Our Day by Design

Although I revealed what I was going to use for my old, new borrow & blue here , I wanted to show you the actual items from the day. Something old... My Grandmothers sapphire ring. {My sister is also going to wear it at her wedding, which is just 46 days away!} Something new... My dress. Something borrowed... My mums wedding garter. {My sister is also going to borrow it.} (Garter images by me) Something blue... 'I Do' rhinestones on the bottom of my shoes. and a silver sixpence in your shoe. My aunt gave me a sixpence at my hen weekend, which came in a little box with the traditional rhyme on it. I stuck it inside my shoe with sellotape so it wouldn't move around. {My friend Helen used it at her wedding in Italy in August too, as her something borrowed.} (Sixpence images by me) (All images by Craig & Eva Sanders , unless otherwise noted)

So although I told you all about my dress hunt and shared when I ordered it, I never showed or told you what it was like until the wedding pics I posted here . My dress is a Sassi Holford design called Hayley, which I got from the stockist in Edinburgh, Rachel Scott . Sassi {well her team} also made the 3/4 length sleeve bolero for me to match the top of the dress as I didn't want the short sleeve version that it is normally put with. I loved wearing it so much and think I need to find a new occasion to wear it for! Once mum & Ashleigh were dressed and looking fabulous, it was time for me to put my dress on. The other girls stayed downstairs {Hazel was the only other bridesmaid who had seen the dress already} as I wanted to them all to see me for the first time when I came downstairs. I put on another quick squirt of perfume, got my underwear on {knickers, stockings & garter - the fantastic internal corset in my dress meant no bra was needed}, then stepped into my dress...

We had a fantastic trip down to London last weekend to visit my sister Ashleigh, her fiance Patrick and nephew Enzo. We hadn't seen them since the day after the wedding and hadn't been to their new flat yet so thought we were due a visit, especially since Enzo is growing every day! Me, Enzo & Ashleigh We arrived late Friday night and caught up with all their news over a few drinks. We told them all about our honeymoon then they were able to tell us about their wedding plans. They are hoping to get married in Gozo next summer and they are going to Malta next week to look at some venues. So exciting we have another wedding to look forward too and Ashleigh asked me to be her bridesmaid too, which I am so excited about; another fabulous wedding next year! So with plans starting to take shape, Ashleigh booked some dress shop appointments for Saturday, since I was going to be there. We started at Tantrums & Tiaras in Putney before meeting the boys for lunch by the river ...

I did a post about this tradition ages ago but thought it was time for an update since I now have everything sorted! Old - My Grandmothers sapphire ring {she left me this ring when she died so I really wanted to wear it; I got the jewellers to clean it for me this week and it looks lovely & sparkly again}. New - My dress; Although I could use almost everything im wearing; shoes, jewellery, veil, tiara etc! Borrowed - The garter my mum wore at her wedding. Blue - The sapphire ring would also count but my sister got me blue I Do rhinestones that can go on the bottom of my shoes. ...and I also have a sixpence for my shoe which my aunt gave me at my hen weekend!

I had my 3rd dress fitting this morning. The seamstress had sorted the length and added 3 bustle's so that I can put the train up for the evening reception. Everything else was great and after a quick adjustment to my additional item, the dress was ready to bring home! So its now lying on the spare bed at my parents house and the skirt when spread out, fills the whole double bed! While we were there I tried the veil Rachel ordered for me with the dress. The material, colour and style of the veil are perfect but unfortunately it just isn't long enough! I want it to be slightly longer than the end of train and at the moment it stops too far from the end and just looks a bit odd as it isn't really relating to anything. Rachel is busy at a wedding fair this weekend so I will speak to her on Monday to get it changed. Rachel herself did think it looked too short when it arrived so we will need to get the manufacturer to make a longer one. After the dress fitting we went to pick u...

I had my 2nd dress fitting at the seamstress today at lunchtime. Since I was there a couple of weeks ago, she had fixed all of the areas on the bodice that needed altered. It was lovely to finally see the dress as it should fit! The zip was a bit stiff so she will need to sort that for next time which will also help take in the final fit on the top of the bodice. She then pinned the hem to the required length at the front, since I had taken my shoes with me and we also looked at options for the bustle. The dress has quite a long train so I definitely need a bustle to keep that bit up, however when its up, the sides still trail quite a lot so she is also going to put one in at each side to make 3. My extra item had been altered too and it fits much better, she just needs to alter a couple of bits at the back. Rachel had dropped my veil off but we forgot to try it before she pinned the bustle's up so we will check the lenght of it when I go back. I am going to go back again this Sat...

I went to Rachel Scott yesterday morning to see my dress for the first time since it arrived a couple of weeks ago. Rachel had it hanging up ready for when I got there. It was so exciting getting to see my actual dress and being able to try on my dress that actually fitted me {well its a teeny bit big but you know what I mean}. It was also exactly as I remembered and how I expected it to look. The additional item I got made is also beautiful and looks great with the dress since it matches exactly. Although it was expensive I'm so glad I decided to go for it as I would never have been able to find one that matched or looked as good. I took my shoes with me as well so I could see what it all looked like together and I'm so pleased with it all. My mum did take a couple of pictures so we can remember what its like and show my sister but sorry to say I'm not going to share them on here. I don't want Graham or my other bridesmaids or family to see it before the day. I loo...

...another 5.5lbs lost! Current Weight [06.02.10] - 9st 6.5lbs Total Loss = 42lbs {exactly 3 stone!} I went to our WW meeting again yesterday with mum, just to check my maintenance plan is working. I had lost some more weight again, even though I wasn't really trying too, but I think it was because I wasn't eating much when I wasn't well over Christmas. It had also been 12 weeks since I was last there so I had only really lost around half a pound a week. I definitely don't want to lose any more weight and since I've lost half stone since I got measured for my dress, I think it may be a bit too big when I go next week. At least it is so much easier to take a dress in than let it out! After the meeting we went for lunch before I met my friends Helen, Lucy and Nic at Pretty Woman to look for bridesmaids dresses for Helen's wedding in August. We went for a couple of drinks afterwards before heading home. Today I have been doing the rest of the evening invites and I...

Yippee, my dress has arrived in the shop! I cant wait to see it again and be able to put on a dress that actually {hopefully} fits! I called the dress shop at lunchtime today to make appointments for my bridesmaids to get fitted. As we were discussing dates and times, Rachel said that my dress had just arrived the day before so we should also make an appointment for me to go in and see it. I'm really glad I got my shoes already as I will need to take them with me when I go. I have a couple of days off work in February so I have made an appointment on the 16th to go in and see then try on my dress! My mum is off work that week too so she will be able to come with me. Then I will make other appointments at the seamstress to get any alterations done. We did manage to make appointments for all of the bridesmaids fittings as well. For their first fittings, Helen is going to go on the 24th February; Lucy, Karen-Louise & Hazel on the 27th, then Ashleigh on the 12th March. Following th...

I paid the deposit for the final item we had to book today! I'm really pleased we managed to get everything sorted before going on holiday. We booked a 70 seater coach, from Prentice Coaches in Haddington, to take our guests from the church to the reception venue and it will return to Haddington after the reception. Not all of our guests will need the coach as many of our family and bridal party are staying over at the hotel but it should be big enough for the rest. It will also mean our evening guests from Haddington will be able to get the bus home! It was only £40 more to get the bigger coach, rather than a 57 seater, so we just booked it as we can always change to a smaller one later if required. Once I had received a quote or response from all of the 7 companies I contacted, the 3 quotes we received were roughly within the same price bracket. We booked the cheapest one since the company is actually based where we are getting married and we have heard good reports about them. ...

I went to get measured for my wedding dress today. Although I had already decided on the dress and paid for half, I opted to wait until I had lost the weight I wanted, before I got measured! Since I'm only 1lb away from my original goal, I pretty much managed it which was fab! It didn't take long, then we had a look at the designers size chart to see which size I should get. I was right in the middle of 2 main sizes but luckily the designer, Sassi Holfold, is a British designer who makes all her dresses at her studio in England, so I am able to get the odd size in between! I did consider going for the smaller size as it was only really an inch and a bit tight in the waist and hips, but didn't want to feel pressured to lose much more weight since I'm happy at the moment. The shop owner did point out that with the style of the dress {dont want to give too much away}, I will definitely want it to fit perfectly, without looking like its too tight! Obviously it will need to...

...a busy weekend. I had a lovely day yesterday with Grahams sister Hazel, one of my bridesmaids, then with Grahams family, a baby and friends. We started off at Rachel Scott with my mum, Hazel and Graham & Hazels mum, Rosemary, where Hazel tried on the bridesmaid dress that the other girls tried on before . She loved it and both mums agreed it looked fantastic on her and was a great choice. We were able to take another peek at the same dress in the colour we want which helped them visualise what they will look like. So the decision is made and I made an appointment on the 31st of October for Ashleigh to get measured since she will be up in Edinburgh for her baby's christening. The other girls that live here will probably be measured at the same time too. Hazel got her measurements taken yesterday in case she isn't up again before we need to order. I couldn't resist trying on my dress again so that I could let Hazel & Rosemary have a look and get an idea of how the ...

I really like the idea of a vintage brooch to wear on my dress. It could also serve as my something old . Here are a couple of the examples I have been looking at so far from some Etsy sellers: L-R: Vintage Faux Pearl Crystal Rhinestone Brooch; Vintage Trifari Pearl Brooch (Images from L-R MissCecesJewels ; ANTIQUEANDVINTAGE ) Magpie Vintage also have lots of original signed styles which are more expensive: L-R: Signed Sarah Coventry Brooch; Signed Trifari Brooch (Images from here ) Of course there are also some stunning modern brooches, although these tend to have a higher price tag. I love the ones from Yarwood White below: L-R: Modern Heirloom Brooch; Divinity Brooch (Images from here ) These ones from The White Aisle are really reasonable, even with shipping from the states: L-R: Chloe Brooch; Pearl & Crystal Star Brooch (Images from here ) So many to choose from...

Yippee! I ordered my dress yesterday! We went to Rachel Scott for my appointment and had a quick look around, even though I was pretty sure I was going to get my original choice! I didn't see any others anything like the one I had chosen so I tried it on and yes, its still the one! Everyone (my mum & my 2 aunts who were with me) agreed it was beautiful so I handed over my card and signed on the dotted line. Rachel was also lovely and I'm really pleased to be getting my dress from her shop. Since I'm still losing weight I don't need to go back until the start of October to get measured, then they will make the dress to come around February (4-6 weeks before the wedding). Seems like ages away until I will get to try on my actual dress & one that fits since the shop sample is tiny! Now I can start thinking about flowers, accessories & bridesmaids dresses!

I have been trying to make another appointment at the original shop I found my dress at for a couple of weeks. Helen had been trying to make an appointment a while ago and could never get through on the phone which I thought was a bit odd. I did manage to get through to them on 28th May and was told that they were getting some work done in the shop in the next couple of weeks and they weren't taking any appointments. So that seemed to explain the issue with the phones. I tried again on Monday this week and again, the phone number wouldn't work, it just kept saying 'this number doesn't receive incoming calls'. Talked about it with mum who agreed it seemed a bit strange and maybe we should go past the shop. The same thing happened on Tuesday, so I drove past on my way home from work. Th ere wasn't much life in the shop (to be expected if it's getting re-fitted) but there were a couple of paper signs on the windows saying 'Bridal Enquiries; Rachel Scott Co...

Saturday 9th May: The first 3 days had just been me & my mum but my sister came up from London for the last day of shopping. Caroline Castigliano - All of the dresses in the eighth shop were fabulous and they had quite a big selection. They leave 2 hours for each appointment, rather than the standard 1 hour, which gives you plenty time to try on lots of dresses. When we arrived we were given a glass of wine and the assistant talked about what my day was going to be like and what I wanted for my day. We haven't really thought too much about the exact details of the wedding so I explained that I had already been to loads of dress shops and I knew what shape / style and material I wanted already. I had on 5 different dresses here, 4 the material I wanted and another the assistant wanted me to try which I didn't like. All the dresses were beautiful, lovely materials and really high quality. There were 2 I liked and 1 favourite which I tried on twice, along with the bolero ...

Sunday 3rd May: Ivory Whites - The seventh shop was really nice, and is situated on a private estate. I had originally met the owner at the wedding fair at Norton House. They didn't have a huge selection but as I had already narrowed down to what I wanted, this wasn't a problem. I tried on 3 dresses, by Lyn Ashworth & Ritva Westenius, and the first 2 were lovely. The 3rd, although the material was nice, was a slightly different shape which just didn't look as good so the owner didn't even bother doing the back up. I took the details of the first 2 and they went into the favourites pile. They also stocked some nice veils and tiaras, which is worth remembering for the future. The owner was lovely here and I would have loved to have found my dress here, however I will definitely be back to look at their bridesmaids dresses. So now have tried on 33 dresses.

Saturday 2nd May: Kavelle - The fourth shop had a big selection and was run by a lovely family who were really nice and friendly. I tried on a variety of styles here, including some that I hadn't tried already, but discounted most of them, which I guess was kind of the point. This was the only shop which had decent sample sizes which meant I could get into most of them and some were even too big. I tried on another 5 dresses here, some more by Pronovias, and they gave me plenty of accessories to try on as well. My favourite dress from here, although lovely, was so so heavy and there is no way I could have kept it on all day. Pretty Woman - I wasn't as impressed with the fifth shop as I thought I would be. I'm not sure what I expected but I used to live near this shop and passed by it daily and always thought the dresses would be nicer. They did have a good selection and they stocked some dresses in more than one size which was also helpful. Again, I tried on 5 dresses in ...

I think* that I have now found the dress, after 3 weekends and 4 days of searching. I went to 9 different shops in total, all in or around Edinburgh, and I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Here is a quick recap of my experience on day 1 (days 2, 3 & 4 to follow). Saturday 25 th April: I wasn't sure what to expect but by the 3rd shop, I was definitely loving it! It was so good to try on loads of different styles & fabrics to get an idea what suited me and what I liked, with all the veils & tiaras too. La Novia - The first shop I went to didn't have a huge selection and the shop was quite small. They have lots of Ian Stuart dresses here which are a bit too wacky for me as well as some Pronovias & Mori Lee. Since this was the first shop I had been to I tried on 5 dresses in a variety of styles including a few strapless and others with straps. I had first wanted a really plain dress but after trying them on I realised they didn't look special en...

Following my last post, another traditional rhyme: Something old, Something new, Something borrowed, Something blue, And a silver sixpence in your shoe. I definitely plan to have one of each and so far I'm thinking the following: Old - Vintage brooch on dress (will make sense when you see dress) or Grandmothers sapphire ring New - Dress Borrowed - Jewellery Blue - Grandmothers sapphire ring (she left me this ring when she died so would be a lovely way of including it but can I use the same thing twice if its also my something old?)