So, I finally have the dress! The fruitless search has finally borne fruit and it’s all thanks to Wedlock of Windsor. Wedlock is a beautiful shop situated in the heart of Windsor; it holds an extensive and varied stock but it is the kindness and patience of their staff that I cannot praise enough. The aptly named owner, Sarah Lovelock, couldn’t have been more obliging and attentive, making the whole experience very “painless.” You may think “painless” a strange adjective but in The Quest I have endured some embarrassing, elitist appointments! I have bought (or rather my Dad!), a Jenny Packham dress but I shall hold-off on revealing which until the day. I now feel extremely relieved to have found a dress but shall still keep you posted with any pre-wedding eventfullness!

The Wedding Industry is a monster! Between the definitive snobbery and exorbitant prices, my head has been spinning! Regular readers will know about my search – a laid-back, informal dress for a very quiet, relaxed ceremony. Every bridal shop I have visited, I have been greeted with a slight air of distain; they can smell the lack of potential commission from the sale of a “simple” dress! I have also noticed that my definition of simple and the average bridal assistant’s definition of simple, differ quite considerably! I have been offered jewel encrusted bodices, restrictive corsetry, and long trains…all in the name of “simplicity”. I must say that the lady who helped me at Vera Wang, in The Wedding Shop at Selfridges, was delightful. I had no intention of splashing out £3,000 + and explained to her I was only there to try on different styles and she still couldn’t do enough to help. Brown’s Bride were also very accommodating, although very budget obsessed (as they rightly explained, trying on a dress beyond your budget can spell disaster if you find it’s “the one”.) Designer-wise, I think I’ve narrowed it down and I now know I’m looking for a prêt-à-porter look, rather than bridal gown. Temperley London’s dresses have blown me away. Their mix of chiffon, subtle jewelled detail and layering combine to create gorgeous laid-back looks. David Fielden (whose website alone is a joy) and Jenny Packham also seem to fit the bill; so they are my next three stops on The Quest. Any suggestions you may have, I’d be extremely grateful and I shall keep you informed as to my progress!

The iBook may be dead but Mr. Things of Random Coolness kindly purchased a MacBook for me…therefore regular programming will now continue. I have some interesting tales to tell. The wedding dress search headed for London and I had some very illuminating experiences; apparently the words “informal” and “wedding” are a complete contradiction in terms and shouldn’t be uttered together (according to one assistant!)

If my posts seem erratic or sporadic over the next few days, it is because my trusty four year old iBook finally gave up the ghost on Friday, with a fitting computery sigh. Luckily data retrieval wasn’t an issue but not having your own computer can be more problematic than you may think. Mr. Things of Random Coolness has kindly allowed me to use his monster G5, with huuugge cinema screens, a great help in the art of blogging but he has more demanding computer requirements than I, so I will try my best to blog when I can. I felt my iBook deserved a dedicated post, as it served me well and is no longer in production. My next task, saving up for its successor.