The DRESS!!!

I went to Bespoke Brides in Mollington on a day off last week with one of my Bridesmaids Frances.

My friend Rebecca bought her wedding dress from Claire at Bespoke Brides for her wedding last year. Rebecca had also recently taken her friend Suzanne who found her wedding dress at the shop.

I booked an appointment to visit the showroom which is situated behind Claire's house and is strictly appointment only.

When we went into the showroom and were greeted by Claire I was instantly struck by how lovely, bubbly and open she was.

The room was fantastic. The lighting is perfect and shows you in your best light and it looks clean without being clinical.

I have tried on dresses in other shops in Chester but nowhere did I get attention to rival Bespoke Brides. With a 2 hour appointment I didn't feel rushed as we picked lots of different dresses off the rails. I let Claire pick what she thought would suit me but I spied a halter neck dress out of the corner of my eye that I liked the look of.

I tried on about 12 other dresses, some went over the head and then straight off and others I ummmed and ahhhed about in front of a massive mirror with Frances. There was a beautiful dress in gold that I liked and thought was a winner until I eventually asked to try on the halterneck.

As the dress went over my head I thought to myself: "I really like this one, no I think I love it" The straps were massive on me and the dress didn't look right.

I walked out to show Fran who said it was lovely. Claire then pinned the straps into place and it just looked perfect. It is so simple with clean cut lines. An A-line skirt with pearls and crystals in  a band around the waist and on the straps everything else was plain and simple.Going down the back was a line of pearls- all the way down the train too. The pleats on the back made it look fantastic.

I cried. I was waiting for a feeling to hit me but this was overwhelming I just wanted to show my mum and ask her what she thought but obviously I couldn't. It felt right.

In fact when Rich came home that night I was curled up with a blotchy face from crying. The reality that she isn't going to help, that I will never know what she thought hit me with an amazing force when Fran left and I was on my own. I think he expected me to be full of the joys of spring that I had probably found my dress.

A big cuddle and some tlc later I had calmed down and was texting everyone to tell them. I am going to go back to see the dress soon with my Auntie's and Richard's mum and sister.

I will still look at dresses right up until I put the order in but I think this one is the winner. And I want to thank Claire for her professionalism and help last week. It meant a lot. She is mad busy at the moment and I have first experience as to why!

The last time I went dress shopping I had an awful experience at the Bridal House of Chester. We went in without an appointment (appointments only needed on a Sunday) to have a look.

Rebecca was with me and we looked through the racks and I pulled out a few to try. They were different to ones I had previously tried on because I wanted to rule them out and yes I knew they probably wouldn't suit me.

Eventually one of the women came over to us. With no enthusiasm she asked if I wanted to try them on. We went into the room where I had to strip in front of Rebecca. I didn't mind too much but would have liked a bit more privacy.

The assistant quickly dismissed the dresses I had picked and instead of letting me try them on she bustled out and went to get ones she thought I would like. I wasn't impressed. She didn't know me and as she hadn't asked me any questions about the wedding venue had no idea what I would need practically.

I tried on the dresses and as she prodded me and fastened up the dresses she talked about me in the dress to Rebecca as if I wasn't there. There was only one dress I vaguely liked so she wrote the number down and we got out as fast as we possibly could. We needed a sit down and a coffee after that!

The Bridal House has now been taken over so I wish the new owners all of the best. I am sure other brides have had a very different experince and this is only my experience.

On previous hunts I have also visited The Ivory Lounge in Heswall which was lovely and with great customer service. I may go and have another look as it was the first shop I went into and the first dresses I went into and it was a bit overwhelming! My aunt Denise cried in that shop when she saw me in a wedding dress for the first time.

Aristocrats of Chester were also a great shopping experience if not a little rushed and I did really like one of their dresses.

With over a year to go I am still going to have a look around until that order is placed. Luckily the dress I like is new and unlikely to be discontinued. Phew!