At long last, love

When one is not in the first flush of youth, and not exactly svelte into the bargain, the prospect of going round bridal salons trying to squeeze into sample dresses ten sizes too small is not something one looks forward to with any great joy. I had therefore decided fairly early on that I wanted a dress made for me by a local dressmaker, either to an existing pattern or designed for me (depending on cost). My sister, and bridesmaid, was horrified and said I had to try on some proper wedding dresses, which prospect, as I say, filled me with gloom. However, I discovered that there is a bridal salon specialising in the larger lady not twenty miles away, so I made an appointment, and today we hot footed it there.

I was pleasantly surprised. Not only did I not look totally horrific and mutton-dressed-as-lamb-like, I actually looked OK in a couple of the dresses. The first one I tried on was gorgeous, and I didn't look fat in it at all, just in proportion. I also tried on several bridesmaid's dresses, which, once I had ruled out the chiffonny efforts that looked like nighties, had some distinct possibilities. One I particularly liked was extremely elegant.

I suppose my problem with the proper wedding dress is that both my inner and outer Scot really baulk at spending quite a large amount of money on something that can realistically only be worn once. However, I also know from past experience as a bridesmaid, where the dress I had was bought on the understanding that I could wear it again, I naturally never did, so that's probably not the right way of thinking about it.

Still, I don't have to make up my mind yet - there's still a year to go, but I'm a lot less sure that I was this morning.

I have mentioned previously that I really don't see myself walking up the aisle in a meringue. I've also told Himself this. But what will I wear? I know it's early days to be thinking about this, but with weight to lose and stuff, I can't help but do so. I have looked at various wedding designers' websites, and I have to say I have not been overly encouraged. All the dresses look the same! Quite apart from the fact that they are all displayed on stick thin models standing in unnatural positions wearing horrible pouty expressions. Very realistic!

This is the sort of thing that is popular now.



Not really me, especially with my flabby arms and big belly.

So I want something different, perhaps with a bit of colour even. And I've been doing some research. There are a whole range of dressmakers and designers who do wonderful designs, some of them quite local to where I live, others much further away. And most important of all, many of them are a fraction of the cost of the frocks in your mainstream bridal salon.

Today I thought I would look at this site.

Lindsay Fleming

Lindsay Fleming is an award winning Scottish designer. She produces mainly medieval inspired frocks such as this one.



It's perhaps still a little on the meringue side for my taste, but still a gorgeous dress. Sadly, it is also way outside the even tentative budget I have set for myself.

Fleming is also producing a collection based on the 1920s which is a bit less meringue like, but possibly only for the hyper skinny and flat chested. No prices on this one yet, but I suspect it too will be outside my budget.



Interestingly this particular shot was taken in Glasgow in one of Charles Rennie MacIntosh's buildings, the House for an Art Lover in Bellahouston Park, a wonderful building I visited a few years back.