Real bride Marina wearing Suzanne Neville Baroque lace wedding dress

In conversation with Gayle (of Bloomingayles flowery fame) post our Brides the Show shoot, glass in hand we reflected, with slightly damp eyes, on our mutual client Marina. “Wouldn’t it be amazing if all brides were like her” we sighed clutching our glasses.

I am, ordinarily, averse to the word ‘awesome’. Why I clicked through to a post written by Kat Williams aka Rock n Roll Bride entitled ‘Three ways to ensure you only work with awesome clients’ is a mystery but deep in my subconscious I believe it refers to wanting my clients all to be Marina-a-likes. To be even more contrary I don’t want my brides to all look like her, have the same taste in frocks but I do so love it when I ‘click’ with a client.

One of the interesting points that Kat makes in her article when one removes the hyperbole is that directness & honesty at the outset establishes a great client/supplier relationship. I guess if the brides don’t like Miss Bush or our dresses then they simply elect to buy elsewhere but it is quite a daunting commercial prospect to turn down paying customers because they are not ‘awesome.’

My own sense of self-deprecation is preventing me publishing Marina’s thank you letter in full. Part of me would love to as a retort to the spiteful & inaccurate reviews that crop up on the internet.

However I am going to share the part about first impressions and attracting like-minded ‘clients of awesomeness.’

“I will always remember the awe I felt on entering Miss Bush on that particular snowy morning. Your dresses were out of this world, but what really made the difference was how supportive, straight talking & pragmatic you personally were – and the amazing extent to which you helped us.

You’re the absolute guru of weddings & your advice was invaluable. What a breath of fresh air. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Not only that – but you were so instrumental in making my big day what it was, through connecting me with the wonders that are Elbie & Gayle. OMG – what a star pair. They were both spectacular on & before the day.

I don’t know what on earth I did to deserve all of their & your support, but I’m incredibly grateful. You are a bunch of heroes. True.”

It just so happens that Marina also wore one of my favourite dresses of the season – Baroque, by Suzanne Neville – and had the supreme sense & fabulous taste to book Chloe Brown of Caught the Light.

Suppliers

Photography: Chloe Brown from Caught The Light
Flowers: Gayle at Bloomingayles
Hair: Elbie Van Eeeden
The Dress: Suzanne Neville at Miss Bush

Enjoy the photos, the inspirational flowers & hair, the soft colour palette. Marvel at the woodland setting. Most of all brides-to-be and retailers should note that being part of a brides experience is not only about the dresses, the pretty and out of a text-book customer service it is about being yourself.

(Now excuse me while I put my pants over my tights in the manner of Superhero!)

Emma x