So it's taken me a long time to write this but here we go! (It's going to be a long post, and mainly for myself so feel free just to look at the pretty pictures!)
I woke up early on Saturday. Stuart and I had decided there was no point him sleeping somewhere else on Friday night when we were paying a fair amount for a big old apartment for the week, so he was happily fast asleep next to me. After laying awake for sometime I decided just to get out of bed and do something. I don't know why I couldn't sleep; it wasn't nerves, maybe it was because I was paranoid there was so much still to do! So wide awake, I snuck into the kitchen and started pulling a bunch of daisies apart. No I hadn't finally lost it - the petals were to go in a basket for our flower girl to throw. After spending an insane amount of time going around town on Thursday looking for somewhere that sold a bag of petals we ended up buying a bunch of cheap daisies instead but I wanted to leave the petal pulling to the last minute so they didn't shrivel up. I then spent far too much time wrapping a bit of ribbon I had around the handle of the basket.
Stuart stumbled into the kitchen just as I was finishing this task and decided to put in his two pence worth about how the ribbon was wrapped. After a bit of teamwork (ie arguing) we finally finished the basket. As we only had one key for the apartment we then sorted out the plan for the morning. My Maid of Honour, George was due to arrive at 8am ish so we could head to the hairdressers, and we hoped we'd be back at 10.30am so Stuart could leave the apartment and head to the ceremony venue. I guess I should point out that the ceremony was at midday. When we booked the registrar we had the option of midday, or 4pm. As we wanted everyone to make the most of the day and party with us for longer we choose the earlier option, which despite a rushed morning, was definitely the best decision. Petal basket sorted I jumped in the shower, dressed and by 8am I was looking out the window for George to arrive, and hurrah arrive on time she did. I jumped in the car, we whizzed round to pick up Laura (my housemate and witness) and then went straight to the hairdressers to meet my other bridesmaids and my Mum. As the dresses we were wearing were 1950's we had decided to go with that era hair style. I wanted all the bridesmaids to chose their own hair simply because I wanted people to be comfortable with how they looked and also wanted their personalities to show through, rather than having a band of clones (which after seeing some wedding photos on the internet was a distinct option apparently). We had already had our hair trial so it was a case of jumping in front of a hair stylist and let them get on with it. As I have short hair, which you can't really do much with I sat and watched the others get worked on. After getting a bit bored just watching I decided to pop across the road for OJ and croissants with Laura. After my Co-Op breakfast I continued to watch everyone else get beautified and if I'm honest I was a bit jealous - damn it why did I have short hair so couldn't have all these elaborate styles and hair stylists fussing over me. Ok that's a little self centred but I may as well be honest in my blog! Finally though it was my turn. As I was just wrapping a bit of lace round my head and sticking a few flowers in my hair I knew I wouldn't take long. The hairstylist did try and make me feel special with a wash and blow dry and lots of 'are you excited?' questions, but by then I was a bit fed up of waiting and wanted to go off and do other stuff. Looking back I should have amused myself by taking photos because I have none of any of us in the hairdressers, the ones below were taken at the wedding, or at the hair trial.
George - (MOH) had opted for amazing victory roles. The photo I've put above is from the wedding day, because even though they looked great at the trial they were super spectacular and bouncy on the day.
Roz - (sister and bridesmaid) went for a classic 1940's 'Goodnight Sweetheart' style.
Laura - (witness) went for the Rockabilly look.
Lauren - (cousin and bridesmaid) went for 1950's glamour.
Once I was all hairified we abandoned Lauren under some torture device disguised as a hairdryer/styler/thing, (she had to be under this big alien machine for at least an hour, and she had already organised getting ready separate from us with her boyfriend & family) added Roz and my Mum to George's car (along with Laura and George, of course) and headed back to the apartment to get changed. Stuart was waiting inside for us, all suited and booted and looking dashing. As we took over the apartment his brother Paul and Paul's girlfriend, Ruth, turned up to whisk him away and check Winchester House was all sorted. Shortly afterwards the photographer arrived and started snapping away. We all started pulling out bags of make up and tried to make ourselves look even more dazzling. I opened a bottle of fizz and threw some strawberries in a glass for us all to have as we got ready because I'm pretty sure it's a rule that you have to have fizz and strawberries before your wedding. I then stuck on a bit of eye make up (it's the only make up I know how to do - I'm a girl who doesn't even know how to use foundation for goodness sake) and before you knew it, it was time for the dress to go on.
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| My beautiful shoes. The only heels I own that I would actually wear again without hesitation! |
I'm not a dress person, and the idea of going in an actual bridal shop with people ooohing and aaahing over me was not my idea of fun (plus I had nightmares of standing in my underwear as posh ladies tried to squeeze me into some hideous creation). Luckily I knew of a shop in North London close to where I live which did awesome 1950's replica dresses, Vivien of Holloway. I had chosen a white luxury lace covered dress, my bridesmaids had different polka dot style dresses, and Laura rocked out in a pencil skirt dress (if only I could ever have the figure for one of those!) Safe to say, we all looked amazing if somewhat slightly different to your average bridal party. After a bit of posing on the balcony of the apartment we jumped into a taxi over to Winchester House. Oh and by taxi I mean a people carrier, with the seal falling off the door frames, we may have looked glamorous but there was no way I was going to waste money to sit in a flashy car for all of 5 minutes, oh no, my extravagant transport plans were for later in the day!
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| On the balcony at the apartment |
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