We knew from the beginning that we want to be married at my family church in Witley. It’s a beautiful church, where both my sister and I were christened and it’s situated opposite my old and rather beautiful infant school. For me, I can’t imagine getting married anywhere else.

The venue is also booked – looks like I’m finally getting a little organised! We really wanted somewhere that we could put our own stamp on it and also a venue that would allow for us to bring in our own caterers. I spent a day with my mum going to various places – hotel, stately home, beautiful house with grounds for a marquee, and I have to say that the marquee option was the favourite. The setting was beautiful and being a marquee meant that we would have pretty much a blank canvas to work with. We were also able to use our own caterers here without any problems or £1,000 surcharge! However, on reflection, weighing up pro’s and con’s we decided against all of these options and instead keeping it all in the village, our reception is going to be held at The Chichester Hall – also in Witley and just a 2 minute walk from the church.

As village halls go, it’s quite lovely looking from the outside, and I have grand plans and ideas for the inside to be transformed to look far from village hallesque and much more rustic romance! We’re off to see my lovely friend Fiona next week to talk catering and menu’s – very exciting but hoping she has heaps of ideas as we haven’t a clue. Will update you all with talk of things yummy shortly!

xx

“Ok so here I was climbing Kilimanjaro through pain, sweat and tears and out of the blue my partner of 4 years Jay proposed, my first thought was OMG this is finally happening to me, I could hardly believe it, my second was uh oh look at my nails!

After climbing down from the mounting buzzing with excitement I was still floating on cloud nine that I was going to marry the man of my dreams and he had chosen me.

So my thoughts then starting thinking dresses, flowers and everything girly and pretty

I took my mum and a friend to a few high street wedding dress shops and starting trying some dresses that I thought were my dream, sadly this was not the case as being a size 8 meant all the dresses in the shops were too big and so all I could do was stand in the shop in a gaping dress wondering what it would look like if it fitted, not really what I had in mind. Plus there was always so many other people in the shop that it felt so overwhelming.

This went on for a few weeks and I explained to my fiancé that I was finding it so hard to find “the dress” as nothing looked right!

Finally I spoke to a work colleague who recently got married and she recommended Mamfii to me, ok I  thought, let’s give this a whirl.

Well I arrived at Mamfii and knew instantly I had struck gold, I was greeted outside by the owner Sam and we clicked straight away, We went into the beautiful Barn where the most adorable dresses, jewels and shoes were waiting for me

Sam sat me down and we discussed what sort of thing I had in mind that I would have on the wish list, where the wedding will be and the sort of day I had planned and then she brought out 4 dresses for me to try.

I have to say I could have bought them all, these dresses were just to try but they were not tatty like in other shops, they were beautiful and with Sam’s magic she was able to clamp the dresses so well to me that I could see exactly what they would look like in my size.

Now my problem was not finding a dress but that I could only have one!

I chose that day the dress I will be wearing this Feb 2012 and I am so excited to wear it I can hardly breathe.

It is hard to put into words but I will miss going to Mamfii for fittings as Sam and the team are so lovely and the experience has been so amazing, if you’re reading this and have not yet been to see Sam and the team your amazing experience is yet to start and I am so excited of what lies ahead for you.

Enjoy
x

Having been a bridesmaid 10 times – yes that’s right 10 times, I can at last shout from the rooftops – “It’s my turn!”

At 6.30am on Christmas Day I was sent on a treasure hunt around our flat, following clues that all related to Darren and I – places we had been on holiday, my love of marmite and Darren’s love of Aeroplanes!

The clues led to a present, and ok I admit I was a little disappointed that said present wasn’t ring box shaped, however, as I opened the present to reveal chocolates that spelt out ‘MARRY ME’ my heart jumped to my throat and as Darren got down on one knee the tears were flowing!

Now where to start? I think most people assumed that having been on bridesmaid duty 10 times and working at Mamfii, I’d know exactly what sort of wedding I wanted, have the dress picked out, bridesmaids and colour themes decided etc – wrong!

If I’m honest, it’s still sinking in that I am actually going to be Mrs Smith, and as exciting as that is, it also feels quite overwhelming! I’m so very fortunate to work where I do with, Sam and Kim, the real wedding experts; I know I’ll be able to get great advice whenever I need.

With so many decisions to be made, I need to perhaps at least start trying to organise myself – at least set a date?!

 Watch this space to follow mine and Darren’s planning progress over the exciting coming months!

Now, what to write about – I could tell you about me…but a piece on a thirty year old cat owner, who likes chocolate and scrabble isn’t exactly going to keep anyone enthralled!  I could write about the two family weddings I had last year – my mum’s – simple ceremony, lovely reception in their house (decoration and styling by my sister and I), and my sister’s – gorgeous ceremony, amazing reception (EVERYTHING done by my sister and I!), but again, not that interesting unless you were there, in which case, bloomin’ marvellous!

So then I figured that if you’re reading this then you’re engaged – congratulations!  And you’re probably a little bewildered by what appears to be an endless list of tasks, but fantastically excited at the same time!  For everything on that list apart from the wedding dress, all you need is The Pink Pumpkin.  For the dress, we can help!  So here are a few pointers to get you started.

Make an appointment to come in and see us.  By having an appointment it means that you have the time and space to relax and enjoy choosing your gown.  It also means that you have one of us to select and advise you on styles – the dresses look nothing like they do on the hanger, so be prepared to be surprised!

Photography by Segerius Bruce

Bring someone with you who you trust, who will tell you honestly what works best for you, and who will ultimately want you to wear the dress that is perfect for you.  Absolutely everyone will want to come dress shopping with you, but the more opinions you have, the more confusing and upsetting it will be!  Ultimately, it’s only you that needs to love the dress because you’re the one wearing it!

Don’t try hundreds of dresses on.  Once you have decided your shape, it’s really variations on a theme when it comes to detail, and the more you try, the more of a hazy blur they will become!

Most importantly, enjoy it!  Being engaged is a really special time, and choosing your dress should be really special too.  One of the Mamfii team celebrated a festive engagement.  Our lovely Ali was proposed to on Christmas Day (and said yes!) so is going through all the same emotions as you other brides, so we’re going to get her to share her engagement journey with you…part one coming up next week!