No, I haven’t forgotten how to type. Yes Zoe & Tim’s post has been on here for a while. Ok, Leah uploaded the pictures months ago. It has been one of those years; one of constant change, flux, movement. For months I would have liked nothing more to sit down, adopt my Carrie Bradshaw pose with the aim of composing witty ripostes and acidic bon mots and to ignore the very urgent call of work & family needs. Such is being a woman, that, however strong you are, however red your Mohawk, what you want to do takes back seat to what you need to do, what you are obliged to do.
Several factors have prompted me to start with Zoe’s wedding in the shameful backlog of writing I owe myself as much as to anyone else.
Firstly the new Maggie Sottero Spring 15 dresses went live on their website. For once they look like they have employed a stylist that has left their Head Office in Salt Lake City and seen the world. I have always rated the label as one of the world’s best but their advertising & marketing images were designed to keep that a secret. Zoe’s dress is Maggie Sottero; pared back, beautifully well cut, with an extraordinary neckline and made from the most beautiful satinised organza . Channeling Chanel, the cream and black palette is stylish, classic and yet always refreshing to see.
Secondly, I have just invited all our current Miss Bush brides to a Jenny Packham Accessory & styling weekend. Carolanne Armstrong will be attending and it is she who created Zoes’s 60s influenced look
Thirdly – St. James’s in Shere. I have just seen photos of another bride, Becky, there this summer and have just booked her friend for the same church. what is so special about Shere? It is absolutely the most picture perfect Surrey Hills village complete with a duck pond, gastro pub reputed to be owned by The Stig and the nearest village to a bunch of rock dinosaurs that live dormant in the highlands above it. It was used as a location for The Holiday and where reality TV producers have failed to get The Hills UK off the ground. Quintessentially British should be added to its postcode.
Zoe was the most wonderful bride to work with, model-esque but modest with a calling in her career as far away from pin-up as you could imagine. In this year of change the one focus we have all had at Miss Bush is not seeing more brides, not selling more dresses but working with brides we are truly inspired by and vice versa. I have a lovely quote from Zoe that epitomises this .
I had always known that I would find my dress at Miss Bush. After being a bridesmaid for another Miss Bush bride and spending time at the shop, I fell head over heels in love with your ethos, style and branding and most importantly your collection of dresses. I loved that during my initial appointment with Emma, she referenced recent looks from catwalk shows and more abstract inspirations rather than the usual bridal shop talk of frou frou and diamante. It was great to have found a bridal boutique that was current and on trend, without being intimidating and inaccessible.
As debates have raged this year about appointment charges, the major trade shows are being led by tack & ersatz glamour and discounting shops have crashed and burned it is brilliant to get approval from a bride for what I feel to be right.
Zoe added as a footnote to her email…
I said to Carolanne on the morning of the wedding, I enjoyed being a Miss Bush bride so much and will miss being in “the club”!
Zoe, don’t worry , you can’t escape us. You are forever Bush 😉
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Credits
Photography: Vee Avenell Photography
The Dress: Maggie Sottero Marilyn from Miss Bush Bridalwear
Make Up: Carolanne Armstrong
Church: St James’s, Shere
Reception Venue: Clandon Park, Guildford
Emma xxx
Emma Meek, MD of Miss Bush Bridalwear
Miss Bush Bridalwear is Surrey’s leading designer bridal shop
