5 Months to go...

Saying Yes To The Dress

I spent most of yesterday feeling like I had an impending Dentist appointment. I can't even describe the sense of dread I had about wedding dress shopping, especially as someone who hasn't seen the inside of a clothes shop's dressing room for quite some time!  I'd been putting it off for as long as I could, but finally bit the bullet and booked an appointment.

I entered Perfect Day in Lurgan shaking like a terrified puppy. You know that point of being so terrified that you're seeing spots?  That was me.  The shop itself is lovely and the girls are even lovelier, (even if one did insist that I strip down to my underwear in full view of everyone while she went off to hunt for dresses, to which I responded with a sharp "I will not indeed" which had Mum and Laura covering their eyes in shame).  I must have had sheer terror written all over my face because I've never been told to "relax" and "calm down" as much in my entire life.

Once I had the first dress on, I honestly felt like I couldn't breathe.  It was so huge and heavy and I couldn't believe that any woman could comfortably wear a dress that heavy all day.  There was panic stations again when I quickly concluded that there is no way I can wear any of the heavy dresses she was bringing to me.  By the third dress I was flustered and too hot and my hair was starting to stick to my forehead.  Not a good look at all.  She had me in heels as well, which I don't usually wear on account of being almost 5ft 9, so I was tottering about like a giant too.  I just wasn't feeling very "me" at all and I think it showed.

I think it was maybe the 4th dress where we went in a completely opposite direction, with a tight, figure-hugging, full-length gown with a fishtail and train at the bottom.  When the curtain was pulled back Laura and Mum both looked stunned and when I saw myself in the mirror I couldn't believe how good it looked.  They always say that you'll end up loving a dress the complete opposite of what you would have picked for yourself.  It really is important to try different styles on and trust the opinion of the assistants because they really do know what looks best on your figure.  This dress was gorgeous and I felt and looked great in it - and if I was having a "proper" wedding at home I may have picked it, but it wasn't suitable for an elopement or for the theme I had envisioned.  So I reluctantly took it off again. 

I did at this stage ask if it was possible to snap a picture just so I could remember what I looked like in a such a gorgeous dress but, as I expected, they said no.  Such a shame but understandable, of course. But after seeing for the first time that I could look good in a wedding dress and understanding that these dresses are especially designed to make you look your best, I calmed down a little bit and became a bit more open minded about the next couple of dresses.  We did return to a few dresses that were more similar to what I had wanted and the pictures that I had brought in with me.

I tried on a couple more that were closer, but not quite perfect, all the while noting that Mum had her beady eyes on one in particular that I was yet to try on. She kept pointing it out and I could hear her from behind the curtain talking about it and at one stage the assistant went to take it away and Laura shouted for her to bring it back.  The sample dresses are in all different sizes and some were too big, and some were too small.  When I tried on the dress that Mum had picked out, the zip went up and it fitted perfectly.  When I looked in the mirror my first words were "Mum is going to love this" and the assistant said "But do you love it?" and I remember saying "Yeah, I actually do" while my face contorted into the first involuntary smile since I arrived to the shop.

Once the curtain went back the overall reaction from Mum and Laura was a big "Yes" and I walked out over to the bigger mirror for a closer look.  It was the first dress that I felt really comfortable in, the first that I felt was just the right amount of special without being over-kill for our low key elopement. I don't mind, at this stage, saying that my style icon for my New York wedding is very much Audrey Hepburn - I don't feel like this gives too much away about the dress that I went for because Audrey was famous for so many styles, but this one was just completely "her" while being completely "me" too. 

I reluctantly took the dress off in order to try a couple more that were picked out for me but they just weren't as nice as the "Audrey" dress I, by this stage, had fallen a bit in love with. So I put my favourite dress back on again and it just felt right, kind of like slipping back into an old favourite outfit, something you feel comfortable and happy in.  I was swooshing about the changing room when Mum said "she must like it, she's smiling!". 

Having watched a million episodes of Don't Tell The Bride I used to always scoff at the brides that broke down into tears when they tried on dresses - I didn't break down into tears - but I did feel a little choked up, just a little, and that really surprised me.  In fact, when I was recalling the story to my friend Claire in work this morning, I was shocked that I got the same choked up feeling again. The wedding dress experience has chipped away at my hardened, non-girly surface and let some emotion in.  How terrifying.

The assistants then started adding the odd accessory to complete the look including a birdcage hairband which actually, to my surprise, looked really good.  After a bit of preening and flouncing about the changing room the assistant disappeared to get us a price.  We'd have to pay extra to rush the dress in - a rush order will bring the dress in, in December so it's going to be incredibly tight on time but I have faith. The price totally surprised all of us, I'm completely jammy, you have no idea....I think I did a little jump for joy? It's possible. 

So, standing in the far-too-hot changing room in my lovely Audrey Dress, the assistant rather dramatically said "So Rachel....Do you say yes to the dress?" and I said "Yes!" and everyone did a little cheer.  And that was that.  Done, sorted, and all in one hour-long session.  I honestly felt sad when I had to take my dress off and hand it back.  There was a huge part of me that was secretly delighted not to have to go through all that again but I suppose, looking back, it was a lot of fun.  Despite all my flapping.

Mum, Laura and I went back to my house afterwards for some low-key bubbles to toast the occasion and pizza, which I am claiming to be my last until December because now I officially have a dress I need to fit into!  Huge thank you to Laura for coming with me, for driving us, for her honesty and for keeping everything under control.  And an even bigger thanks to Wendy who kept her cool and for everything else.  I hope you guys enjoyed the experience, even if you did have a rather petrified and flustered bride on your hands!

Most Organised Bride Award Goes To...

Me, apparently!

5 months to go and everything is under control so far.  All that is left to do is find my dress (which I've already picked, but may need made for me), Michael's suit and choose our wedding rings (which will need made also).  I also need to find someone who can do my makeup - something I keep forgetting about. The rest is all little bits and pieces and tying up loose ends.  It's getting increasingly harder to blog without giving too much away - I began writing this blog as something just for Michael and I to look back on some day. I haven't really shared it that much, the link is on my Instagram page and that's about it, but with over 2000 views I know someone out there is reading (and I can guarantee it isn't Michael!!)

I have an appointment at a bridal shop tomorrow with my Mum and my sister Laura to try on some dresses.  I don't really expect to be able to find the style of dress I would like in a bridal shop, but it will be a fun day out with the girls.  I know I'll be expected to try on ridiculous dresses for fun - I have palpitations just thinking about it!  I think it's also a rite of passage for a Mum to bring her daughter to try on wedding dresses, so that's what we intend to do!  I'm starting to feel bad for not having my Mum there for the ceremony so I want to make sure that I can honour all the other Mother-of-the-Bride traditions that I can.

I moved back home with my lovely Motherbear for the "12th weekend" as it's known in Northern Ireland so that I didn't have to be near any bonfires or other related ridiculousness and we had a really nice weekend.  We took ourselves off on a stress-free shopping trip for wedding bits and pieces and ended up getting lots of the most perfect items for the Reception.  We were able to come home and spend a few hours experimenting with different decoration and had all the items laid out as they would be on the day.  Both of us were so happy with our choices - it was such a thrill to finally see our ideas become reality!

A few days later I went for dinner and dress shopping with my other bridesmaid Megan and just as what happened with Laura, we ended up buying the first dress she tried on. Both dresses are similar shape, length and colour but each dress is quite different and suited perfectly to each of the girls.  I'm really happy with their choices - they're going to look great!

This weekend Michael and I spent Sunday morning at St Georges Market in Belfast in the hope of finding some more bits and bobs for the Reception. As it turned out, we ended up leaving with our stomach's full and our hands empty (not such a bad thing) and ended up going to Rushmere for a nosey afterwards. Unfortunately, a quick visit to Pets at Home resulted in us getting majorly distracted by a small ball of grey fluff which we just had to have.  The rest of the day was a write off wedding-wise as we focused on helping our new baby bunny settle in.  This is one of the reasons I love Michael so much - he feels the same as I do about small fluffy creatures. We now have 3 small furry friends named Shadow, Charlotte and Sheldon - we're entirely bonkers but they make our home a very happy one!

We've also picked our invitations which we absolutely love.  The work that has gone into them has had my head turned for months now.  We'll likely be sending them out in October/November and hope to have all the RSVP's back in early December so we can have everything wrapped up before we leave for the States.  Fittingly, our invitations are being printed by a company in New York and I know they'll do an excellent job with them.  We won't be having a gift list per se but a Bucket List instead.  You'll see what I mean when you get the invitation :)

I also attended my second Hen Party this year for my lovely friend Amy who is getting married to Michael's friend Richard in the Galgorm in 4 weeks time!  We went to Jungle NI for an adventure weekend and it was the most fun - we did so many activities like Zorbing, Shooting, Archery (which I was fab at, much to Mr Archer's delight) and got to relax in a huge hot tub afterwards.  It was a great bonding weekend for Amy and all her friends and it made me excited (and nervous) about mine in November. Megan and my friend Lucy have taken over the plans and I haven't a clue about what's going on.  Which is both exciting and terrifying in equal measures and also quite hard for me being the total control freak that I am!  But I'm really looking forward to it too. I love all my girls and I'm so excited that so many of them have agreed to come along, especially as it's so close to Christmas.

Michael would need to get his Stag sorted ASAP if he wants to get away!  He's been putting it off I think out of nervousness.  He's going to Richard's Stag do next weekend though so hopefully it will make him relax about it - or possibly make him even more nervous about it!  Stag's are a lot worse than Hen's though aren't they?  Maybe...

 

Other than that there isn't too much to update on.  The two of us are putting the majority of our energy into work and make sure we save as much as we can each month.  Michael is putting in every hour of overtime that he can sign up for and I'm so proud of him.  He's so exhausted that he's nodding off on the sofa every night and we're barely able to spend as much time together as we usually would.  It just makes our time together more special and if he does happen upon a free weekend we like to make sure that we spend it wisely, doing all of the things we like to do. (eating, drinking and purchasing animals apparently...)