The Dress

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I had been trawling online for months looking for a dress for my secret elopement ceremony and saw nothing inspiring, until one day I saw a dress that made my heart flip.
There was one problem, it was way out of the budget I had set. Like an extra zero.
But nonetheless I looked up the designer and found a retailer, Jean Jackson Couture in Manchester, UK, two hours away from me.
Upon contacting them, to my dismay I discovered they they didn't stock that particular dress, and had no appointments anyway, they were booked up with the back log of brides from lockdown and this particular week was " Trunk Show"
A trunk show is where a designer showcases an entire collection of dresses that the retailer may not usually stock and they are offered at a discount if an order is placed that week.
Back to my search. Or so I thought.
The next day I received an email from Felicity, co owner of the shop, a last minute cancellation for the following day, during trunk show, "It never happens" they said, "Could I make it?" they asked.
We had a guest changeover to do for our airbnb business but my husband to be Luke said he could manage without me and to go, so I excitedly booked my train tickets.
Felicity advised that there were limited dresses that they could order in such a short timeframe, it was just 5 months until my wedding, and they usually advised ordering 9 -12 months in advance. I was cutting it fine !
The night before my appointment she sent me a list of dresses that were possible, however there would be additional charges of anything between £400 and £800 for "rush orders" or "super rush orders" she warned.
I almost cancelled the appointment, it felt like I was wasting my time. I couldn't afford that on top of a dress which was already way out of my budget.
But something stopped me and I got on that train.
Upon arriving at the shop, Felicity and her mother Beck had out ready all the dresses I had chosen from their list and asked if there was anything I knew I DIDN'T want in a dress.
I told Beck that I was self conscious about my belly. In the past family members and exes had made comments and even poked me there " Look at that fat "
It stuck like a knife in the heart. From the people who were supposed to love me the most.
I always chose clothes to hide it. Baggy tops.
I tried on several dresses and nothing felt right, I was becoming disheartened.
Beck got out a fitted, figure hugging dress. " Just try this one "
I was convinced it would show off the parts of me I wanted to hide away, I refused, I hated it.
But with gentle encouragement she persuaded me to try it on.
I slowly lifted my gaze to the mirror
" You really don't like looking at yourself do you? " said Beck.
As I saw my reflection, I felt a surge of energy and tears started falling. But this time tears of joy.
I knew then this was MY dress. Beck was smiling from ear to ear
Felicity peeped in from behind the curtain " It's not on the list, we can't get it in time"
She passed me another dress, " try this one" ….. but it wasn't MY dress.
Beck, in a valiant attempt to do everything her in power, took my measurements and asked me to try MY dress on a second time. YES, this was definitely MY dress.
I could see the tension on their faces and in their voices, between mother and daughter, one wishing to remain realistic without raising my hopes only for me to be disappointed, the other attempting to remain eternally optimistic not wishing to shatter my dream.
There and then they emailed the designer and put out a call on social media to other retailers they knew for MY dress in my size.
As I got ready to leave, Felicity wrote down a list of all the available dresses that could be made within the relatively short time frame. MY dress was not on it.
I smiled knowing that I wouldn't be needing that list because none of them were MY dress. It was the strangest sense of inner calm, peace and knowing that I have ever experienced, something very difficult to put into words. I just KNEW.
As I sat on the train home I couldn't help but smile to myself as I saw myself in my mind's eye on my wedding day marrying the love of my life wearing MY dress.
I spent the next couple of days enjoying time with Luke, my daughter Georgia and our granddaughter Marnie, our dog Blue, playing on the beach and didn't give much thought to the dress. It was already mine so there was no need to worry.
The next day, the email came from Felicity
" I have some great news, they can make the gown for you and we should be able to get it by September leaving enough time for alterations"
I replied
" I didn't doubt it"

And the best part, there was no rush order charge.

I'd love for someone else to feel a million dollars as I did, in this stunning dress. A few people who are taller than me have enquired about the length, the cutaway midriff part was stitched together for me as that suited me better, it can be unpicked and released back down which would add a little to the length. It's possibly also that if you needed it longer it could be altered to make this midriff section larger and thereby altering the length of the dress.

Alterations

Length altered. 2 darts on back underarms, sleeves shortened, fastening added to clip sleeves to bra strap to keep in place. ( I wore a backless body suit by Ender Legard ) Cutaway midriff was stitched together by hand and could be unpicked to be released ( confirmed by the dress shop who did the alterations)