Going to the Chapel – Launch Event

The truth of the adage  ‘it is not what you know but who you know’ is undeniable Before you all take a sharp intake of breath thinking I am about to embark on an epic name-dropping post about how wonderfully well-connected I am, my purpose is to celebrate the amazing talent, wonderful friends & support that surrounded The Chapel launch.

As the vision for the Chapel is to make the experience of dress shopping fun, luxurious and stylish the trade & press launch party had to embody that. With the building work going to the wire, the juggling of client appointments between buildings and the day-to-day business of Miss Bush I called on the best people I know to make the party fabulous.

Gayle Evans of Bloomingayles & Jen Middlehurst of Kalm Kitchen work together on many weddings. Their work astounds me. When you are throwing a party for wedding industry insiders a tray of Waitrose canapes & a glass of Sauv’ Blanc will not cut the mustard. Subconsciously us in the industry judge; you simply can’t help it. In any trade or industry, when you are so familiar with work you can’t help it. If you were a proof reader and were to read my blog you couldn’t help but notice spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. Maybe it wouldn’t stop you reading but you might roll your eyes, you would make a mental note of my deficiency.

It was so important to me that I had  Gayle & Jen on board that I based The Chapel launch date on their availability. The architecture, the interior design and the spirit of Miss Bush was enhanced so greatly by their pairing I think I might run out of adjectives for amazing. * reaches for thesaurus* Gayle’s brief was to reinvent church flowers, work with Kalm Kitchen, do something round the door and ‘is there a cool way of doing pedestals?’. Kalm Kitchen didn’t even get a brief, a site meeting and a rough idea of numbers was all I had to do.

From the cocktail bar on ladders with chemistry set glassware, to the salmon carving station, decorated like an old-fashioned grocers, and the guests being served delicious cocktails and canapes by smiley,gorgeous waitresses from platters of angel wings the result was heavenly.

Both Bloomingayles & Kalm Kitchen worked the Bush yellow angle in new & exciting ways. I have yet to see Gayle’s arrangements without seeing a new flower I don’t know & Jen’s Porn Star Martini’s were “yellow, strong & full on!” Obvs…

The guest list was, as a wedding guest list is, a struggle. Limited to numbers I invited peers from across the wedding industry with whom I have developed my  business & career and theirs through mutual support. Annabel Beeforth, from Love My Dress, was the first wedding blogger I met, Camilla Newman, the Publisher of Conde Nast Brides, and I were just girls when we first started working together. The team from Jenny Packham were there ( they burst through the Chapel doors like the Cullens from Twilight on a night out – so black-dressed, so fashion, so fabulous) I have worked with Jenny Packham for 20 years since were just newbies. Suzanne Neville, her husband Richard ( tell me he is not Petyr Baelish from Game of Thrones) and the ever supportive Suzanne Neville Directors Jane & Tony Hampton were there. Jane & I have been competing for brides & supporting each other for 26 years. Arbiter of wedding style Laura Caudery from Fetcham Park was in attendance as was King of Formal Wear Steve Bishop who provided the suits for my (1st!!) wedding 20 years ago. Renown Fairtrade jeweller Jon Dibben came;  I was at school with him and actually half painted an alarming mural on his bedroom wall. So while this reads like a Who’s Who guest list these are the people who have been endlessly supportive, inspirational and have had the tenacity ( or insanity) to stay the course in the wedding industry.

The heart & soul of Team Bush  – Gen, Corrine, Tegan, Janet & Leyla – have not had a day off in weeks. For the party they grabbed their glad rags and, along with me, were pampered by Sharon Roberts, Carolanne Berry & new girl Tania Stephenson Oliver. Sharon & Carolanne could not be more Team Bush short of putting them on the payroll. I don’t even remember if I actually asked them to do all our make up & hair plus two models and the entire Kalm Kitchen waiting staff. They just cleared their diaries, rearranged their lives, got childcare and showed up. This, people, is why you need to get working Mums as suppliers Their capacity for hard work, organisational ability & talent is boundless. Plus the desire to get a night off & drink cocktails means they rarely say no 😉

Ripley is a unique village. I was resident for 17 years and Miss Bush has been centrally located for 26 years. My life, Miss Bush & Ripley are inextricably  tangled for better or for worse. Sometimes being under a microscope, with everyone having an opinion is beyond irritating. It is like being in a family. All the residents have dropped into The Chapel so have a look as they’re passing, even the goddamn-famous-weak-at-the-knees ones. From Scott ( Kane FM & Ripley resident) DJ-ing, to Mindi (Broadway Barns)  loaning the candelabra, Serina (Drakes) dropping in vintage champagne, Deborah (Nest) lending her cafe tables and chairs our business neighbours have been wonderfully supportive. The guests from the village included Parish Councillors, Steve Drake our local Michelin starred chef from Drakes and architects of the Ripley renaissance Chris & Lisanne Mealing. On the night I referenced the African proverb ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ and I think it is not too much of a stretch to extend that as a metaphor for Miss Bush and The Chapel launch. I couldn’t have done it without encouragement from our friends in the village.  When The Lovely Marshy & I were flagging Clare Porter & Scott Hutchinson always seemed to be passing and would stare at the cavernous space and say ‘it’s going to be amazing.’

It is all about ‘who you know’ and you have all been amazing. Thank you xxx

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Photography: Carey Sheffield
Floral Design: Bloomingayles
Catering: Kalm Kitchen
Hair: Sharon Roberts
Make Up: Carolanne Armstrong
Styling and Decor: See previous post here.

Emma xxx
Emma Meek, MD of Miss Bush Bridalwear
Miss Bush Bridalwear is Surrey’s leading designer bridal shop