Going to the Chapel – The Finished Look

If I were the consummate PR professional, the embodiment of the glamour I sell, the epitome of laid back chic I would be drifting into these shots with my Isabel Marant jeans claiming to have worked ‘hard & hands on’ on the Chapel renovation project. The ‘tough but effortless’ oxymoron would have come into play and it would have been bullshit

The truth is  The Lovely Marshy & I have been on site for 6 weeks, sanding, painting, scrubbing, climbing scaffolds, fixing Velux and buying the monetary equivalent of a family holiday Farrow & Ball. My sons were coerced into landscaping, my brother arm wrestled into sandblasting the Victorian air vents, Senior Bush has even been under coating the wainscoting. Every Tom, Dick & Harry I know that is an actual tradesperson; Andy the electrician, Tom the plumber, Carl the carpenter & Steve the flooring guy have been beseeched to work at their very minimum cost. I have called in favours from friends & family and even ex and current brides have been roped in. The grand statement chandelier is gifted from Broadway Barns owner Mindi, the coffee that fuelled us is was ever from our next door neighbours at Nest. The beautiful images and the jaw dropping results were produced from Herculean efforts & the never-ending love and good will of so many people that I think spirit of the endeavour has seeped into the very stones of the building.

As with most epiphanies & visions the dream is easier than the reality. I am now recovering from the tiredness, my bank balance may take a month or two to recover from my paint addiction and the  reef knot that I am sure my stomach was determined to create seems to have gone away. To be replaced, I might add,  by a fetching spare tyre of the result of the medicinal wine and the late night takeaways.

The work went to the wire. Carey Sheffield was booked to take photos at 1pm on Monday and she arrived as the last hooks were being added to the fitting rooms. The Chapel really is very beautiful now.  A unique and calm environment for brides where I hope the gorgeousness of our collections will shine even brighter. I want the space to have the feel of a gallery or a glamorous loft atelier. I want it to be somewhere our brides will love; that will add to their experience as much as their venue adds to their wedding.

To say I am excited for this weekends appointments is an understatement of the highest order. I am taking delivery of our Maggie Sottero trunk show samples, the fridge is full of fizz and I have the fervour of a convert. It’s like a new baby,  house move & taking the new BF home to meet the parents in one. I look knackered, I am in denial about the cost of the radiators & I am desperate for it to go well. I suspect it might…

On the subject of boyfriends, I have the very best one a girl could wish for. The Lovely Marshy has been at The Chapel before work, after work and all weekend for weeks. Asked about this, he told a friend ‘it’s our future’. This project could never have been happened without him and if it is possible to love the boy more I do.

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Photography: Carey Sheffield
Floral Design: Bloomingayles
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