I DO!!

Last year I was honoured to be asked to be my best friend C’s bridesmaid at their upcoming wedding in June. As you can imagine it generated the usual and standard ‘Sophie’ response of shrieking and screaming in excitement, as did the other girls asked. After tracking down a dress she loved, C took 3 of us shopping at the weekend to try them on and see what they were like, and the outcome of the day was very surprising...

When entering the bridal boutique, C tracked down the dress in mind and asked me to try it on, which I dutifully did. The problem was, as you guys are probably aware now, I’m not particularly (ahem) blessed in the chest department. The dress itself was beautiful – knee length and chiffon, but the sweetheart neckline was enough to emphasise my gaping lack of assets. Luckily C quickly noted this and said herself that she wasn’t keen at all. I did point out that it might be because I am not a 6ft bronzed model beauty but Claire was kind enough to say it was the dress at fault, not me (hmm,haha!). So we were back to square one. Sure enough, the three of us continued to try on knee-length number after knee-length number and still nothing was standing out. Until C had a brainwave and suggested we try on some of the longer chiffon dresses with a view to shortening them. H disappeared off behind the curtain to change (it was like being on Stars in their Eyes coming out of that curtain – minus the smoke and dodgy stage make-up though). When she emerged 2 minutes later she looked absolutely breathtaking in the long, Grecian style dress with a sash waist. It was stunning. So stunning, in fact, that C has now completely changed her mind and all 6 of us are going to be drifting up the aisle in gorgeous, long chiffon gowns complete with beachy-style hair. I can’t wait. J and I did enquire as to whether they could make us a dress with built-in boobs, but they politely told us it wasn’t possible. Damn. I guess what I am trying to say is when selecting bridesmaid dresses, similarly to when selecting a wedding gown, allow yourself to be open to options as you will be surprised with what you end up liking.
The dress designer we have settled on is Dessy http://www.dessy.com/uk/ and if you want a consultative and enjoyable dress-finding trip then I would advise visiting the same boutique we visited - http://www.whitelaceandpromises.co.uk/. They have a fabulous range of both bridal and bridesmaid gowns and the staff are friendly, knowledgeable and helpful.

Seeing as it’s my fourth time as a bridesmaid now I am pretty familiar with the procedure – and I love it so much. It is, however, J’s first time. I think she found it a little overwhelming. At one point she actually said, “Guys, can i have a hug off each of you please?!” C and H are obviously kinder than me and readily hugged her...

.. I, however, said “Dear God woman, you have been watching FAR too much Glee!!”

;-)