One bridesmaid dress tacked to the point that I can leave it in hibernation...
My sister is back from her year studying in the US in September.
I will have 6 weeks to insert the netting, finalise the zip tacking, handstitch the hem and ensure the correct fit before the Big Day.
Easy peasy!
Right... off you go into your moth-proof bag...
As promised...
The beamed ceiling that pretty much sold it to us.
The side bays where the laid tables will lie in wait during the service to be pulled out into formation during the cocktail hour.
The tables were arranged on this occasion out for a fundraiser in the evening. We took the opportunity to experiment with centrepiece ideas...
The 40cm high hurricane lamp was a bargainous £9.99 from Butlers in Islington and the flowers were purchased that morning from Flowers!Flowers! in St Albans. There will be less green and more white and blue in them ultimately but this was just a pretty idea...
Looked Hot!
And this is all I'm allowed to show you... She wanted to wait to share the 'Slinky McSlink' element of it until the big day...
Really pleased with the colour and the neckline. Even managed to get a gorgeous strapless bra in the sales in DC so we're getting there...
Now, all I have to do is actually make it...
That would be tacking not tacky... That is, tacking the dresses together.
Silk arrived in all its glory.
Pattern got ordered.
Toile in black linen was tried on by bridesmaid No 1. Strap issues noted, along with note to self to not photograph a dark dress against a dark stairway...
First mock-up made in the actual sapphire silk to take to Bridesmaid No 2 (also Sis No 1) in the US next week. As she's a smidgen smaller than me, I was able to try hers on me while clenching everything possible. Note the ruckles around the posterior where it just would not budge an inch lower... Hmmmmm....
Had slight issue with the shoulder pieces as the sharpness of the angle seems to be much exagerrated on the pattern envelope. Have recut the straps a few times and pinning managed to achieve this look.
I think it's getting there, don't you?
NB 1: You should note the wedding planning timeline on the door in the background. Wedding planners aren't just 9-5 dontcha know?
NB 2: Excuse the Sunday Chic. Gardening + walk in the country + photographs on world wide web = not a great look.
Gotta love Wrapit. Such a brilliant setup and such pretty things!
Mugs from Burleigh
Dinner service in Filets Bleu from Gien
With serving pieces in a more floral pattern called Hortensia
White linen napkins with blue embroidered edge...
And William Bounds 'Love' pepper and salt set to accent the scheme.
A wonderful day with my Mum today in fair Warwick. We came across a little boutique which stocked Victoria Ann fascinators. Sadly it seems that this is a wholesale only milliners: I'm going to do some legwork and see if I can't beg borrow or something from their West End store.
In the meantime, I'm looking around to see if we can recreate the fandango below in colours more approaching her dress fabric which is Olive Green and Navy Blue.
I'm getting quite excited that this may be eminently possible...
Does anyone have any experience of making or commissioning a fascinator that could advise?
Work is underway on my beautiful hair adornments. I've just received this gorgeous update photo from the wonderfully accommodating Betsy of The Foundling and can't wait to get my hot little hands on them!!
In line with my sapphire and pearl theme, we've replaced the black beads in the centre for 'found' pearls and I'm loving the variety that she's managed to track down. Betsy reckons we may even get these in the post by the end of the week.
Can hardly contain my excitement!!
It occurs to me that I could pimp my heels in a similar fashion to the above, where the bride glued her own bow adornment to the toe to add a bit of jzuzj. Wouldn't that just be the touch that the below sensible plain heels need to move them into the next zone of pretty away from functional and sensible? I'm off at lunch to try them on... for only £40, what's not to like? 
If anyone tells you that it's worth the time and effort to make yourself a petticoat to save you the £60 retail cost with £8 worth of net and a steady hand, take my word for it.
It's not.
Not in a million years of pins in thumbs and acres and acres and acres and acres of gathers, seams, pins and starching.
It's really not.
Retro style? Check
Subtle bow? Check
Comfortable shape and high neckline for coyness? Check
On budget?
Ah.
Speedy answerer of emails, Betsy has given me a very reasonable quote to make a range of these gorgeous poppies for the hair adornment of me, my bridesmaids and flowergirls, replacing the black beads with found vintage pearl beads to continue my pearl and navy theme.
The Sis bridesmaid is to be convinced by the Mum this week and hopefully we can get the order in shortly.
Vintage, economical, handmade and bespoke. What more does a girl want?
What do you reckon - cheeky or cheesy?
At £35 for a set of 10 notelets (with hand-lined enveloples), they perhaps may be best saved for the particularly large present givers.
• Gold fabric with tonal dot motif. Went to the registry office this week to publish the banns of marriage with the Boy. After providing all his details about himself, he was asked by the Registrar to give my full name and age.
I got the giggles that I was not allowed to answer.
A swift look from the Boy and I controlled myself.
Due to a long-unremedied error on my passport, the exchange then went as follows:
Registrar: And the bride's date of birth?
Me: 12 September
Registrar: Oh...it says 2 September on your passport...?
Me: Oh... um... whichever suits you.*
Registrar: Well, which is it?
Me: Tedious explanation which I won't bore you with.
The Registrar sighs, accepts my explanation and fills in my correct date of birth. After reading out the legal ramifications of the forms and the need for care, attention and avoiding prison sentences for incest and treason, she asks me to check the licence.
At which point, the Boy realises that I am not the age that he stated. I am, in fact, a year older.
I never could do maths.
The two marriage licences are destroyed and we have to start all over again.
My giggles have now reached a critical level.
Ten minutes and much glaring from the Boy later, we narrowly escape from the registry office with our licence and £60 worse off.
We are awaiting postal confirmation that all is well.
I am not holding my breath.
*Note to others. If you find yourself in a similar situation in the future, provide detailed corroboration of your birthday. Do not think it will be helpful to allow the Registrar to choose for you. They will think you are illegal. Or lying. Or stupid. Or all three.
** If this isn't an excuse for another showing off of the bling, I don't know what is...
This gorgeous little number is from my new favourite place, Oli, and is a bargainous £30. Thank goodness I don't suit yellow even an inch or else my bank card would be getting something of a bashing right now.
