My conscience has been troubled for some time that I have failed to write a blog post about Leyla’s wedding. It has been in You & Your Wedding and featured on Love My Dress but I have been spectacularly remiss in my efforts to write any thing at all.
Anyone that doesn’t inhabit planet Bush or is not a Miss Bush bride will not know that Leyla has been, along with Corinne, one of the architects and facilitators of new look, new feel Bush! As a colleague Leyla is the most conscientious, organised and committed team player and as a friend Leyla is unswervingly loyal, endearingly eccentric and completely lovely.
The glorious Jenny Packham/Jesus Peiro combination of dresses Leyla picked embody all the natural style and individuality of all our clients. As an ex City girl and die hard London dweller Leyla has that innate coolness & picked fashion led original pieces, the Jenny Packham being pretty much decided on a buying trip at Jenny Packham HQ. The silk crepe Cynthia had a real 70s edge, reminiscent of Leyla’s Mum’s favourite designer Ossie Clark. The silver gilt brocade Jesus Peiro was customised at Miss Bush. My hi-low hem obsession rubbed off on Leyla turning the style 5020 into a perfect dress for dancing and showing off the Choos!
Leyla’s choice of Nonsuch Mansion just outside London was the first among several choices that came from both the heart and the head. Having fallen in love with the venue at a friend’s wedding it was picked with minimum fuss and they delivered maximum service allowing Leyla a completely free reign with styling and supplier choice.
The day was captured expertly by Eddie Judd, a Miss Bush recommended photographer, flowers from Bloomingayles, hair by Sharon Roberts, Videography By Ashleigh from John Harris Wedding Films and DJ Matt Maurice add to the role call of Miss Bush firm favourites & collaborators.
For all the ease of choice of the suppliers, weirdly the only stress came from Leyla’s best qualities. The value & love that Leyla showers on her friends made the number crunching and the guest list torturous, the budget was exacting as they wanted to seriously treat their friends to a great time (free bar all day & night!) Promises were extracted from me that I would dance, not ever usually a problem with a free bar and I would have a good time. As our desks are edge to edge I witnessed how much devotion and care Leyla spent over every little touch to make her guests feel welcome and treasured. The only time I ever had to hand out some tough love was when she was waffling on the invites – “just put ‘No Kids’ everyone understands!” was the sum total of my input.
I know all brides are beautiful on their wedding day, except those random strangers on the internet with their boobs hanging out of their dress. I know Leyla was fortunate to have access to some of the UKs most gorgeous dress designers and that she was already on first name terms with some of the most amazing wedding suppliers. The special thing for me as I watched and heard the planning from the engagement to the vows was to truly understand how much in love with Sam Leyla is. To see an already hot, intelligent woman with a a pretty amazing figure become luminant and radiate love, loyalty and beauty on her wedding day and get a ringside seat is a privilege.
I am also chuckling quite hard that this vision is now bought down to earth by the 20 week pregnant Leyla that has now no thigh gap, a spectacular bosom and a retch/nausea side effect that has her slumping to her knees, reaching for crackers and peppermints and having a little lie down on the mezzanine. I am impatient to meet genetically blessed Baby Dumonteil and add another gorgeous baby to my flock of Bush Babies. I am also secretly longing to get wine drinking, late night Leyla back as much as she is!
I can’t thank Leyla enough for how wonderful she has been for my business and for me personally. Last year was testing, so testing when I look back and make a mental list of the crisis we faced, the obstacles we overcame and the achievements we finally made it makes weak and wondrous at once.
Walking a long a packed West End street with me hyperventilating with anxiety and stress claiming not to be able to breath, Leyla steered me into a chic cocktail lounge and rescued me. ( Yes, kids, I know cocktails are not the answer…) When faced with the most ridiculous court case ever it was Leyla, with the efficiency of a QC, that prepared my court documents and helped me to win. When I need my moral compass adjusting, when I need some straight talking or when I need a fellow hypochondriac to count on Leyla is right there for me.
I get the feeling that I was not alone in feeling very honoured to be at Leyla and Sam’s wedding. The friends that they have are for life and work friends can come and go.
Leyla is a mad, beautiful, extraordinary woman and both Sam & I are lucky to have her.
Emma xxx
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Suppliers
Photography: Eddie Judd
Wedding Dresses: ‘Cynthia’ by Jenny Packham and Style 5020 by Jesus Peiro at Miss Bush
Venue: Nonsuch Mansion, Surrey
Veil: Miss Bush Bridal
Headpiece: ‘Tzarina’ headband by Jenny Packham at Miss Bush
Shoes: ‘Lotte’ by Jimmy Choo
Hair Stylist: Sharon Roberts at Wonderful Wedding Hair
Makeup Artist: Tania Stephenson-Oliver
Groom’s Suit: October House
Bridesmaids Dresses: Ghost
Shoes: Dune + Hobbs
Florist: Gayle Evans of Bloomingayles.
Cake: Boulangerie Jade
Stationery: Tanya Jago of Bureau Design
Emma Meek, MD of Miss Bush
Miss Bush is Surrey’s leading designer bridal shop
