Year?? Hmmm!! xxx
@Kitty – I like to try and get a bit of K-Middy in there whenever I can!! Ooo I thought you had your bridesmaid dresses?? xxx
@Rebecca – She can seriously rock a red lipstick, which is not fair at all as I completely can’t!! She definitely got all good genes humph! xxx
@Ruth – Haha I know what you mean about the parasol – I too would look like a muppet Good luck with your shopping trip, fingers crossed for you. Oh and thanks for the house luck, we will get in there eventually I’m sure (:S) xxx
@Ashleigh – Oooo those dresses sound amazing, what lucky bridesmaids you have! It’s definitely overwhelming isn’t it, but DEFINITELY exciting, we’re getting married this year yaay! xxx
@Lizzy – Thanks lovely
they’ve all been amazing actually, I’m very lucky. It’s just me that’s a pain! So many people seem to be moving as well as planning a wedding, why do we do it to ourselves?!?! xxx
Oooo I’m loving that colour! I might have to point my sister at it. She is my one and only bridesmaid and because she is such a fashionista and I’m not I’m letting her have free reign other than telling her that it has to be mid-calf or higher in length and has to fit in with the colour scheme. Thankfully I have veto power so hopefully we will reach a compromise that will not bankrupt anyone.
Might have to steal Keira’s cardi
Oh just look at our Duchess with her parasol! She is wonderful isnt she?
Sorry I’m late to the party, I’ve actually been escorting Chris Maloney from X Factor round the hospital! Oh the joy.
And welcome to Blue Bridesmaid club!! It’s not easy, I’m completely in the same boat as you – @Philippa has been sending me links to her aqua cast-offs. I actually found the perfect dress on a random google search that took me to a dead House of Fraser page only to discover it must be donkeys old. I have no chance of finding it now.
Your little sister is a bloomin stunner. Great post my love, loving your work xx
@Sarah – I do love a bride (or a Keira) in a cardi! Hehe enjoy the power! xxx
@Karen – Check you rubbing shoulders with celebs (sort of!!) Was he nice? Tell us the goss!
That’s happened to me so many times, specially on Pinterest when you click a link and it’s dead gggrrr very frustrating!!
She is indeed totally gorgeous
xxx
@Tabitha MAJORLY crushing on your maids colour palette – it is gorgeous and super flattering too!
And your sister is adorable. Hurray for younger, gorgeous sisters (I have two!) I’m super pleased to hear that you’ve focused your efforts on those DIY/Decor/Details that you can actually create/achieve rather than trying to do everything. Too much to do does not for a happy bride make. God I sound like Yoda.
Can’t wait to hear more sweetheart!
Yes, Lolly you are the Yoda of the wedding world!
Too much DIY leads to procrastinating, procrastinating leads to list making, list making leads to stressed bride!
Blue + Peach = GENIUS.
I want that frock Keira is wearing please.
Charlotte xxx
@Lolly – Younger sisters are pretty awesome aren’t they. She has made wedding planning much more fun
I know…our house was turning into a scene from Art Attack too. My lovely dining room table will now never be the same for the super glue that just won’t come off. Oh well, you live and learn
Thanks for your comment lovely 
@Kitty – Love it – the Yoda of the Wedding World – that is your new title Lolly
although when I try and say that out loud it sounds nothing like in my head xxx
@Charlotte – it is a pretty good combo even if I do say so myself. Chris is much happier now that he has a ‘manly’ colour in there too. Well more manly than peach anyway x
It’s the New Year. I’m scared. The list is still so looooooooooong!!
I too am looking at flipping the colour of the bm’s dresses, I have EXHAUSTED every website known to man and can only find a few I ‘quite like’.
As for the bm’s, well that’s whole other story, they’d like long, I want short, one is 15 the other 31???!!! How do I please my sister who I want to look cool and not too bridesmaidy, and keep the15yr old looking like a 15yr old?!! It’s a general NIGHTMARE.
We’re going to the actual shops I a couple of weeks, I’m dreading it!
Xx
@Hels Bels – Who wants long and who wants short? Can’t you have the same colour but different lengths? I don’t know your budget but Maids To Measure do a gazillion different styles that you could have in the same fabric.
Also Twobirds do gowns that can be altered to fit in all different ways.
A colour that suits most folk is grey if you’re really stuck….and I am loving a sunshine yellow right now!
Charlotte xxx
@Tabitha @Kitty I shall tell the boy that I am now officially Yoda and therefore anything I say is soundly based in wisdom. This means he must do everything I say, right?
@Hels Bels I had a nightmare with mine – all of them saying they looked fat and they were worried about the dress not suiting them even though they chose it! They looked gorgeous on the day so I don’t know what they were worried about!
@Hels Bels – I’m with @Charlotte. There are lots of places that do different styles of dresses in the same fabric & colour.
Also, have you considered having just similar shades of the same colour? I know it’s not to everyone’s tastes but is another way of pleasing two very different people xx
@Hels Bels – Agree with all of the above! We had a similar problem in that some wanted long and others wanted short. I was a bit worried to begin with I must admit but after looking at loads of pictures I realised it will look fine…better than fine it will look awesome!! Mine are all basically having different variations on a dress to suit their shape and tastes but this could work for age too
xxx
Gaah, I can totally one hundred million percent empathise with you over the bridesmaid dress stress-out! I initially set out to find the pastely-peach colour you were originally going for and found it impossible! Headed over to the blue bridesmaid dress club but still did not find anything within budget or two years of being in stock! (I fell in love with the J Crew ones (like one you posted above) so much but sadly, I discovered, they aren’t getting a UK store until late next year). I reverted back to the peach idea which led to being more a dusky pink (not ground-breaking but suits my maids perfectly). I found them all an individual dress over the last month. and so the stress is over! Hurrrrah!
Have fun moving into your love nest and I’m looking forward to hearing more!
xxx
@Emma – I’m so so glad it wasn’t just me, I felt like I was going mad!! I also loved that J-Crew one but I just could not afford it.
Glad you’ve got your dresses sorted now, it’s so good when you can tick something big off your list isn’t it
xxx
I thought I would have a simple job as I only have one ‘grown-up’ bridesmaid (if you’d met her you’d understand the inverted commas!!!) … but it turns out my two adorable flowergirls (aged currently 3 and 6!!) have some very firm ideas on their outfits!!!!!!!
Amelia (age 6) “I was looking at some bridesmaid’s dresses Aunty Amy, and I found some that I liked, but Mummy said that YOU would get to choose them, is that true???”
Me “Yes, usually!”
Amelia “But the ones I liked were pink, and Mummy said you might choose BLUE, is that true Aunty Amy????” (Subtext – blue is for boys!!)
So we’ve now compromised on white with a blue ribbon!!!!
They’re going to look super cute!! xxx
PS We’re getting married this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! x
@Amy – I’m having a flower girl too and she has definite ideas about what she wants…she sends me wedding magazines and goes through and ticks everything she likes. She’s 6 and already better at planning a wedding than I am! xxx
@Amy @Tab my womb is aching for baby cute!!! So jealous of your flower girls, I literally have zero small girl children in my f&f and I’m gutted!!!
Can anyone hire them out? xx
@Karen – I’m 99% sure mine would be your bridesmaid if I asked lol. This will make your womb ache a bit more too, we sent her her own save the date and she told us it was the first bit of post she’d ever got so she was going to keep the envelope as well in her treasures box. It made me have a little year when she told me
xxx
@Tabitha – Oh my gosh….that is just the sweetest
x
Tabitha – Reading your post felt like it was myself writing it. I feel exactly the same, second to the dress i feel the pressure to make sure the girls feel comfortable on the day, as i would hate to them to feel uncomfortable all day. I really relate to the colour issue, I had the same vision with the colour, i keep re-ordering and returning, the Hermes / DPD / DHL couriers are becoming really well acquainted! But nothing is hitting the spot, You’ve inspired me to open up the pallette to another neutral shade and not have tunnel vision
….thanks xx
@Amy – Very glad to be able to help
it felt like such a weight had been lifted off my shoulders when I opened it up a bit more! I also ‘forgot’ to mention in my post that I ordered lots and lots of dresses in my search and returned them all, was a bit of a nightmare to be honest! Good luck with your search xxx
@Karen – I’m sure my two would jump at the chance too!!! Although I see you’re in the blue bridesmaid camp also, so brace yourself!!! If you find someone who hires them out please let me know, I feel we’re missing a little boy in a suit at our wedding!!!!!
@Tabitha – she sounds super cute – I’m going to send them both their own invitations when we reach that stage – they do love to get post just to them!!!
xxx
Bless! x
Omg, totally know the frustration of no bridesmaid dresses on the high street . I thought I found the dresses then it turns out it fits one BM but not the other…STRESS! I’ll keep searching! ( it’s, ok I’m not getting married until October).
I’m getting married this year! X
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Absolutely love both colours! Will have to fit more peach and blues in my next collection!
@Laura – It’s so frustrating isn’t it! But I do love a high street bridesmaid dress, when you manage to find the perfect combo it looks amazing!! I think I just picked an awkward colour!! And yay we’re getting married this year
xxx
@Katy – Oooooh that would be gorgeous!! I have been lusting after just about everything on your website and recommending it to whoever I can! xxx
Ooooh the blue bridesmaid dress choice is lovely! Although any post with a sneaky pic of Kate Middleton in is always going to get my approval x
@Sophie – Thank you lovely
I might just try and squeeze a random picture of her into all my post from now on! x
@Tabitha Oh you really should. Feel free to steal some from my website. My company styled the venue she visited in Liverpool last Valentines Day. Were still screaming about it now
huuuuuge Kate fans 
@Sophie – Ooooo I remember seeing that on the news, that is just so flippin cool, I would tell EVERYONE! It looked fab too, you guys did such a good job!! xxx
P.S. I want her hair so much!
@Tabitha haha thankyou! We had to make her a personalised version of our decorations as a gift and write her a Valentines Card… it took us hours working out what the hell to write. My boyfriend has a lot of pressure on him to make this years Valentines day better than last years
Im desperate for her hair. Or her hair stylist. Whatever is easier haha
Xx