Chapter 34
Brides by the Sea, St Aidan, Cornwall
Handbags and multiple-choice answers
Monday
Ten days on and the board in the office that Jess has dedicated to Weddings at Windflowers has another three photos pinned to it.
However distant Lando is with me, he always charms couples into posing for him and the shop website before they leave.
My own favourites are the confetti shots because the wind off the sea adds another dimension, and they somehow magnify the whole spirit of freedom that make the beach hut weddings so special.
As for me being terrified of rain, when the twins come in to show us their photos, the ones after the rain began were better than the sunny ones.
Holly, the wedding shop photographer who took their pictures, said it’s because the rain-light is softer and more forgiving, and she’d been lucky to catch some stunning shots against the dramatic sky.
Thirty-five umbrellas being held high above the crowd made for some super cute pictures too, and after we waved them goodbye, everyone descended on Jaggers’ bar and maxed out on their ever-popular three-for-two specials.
We’re also learning fast that even tiny weddings rarely go to plan.
Saturday’s groom left his vows behind in Penzance; on Tuesday, the mother of the bride dropped an ice cream in her lap, and Saturday’s Jack Russell ring bearer cocked his leg on the registrar’s briefcase.
As Poppy says, we should be grateful we don’t have chocolate fountains.
Last week they had a child dip both their hands in one up at her farm and wipe them clean on the bride’s raw silk dress.
Then there was a huge blow up because the groom’s family saw the funny side, but the bride didn’t.
The more I hear about the stress, time and cost of organising a big day, the more I see why people are flocking to book with us.
Daniella’s publicity was nationwide, but a lot of people coming to us are local people jumping at the chance to get married now there’s a simple option on offer that’s cuter than St Aidan’s town hall.
We don’t usually do routine trying-on at the shop on Mondays, but Tia’s called me in first thing this morning for a dress appointment with a bride who’s just booked the beach hut and needs to get on with sorting out her dresses ASAP – with the emphasis on the plural.
Apparently more brides than I’d expect buy multiple dresses, and today’s bride is shopping for three, which realistically could take all day today, and tomorrow too.
I’m in the Seraphina East room, shuffling the chairs around in case she comes with a big group of friends and family when I hear the doorbell ring. I hurry to help Tia bring everyone in, but there’s only one person.
She looks at Tia expectantly. ‘I’m Athena. My appointment’s for ten but I’m early.’
Tia smiles. ‘I’m Tia. This is Maeve. And we’re ready for you. Are you bringing anyone else?’
Athena runs her hand through her hair and shakes out a tangle of burnished blonde waves. ‘I know what I like, and I’m lucky most things suit me, so I figured it’ll save a lot of fuss if it’s just me.’
Tia nods. ‘It’s a growing trend for brides to shop alone. It gives an extra level of drama on the day, and you aren’t swayed with your choices.’
As I follow her through, I can see she’s got the kind of tall, lithe, square-shouldered build that will look fabulous whatever she puts on.
Tia leads the way to the showroom. ‘Sit down, we’ll talk about where to begin.’
Athena chooses a comfy chair and sinks back against the cushions.
‘We’d originally planned to have the ceremony near home with our friends, and the party down here with my family.
Then my brother mentioned the beach hut, and it’s a perfect fit.
This way we have a small ceremony in the early morning, which is my first dress. ’
Tia looks at me. ‘We do the bookings through the shop, but the beach hut belongs to Maeve.’
I smile and give a little wave. ‘It’s great to know we’re helping people get the weddings they want. What are you planning for the rest of the celebration?’
I don’t need to ask where she comes from because her jeans and loafers are very London; her white shirt is tucked in all the way round, which gives an extra air of sophistication that matches her upmarket accent.
When she pushes back her hair again, it strikes me that it’s the same colour as Nemmie’s, but her cheeks are so pale she looks like she could do with some St Aidan sunshine.
She smiles. ‘The rest of the day will be pared back too. My mum’s already settled on a garden party.’
It’s impossible not to warm to her, so I grin. ‘Like Buckingham Palace.’
She shakes her head. ‘We won’t be having anywhere near eight thousand guests. My sister had six hundred, but I’ve said three fifty max.’
I asked for that.
‘We’ll have open marquees around the lawn edges; guests will spill in and out of the drawing rooms. There will be all-day bars, buffets, hog roasts and side shows. So long as everyone dances and goes home off their faces, it’ll count as a success.’
Tia reaches out for the racks of dresses. ‘You said a formal dress for the day, with a zip not buttons?’
Athena laughs. ‘The dowager duchess aunts would like me to wear my mother’s dress, so nothing too out-there. Then I’ll need a mini for the evening.’
Tia runs her hands along the rail of dresses she’s already got out. ‘As I explained earlier, because of the short lead-in you’ll be choosing from dresses we have here, so I’ve selected a few to get an idea what you like.’
This is my cue. ‘Would you like a glass of Prosecco while we work?’
Athena tenses. ‘Definitely not.’
‘We have Fentiman’s lemonade or chilled water if you’d prefer?’
‘Thanks, but I’ll get straight on with the dresses.’ She’s already by the rail, pulling off one of Sera’s simple range. ‘I’ll try this one for the beach.’
Tia hands it to me and I take it into the fitting room. By the time I get back out, Athena’s pointed to a sequinned shift and a full-skirted dress with lace and beading and a very expensive price tag. I slide those to one end of the rail, but Athena hesitates.
‘I’ll try them one after another, if that’s okay?’
‘Great.’ Tia nods. ‘We’ll bring them in as soon as you’re ready. If you’d like to get a longer view, there’s a bigger mirror out here. Would you like heels to try with the dresses?’
‘Size six, please. But I’ll try the beach dress in bare feet.’
By the time I get a pair of silver trying-on stilettos and pass them through the curtain I can see she’s already in the first dress. ‘Shall I do you up?’
‘Please.’
Athena looks in the mirror, then turns to let me undo the zip. ‘Great. On to the next one.’
This one is stunning and is a bigger job to climb into. As I zip her up Athena breathes in. ‘It’s quite a snug fit.’
Tia looks in as I do up the zip. ‘There’s nothing to let out on that one unfortunately.’
Athena studies herself. ‘I’ll have to stay away from the Oreos until after the wedding!’ Then she steps back, turns to be undone and calls for the mini dress.
She’s in and out of the short shift in seconds, and we wait outside the curtain for her to put the dressing gown on and come out to see what she’d like to try next.
When she comes out a moment later, she’s back in her jeans with her shirt fully tucked in.
Tia hides her surprise. ‘Would you like to try on more?’
Athena looks at her. ‘Those ones are perfect. I’ll take all three. If you could ring me and let me know how much they are, I’ll pay you in full then.’ She finally pauses for breath. ‘Can they stay here until the wedding? That way they’ll be a complete secret.’
‘Of course.’ Tia’s picking her jaw up off the floor. ‘Anything else we can help with? Veils, shoes, accessories?’
‘I’ll come back for those.’ Athena was looking pale before, but as she looks around now her cheeks are chalky. ‘Do you have a loo?’
‘Of course, follow me.’ I sense she’s in a hurry, and I dash across the hall to the cloakroom as quickly as I can.
As we join Poppy in the office we can hear the sound of retching in the distance. I turn to Tia. ‘Remember the night I was sick in your handbag?’
Tia shakes her head. ‘That was one way to make sure we’d never forget our prom.’
When Athena comes back a few minutes later, if anything, she looks worse. She pulls a face. ‘It’s never the best idea to go wedding dress shopping with a hangover!’
Tia beams at her. ‘You did it in record time!’
Athena leans her shoulder on the door frame. ‘You have to be decisive, or it could take forever and you still wouldn’t be sure you’d got the right ones.’ She loops her bag over her shoulder. ‘Thanks for your help, I’ll see you soon.’
I dip into the fridge and hold a bottle in her direction. ‘Water?’
‘Thank you. This time I will.’
We stand and listen to the sound of the doorbell ringing as she leaves, then Tia says, ‘Don’t you love that Longchamp Le Pliage handbag she was carrying? There’s a sure sign of a woman who knows her own mind.’
I’m blinking as I try to catch up with what just happened. ‘When brides are all so different, no wonder anything can happen at weddings.’
Poppy pulls down the corners of her mouth. ‘As for her dash to the loo, take it from me – that wasn’t a hangover; that was morning sickness.’
‘Which won’t go any further, as we’re renown for our client confidentiality,’ Tia reminds us gently.
We’re putting the dresses into covers and sorting out the tickets when we hear the ting of the bell as the door opens again. Then Lando’s head appears round the corner.
Tia steps in. ‘Lando, anything we can help with?’
He’s staring round the empty room. ‘I’m looking for someone, but they’re obviously not here.’
We know better than to say who’s just walked out.
Tia says, ‘Better luck next time, Lando, but he’s already gone.’
Poppy says, ‘Your husband-for-the-summer is looking uncharacteristically peaky. Is everything okay there?’
I stiffen. ‘It was karaoke at the Hungry Shark last night. He’s probably just hungover too.’
Poppy frowns. ‘It’s more than that. He’s completely lost his sparkle.’
Tia grins. ‘So long as he finds it again before the St Aidan summer extravaganza! We need him fully shimmering for that day’s charm offensive.’ She leans towards the stack of Tupperware Poppy’s holding. ‘What’s in your boxes?’
Poppy laughs. ‘I thought you’d never ask. I’m here for an eleven o’clock cake tasting and I have new-style rocky road, cherry almond cake, rhubarb and custard crumble bars, and peanut and jelly bake.’
My eyes go wide as she opens the first lid and pushes the tin towards me. ‘You want us to try them too?’
She laughs. ‘Any new recipe, I like to get all the opinions I can.’
‘And this is why I love working in a wedding shop.’
I sink my teeth into the cake cube and the buttery sweetness of nutty almond explodes with the tartness of rich cherry. However much I’m dreading the extravaganza and imagining every disaster that a day with Lando could bring, for the next five minutes, all I have to think about is eating cake.