Wednesday 13th December
At Brides by the Sea: Harsh words and bulging boxes
There are certain people I meet who I can’t help but pre-judge, and Marilyn is one of them. I have to be honest here. Last time we met, Marilyn had barely stormed as far as the White Room and I already wanted to hide. By the time she left the shop after that visit, she’d made it into my ‘best avoided forever’ box. Which obviously got rapidly revised when I found out I’m taking pictures for an entire day at her son’s wedding. But when I saw in the appointments book that she was coming in with her future daughter-in-law, Katie, for a final dress fitting early this morning, I decided the best plan was to stay safely tucked up in bed. But when Poppy rang at seven to tell me Katie wanted me to be there too, to say ‘hello’ and take a couple of pictures, the only way to combat the bad news was with a stonking breakfast.
Sadly, despite our food science degrees, we can’t all whip up the kind of early morning feasts Poppy makes. Which is why it’s really lucky there’s a bakery a few doors down that sells warm flaky almond croissants and pain au chocolates, from six a.m. onwards. It’s amazing how much less intimidated you feel when you’ve worked your way through a carrier full, eaten the French way. And if my nose stays scarlet until the New Year, after half an hour of serious dipping and slurping over bowlfuls of steaming coffee, I’m just going to have to live with that. The good bit is, that by the time Marilyn gallops into the shop at eight thirty, dragging Katie behind her, I’m feeling well up for the job. Luckily Poppy’s there too, with her usual lovely welcome.
‘Hello Marilyn … and Katie …’ As Marilyn powers straight across to the mother of the bride chair, the hug Poppy gives Katie is so big there has to be some mutual bolstering going on.
After yesterday’s promises for motivational training from Rory, I can’t help wondering how I’ll be handling stuff like this in ten days’ time. For now, I’m scuttling behind the desk, thankful I have my camera to hide behind.
Poppy turns her beam in my direction. ‘And this is Holly, who you’ve met already, Marilyn. And who will be stepping in to take the wedding pictures.’
‘Hi,’ I say. I can’t help slapping my hand to my hair as I have a sudden flashback to the way Marilyn wrenched out a handful along with the tiara last time she was here. Somehow I manage to move my head rub on into a little wave at Katie and still hold onto the camera. And if Marilyn’s looking disbelieving, I completely know the feeling.
She recovers enough to give a little cough. ‘Jules already has a list of my stipulations, which no doubt he’ll forward to you.’ Her words are stiff with disapproval.
Katie’s clasping her hands into fists. ‘And he also has our list too, which is pretty much the definitive version, if you get my meaning.’ Katie’s version top trumps Marilyn’s in other words.
More fool me for expecting pre-amble. We’re obviously going straight into the fighting. ‘Lovely, I’ll look at them both, and do my best.’
Poppy does one of the most spectacular eyebrow wiggles I’ve yet seen, so I know there’s something mega coming as she turns to Katie. ‘Holly’s the one who’s responsible for all the Best Moments pictures from Nancy and Scott’s wedding, which Jules sent to you.’
‘Great, so you’ve seen the mini album.’ I’m so surprised I let out a gasp.
Marion shoots upright in her chair. ‘You haven’t got asthma have you? Or chicken pox? You aren’t going to pull out too, are you?’ Her eyes narrow as her glare intensifies. ‘It’s just your nose is very red …’
Katie and I both clamp our hands over our faces simultaneously, but Katie is first to recover.
‘I’m so pleased to meet someone else whose nose suffers in the cold.’ When she takes her hand away, her upturned nose is definitely rosy, but on her it looks incredibly cute. ‘It’s a total nightmare when we ski. It’s the one reason I wish we were getting married in summer. And I loved your album, by the way.’
When I finally let go of my nose, I’m laughing and picking up my jaw off the floor at the same time. ‘Thanks for saying that. Don’t worry, any pictures you aren’t happy with, we can have a gentle play to reduce the Rudolf effect.’
‘Really?’ Her eyes are wide with gratitude. ‘That’s such a weight off my mind. It seemed too girlie to mention to Jules.’
It seems a good time to offer. ‘Shall I take a few of you now? I can send them over later to show you how well the re-tint works on noses.’
‘Brilliant.’ She pulls off her bobble hat and ruffles up her curls.
I zoom in for two close ups. ‘Yes, those are fab.’ If I didn’t know already, I can tell she’s going to look amazing in the pictures. Despite the red nose and bitchy mum-in-law. ‘Would you like a picture of the two of you while you’re here?’
There’s a yelp from Marilyn. ‘Absolutely not. Have you seen my roots? I’m on my way to have my colours done now.’ Someone else clamping their hands over their head here.
‘That’s fine, we’ll concentrate on Katie, then.’ I breathe a sigh of relief, then move on to take a few more pictures of Katie’s delighted expression when Poppy comes through carrying her dress. And then they head into the fitting room and Poppy whips the grey and white striped curtain closed behind her.
It’s not long before the curtain whisks back and I pick up my camera again. ‘That was quick … and the dress is amazing.’ Even though I’ve been hanging around the shop for the best part of ten days, I still haven’t got used to the transformations. Or how beautiful and individual each bride looks in her dress.
Katie smiles down at the soft gathers of the tulle skirt. ‘It’s a Sera easy-to-wear and easy-to-get-in-and-out-of special. Very important for a bride like me, who wants to have fun rather than be formal. Anything more complicated and Seth would never manage to take it off.’ She laughs as she holds the fabric up to the light. ‘There are so many layers, but the top one is studded with tiny gems and miniature snowflakes. And I adore it more every time I see it.’
It’s impossible not to be carried along by her practical, down-to-earth approach. As Katie stands and gazes at herself in the mirror, Poppy joins in enthusiastically. ‘The top is very simple, with an overlay of the same tiny snowflakes. Then Katie is adding a fluffy jumper and a brightly coloured ski jacket for her outdoor shots.’
Katie’s clasping her hands. ‘And the six bridesmaids’ skirts are in bright purple and blue and yellow tulle short skirts, with contrast jumpers, pink jackets and stripy ski head bands. With bright pearlised stilettos for inside and boots for outside.’
I can feel Marilyn shuddering more with every new colour clash that’s mentioned. If Jess were here, I suspect she’d be swooping in with the reviving gin by now.
Poppy sounds truly excited. ‘It’s the most vibrant wedding we’ve had yet. It’s even brighter than Sera’s summer meadow bridesmaids prints.’
Sera, true to form, is hiding in the studio, on call in case of any last-minute problems. It’s a kind of tradition with her. She loves designing and making the dresses, but even now she’s really successful, she still shies away from meeting the brides who wear them.
Katie’s eyes are shining. ‘I just so want everything to express the kind of out-there, fun couple we are. If my dad hadn’t been too ill to go abroad we’d have loved to have got married on the ski slopes, but this is the next best thing. Seth really wants this wedding to pop and I think it will.’
Marilyn rolls her eyes, but there’s deep motherly affection in her voice. ‘Seth and his popping.’ When she leans forward again, her tone is markedly colder. ‘So what’s happening with the bottom of the dress? I thought the alterations were finished, but it’s still much too long.’ If Seth’s shout-out was all summery, we’ve just fast forwarded to an arctic winter on this one.
Poppy’s awkward customer smile eases across her face. ‘Okay, in the business we’d say this hem is breaking on the floor. It’s the way Katie wanted it. She’ll have to hold up the dress if she goes outside, but it lets her go to higher heels for the times she wears her platforms. She’ll try it with those in a second.’ At times like these Poppy is so patient.
‘Platforms?’ Marilyn’s yell would be ear-splittingly shrill at any time of day. This early in the morning it’s cruelty to thirty-somethings. ‘Seth won’t be marrying anyone wearing anything of the kind. I absolutely forbid it.’
Now it’s Katie’s turn to wince. ‘It’s Seth who wants the platforms, because I was wearing them when we met. He’s being a big softy on this one.’ She goes into the fitting room, brings out a bag and pulls out a shoe.
‘Wow! Electric turquoise! How cool are they?’ I’m full of admiration, both for the way she’s standing up to Marilyn quietly, yet firmly, every time, and the fact she must be able to walk in six- inch heels.
Katie grins as she rubs at a scuff on the heel. ‘Seth says they’re my old and my blue all rolled into one.’
Marilyn’s eyebrows shoot up at least as high her voice. ‘But surely the tiara’s your old? And your matching veil will be your new.’
Katie wrinkles her nose. ‘Aren’t veils what people wear for a joke at hen do’s? Seth would die if I turned up in one of those to marry him.’ She pauses to drag in a breath. ‘And I know you love the diamonds, Marilyn, but Seth says the tiara’s a thousand times too blingy for the barn.’
Marilyn’s nose is quivering. ‘Which is exactly why this wedding should be happening in the house not the cowshed. There’s still time to change our minds on that.’ She raises an eyebrow and eyes Poppy hopefully.
I catch sight of Katie’s despairing expression. ‘Let’s get a picture of you holding the blue shoes. And then I’ll take a couple of full length ones, so you get the full effect of the dress.’ Although, if the tiara comes out, I’m ready to dive into the kitchen. When I spot Marilyn standing up, I tense. But she’s heading for the door, not the desk.
Her bracelets jingle as she glances at her watch. ‘So if we’re all done here, I must run. Don’t want to be late for my colourist. I’ll catch you at lunchtime, Katie.’ She pauses for long enough to blow Katie a kiss, then she’s off.
We all hold our breath as we wait for the shop door to close and watch her car pull away past the window. Then as Poppy and I visibly flop, Katie kicks off her kitten heels.
She grabs the platforms, sits down and begins to do up the straps. ‘Right, and finally … Time to check the length with the banned shoes.’ When she stands up she’s a whole lot taller and she swishes in front of the mirror. ‘There, see the way the skirt moves. Isn’t it perfect? I’m not being a bridezilla, I just want to wear these shoes.’
‘It does look fabulous,’ I can’t help enthusing too. ‘I’ll take some full length shots like this.’
Meanwhile Poppy’s sympathising with Katie. ‘And you’re not a bridezilla. But you’re still battling Marilyn, then?’
Katie blows out a long sigh as she takes a final look in the mirror. ‘It’s lovely that she wants to be involved. But last week she changed our veggie buffet to a hog roast, then cancelled the rock band and ordered a singing trio. It’s so time-consuming putting the damage right. Worst of all, we never know where she’s going to strike next. That’s why we’re going out to lunch every day. At least that way I get to know which way to leap next.’
Poppy pulls a face. ‘Only five more days to keep her under control.’
Katie shakes her head as she makes her way back to the fitting room. ‘We’re sending her to a spa the day we’re setting up. So with luck we’ve got every area covered now.’
Poppy follows her. ‘We’ll have the dress steamed and ready for you to pick up on Saturday. Then it’s “full steam” ahead for the big day.’
Katie gives a little squeal and laughs at me as she bobs behind the curtain. ‘And fingers crossed, there won’t be any red noses – or Marilyn-induced disasters.’
I laugh. ‘For me or you.’ But with a mega wedding happening between now and then, my nose is the least of my worries. As for worries about Marilyn, I’ll put her in my ‘pending’ pile. And get her out again on Monday.