Wedding Vendors

I eventually heard back from the wedding vendor who I had been having problems contacting, although I don't know what to believe.

In the absence of hearing from her, I contacted another vendor who I know works with her on occasion and they said she was still in business and they would see what they could find out for me. I got an answer-machine message from them on Saturday to say that her computer system had gone down so she wouldn't have received my e-mails and she had also been on holiday.

I then finally received an e-mail from her, in response to my e-mails, saying she had been abroad for a few weeks and her out of office response had obviously not activated.

So, having made the decision to find another vendor, and failing, I now wonder if I should give her another chance or get out now...

Oh, and it is my cousin's boyfriend's funeral tomorrow so there will be a pause in posting, as I do not really feel like writing about weddings at present. Back soon though, I promise.

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Hair Ideas

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Vintage Pearl Labrinth Headdress

by MillionDesign

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This is very similiar to the headband (and is by the same designer) that I liked so much at the wedding show. No, she hasn't sent through any photos but I finally managed to get the website to work properly. Gorgeous, isn't it. Would absolutely fit with my vintage theme and eco-credentials as the pearls are recycled 1940s ones...

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Close up of the Vintage Pearl Labrinth Headdress
by MillionDesign

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Wedding Vendors

I wrote before about a wedding vendor that I was having potential problems with. I listened to your advice, I e-mailed them again, I got M to call them and finally today, after three weeks without hearing anything from them, I was forced to send them an e-mail detailing my disappointment and requesting that they contacted me either way as if they couldn't help me I needed to make alternative arrangements.

I am really sad that I have had to do this but three weeks without response is, to my mind, unacceptable. There is no 'out-of-office' response to the e-mails (which might explain an absence or a delay) and there is no recorded message which sheds any light on the situation either.

All I can do is hope that they come back to me. And soon, as if we are giving up on the idea, I need time to find something equally fantastic to take its place.

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Emily London: Couture Milliner

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When I first started looking for my wedding dress I thought I would wear a vintage gown so I went straight to my favourite vintage shop (and old neighbour in my beloved Primrose Hill): Shikasuki. As you know by now, I didn't end up buying a vintage gown but I did fall in love with the millinery on exhibition there... hats by Emily-London. Emily offered to make me a hat/headpiece for my wedding which I could commission to include peacock feathers and I am seriously considering taking her up on the option. That or commissioning a hat to go with my going-away dress which I could wear to the many weddings we are attending later in the summer.

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Oyster apostrophe with feathers and diamantés

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I wanted to share with you some of her designs - I have chosen some of my favourites - but she also does custom made commissions (see the butterflies below) and hires vintage pieces for weddings as well. Enjoy.

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Chocolate lace beret with metallic flower and quills

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In fact, Emily says: "Having a bespoke hat or headpiece privately commissioned, particularly for your wedding day, is a wonderfully enjoyable process from the initial concept to the final stitch. It is a delightful and original way to have a unique and special piece designed and made exclusively for you. As a milliner, private commissions are my most enjoyable pieces to make. They enable me creatively to interpret the client's concept and then engage with her throughout the making process so that the end result goes beyond even her first hopes and expectations. The feeling of a customer taking her hat or headpiece away, knowing that she absolutely adores it and that it will be privately treasured forever, brings with it for me a wonderful sense of pride and creative energy".

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Chocolate brown felt twist with pheasant feather
(A/W 08 preview)

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So, if you are interested in having a hat or headpiece made for your wedding, or to wear to someone else's wedding, or to Ascot, or just because you fancy a gorgeous hat, get in touch with Emily by e-mailing her at the address on her website.

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Vintage white fur hat. Available to hire.

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Hackle and stripped coque feathers with velvet flower

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butterflies custom made commission
(photo by Ian Kelsall)
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Claret twist pillbox with velvet spray

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All images by Emily-London with the exception of the butterflies which is by Ian Kelsall

Fortunately...Unfortunately...

It was a little like playing an elongated game of fortunately, unfortunately this weekend...

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Unfortunately my sister's laptop ate everything on the hard drive and it needed to be repaired; closest Apple shop to my parents - Southampton... but fortunately I had discovered that Southampton's Oxfam shop was one of only 10 Oxfam bridal shops across the UK and that they could fit me in for an appointment at 3pm

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Unfortunately we got caught in a massive traffic jam on the M27 but fortunately we arrived only 5 minutes late so we still had enough time to browse properly and the owner didn't mind that we overran slightly

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Unfortunately I didn't like any of the dresses on the size 8 or 10 rail or they didn't fit... but fortunately I chose to look through the 12 rail anyway as I found my dress

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Unfortunately it will need taking in a teensy bit on the hips at the moment (but who knows next year) but fortunately I know someone that can do that for me and fortunately all the money from the dress will go to help someone less fortunate than me

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And then the next day fortunately we were able to make a visit to our old university town to look at some potential venues (unfortunately we were stuck in the car for many hours on a gorgeous hot day)

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fortunately the photographer was able to meet us in the town centre at her studio rather than her being out somewhere and fortunately we got on very well with her and fortunately my mother had brought her cheque book with her, so we have booked the fabulous KT. Fortunately, I cannot think of any unfortunately to match this...

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unfortunately the chapel was closed and being a Sunday there was no porter in sight. Fortunately there were some small windows left open for ventilation so my mother was able to peer through the window, rather like a burglar casing the joint, only I don't think burglars mutter things like "so the choir would be sitting there" and "were you proposing to have a pedestal of flowers either side of the altar". At least I don't think they do.

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unfortunately the venue we had hoped might worked was doomed from the off: it was harder to find that we remembered, access was via a narrow bridge, it was full of people, the manager could not be found and when he could be we realised he had misled us on the phone and the pub was neither for hire as he had indicated nor would he let us bring our own wine and champagne for a corkage fee. Instead he was proposing for us to hire an area of the grounds and we would have to serve their house wine with the meal. "would we have private use of the outside bar?" I queried, "well, yes" he responded evasively, "apart from the odd person who might try and get served quicker outside"... It quickly became obvious that this man would have been unable, as my Dad put it, to organise a "piss up in a brewery", which was apt as he did work for a brewery...

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fortunately I remembered another venue deeper into the countryside who I had spoken to earlier in the week as our chosen date had become free. Unfortunately by the time we reached it the house was closed but fortunately we snuck up the driveway a little and managed to have a quick look without being caught. And it was gorgeous. Peaceful. Amazing views, beautiful grounds... We shall see.

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