Since embarking on my holy grail search for the perfect wedding, I've found you can come up against a Fort Knox attitude just to get in some places, so I decided I'd prefer to find another alternative and do it my way!
I know it means more of my time, but it's the credit crunch and if it saves me money then I'm determined! I don't want to become another expensive big day with everything bought from the same places as everyone else who's ever got married, it's really important to me that we have an individual day.
So I decided to look right on my doorstep in north west London for ideas, and help, and went back to
Joel & Sons where you may remember I looked for fabric for my wedding dress a few months ago.
I had a lovely assistant named Dino, who helped me for the best part of an hour deciding what fabrics I liked best. After whittling it down to about three, I took down the details and went away to think about it and was back within the week, making my final decision on the fabric I wanted for the bridesmaids dresses.
Then I had the challenge of finding someone to make the dresses. I took a few recommendations for dressmakers and started to call around, hoping I would find one cheaper than £200 per dress. I had no luck and was beginning to see why everyone shops at department stores on the high street.
So I made a deflated phone call to my mother, feeling sorry for myself, realizing the ideas for what I wanted were all too expensive. Thank goodness I didn't have to worry about it for long. The following morning my mother called back, with good news. She had the number of a lady called Jean who lives close to her work, who is also an old friend of one of her work colleagues.
I called Jean immediately, and after a quick conversation followed by her quote for £60 per dress! I was ready to get in my car and head over there.
Finally it was coming together ...
Love Caroline x
Photo:
Joel & Sons
By: You & Your Wedding, 8 January 2009
