Here come the girls County Wedding Magazines senior editor Melissa Barker shares her wedding planning journey I can’t believe that in just a few months time I’ll officially become Mrs Cullen – eek! Dave and I have been engaged since Christmas Day 2020 and are due to get married this July. With all of the uncertantity surrounding COVID-19 restrictions, it’s been quite a stressful journey. However, now that the date is drawing closer I’m finally starting to feel excited. In this issue, read all about my experience going shopping for the bridesmaids’ dresses. DRESSED TO IMPRESS Choosing who I wanted to be my bridesmaids was one of the easiest decisions I had to make. My sister-in-law, Nolwenn, has been part of the family for a few years now and I really wanted to involve her in our day, so I was pleased when she wanted to be one of my bridesmaids! I also asked my two best friends and fellow County Wedding Magazines editors, Kelly and Olivia, who were over the moon when I asked them (virtually) during one of the many lockdowns. With the easy bit done, we were on to the task of choosing their bridesmaids’ dresses. With conflicting schedules and unpredictable restrictions it was hard to decide on a date that worked for everyone but we were eventually able to book an appointment for the beginning of December 2021. Shopping for their outfits was one of the things I was most excited about when we got engaged. I love all the girls dearly and really wanted them to feel special and a part of our big day, so making sure that they were comfortable was my number one priority. I wanted them to choose their own style and the only thing I asked was that all the dresses were sage green, which worked out perfectly as the girls all love that colour – it was meant to be! We booked a Saturday appointment and oh my gosh it was busy! The girls had to share a changing room and only managed to try on a handful of dresses before our time was up. What shocked us all was just how long the dresses take to come into the store. Starting our shopping eight months early we all thought we’d have plenty of time to shop around, but we found that all of the gowns wouldn’t be in the store until early May 2022, which would only leave us with two months for alterations – this of course, sent my stress levels through the roof! Despite all of the craziness and the insane amount of people in the boutique, Olivia and Nolwenn both managed to find their dresses on that first visit; Nolwenn opted for a sleeveless A-line gown and Olivia chose a similar style but with floaty off-the-shoulder straps. Kelly and I both felt overwhelmed by the first appointment, and sadly she came away empty handed, so we decided to go back on a Monday when it was quieter and I’m so glad we did! The consultant was absolutely lovely and couldn’t do enough for us. She made Kelly feel amazing and we didn’t feel pressured at all. With no time constraint, Kelly was able to try on every dress that caught her eye – it was a struggle to choose just one, she looked and felt stunning in them all. She eventually chose the same dress as Olivia, and in my humble (non-biased) opinion, they all look fabulous and I can’t wait to walk down the aisle with my beautiful friends. Overall, shopping together was a nice experience and it was great spending time with the girls, but I’d definitely recommend that fellow brides-to-be start shopping for dresses sooner rather than later – particularly if you have got quite a few bridesmaids! I also can’t stress enough to avoid popular visiting times at your chosen boutiques. It will create a completely different experience and ensured everyone feels relaxed and can enjoy it. Check out the next issue where I’ll be discussing our search for the groomsmen’s outfits and a last-minute videographer. Melissa x www.chrisblackledgephotography.co.uk www.chrisblackledgephotography.co.uk 74
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