Grab a prosecco, take a seat … this may take some time!
I decided I wanted to write my thank you testimonial following my final dress fitting appointment this weekend. But this couldn’t be a “normal” testimonial expressing my sincere thanks for the teams hard work, the great atmosphere or the beautiful selection of gowns, because my journey, and yes ladies this was a JOURNEY, was no ordinary one.
After six months searching, I had set my heart on a Rosa Clara Couture dress earlier in the year and after many many phone calls trying to track down a stockist of THE dress, Camilla came to the rescue. The dress wasn’t in store, however, Camilla was able to use her contacts and the dress was flown in from Barcelona. Within a few weeks I went to see my beloved gown. Now girls, if you were anything like me you became obsessed with with the cut, the shape, the material, your shape in the dress and to the point of what direction the wind was blowing in order to give it the cudos it deserved, you can appreciate a lot was riding on this visit. The sample arrived and I was able to get it up my hips and that was it. I couldn’t even try it on fully as it was a sample size and far too small, however, when you know it’s the one you know, so it was ordered and off I went for 9 months to eat celery and drink water.
9 months later and 3 stone lighter, I returned for my first dress fitting. In steps both the amazing Fran to fit the dress and my good old friend ‘anxiety’ accompanied by his mate ‘A state of sheer panic’. The dress was hanging off me. Now, to any bride to be, this should have been a triumph and feeling of sheer happiness that the past 9 months of pain staking exercise and weight control had paid off – but it wasn’t. Is the material right? What’s that ripple? Why does the light make me look like that? Should it be fitting like that? What about the back, neck, waist, shoulders, breast plates – you name it needed sorting. Fran was nothing but amazing!! She had to refit the dress almost 3 dress sizes smaller, without losing the integrity and shape of the dress.
OK, well all brides aim to lose some weight I hear you think? And it’s their job to sort the alterations? Yes it is, and believe me what Fran doesn’t know about fitting and tailoring isn’t worth knowing. In one attempt, she pretty much nailed it and the dress was starting to take shape to my new shape. However, what Fran, Camilla or anyone else wasn’t expecting to deal with was my sheer level of anxiety, nerves and worry. If you are yet to try on a wedding dress, the structure and weight is something completely different to anything you will try on again that in itself was a trauma to me.
Even after my final fitting, I was still worrying and was allowed to take the 4 hour round trip back to the salon to try-on the dress one final take to put to bed any last minute niggles –which were all in my head btw. I was allowed as long as I needed, to breath and finally feel at ease in my dress, I was shown how to stand, walk and we even spoke about the affect of lighting – I know this all sounds OTT but this would have been the first time I was actually enjoying trying on my dress, feeling comfortable.
And this is now what makes Knutsford stand out to me! The selection of dresses is beyond anything I have seen, their knowledge is on another level, customer service check and their fitting is beyond words –seriously this dress looks like it hasn’t even been touched. But their patience, empathy, compassion and understanding is what I want to highlight. For someone who doesn’t like the limelight and all eyes on them, I’m not quite sure how I will cope with my up and coming wedding – but I do know without Camilla and her team I wouldn’t feel the way I do, in THE dress.
So to Camilla, Fran and the rest of the team. Thank you! Thank you for putting up with my neurotic thoughts and working with me. It is without hesitation I whole heartily recommend this boutique- you have been amazing to put up with me and make this beautiful dress –and for the brides out there who do struggle with confidence, or want a team that really knows what they’re on about, or a fitter that can take a dress in 3 dress sizes and have it look like it was made for you – there really is only one bridal gallery for you and It’s Knutsford! Lots of Love Marella, Stourbridge West Midlands.
