This week bride2b Candida has been searching for outfits for the bridal party
Hi everyone
Apologies for my silence over the last few weeks – but in the fashion world it's show season and I've been manic, so the wedding preparations have taken a back seat.
But now the shows are over, it's full steam ahead, and what a nightmare week I've had! I took a couple of days off to go shopping with my mum for her outfit and to find something for my ring-bearer, usher and bridesmaids to wear.
Mum was quite easy – we found a beautiful dress and jacket by Fenn Wright Manson at John Lewis in a beautiful dusk colour. The dress is chiffon with a corsage around the neckline and right hip, and the jacket is a light bouclé with a corsage on the shoulder. It’s a perfect outfit for the mother of the bride. I found her shoes from Kitch in Tunbridge Wells - owned by one of my best friends - in lovely rich grey suede with a matching clutch. So I can tell you with overwhelming relief and joy that her outfit is now complete!
The ring-bearer and usher were equally as painless – Bhs online do a fantastic range of boys' evening attire.
However, the bridesmaids were an absolute nightmare. Clearly I have left it too late, but I combed every department store imaginable and nobody had anything suitable. Slim pickings would be an understatement – and new collections are not due in till January, which is too late for me.
Panic started to set in. Do these big chains not know that people get married in winter as well?! Honestly, I couldn’t believe how little was on offer: Neither House of Fraser nor John Lewis had anything; Debenhams had just one dress in one size; Bhs had three styles but I didn’t think any of them were right; I found a cute dress in Monsoon and went to four stores to find the right sizes but they didn’t have them available. So I was close to tears.
Anyway, thank God for my stylist, Efy at Eye for Image who spent the whole night searching the web for possible solutions. She found a number of options but we chose a Forever Yours dress (below) from glamourousgowns.co.uk. My bridesmaids are aged 8 and 10 so I wanted something cute that wouldn’t drown them.
I rang Glamorous Gowns and spoke to a lovely lady called Alex who was really helpful – I ordered them right there on the phone and they will be with me by 17 November, just a couple of weeks before the wedding - I'm cutting it fine, I know! So ladies, if you're getting married in the winter, I recommend you call Alex, she might just save your life!
