Orli will be marrying Ben on 6th September 2020 at St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, London, UK. Click here to read all Orli’s planning posts to date.
THREE FACTS: (1) Orli and Ben met on Jswipe. (2) Although their venue, the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, couldn’t be more quintessentially London, Orli and Ben are going for a countryside feel. (3) Orli is a member of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club!
My Wedding Dress Shopping Experience
As a little girl I had always dreamt of my wedding day. What would I be wearing as I walked down the aisle to meet my Prince Charming? For me, this was all coming true and the next thing I had to do was start looking at wedding dresses.
From the moment we got engaged, my mum was desperate for us to pick a date to go wedding dress shopping, yet I was slightly reserved but couldn’t work out why. Was it going to be everything that I dreamed it would be? Would I put on one dress and know instantly that it was the one, feel like a princess and buy it on the spot?
With the rustic countryside theme in my heart we headed to Grace Loves Lace in Shoreditch. This was the most beautiful experience and anyone looking for a rustic, lace dress I would recommend going there. However, it just wasn’t me.
The shop was everything I wanted for a first experience wedding dress shopping, the assistants were wonderful, the shop was beautiful and I came out feeling calm but without a dress.
A few shops later and I headed to Pronovias in Bond Street. From the moment we went in, I couldn’t believe how big the store was and how many different dresses they had. I couldn’t wait to try on the different dresses, from princess, to fishtail, long sleeve, sweetheart, backless and more.
There was everything, white, ivory and blush the choices were vast. Twenty dresses later and it was time for lunch and for mum and I to chat and review photos. I had narrowed down my vision but I still hadn’t found the one… I even started to wonder if I would, would there really be one dress that just felt right?
So We Headed To The Wedding Gallery In Marylebone…
The place was beautiful, we walked into the gallery, they offered us bubbles and tea and it was time to try on a few dresses. We wandered through the shop, selecting a number of dresses to try on, and then I eagerly put on my first dress… I loved it, but it wasn’t very me.
So I put the next dress on and as I looked in the mirror and turned to mum she smiled and I knew it was the one. Some quick measurements, before another glass of bubbly and then a quick dinner to celebrate further.
Next Up: Shoe Shopping
Now we know that with the perfect dress, comes the perfect shoes… so I headed out to the West End with my auntie and my cousin. I had my dream pair of shoes in my head and I wanted to see if they were comfortable… but more importantly if they would match my dress. It was a unanimous yes as I slipped my feet into the heels and it was almost too easy and so much fun to choose my shoes.
Tying In The Flowers Into My Vision
Choosing the florist was the biggest challenge and the main reason for this was because I didn’t entirely know what flowers I wanted but I knew the exact flowers that I didn’t. So at least I could slightly narrow it down. After tens of different quotes, hundreds of photos backwards of forwards between my mum, my future mother in law and me and I set up a florist meeting.
We walked in with one vision and walked out with something totally different but still I wasn’t quite sure what we wanted. So I set up another meeting, and from the moment we walked in, I didn’t entirely know what flowers that we should have but I knew that we had to have Blue Sky Flowers as our florist.
Catch you at my next post.
Click here to read all Orli’ planning posts to date.
Orli & Ben’s Wedding Vendors booked so far:
Venue – St Pancras Renaissance Hotel
Flowers – Blue Sky Flowers {offers 10% discount to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Band – The Function Band
Bride’s dress – found and fitted at The Wedding Gallery {appointment fee waived (normally £30) to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Caterer – Philip Small
Photographer – Promise
Videographer – AT Motion
Chazan — Eitan Freilich
If you’re a Jewish or Jew-ish bride-to-be, join Smashing The Glass’ Brides Club for step-by-step guides, handpicked wedding vendor discounts, Jewish wedding action plans, a free smash glass pouch, Jewish wedding checklists and templates, and SO much more!
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