Showing posts with label jenny packham. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jenny packham. Show all posts
28 November 2012
Season's Greetings
I really can’t believe it’s almost Christmas and our first anniversary in our beautiful new shop! The year has flown by and it’s been wonderful to serve our brides in complete comfort and style.
31 May 2012
Chilled-out Wedding Shop
It’s been a very busy time for us in the new shop and thank goodness for our amazing air conditioning, our brides have really enjoyed being able to try on the dresses without melting and coffee and tea has been replaced with orange juice and iced water!
12 April 2011
Spring is in the air!
How nice to have had some lovely weather at last, it makes us all feel in a better mood and we start to realise all the summer weddings are just around the corner.
14 June 2010
Flying & buying
I feel like my feet haven't touched the ground in the last 6 weeks. We have been on a buying trip to Barcelona to choose the new Pronovias dresses for 2011.
14 August 2009
Prêt-à-Portas
This time of year is really crazy and as soon as the school holidays come around it seems to make us extra busy. Having said this every time I ask a bride if they're a teacher they say no. Halfway through serving a bride I happened to ask if she was a teacher and she said "No, I'm a journalist with Wedding Ideas magazine!" She was so lovely and settled on a gorgeous new Pronovias dress. I felt like I'd been secret shoppered!
So many of our beautiful brides have got married recently, Debbie, Jodie, Karen and Louise who both had our Groomswear. Louise was married at the Town Hall and her reception was two doors down from our shop at The Lemon Tree. We saw a bridal car arrive outside and when she stepped out she looked breathtaking, the groom looked good too! It was like watching royalty.
We are having a Jenny Packham designer day on Saturday the 19th September, so if you like Jenny Packham dresses you'll want to book early to avoid disappointment. We'll have an extended collection plus special offers on that day.
Last month I received an email from a bride who got married several years ago, she said that she hoped I'd remembered her, and always called herself the "mad woman" and I knew exactly who she was. At the time she had just found out she was pregnant and was absolutely ecstatic, she thought the chance for children had passed her by and we were all so pleased for her. Sadly, shortly after this she lost the baby, it was devastating. She said that since the wedding and losing her baby she had developed breast cancer, and was taking the drug Herceptin. She told me how in her darkest moments she had remembered all the happy times she had spent with us choosing her dress and having all her fittings, and it had helped her through. I was so touched to think that after so many years and after all she'd been through we had given her such special memories and that she had taken the time to let me know how she was feeling, it was very humbling.
August is our buying time for all of the Spring/Summer 2010 mother of the bride collections. It's really exciting to see all the new designs, we have taken on some new labels including Luis Civit and Marchello, as well as revisiting our firm favourites Linea Raffaelli and Paule Vasseur. They're all amazing and its so exciting you just want to have them in your shop NOW! All you mums out there are in for a real treat.
In between appointments just behind Oxford Circus where all the fashion houses are, we have our favourite little cafe where we always stop for lunch, delicious Ciabatta and quick and easy when your in a hurry, not at all glamorous, imagine my surprise when I looked around and saw Natasha Kaplinsky was sitting there drinking a coffee. No sooner had I said to Lesley "there's Natasha Kaplinsky sitting over there" when Mary Portas walked in!!!!!
I couldn't believe it, she was sitting right in front of me. I couldn't stop myself, and went over to her and told her that I owned a bridal shop and that we were all devoted fans of her Mary Queen of Shops programs and thought she was an inspiration to all of us. I asked her if she would autograph one of our shop brochures and she did! She asked my name and wrote me a personalised message! I couldn't stop shaking I was so excited, what a fantastic lady, I texted everyone I knew and it was only my Dad that said "Who's Mary Portas?". You gotta laugh!
So many of our beautiful brides have got married recently, Debbie, Jodie, Karen and Louise who both had our Groomswear. Louise was married at the Town Hall and her reception was two doors down from our shop at The Lemon Tree. We saw a bridal car arrive outside and when she stepped out she looked breathtaking, the groom looked good too! It was like watching royalty.
We are having a Jenny Packham designer day on Saturday the 19th September, so if you like Jenny Packham dresses you'll want to book early to avoid disappointment. We'll have an extended collection plus special offers on that day.
Last month I received an email from a bride who got married several years ago, she said that she hoped I'd remembered her, and always called herself the "mad woman" and I knew exactly who she was. At the time she had just found out she was pregnant and was absolutely ecstatic, she thought the chance for children had passed her by and we were all so pleased for her. Sadly, shortly after this she lost the baby, it was devastating. She said that since the wedding and losing her baby she had developed breast cancer, and was taking the drug Herceptin. She told me how in her darkest moments she had remembered all the happy times she had spent with us choosing her dress and having all her fittings, and it had helped her through. I was so touched to think that after so many years and after all she'd been through we had given her such special memories and that she had taken the time to let me know how she was feeling, it was very humbling.
August is our buying time for all of the Spring/Summer 2010 mother of the bride collections. It's really exciting to see all the new designs, we have taken on some new labels including Luis Civit and Marchello, as well as revisiting our firm favourites Linea Raffaelli and Paule Vasseur. They're all amazing and its so exciting you just want to have them in your shop NOW! All you mums out there are in for a real treat.
In between appointments just behind Oxford Circus where all the fashion houses are, we have our favourite little cafe where we always stop for lunch, delicious Ciabatta and quick and easy when your in a hurry, not at all glamorous, imagine my surprise when I looked around and saw Natasha Kaplinsky was sitting there drinking a coffee. No sooner had I said to Lesley "there's Natasha Kaplinsky sitting over there" when Mary Portas walked in!!!!!
I couldn't believe it, she was sitting right in front of me. I couldn't stop myself, and went over to her and told her that I owned a bridal shop and that we were all devoted fans of her Mary Queen of Shops programs and thought she was an inspiration to all of us. I asked her if she would autograph one of our shop brochures and she did! She asked my name and wrote me a personalised message! I couldn't stop shaking I was so excited, what a fantastic lady, I texted everyone I knew and it was only my Dad that said "Who's Mary Portas?". You gotta laugh!
22 May 2009
Highs, Lows & Smelly Cabbage
I can't believe it's been a month since my last blog, time is going so quickly. My first brides are married now, including my lovely bride Stephanie who had the Jenny Packham 'Petra' who was wolf-whistled! She looked amazing, you can see some of her pictures on the brides gallery. Kate gets married tomorrow and I hope the weather is nice for all the brides getting married this week end.
The highlight of the month has definitely been going to the Tower of London to see the launch of the new Suzanne Neville Collection. What a treat! She truly is a world class designer and the new dresses were breath taking. I'm so excited about all the new dresses we've got coming in. The new Pronovias 2010 preview collection is now in, you can see them on our Pronovias page, they are really yummy!
The saddest thing was a bride who was to be married in the summer, her mother had become gravely ill and the wedding was moved forward to ensure she would be there, then we had a phone call first thing Monday morning to say that things had taken a turn for the worst and the bride collected her dress, drove straight to the hospice where they were married that morning at 11am. The bride was so brave and I'm sure it meant a lot to her and her mum to have the service there. Every now and then something like this happens which makes your realise not to take things for granted and keep a sense of perspective on the little things that can get blown out of all proportion.
As with most businesses we have noticed an increase in custom from fellow Europeans who have either chosen to settle here permanently or are just over here working for a few years before returning home. It's amazing that only one of all the girls I have asked is marrying an Englishman, most are marrying from within there own communities. Although one of our Australian brides met her New Zealander fiancee here in London. When trying to pronounce the name of the most beautiful Polish bride she told me to pronounce it 'smeelly cabbidge'! I couldn't believe the most stunning girl asking me to call her a 'smelly cabbage'! I asked why she hadn't chosen a prettier way of saying it and she told me that I wouldn't forget this way, and she was right. Four months after ordering her dress she came in for a fitting and I said "Ah look, Miss Smelly Cabbage is here for her fitting!" She just fell about laughing!
The highlight of the month has definitely been going to the Tower of London to see the launch of the new Suzanne Neville Collection. What a treat! She truly is a world class designer and the new dresses were breath taking. I'm so excited about all the new dresses we've got coming in. The new Pronovias 2010 preview collection is now in, you can see them on our Pronovias page, they are really yummy!
The saddest thing was a bride who was to be married in the summer, her mother had become gravely ill and the wedding was moved forward to ensure she would be there, then we had a phone call first thing Monday morning to say that things had taken a turn for the worst and the bride collected her dress, drove straight to the hospice where they were married that morning at 11am. The bride was so brave and I'm sure it meant a lot to her and her mum to have the service there. Every now and then something like this happens which makes your realise not to take things for granted and keep a sense of perspective on the little things that can get blown out of all proportion.
As with most businesses we have noticed an increase in custom from fellow Europeans who have either chosen to settle here permanently or are just over here working for a few years before returning home. It's amazing that only one of all the girls I have asked is marrying an Englishman, most are marrying from within there own communities. Although one of our Australian brides met her New Zealander fiancee here in London. When trying to pronounce the name of the most beautiful Polish bride she told me to pronounce it 'smeelly cabbidge'! I couldn't believe the most stunning girl asking me to call her a 'smelly cabbage'! I asked why she hadn't chosen a prettier way of saying it and she told me that I wouldn't forget this way, and she was right. Four months after ordering her dress she came in for a fitting and I said "Ah look, Miss Smelly Cabbage is here for her fitting!" She just fell about laughing!
24 April 2009
The Perfect Spring Wedding
I must apologise to all of you for how long it's been since I wrote my last blog entry.
You might remember that in my last post I was talking about going to the wedding of a very close friend. The day went perfectly, the weather was kind to us, the bride looked absolutely stunning in her designer dress, and my daughter Olivia was a flower girl and looked really gorgeous in her little dress that our seamstress Bryony had made for her. The guys scrubbed-up well too! The groom made a lovely speech which made everyone cry, and he said that because we'd provided the bride and bridesmaids dresses, as well as the outfits for both mothers, his sister and all of the guys, he felt he should have had a sign that read "wedding courtesy of The Wedding Shop Colchester".
The menswear is going really well and I have to say us girls could learn a thing or two from them. I love the camaraderie they seem to have with each other and I suppose it's easier for them to have a more light hearted approach as they feel the spotlight will be elsewhere! It's really great seeing a huge grin on the grooms face when he comes out of the changing room all dressed up. You can see our menswear collection on the web site now.
We've been and chosen all of the new collections for next year and I've gone meringue mad, I couldn't help myself as they all looked so pretty and romantic. Also, lots of dresses with shoulder straps and shrugs, and for those of you who cringe at the thought of yards of fabric we visited the Jenny Packham evening wear store where they also have a showroom for their collections. The boutique is simply amazing, it was an old bank and as a listed building they had to keep a lot of the original features and they've designed it beautifully to fit in with the fab' evening wear dresses. I especially like the door engraved with 'Acquisitions'. The dresses are classic Jenny Packham, very feminine and floaty in silk chiffon, and the charmuse silk-satin like liquid over the skin. I just can't wait for them all to come in.
You might remember that in my last post I was talking about going to the wedding of a very close friend. The day went perfectly, the weather was kind to us, the bride looked absolutely stunning in her designer dress, and my daughter Olivia was a flower girl and looked really gorgeous in her little dress that our seamstress Bryony had made for her. The guys scrubbed-up well too! The groom made a lovely speech which made everyone cry, and he said that because we'd provided the bride and bridesmaids dresses, as well as the outfits for both mothers, his sister and all of the guys, he felt he should have had a sign that read "wedding courtesy of The Wedding Shop Colchester".
The menswear is going really well and I have to say us girls could learn a thing or two from them. I love the camaraderie they seem to have with each other and I suppose it's easier for them to have a more light hearted approach as they feel the spotlight will be elsewhere! It's really great seeing a huge grin on the grooms face when he comes out of the changing room all dressed up. You can see our menswear collection on the web site now.
We've been and chosen all of the new collections for next year and I've gone meringue mad, I couldn't help myself as they all looked so pretty and romantic. Also, lots of dresses with shoulder straps and shrugs, and for those of you who cringe at the thought of yards of fabric we visited the Jenny Packham evening wear store where they also have a showroom for their collections. The boutique is simply amazing, it was an old bank and as a listed building they had to keep a lot of the original features and they've designed it beautifully to fit in with the fab' evening wear dresses. I especially like the door engraved with 'Acquisitions'. The dresses are classic Jenny Packham, very feminine and floaty in silk chiffon, and the charmuse silk-satin like liquid over the skin. I just can't wait for them all to come in.
02 January 2009
New Year, New Dresses
I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year, and are now ready to turn your undivided attention to your upcoming wedding! We've had a very international Christmas with brides coming from Dubai and Singapore.
The new Jenny Packham dresses have just arrived and I have to say they are absolutely gorgeous. Some of them are really bo-ho style in lovely soft chiffon's and others are the height of sexy sophistication in luxurious silk charmuse. For those of you that have visited us, you'll know that our shop goes over a set of steps and people can walk underneath you. One bride was trying the Jenny Packham dresses on and was wolf-whistled! We couldn't stop laughing and I told her she must have looked fantastic as the last comment we had from a passer-by was "Don't do it!".
January is very busy in the shop, we don't have a sale as such but we do sell our samples with a discount, so lots of the brides that have been in through the last year will come back and maybe buy the sample, or order their new dress in for the summer.
The Suzanne Neville dresses are also really lovely, the corsetry is fantastic and they give a stunning shape. She has been busy designing for the X-Factor and also for Alisha Dixon and the dresses looked fantastic. Beverley Lister is the latest designer we have added to our collections, if you're looking for a vintage lace style dress, but with the corsetry you would expect from a Suzanne Neville dress, then you'll love Beverly's dresses. From the outside they look soft and feminine but on the inside they are working hard at holding everything just where it should be!
Menswear is coming...
Nicola Garton
www.theweddingshop.co.uk
The new Jenny Packham dresses have just arrived and I have to say they are absolutely gorgeous. Some of them are really bo-ho style in lovely soft chiffon's and others are the height of sexy sophistication in luxurious silk charmuse. For those of you that have visited us, you'll know that our shop goes over a set of steps and people can walk underneath you. One bride was trying the Jenny Packham dresses on and was wolf-whistled! We couldn't stop laughing and I told her she must have looked fantastic as the last comment we had from a passer-by was "Don't do it!".
January is very busy in the shop, we don't have a sale as such but we do sell our samples with a discount, so lots of the brides that have been in through the last year will come back and maybe buy the sample, or order their new dress in for the summer.
The Suzanne Neville dresses are also really lovely, the corsetry is fantastic and they give a stunning shape. She has been busy designing for the X-Factor and also for Alisha Dixon and the dresses looked fantastic. Beverley Lister is the latest designer we have added to our collections, if you're looking for a vintage lace style dress, but with the corsetry you would expect from a Suzanne Neville dress, then you'll love Beverly's dresses. From the outside they look soft and feminine but on the inside they are working hard at holding everything just where it should be!
Menswear is coming...
Nicola Garton
www.theweddingshop.co.uk
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