Engaged Girl!'s Journal (original) (raw)

The most wedding filled weekend of my life thus far.

This weekend was a lot of fun.

Saturday

Pam, Myself and Kristen went brides dress shopping. We had 2 appointments and 3 stores to visit from my list. That is not however what happened.

Stop 1 – Farina Fashions

Shopping did not get off to a good start as we waited in Farina fashions for about 10 minutes before anyone even asked us if we needed any help. I wouldn’t have minded only we did have an appointment. In the end someone did come over and ask us if we were alright – but it wasn’t a sales lady it was one of the back of shop staff so she didn’t have a very good idea of what she was doing. She did handle having 2 future brides changing alternatively very well though which I thought was good for her – not many others that we saw could have handled that.

I tried on 2 dresses in total at this shop (yes I am picky) and only one of them really seemed close enough for me to consider taking the mother back to see and even then it would be only for ideas. There was one dress Pam tried on here that was awesome for her but in the end it is up to her what she wants. But the dress did look fantastic.

Stop 2 – Abby Bridal/Celtic designs

From Farina the plan was to head upstairs to Abby Bridal and try out the Maggie Sottero designs for size. The place was PACKED. I was horribly reminded of a Myer Boxing day sale. The decision was made that this was NOT going to happen and that we should return on a day when most brides are working. Abby Bridal currently pushed back to April due to them not taking appointments. I wasn’t particually cut as there is little on there site that does impress me and the small amount that did – according to my checking with the store are discontinued lines.

All was not a loss here however as on our way to Abby we did find a lovely store called Celtic Designs. Not only do they have a couturist that specialises in celtic dresses they sell kilt pins and rings and brooches and well lots of celtic designed things as the name suggests. Further they were able to give Pam a flier for a celtic celebrant. I think she is liking this idea.

Stop 3 – Aashe Bridal

On our entry to the dymocks building we discovered a flier girl telling us that there was up to 50% off today at Aashe. So I thought why not head up to level 8 (we had the time after all) and visit. To my dismay it was not bridal wear so much as it was bridesmaids wear. No matter we checked it out and both pam and Kris tried on dresses before we yet again set off this time in search of lunch (found at myer food court).

Stop 4 – Millani Bridal

Quite possibly my least favourite of bridal stores I have been too. Mainly due to the service I got. It started out well enough a woman asking if we were ok – but her English was not very good so she couldn’t understand what I was after. I did pick out two dresses though when another woman came over told the woman to have her lunch and that she would take care of me. This I think was poor form but I let it go. She took the two dresses from the woman of little English I once again explained what I was after (not strapless, not fairy princess) and we set out to find some more dresses.

Somewhere along the line pam found a very nice and competent sales assistant to help her out and she picked out some stuff to try on also. Over to the change rooms we head.

I try on every dress that the woman had decided I should try on but still don’t see the two slinky 1930’s style sheath dresses I had chosen. Finally after about 4 dresses she says well that’s it and I think where did those two dresses I chose disappear to. I find one just outside the change room hung up with another BTB discards and say hey what about this one but I never did get to try on my first choice. Apparently the sales assistant knows better than me what I want. Who am I to argue her into a possible thousand plus dollar sale.

Pam does like a couple she tries on takes details and we leave for a coffee at jet.

Stop 5 – Engagment party.

Benj and Rhi’s engagement party was tops and I had a good time. Glad that she seemed to like the Nigella Lawson stuff we got her.

Sunday

Sunday was mother/daughter bridal shopping day followed by church visit and dinner lots of fun

Stop 1 – Brides of Piccadilly

The most amazing sales person ever at this store. She took the ideas I had – didn’t restrict herself by them and found a mound of silk and satin form me to try on – then as we were trying took any feedback to find even more lace and chantung.

She seemed to be excited about the idea of a theme to the wedding and went so far as to borrow veils from the shop next door so that I could see the finished look properly. And boy did she have some awesome ideas. I am totally taking pam there before the expo on Saturday she will love it.

We found at least 2 definate maybe’s in this store – unfortunately looking at there site I think she may have put down the price for the wrong dress but it is nothing I can’t check/rectify next Saturday J.

Stop 2 – Jean Fox

Again a wonderful sales person – not nearly as helpful but it appeared that someone had overbooked the appointments and she was as cheery helpful and nice as she could be running between 3 BTB’s to get them all sorted. There was again some definite thoughts from this store but not necessarily THE DRESS. Still it was fun to try on my first fro fro fairy dress if only for a laugh.

Stop 3 – Discount bridal store next door.

There was nothing here but we did stop so I thought I should mention it. Then we went and had lunch.

Stop 4 – Villoni

Like Aashe this store didn’t really have much in the way of bridal dresses but ideas for bridemaids and some absolutely HORRID dresses for laughing at.

Stop 5 – Church

Picked up the boy his mother and after some mass confusion we were on our way to the church. We had mass then we went out for dinner which was really nice

NEXT WEEKEND
Bridal expo fantasy weekend.