Tender Loving Wedding Style – the dress

Rachel Lawler of Tender Loving Style asks, “What happens after saying yes to the dress?”

“When it came to dress shopping, I knew one of my must-visit boutiques was Melle Cloche in Glasgow; I just had a feeling I’d find my dream dress there.

“I knew the owners – sisters Lisa and Jackie – from working with them before and loved their laid back, stylish vibe.

“I actually said ‘yes’ to the dress back in September 2020, still with the intention of my wedding going ahead in September 2021.

“I took my mum, sister (and maid of honour), my mum-in-law-to-be and another of my bridesmaids.

“With free rein of the shop, I picked out the gowns I thought were most ‘me’.

“There were so many gorgeous styles, but the detailing of one particular one stood out even on the rail and it turned out to be my dress!

“I felt on cloud nine leaving the boutique and FaceTimed my other two bridesmaids to tell them the good news.

“Fast forward almost a year to the day and after a postponed big day and another lockdown and it was time for me to pick up my dress.

“I was excited to see it again, by SO nervous which I hadn’t really anticipated.

“It feels a little surreal going from trying on a sample dress-in-store to them going to try on your very own dress.

“I put it on, the curtain was pulled back to show my mum, sister and one of my bridesmaids and I felt a frozen smile on my face.

I still absolutely loved the dress, but my mind was fogged with ‘what ifs’?

What if I don’t look myself in this, what if everyone doesn’t like it, what if I should be feeling different?

I felt so silly, but I felt quite emotionally drained and it was also the first time I felt a little upset about having to move my original date.

It just all hit at once!

As soon as I was home, I messaged one of my bridesmaids who got married a dew years ago and she totally got what I meant.

It’s not that you don’t love your dream dress, but there’s so much pressure to feel like you’ve found The One.

After speaking to a few other brides and brides-to-be I realised how many of us feel like that; as if you should feel a certain magical way as soon as you pop that gown on.

Now I’ve had some time to step back and reflect, I now get so excited even taking a peek at my dress – it’s like the feeling I got when I first saw it, I guess what I’m trying to say, fellow to-be-weds, is let’s all take the pressure off.

There’s no set way to feel, no matter how many films or reality shows tell you differently.

Feel all the emotions, have a cry if you need to and let go of how you thought you’d feel at certain moments of planning.

We’ve all totally got this!

Have you missed Rachel’s earlier columns

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