Life Lately: Wedding Dress Fitting and More

The last catch-up post I wrote was in February. I cannot believe how quickly 2021 is going and that we’re already almost half way through. To say the last few months have been busy is something of an understatement.

Bittersweet wedding plans

It’s now less than eight weeks to our wedding. We got engaged in October 2018 and planned to get married this summer just before Harry goes off to uni. We’re fortunate in that we haven’t had to postpone or rearrange anything due to the pandemic; most things are in place and we’re now in the final stages of the arrangements. However, there is a bitter-sweetness because some of our closest loved ones can’t come because of travel restrictions. My brother and his family are unable to travel from New Zealand and two of Ian’s oldest and closest friends, who live in Melbourne and Canada, are in the same position. We considered postponing it until next year, but we don’t know what’s around the corner- they still might not be able to travel next year. We decided to get married no matter what restrictions are in place.

The biggest thing though is that Ian’s mum was diagnosed with a terminal illness just before Christmas. We don’t know if she will be well enough to attend the wedding, but we have a room booked for her in the hope that she might just make it. As you can imagine, it has been a very tough few months for Ian and the rest of his family and it’s meant we have seen less of each other than usual.

Poppy and Harry

But let’s focus on the positives. Harry was able to go back to school and complete his secondary education. The teachers at his school did an amazing job and managed to complete the syllabi in good time. Harry worked incredibly hard for weeks and he deserves to get excellent grades. All being well, he will join Poppy at Durham University to read mathematics.

After being home here in Skipton for several months, Poppy returned to Durham in May to do her end-of-year exams and there she remains, living her best life now that some restrictions have eased. She and my sister-in-law Sarah are planning my hen party- a gin cruise on the canal. I cannot wait, I just hope that tomorrow’s government announcement won’t throw cold water on those plans. I still haven’t decided what to wear, but I have several options. (See the first two options here and here).

Wedding tasting menu

Back onto the wedding plans now though. Back in April, Ian and I went to our wedding reception venue to do a food and wine tasting for the wedding breakfast. We fell in love with the venue when we stayed a few years ago and it was an obvious choice for our reception. I have some beautiful photos of the food as well as the venue itself, but I’ll post those after the wedding so it remains a surprise.

Wedding rings

Ian and I went to City Jewellers in Lichfield to look for Ian’s ring. Our dear friend Paul owns the business so we went for lunch with him and his wife Liz afterwards. (Liz is my friend of 25 years. She now works for Stepper Eyewear and we went to Stuttgart together, almost three years ago). Paul is also making a bespoke wedding ring for me that will sit perfectly with my engagement ring. I’m so excited to see it and also excited to get my engagement ring back which is in Paul’s safe keeping until the design is finalised.

First wedding dress fitting

Earlier this week, I met Poppy in Leeds and we went back to The Bridal Emporium for the first wedding dress fitting. I bought my dress last July and it had been hanging in Poppy’s wardrobe for safe keeping. I was so lovely to try it on again and to see what it will look like after it has been taken in and fitted. The dress makes my heart skip a beat and the shoes I’ve chosen are perfect.

After the fitting, we went to Bill’s for lunch and a cocktail or two.

Suit shopping

The following day, it was Harry’s turn. We went to Cheshire Oaks designer outlet. Harry needed a new suit for his prom and for our wedding as well as for Matriculation when he starts at Durham. He also needs a dinner suit for uni. We got both suits from the same shop, the wedding suit being the first one he tried. He looked so handsome in both and I know he was buzzing. We too had lunch afterwards, this time at Wagamama’s. He did let me take a photo of him but I know he won’t thank me if I post it here, so a photo of our food must suffice.

And finally…

I’m still averaging more than 5000 steps a day and I have upped the skincare regime further. I have been watching make-up tutorials. I am doing my own make-up so need to get lots of practice in. If anyone can recommend some make-up You-Tubers, perhaps in my age-group, I’d be very grateful!

Have a lovely rest of the day. Good luck England in their first match of the Euros, and let’s hope we get positive news in tomorrow’s government Covid update. I thing I might lose the plot if restrictions aren’t fully lifted on June 21st and previously suggested.

Notes:

Disclosure: This isn’t a sponsored post. Gifted items are marked as such and affiliate links are marked with an asterisk. *

Wedding tasting outfit:
*Blue dress: Coast, (gift). See more in this blog post and this Reel- it’s a beauty.

Ring shopping outfit:
*Black and white broderie wrap dress (in wedding rings paragraph), Coast, (gift).
My eyewear: La Matta
Liz’s eyewear: Stepper

Wedding dress fitting outfit
*White tiered poplin dress, Coast (gift)
*Leather belt: Gracie by LK Bennett.