The Aisle Diaries Podcast

Between Weddings & Wild Tampon Moments

• TAEPodcast • Season 1 • Episode 17

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🎙️ Welcome back to The Aisle Diaries Podcast with Sophie & Joella - your weekly dose of real wedding chaos, behind-the-scenes bridal drama, supplier secrets, motherhood chat, business life, and the unfiltered reality of working in the wedding industry. 💍

In this catch-up episode, it’s finally just us girls again! After weeks of amazing guests, we’re back for a proper natter covering everything from wedding day disasters to puppy chaos, Harry Potter theatre trips, christenings, live podcast nerves, and the reality of balancing weddings, business and motherhood.

This episode is full of hilarious stories, honest advice, relatable chaos and genuine wedding planning tips for brides-to-be.

✨ In this episode:
• Wedding bouquet disaster saved on the morning of the wedding 
• Bridesmaid dresses, broken zips & emergency sewing kits 
• Bridal emergency stories every bride NEEDS to hear
• Puppy parenting vs motherhood chaos 
• Sleep regressions & newborn life updates
• Sophie climbing Snowdon & Zip World adventures 
• Joella’s 30th birthday & Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in London 
• Wedding supplier secrets & behind-the-scenes truths
• Bridal spirals & advice for anxious brides planning weddings
• Why wedding coordinators are lifesavers
• TikTok trolls & wedding photography editing debates 
• Our LIVE podcast announcement at Swanley Meadows 

Whether you're planning your wedding, working in the wedding industry, recently engaged, or just love funny, chaotic girl chats - this episode is for you.

💌 Got a bridal spiral, wedding question or supplier confession?
Send us your stories at:
theaislediariespodcast@gmail.com

📍Follow us everywhere:
Instagram, TikTok, Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube:
@theaislediariespodcast

✨ Follow the girls:
Sophie Brown Makeup
@sb.bridalmakeup

Seraphina Weddings
@seraphinaweddings_

Produced by TAEPodcast - www.taepodcast.co.uk

SPEAKER_01

Welcome to the IOL Diaries Podcast, the place where you find out what really happens behind the chaos and graphetic. Because someone's got to tell you the truth, and it's never boring. With tips for your big day, I'm Sophie and I'm Joella.

SPEAKER_00

Hello! We're back again. And this time you just got yay! And I hope it's been a while since it's been just us two. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

I feel like there's a lot to catch up on. We've um we've had quite a few guests, which has been absolutely amazing because we know a few people that have just kind of like you guys have been messaging us and been like, can you have this person on? Can you have this person? Can you have this person? It's been really nice, but there's only so many hours in the week. Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_00

And it's nice to just so nice for you guys to listen to us because I feel like a lot of the feedback, as much as the guests are brilliant and really helpful. Yeah. But a lot of people just weirdly like listening to us.

SPEAKER_01

And then we have a napper, napper, yeah, natter. Oh my god, I can't get my words out.

SPEAKER_00

Oh it is early still. It is early.

SPEAKER_01

We've had a coffee, but we've also tried to not speak to each other.

SPEAKER_00

Literally sat in the car like this. I can't look at you. I'm not talking to you. Because we're we're just gonna leave it until the pod, basically.

SPEAKER_01

We've not asked each other how each other are.

SPEAKER_00

We've not said anything. Really, really rude. It's like hi Joella, bye Joella. I'm going in now. So now we are sat here.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

How are you? Yeah, how are you? You go first. Um I'm good.

SPEAKER_01

Really good. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Not ill. No. Woohoo. Well, let's not jinx it. Touch me. P's perfect. Good. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Apart from the sleeping through the night, she's all good. Um we're just going through a bit of a a sleep thing with her at the minute, which is obviously knackering, because when you've had your child sleep through from the age of four weeks, and I've been so blessed with that. Like I know there'll be some of my brides that listen and be like, What?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Um I am I've it's a big shock to your system when they just don't. So the fact that she's not for the last three weeks, but last night she did until even though she woke up at half five this morning, it was fine. I was like, it's okay. Yeah. I think it's also the clocks this time, whereas last year they didn't bother her, but this year I think they've bothered her. And it's brighter, isn't it? Yeah, even though she has blackout curtains. Yeah. Yeah. It's I I just yeah, I think because you can see obviously you can nothing's ever blackout, blackout. You can obviously see them at the top a little bit. I just, yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Oh, well, I'm glad you're okay and she's gonna be able to do it. Oh good. And it's just the sleep regression. Oh good, how are you doing? Yeah, fine. I'm really well. Crumpet getting getting easier. Okay.

SPEAKER_01

Um for the none of you that know crumpy is is not an actual food.

SPEAKER_00

He's so dog. Yeah, no, it's getting it's getting easier, it's still hard. Um, just like I say, the chewing, but in like all round, he is a lovely dog, and he's just young, he's just a baby, and that's a puppy. Yeah, I have to keep reminding myself like he's only four and a half months. It's not forever. No, and we literally said yesterday on a walk, actually, we were like, How old is he again? And how long have we had him for? And we're like, oh my god, it feels like we've had him like forever. Yeah. Same when you've got a child as well. Yeah, you know, when you're just like, oh my god, we actually haven't had him this long. Yeah. Um, yeah, I did lose my head a little bit yesterday. I don't even know if I should say it. I don't think I can say it. It's been TMI. Tell us, man, if you if we if you can't, we'll be like, Ale, can you cut this part out, please? Well, it got put in my group chat with my friends anyway, and they were all howling. So it's time of month. Yeah, dog is like a child. You always have to have a we with the dog in front of you, whatever the case. As I'm changing and getting sorted, he's grabbed the used button. Stop. So obviously I've sorted myself out, and then I'm screaming around the lounge, and Ethan was like laughing, and then it was making me angry because he didn't realise what was going on. And I was like, it's not funny! And he was like, What's up? And I was like, Look at his mouth. Luckily, it was wrapped in tissue. But I yeah, you just couldn't write it.

SPEAKER_01

I know it that's such a that's a child thing that you're gonna do it, yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Like it wasn't funny at the time, and now I'm like, oh, that's disgusting, but it's life, yeah. No, yeah, you just don't expect your puppy to be running around with that in his mouth with a tampon, yeah. Uh and I was like, oh, I let you kiss my face.

SPEAKER_01

So then we'll eat eat fox pool and something.

SPEAKER_00

TMI, TMI. I'm sorry guys, but we if you're a woman, you know, you know what I'm on about.

SPEAKER_01

God, I'm gonna start crying at you again. That's so funny. So yeah, that's that was my life yesterday. So we last had a catch-up, didn't we? It was a good couple of weeks ago. So, what has happened in the last couple of weeks, wedding-wise for you? What's happened life-wise? Um and then when you get asked about it, you're like, ah! I know.

SPEAKER_00

I walked Snowden, that was a big achievement. Um, me and my friends, and we had like well, I worked on the Saturday, finished it two, and then made our way to Wales and we went to Zip World.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, it's so good, isn't it?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, it was so fun. Did you do the big one that like drops?

SPEAKER_01

The zip line? No, see, yeah, but the swing one.

SPEAKER_00

No, we literally just did the forest coaster.

SPEAKER_01

It's so good. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

We did see it, but it looked slow.

SPEAKER_01

Maybe it was just getting going. Yeah, it's not it's not when you get on it. When you get on it, you're like, oh like when you're up there as well, you're like, holy crap. Yeah, and then it just drops. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, we do want to go back and do the the zip line, but the forest coaster was really fun. And then obviously we stayed and had like a really wholesome night. We played scrapboard, loads of board games. We cooked dinner, me and my friend, whilst the boys just chilled, and then we did Snowden really early the next day, which was amazing. Um, and then weddings and work, yeah, fully into I wouldn't say into the thick of it, but we're getting there. Yeah. Yeah. Um just had one this weekend plus clients and lessons. So it's been bit a busy weekend. Um far this year, I have done the plough. Yeah. Um this weekend just gone. I was working with Dee again, and we were supposed to be at the plough, but then the plans changed last minute, so we were in an absolutely unreal Airbnb um in Woodford. Oh baked by Bean's Van actually, you know, she's moved locations. Yeah. I was like that on my way past. I I know. I was like, should I get one, should I not? Um so yeah, I've been to the plough. Have I done heaton? Yeah, I've done heaton. Appreciate you done Owen House as well, haven't you? I've done Owen House. It's all just merging into one already. And we're not even into summer yet.

SPEAKER_01

Alright, I'm trying to think where I was in.

SPEAKER_00

You've done Meridiale. Done Meradale twice. Yeah, that's good.

SPEAKER_01

Memory twice. I actually went back there yesterday. Yeah, why? Because I um left my emergency kit at Not the Emergency Kit! Well, part of my emergency kit. It was literally so like in my suitcase I have like this little um it's like a clear box and it's like one of those divider ones. You know, basically it's like a a pill box but like a bigger scale. And it's just got like it's got like tide pens in, it's got sharpies in, it's got safety pins, it's got hair clips, and it's just so I can quickly grab a bit of everything at once when it's needed, like there's a few SD cards in there, there's like in case like a photographer's SD card go like there's just everything.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Um, like it's and I just I must have left it and I came to open my suitcase the other day and I was like, where the hell is it? Um and I looked all over the house because obviously we've had wedding fairs and stuff, and I was like, I've not taken it out. I know I've not. And then the last place I had it was when I was at Mary Dale when I was sewing up the bride's dress.

SPEAKER_00

Oh god.

SPEAKER_01

So I've obviously taken it out. Oh yeah, did we talk about that? I've not yet, no. So much to catch up on. Um so yeah, I've been there twice. Went back yesterday, just quit literally like they chucked it at me in my window and then I drove off. Yeah, did they have a wedding yesterday? They did, yeah. What about you? How's your weekend been? Um, so I've had my 30th last weekend, which is lovely. Um for the first time in like the last year, it's been child free for the day. We went to Manchester, had drinks, and I'll get away. Was it nice or was it a bit old? Oh, it was so lovely. Yeah. It was obviously weird.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

You're like, what do you talk about?

SPEAKER_00

I know.

SPEAKER_01

Bet you were like constantly checking your phone or no, because she was with Johnny's sister, so now yeah. Um no, and she bathroom put to bed and everything, like absolutely fine. Yeah. Um yeah, we didn't get home late to be fair. We got home at like eight o'clock. Perfect then. And we literally opened a bottle of champagne, two glasses, put grease on in bed and we're on the bottom. Fell asleep. Fell asleep. What a 30th. No, that sounds like a dreamy. It was really good. And then this weekend, obviously, I've just come back from London last night. Yeah, and how was that? Oh, it was so good. So Which was for your 30th. It was for my 30th with my mum. My mum and me went to watch Harry Potter. Theatre. Yeah, The Cursed Child. Oh wow. Yeah. Oh my god, it's insane. Really? It's so honestly for anybody that's on the fence about going, go. It's long, don't get me wrong. How long? So, like the first setting's like three hours. What? And then you have an hour and a half break in between, and then you have um or two hours, sorry, in between, then you have like two hours and twenty five minutes. Don't get me wrong, they've got like a few minutes. So do you leave the theatre? Yeah, so you can leave the theatre. Go and get something to eat. But some people do part one on one day, some people do part two on another day. So like then I'll do like sorry, I'll do, we did, um, everything in one day. And it was don't get me wrong, we were absolutely shattered by the end of it, but it is so good. Because I was I didn't realise that it wasn't I didn't know enough information. I I'm such a Harry Potter fan, but I didn't know enough information about it like prior, and I'm so glad that I didn't. But for anybody that is listening, it's basically a spin-off to the films.

SPEAKER_00

Okay, I think it's a lot of people.

SPEAKER_01

So JK Row so JK Rowling and the directors have basically like made a film of like post-after when Harry's got his kids and everything like that. It's honestly I can't tell you, it's so good. It's really good. Huge Harry Potter fan. Yeah, definitely. Like the sound effects, the costumes. Yeah. It just we were looking at the magic and how they did it, and sometimes we were like, What? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Like some things are just appearing, you'd be like, are the characters really similar? Like if they worked really well, yeah. Really well. No way. Ethan would love that. I'm not a huge Harry Potter fan. What? No. I know. I know. I'm not I fall asleep every single time you pop a film on. That's what I do with cigar tracks, you're fine. Like, I'm just like, I'm not getting into it. I did go and take Ethan a couple of years ago to Harry Potter Worlds. Yeah, which honestly, I sound like such a hypocrite. Yeah. I was mesmerised by the set and all the makeup. So I loved it. I think you would love the theatre though, because I love the theatre, but just I'm not into Harry Potter. But I think you'll love it just for how But do I need to watch all the films to know Do you know what to mean?

SPEAKER_01

I wouldn't say all I wouldn't say all of the films, but you kind of have to have like a rundown and a background.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. I'll have to commit, won't I? Ethan will be like, Yes!

SPEAKER_01

Honestly, it's so definitely taken. Yeah, definitely amazing. That sounds so fun. It wasn't really spending time with your mum. It was, yeah, we've not done that in a very long time.

SPEAKER_00

It's hard when you're a big girl, isn't it? Like you're still her girl, but still want some.

SPEAKER_01

We used to go on holiday every year, so we haven't done it in a good couple of years. Yeah. So it was really nice to actually just like I bet she loved it. Yeah. Having you to herself. Yeah, we had a really good time and we walked so much. Where did you stay? My mum's just as clumsy as me though. Why?

SPEAKER_00

That's where you get it from.

SPEAKER_01

I know exactly where I get it from. It's her. Um it 110% is her. So we literally on the Friday we got into London and we were gonna go over to Kensington Palace and we were in Hills Court, so we were gonna like walk across. And it's like a it's a good like 50-minute, I wouldn't even say that, I think it's like a 40-minute walk. And um five minutes into the walk, my mum's on the train on the way there beforehand going. Something was telling me to bring my bandages and I don't know what, and I was like, You'll be fine, honestly, you'll be fine. And um, oh no, and then five minutes into like after we've checked into the hotel, we've come back down, we're on this walk to Kensington Palace. My mum, there is a pothole in the pavement. My mum trips into it, out of it. To be fair, like, bless her soul, like her foot is so black. Really? Yeah, it's really, really, it's really she's really hurt herself. But there's a blinking she literally tried to drag me blinking down in with it. She grabbed the waistband and my pants and was like this. And I was like, I need to catch you.

SPEAKER_00

Oh my god, and that was when you got there.

SPEAKER_01

So I was like, right, we'll try and find you a support or something. Um, because she hadn't even bought bandages with her, they're still back at the hotel at this point. But I know exactly where I get it from.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, you two together. Oh Tweedledum, Tweedledum intellectually.

SPEAKER_01

I know I know, so I just hope she's okay for the weekend because we've got Paisley's christening.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

She needs to pop loads of ice on it and I know, just kid I kick she's kept it elevated, she's got in really good support.

SPEAKER_00

Yes, so this weekend's coming is P's christening.

SPEAKER_01

Christening, so by the time Ice comes out, it will have happened.

SPEAKER_00

So Sophie will have done my makeup super early. I know. Yeah, that's before my wedding on Sunday. Yeah. I mean, you you do get up early, but it's different being out the door early, isn't it? But it's fine because Johnny I'll just have to get on with the chats. Well, this mama has to look good for the Christmas.

SPEAKER_01

I said to Johnny, he was like, Why are you getting it done? I was like, Because I just also I've not had my makeup done in so long. And I was like, and also I'm just gonna come to your morolas and just be like Yeah, people do. Come in your PJs. I know, literally, that's all I'm gonna do. Then it's one less thing to stress about because. I don't need to worry then about her getting ready, me getting ready, I'm done. Yeah. Unless you take rollers out and go.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, or what's she wearing?

SPEAKER_01

I don't know yet. You don't know. I've not even got mine out all of it. I've been looking for so long on what to wear, and I just really can't find a dress that I like for me, but also a dress that I like for her. Yeah, you're not going really traditional with a christening gown then. No, we're just gonna get like a nice pretty dress, white dress. Yeah. Um I don't know where you would go next. Well, next I've had a look at I've even been into Next, I've even been into MS, I've been onto monsoons, I've been onto Debanums, I've been onto them all, but this I found one in John Lewis, so I think I'm gonna go from there. But I don't want to spend too much money when it's for one day, and she's also she's feral. Yeah. She's literally gonna be running around like a headless chicken. You could change you could take a change of clothes with us. That's what I'm gonna do. We're gonna just take a spare change of clothes with us afterwards.

SPEAKER_00

But yeah, same with you, you know. I know. Well, yeah, I'd probably win. I just hate being like you know, like restricted when you need to run after your children.

SPEAKER_01

Well, that's why she's got six grandparents, so let's put it that way. And they'll all be there.

SPEAKER_00

Um so what have you got coming up? Um I've got a wedding on Friday, no, a wedding on Saturday and a wedding on Sunday. Um Friday. No, Sunday.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, and then Saturday. No. It's quite dark, so take your lights.

SPEAKER_00

I always take my lights. Yeah, but like it's it's dark.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, it is dark. Unless you're fully in front of the the mirror. Uh the mirror, the window.

SPEAKER_00

How would I be in front of the window if I'm the first one to arrive?

SPEAKER_01

I guess uh have you got your chair as well? Yeah. Yeah, make sure you pack that too, because the chairs are quite low down in the room. Okay. I like the you know little comfy chairs.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, I'll always bring my chair and lice with her. Just saves my back.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, and also, so that means then you know you get good photos and stuff afterwards for you, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_00

Sorry, that's Sunday's wedding make art, actually.

SPEAKER_01

I know I'm just looking at my diary seeing what I've got on.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, same here. And then where am I on Saturday? No, that Airbnb though from that last weekend. Well, on Saturday. So, so nice. I need to share that on my story. I couldn't believe it. It's like Where was it? Literally, um You know Woodford Garden Centre, yeah. It's just slightly up from there on the left, and it's like you go through. Sounds like you're not far from us at all. Honestly beautiful. Um and like I said, they were getting having their reception at the plough, getting married in Wimslow at a church, and then going to the plough. Okay. So yeah, they must have just changed. It was easier to go from the Airbnb. Yeah. It was like five minutes from So Shall we talk about that wedding? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

So what happened at that wedding, so um good wedding?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, yeah, it was lovely. Group was really nice. Obviously, I was helping Dee, so I wasn't the lead artist. So I did four people, three bridesmaids and one mother, the bride. Um, really, really lovely girls, really lovely group, very chilled. Um, like I said, they this this amazing farmhouse made the vibe even more chilled, if you know what I mean. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Um because I've only seen Dee's story and Dee's post. So I haven't asked I didn't want to read. I haven't seen a post. She put a post up. Oh, like last night?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. So I started videoing Dee because it I was just like, this is gonna make a viral TikTok. I can feel it.

SPEAKER_01

Basically. For anyone that doesn't know, Dee owns um the Bridal Studio. Yes, it does hair and makeup. It does hair and makeup based in Congleton, and she's so funny. She's so she is really funny. She's one of my best friends as well. She is hilarious, yeah.

SPEAKER_00

I'm meeting her, you know, next week. Oh yeah. Um, she's gonna borrow my Z Potter to decant a load of products and just catch up, really, and help one another out, I'm assuming. She but no, she's really trying. Yeah, she's in front of brides as well. Like she doesn't change who she is. I love it.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Um so basically the flowers turned up. Yeah. The bridesmaids had baby's breath, yeah, and then the bride's bouquet was well, she'd asked for white roses with baby's breath and a few like blush pink roses. And this bride was really chilled. However, when her bouquet turned up, she felt that the white roses were like really yellow.

SPEAKER_01

Now, white roses are cream, they're not white, they're not white, and people have this expectation if they're white. I think it's the way that they've been conditioned to be white, but they brew so much easier when they are like that. I think don't hold me on it, I'm not a florist, but they I'm gonna ask um Am I Sean from the Flower Lounge about this or Diane for Butterfly Road because I can't remember our next guest. On our next guest, yes, definitely. Um because I can't remember why some come white and some come yellow. I think I I think it's the time of the year as well. And the type of roses are creepy, like they are more creepy, they're a bit, they're a bit more yellowy, they're they are a bit more yellowy, and the reason why people think they're white as well is because of fake flowers are white, white and they're pure white.

SPEAKER_00

She's like, I wish I just got aesthetic fake flowers because obviously she wanted them, I'm assuming, quite white. Anyway, so she wasn't happy with the colour of the roses. So Dee was amazing. She was just like, you're not happy, are you? She was like, No, and I don't, you know, I should have said something before the florist left. To be fair, I I don't I didn't really see the florist. I mean, I was doing my job, but it was kind of in and out, and that was that. Whereas sometimes florists come in, make themselves known, like, do you like them? Are you happy? I didn't really see that happen. Um Do you know who the florist was? No, I don't. Dee might Dee might know. Yeah, but like I said, I had my back to the the whole situation, really. Um, and then Dee just basically said, You're not happy, are you? And the bride was like, No, and she was like, Right, we're gonna come up with a solution. And she was like, MS up the road, do you want one of us to go? And then she was kind of like Hanforth to the rescue! Yeah, she was like looking at one of the bridesmaids, Dee was as if to say, like, we're gonna have to sort this. And then Father the Bride came in and um she just basically said the bride did, Dad, you're gonna have to go to Hamforth Dean, pop into MS and pop into Sainsbury's and see what they've got. So there's no um signal, is there in Hamforth Dean? No, there's not. There's you literally every time you go in, you have no signal. Yeah, and why is that? No idea. Everyone that goes in, so father bride's trying to FaceTime, and it's like you know how annoying it is. Um, and it turned out there was no better quality. So in the end, Dee just said, Give me the bouquet, I'm gonna sort it for you, let's take them out. Um, so Dee basically dismantled this bouquet. Me and the photographer were like, Are you okay doing that? And she was like, Yep, you know, it's fine, I've done it before. Um, and basically she took all the white roses out, popped more of the baby's breath in from all the bridesmaids' bouquets, and just left a few of the odd blush pink roses in there, and the bride was super happy. Oh, she was amazing. Yeah. Um, and I'm assuming the bride was really happy because as she was doing it, and I asked her.

SPEAKER_01

I think she sent Dee a I'm gonna have a look now, because I'm pretty sure she does. Um loves in a little sessie a little sess sentence. Um I know But that just proves like you employ a good supplier and we will go above and beyond. Zoe said, Oh my gosh, you saved the day in every single way, just the best. Couldn't have done it without you. Thank you so much for everything.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. So it's not just This is what this is why, like, you're having a supplier who knows the industry but also who knows how to just take something like that off. And read somewhat.

SPEAKER_00

And read the rule. Yeah, because because I don't think that would have happened without D. No. Because the bride was so lovely and easy again. She was just like, oh god, it's just what it is. Like, it is what it is, and I don't want to be that person. And Dee was like, You're not, it's your wedding. No. Like, if you don't like it, you don't like it.

SPEAKER_01

Me and Dee are very similar in that way, in the sense of like, we'll just pick it up and be like, No, you're not happy, let's change it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

And Dee was very much like, You're not happy, are you? And she was like, Oh, and she was like, just give it here, it's fine, we'll sort it. And then D was like, Dad, come on, get yourself time 15.

SPEAKER_02

Literally.

SPEAKER_00

And that was that really. So not a massive. I suppose in the bride's mindset it was a big deal, but in the end, the end result, it was fine, it worked out. Yeah. And like D kept saying, you know, if this is the only thing that's gonna go wrong on your wedding day or morning, so be it. Like you're fine. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

It's the mindset you bring because that could have changed her whole day. The fact that she was so chilled and everything like that, and was like, okay, you do you, if you're gonna make it better, fine.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

But if you don't like something, don't be afraid of saying to your other suppliers, can can we change can we change this?

SPEAKER_00

Like even if it's not because instantly you saw her like deflating was just like thank you. And like, you know, from the from the message she shared after the wedding, you probably was just thinking to herself, Thank God Dee did that for me. Yeah. I would have looked back at the photos and just kept looking at the yellow roses.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Um but yeah, what what about the disaster with the dress?

SPEAKER_01

Um so I've had two dress augers and a veil. Um All in the same wedding. The veil and the dress was. And then a dress was in the other one. The first one was minute. Um, and I I even said to the photographer and the videoographer, they stood watching me do it, and I was like, Why the hell have you just not got that on a photo or a video? Help me out! Come on! And they were like, We were literally just mesmerised how you just mesmerised how you just whipped out literally a needle and threading just did it. And I was like, Well Can you sew? Yeah, I took textiles as an A level. So did I, but I can't sew. I can sew. Not as an A level either. My sewing is like, mm-mm. But also it just has to work. Like So what happened? Um my lovely bride, um Leah, I'm sure she won't mind me mentioning this. So the back of her dress is like it was strap strappy, but then the back of it had like um a like the best way to describe it, it's like open, but it has like a a button at the top. So the button had just unthreaded. Okay. There was nowhere to really stitch it back onto, so I literally had to just stitch the whole button back onto the thing. That was the first minute disaster thing that had happened. Um, she's the lovely bride as well that gave me her veil for my emergency. Oh my god, that's so nice! Yeah, so she bought a veil off Finted and it didn't match the white of a dress. So, ladies, this is a massive tip. If you buy a veil, please make sure it matches the colour of your dress. Yeah, because sometimes it doesn't. And there's so many different ivory, there's so many different whites, they can look blue, they can look grey, just make sure it just makes sure they match. So she had two veils, and we bought that veil that I um that she gave to me afterwards. She'd bought it off inter, didn't match, it was a spare veil anyway. Um, we used it later on for under the veil shot, which is absolutely stunning. I love those shots. Um me too, I've been such an advocate for them. Yeah, just because they're just beautiful because it's so clear and clean and it's timeless. Yeah. Um, so that was the first, like it was like a little bit of a disaster, but it wasn't. She was the most loveliest bride ever. She was getting married at Marydale Manor, or she got married at Marydale Manor. Um, absolutely incredible couple, lovely, just everything about them, the vibe there. Bridal party, yeah, everything they just bore. Just a nice morning. That that bride up, they were singing in that kitchen. I've got a video of it to share actually. They were singing it, they had shots, like everything it was just like a vibe in itself. All about the bridal party bringing the vibe so big time, yeah. Um, and then the second dress was for a bride. Again, she got married at Meradale. So two Merydale ones it happened too. Um, her veil was her friend's veil. So it was something borrowed. Yeah. Um, and it just literally just unstitched at the top. It was basically it hadn't even unstitched, so it was glue. So the glue on the top, you know where the clip is? Yeah. The glue had obviously come off. Um, because she thought she won it for her wedding beforehand. It's yeah, yeah. All that kind of stuff. But she was cursing a friend. No, no, no, no, God no, no, nothing like that. She that so I literally just she had it, she had about five different veils that morning because she hadn't decided on which one she wanted to pick yet. So I was like, which one do you want in? Because one of them's broken, so I want to make sure that it stitches for you beforehand. She picked obviously the one that was broken, so I just stitched it quickly. Um, but then her dress wasn't her main dress, it was her evening dress. So she got dress into a second dress for the evening after first dance, and it was my job to go and get her into this dress, make sure she was ready, come out for photographer and videographer for photos. We did that absolutely fine. Literally, put it was just a zip, zipped her into it and the zip, then she bent over and the zip just went bing and it opened from top to bottom. So literally, I wish I'd got an after photo.

SPEAKER_00

I wish I'd seen your face as it pinged.

SPEAKER_01

I was like, I to be fair, I just was like, um, okay, the dress is open, so we're just gonna try and uh take it back down, but it wouldn't move. This the the literally the zip had actually got jammed, so it got completely jammed and it would not move. And her bridesmaid tries and I was like, look, you've got two options here. We can either cut you out the dress and you go back into your other one, or I can stitch you into it and you can cut yourself out of it later. So she opted for stitching me into it. So I stitched from the how long did that take? Uh about 15 minutes. I stitched from the bottom to the top and stitched her into her dress. I I wouldn't be able to do that. And I've I've seen the photos from the evening, the dress was still on. And I left at 11. I hope she's dropped you a really amazing Google review. Well, she's not done me, I've not sent them about a Google review yet, but she's dropped me a really lovely message and they gave me a gift that evening as well. She gave me a big gluten-free hamper. Oh I know, which was really, really nice of them. And they were a gorgeous couple as well.

SPEAKER_00

That is a big deal. I know. And for it to last, well done, Joanna.

SPEAKER_01

No. Because like one little move and boom, you you could I was like, just don't go doing any booty drops. Like, just please. Yeah. Yeah, no, that feels like don't go shaking your booty, whatever you do, because it's probably gonna pink.

SPEAKER_00

Thing is, though, I just went with it. Then I just left it open all night.

SPEAKER_01

It spangs out on everything.

SPEAKER_00

Ventuillane was like, it is what it is now. I've got the pics. People's gone home. I had a dress disaster. Um again, she won't mind me saying Hannah. Um, it was last month.

SPEAKER_01

Oh my god, Hannah Hannah. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. Um and I I used to work with Hannah. Did you? Yeah, it costa. Sorry yesterday at the Truecle Market, actually. Um and I honestly am blowing smoke up my bum here, but if I wasn't there, I think that situation could have been so different. Because the panic of her sister and mum's face was just like, well, they just blurted it out. Your dress is broken. And it was quite um an intense environment at that point. It was when you know the last hour and it's a little bit heightened. Um it was at the Ashes Barn, so you're quite restricted on space. It's tiny in them. Very, very small, especially when there's a rider party of ten. Yeah. And there's two photographers, two hairstylists, me. And a videographer. There wasn't a videographer. No. Oh well, Jake was it. I was gonna say Jake did it. So, like, and then his partner as well. Yeah, so you did both. So he was the included in the two. Um, and yeah, mum just like not screamed, but shouted, oh your dresser's broken. And I was like, what, what, what? So I just was like, Don't worry. I was like, calm down, it's absolutely fine. I was like, let me have a look. So then I went over and you do start your palms start sweating a little bit. I mean, I was really calm, and I was just like, Yeah, so it had like the gorgeous buttons all the way down it, but then the thing to secure it was for the thing that actually broke, and only one at the top. Um, so I was like, that is no biggie. I was like, we will just cut the hook off so it's not like flapping, and we'll zip it all the way up. And you know what? We'll just remove the top button because you're in it and it's secure. Yeah. So we did we did sort it out, but I do think if I wasn't there, because I calmed it all down and and did help fix the problem, even though it was it wasn't really a problem, like we sorted it, it would have been a lot different. Yeah. Because Hannah's face just instantly was like, What? Yeah. So yeah, well done you, Joella, for stitching somebody in their second dress. Because I like somebody else, to be fair.

SPEAKER_01

Have you? And then oh, the dress that I had the dress, um, the wedding that I had in Chester, I've had that as well, haven't I? So um Alice and Jack, they are the most gorgeous couple. Alistair listens to this one as well.

SPEAKER_00

She always comments.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, she's honestly the nicest, nicest. We've said we're gonna go for a coffee as well. They're so gorgeous. Oh she got Espresso Martini all down her dress. Did she? I got it all out for her. She was like, How have you done that? Because espresso martini is really hard. I was like, I have my ways. Yeah, it is. Yeah, and she got makeup and then also the flowers. Messy bride. She was she even said that. She was like, I'm such a klutz, I don't know what I would have done without you. She needed an apron, really. And then the flowers actually, um, the pollen off them got into a dress as well.

SPEAKER_00

Wow, yeah, yeah. You forget about things like that, don't you?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, because it was it was a weird day, like it was sunny and then it rained, and then it was that weekend when it was like everywhere under the sun. Yeah. Um, so and then luckily I'd taken my because I have broys in the back of my car. Of course you don't I have clear, clear white brolies. Um, and luckily I'd taken one out, so they'd taken that with them with the photographer so they could get when it started to shower, yeah. Yeah, some good shots. But those photos they've done incredible on Instagram. Oh really? Oh, and they need to have an ozy. They've done insane. Like just Marie's done an absolutely incredible job on them. But like, I'm just looking now and like yeah, they're literally on like from her from because obviously she's just um sent it to me and has has done a like a a collab post, but it's got like it's on like a thousand likes, and I'm like, they're just like look at these vibey shorts, oh yeah. They're just stunning and do you know Was that her main dress all day? That was her main dress all day. Love it, a short dress was like absolutely insane. Oh, you look gorgeous, Alice. Wow, she looks absolutely incredible, doesn't she? Flowers are perfect, stunning like her bridal party, all had chosen their own dresses. This is the one that I was on about where she'd even offered to pay for them and they didn't. Yeah, they just got the colours, and they were just like the best. And they all they did was they went to the register's office and did had a four o'clock ceremony, went out for photos for an hour. We did two confetti shots, one with immediate family over. Because if you've never been to Chest Town Hall, they've got a gorgeous staircase where you can do the confetti over, amazing, and the couple are at the bottom, or you can go outside. So we did one there, and then I got all the other guests lined up outside, and that was one where I said I shouted. Everybody was looking at me. Um stage fright. But they literally I was just like but they they were a gorgeous couple, and it was such a gorgeous day as well. It was incredible, amazing, yeah, really nice photos. Had a couple of um a couple of things, but nothing that my trusty emergency kit can't handle. Let's put it that way. On your mental health, on my mental health, no. Um, so what have we got coming up, Soph? We've got a few things, haven't we?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. A few, a massive thing coming up. We have got a massive thing coming up. Which we have shared already. Yeah. So go on. Do you want to see it? Do you want me to? I feel like saying it out loud just makes me more scared. Sophie's absolutely petrified. But I really am, and I am a bubbly, confident soul, but in my own space. Yeah, and this is like we're in literally our four walls here. I'm really excited. I'm not I'm not gonna be a Debbie Downer. I really am excited, but I'm really nervous. I'm I'm worried it's gonna be You know, like when we backtrack on our first ever episodes here, and we're like, God, we've grown so much.

SPEAKER_01

We have, and we're only literally what episode this is episode one.

SPEAKER_00

I know, but I feel like I'm gonna go back to episode one. I don't think you will.

SPEAKER_01

I think once you get going, I think you'll get used to it. Okay. Yeah. Let's pray and hope, guys, or you'll be like, boring! So if you're listening and you actually want to listen to a podcast live, we are doing a live podcast at Swanley Meadows, which is an incredible TP event. Unreal TP event. Absolutely insane, and they've got loads of suppliers. We're obviously doing a um our live podcast as well, there. As well as our own stands for our own businesses. Paul, one of the photographers, is doing some like engagement shoot things as well. So, like, there's quite a lot going on. There's load of food, like all their food stalls are incredible. Um, drinks as well, they're gonna be flowing. It's just gonna be an absolute Should I leave my car? Should we just uh should uh you know just camp there for the night and then drop Baby off a nursery?

SPEAKER_00

Well, I just say you like Ethan, you're gonna have to pick us up.

SPEAKER_01

So they've got a um day session and then they've also got a twilight session, so you can actually come and see it in the daytime and in the evening as well. Yeah, which get a real good idea of what it's like. Which will be there for both of them. Yeah. And even as well as the pod, you get to like we've got our stands and everything like that. So you get to like pick up information, know a bit more about us. Yeah. Know a bit more about it's like a mini festival, mini wedding festival, isn't it? It is really, and it's also it's a really good chance to meet the suppliers that you may have been on the fence about. So if you are local to Congleton, Macclesfield, Bosley, Cheshire East area, like honestly, just just come along because it's really such a good day.

SPEAKER_00

And come along and listen to us and watch us absolutely smash it.

SPEAKER_01

She says promise I'm not gonna wear my black jumper. Why do you say that? Like, I've worn like this jumper for every single episode. It's just like the continuous Honestly, if you go back, you've changed your outfit. I've just stayed in the same one.

SPEAKER_00

Jimmy just sits here with a black jumper and doesn't get home.

SPEAKER_01

Lies. No, but like as my mum said this again, she's like, that's what you wear black to a wedding, so you don't feel I was like, no, I just don't. But then I was like, no, I will stop wearing normal people clothes. No, you shouldn't think like that. You look lovely all the time. Thanks, honey. Um, so yeah, spoken about Swanley and Have you got any other open days coming up at all? We've obviously had the flowerhouse one as well together.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, I've I I feel bad because I keep forgetting about that because obviously we we weren't there. We made arrangements. Like I said, I was really hiking up Snowden and you were celebrating your 30th, so But Liv covered it for us. Liv covered it, yeah. Thank thank God for Liv. Um and she smashed it. She did. So you got loads of inquiries, didn't you? From the flowerhouse. Yeah, definitely. And I had a few new followers and um interest. Tell you what I did get on um when was it now? Friday. A bit of juicy goss. Um I was with a client and my phone started calling. I just said, Oh, just one sec, let me just take this phone call out. You don't mind? She's like, No, of course. So I get a phone call and it's fine. And it was just like no introduction like as to who they were or when they were getting married. It was just like, Hi, how much do you charge? And this this client could hear, like, it was all it wasn't on speaker, but you know, when you could just over here. So obviously I told her my prices, and then um she was like, What about weddings? So I told her the prices. I mean, my prices are everywhere, I've got nothing to hide. No, um, and then she was like, Alright, I'll be in touch by. And the client who was having a makeup done was like, Do you think she'll be in touch? I was like, No. I was like, Because if you are genuinely interested, have a conversation, you'd be like, I'm getting married on this day. Um, are you local? Do you come to me? There'd be more questions involved. And it was just such a random, literally two-second chat. I just was like, you know, after the phone call, you're like, I feel really like flustered by it.

SPEAKER_01

Something just happened. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

I just wanted to put, you know, put that out there. I was just like, that was definitely somebody fishing, or I I don't really know, just just or just yeah, like, why wouldn't you, even if you're scared of a phone call, just pop a couple of this message. But the client was like, Aren't your prices everywhere? Like, I even knew your prices. I was like, Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, mine are the same. Like, mine get changed at the end of this year as well. Are they? I think so, yeah. I need to look into that actually. Um, I've not changed them in three years, so yeah, it's needed.

SPEAKER_00

So let's wrap this up with a few of the um amazing comments that we've had from listeners and people that we appreciate, and then also the TikTok one.

SPEAKER_01

Right, we can start with the TikTok one because I think we need to end up that's my TikTok opening. Um so I'm gonna bring up so we've This is why TikTok scares me.

SPEAKER_00

And Joella knows I'm from it.

SPEAKER_01

I find it hilarious. I find it absolutely hilarious that we've kind of been trolled for the first time, which is so funny. Um so someone's obviously seen a snippet of um our what was it? It was our photographer comment. It was the makeup episode. It was the makeup episode, but it was about how photographers edit stuff so that it doesn't look like your work. Yeah. And so it doesn't look like the work you have done before. But the question was that you were like, have you ever experienced And I just said, do not airbrush them to the point that you cannot tell that they're them, and also so that your work is different, like your lip colour is different, because then we went on to different subjects, you'll have to go back and listen anyway. But we'd obviously put a short snippet, and our short snippets are there for short snippets, they're not the full fricking episode. If you want to listen to the full fricking episode, download Spotify, download. Oh, that's why you do a short download YouTube, exactly what I think. So obviously, somebody had commented who was a photographer who said you'll find the majority of UK photographers won't do that, and I was like, 100% you won't, but there's still a fair few that do. Um, and then they put confuse as why you're telling clients not to book photographers. You in capital letters. Yeah, that we are not telling you not to book photographers, we are actually telling you to book photographers and videographers because they are the most tangible thing you will get from your website. Absolutely. If anything, I'll tell you to book a photographer before booking me. Yeah! That's the only thing you'll have left at the end of it. Like, calm down. We are saying that photographers who are out there should not edit the work to the point that they are not they are having a photo of a person who doesn't look the same way as they did on their wedding. Like you're editing so that they're they're ten stone lighter, or you're editing them so that they they've got no ears, or you're ready to say.

SPEAKER_00

Like, not you, like, or those little bits and pods that make you.

SPEAKER_01

We're telling them to embrace themselves to also embrace the makeup and hair that you've been given on the day, because also you paid that person as well to do your makeup and hair in a certain way. But he wasn't having it, wasn't he? He wasn't having it at all. And I was like, you do you, hun.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

So that was the one comment that we got. But on the other note, they're all happy, the rest of them.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. It just made me laugh, and I was just like, You don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all.

SPEAKER_01

If your mother taught you nothing, well, that's on you. So we got a few things, didn't we? A few um things into the inbox. Yeah. Um, which are super super exciting. So would you like me to read a little bit of a long bridal spiral before we go? Or would you like me just to save that bridal spiral and do another bridal spiral? Because I've got a couple. Because the one that we know about is obviously it's a long one. Do the smaller one now, and then in the next act we can do the longer one and help the girly out. Is it a girly? It is, yeah, it's one of my brides, actually. Yeah. Um, so we uh had a bridal spiral um dum on TikTok. So a lovely lady um has submitted a spiral to us. Obviously, we won't name names or anything like that as well, so do not worry. Um, and she's put hi, can I submit a bridal spiral, please? Of course you can on any time.

SPEAKER_00

Anytime, anyone, anytime, anywhere.

SPEAKER_01

That sounds rude. See you on the street, just stop us. Um my future hubby and I haven't been to many weddings, and his family haven't been to any. They're also on the autistic spectrum, and trying to plan a wedding has been super tricky. They want to know what they are doing down to the second, and even my future hubby is saying he'll be messaging me the morning of the wedding. I can't even cope with the idea of not being able to see the ceremony room set up let alone having a plan for the to plan their day whilst getting my makeup and hair done. What are your tips to make sure no one is pestering me the morning off and do I get my hubby to stay with me the night before?

SPEAKER_00

I've got my answer so I'll let you answer this first. From hearing that snippet I would suggest they should stay together the night before. Yeah. That's gonna make them feel so much calmer.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

It doesn't matter about traditions if you you just need to feel the best the best version of yourself. Yeah. And if it means staying with your husband do that. Planning and like the day of and when you are in hair and makeup the most organised you can be will help every scenario whether you're autistic or not. You know like everyone's mentality will just feel so much better. You know I think a great piece of advice is it depends on how you are but for me I like writing writing everything down and you know making sure I've got an organised timetable and I will be lenient on that. It won't be like five past ten to ten past eleven like you've got to be blah blah blah. Like I'll give a little bit of a leeway so I know that if we are running a little bit late there's a there's a bit of a buffer time. So I think having a schedule with everything that you're concerned about might help.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

And maybe booking Joella that would be my answer because somebody else is going to do all that for you.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah so I would it doesn't have to be me it could be anybody does have to be Joella. Okay there goes cordin Sophia has to be me. But yeah as a as as a wedding coordinator if you want somebody to show up there are multiple ways you can do this. So if you've got family prior asking all your details you can just say there'll be an order of the day on the day. That's all you can do. And then when you they arrive at the venue if you've got an order of the day up printed on a piece of card everyone as a welcome sign everyone can revert back to it. You can always do things like order the days on seats as well so you could always to cover yourself. Yeah you could even do them as like newspapers or whatever or even just a little piece of paper that's like this big that's like on the seats it just says this is the order of the day just so that they can keep that in their bags and they know exactly where they've got to be at what time also a wedding coordinator like myself will put people into the right places at the right time but also our job is to make sure you are your calmest version of yourselves the most trusting people is another you know you've got I know it's so difficult when you're not and don't be afraid to hand your phone over to me. So the amount of times I take brides phones off them because people are pestering them your suppliers will have communication with me because they will have your number already but also as well like don't be afraid of turning on silent or don't be afraid of turning it on sleep or do not disturb or whatever it may be.

SPEAKER_00

And because or allocate it to a bride people should do that you know and just be fully present on the day. 100% you do everyone nine times out of ten is there anyway so you're gonna see them in the next hour.

SPEAKER_01

Exactly and I think if if they're having trouble with that prior to the wedding and everything like that just all all you the best thing you could do is even make a wedding website and any frequently asked questions that they ask you put it onto the wedding website and just keep sending which we've already spoken about just keep sending them that link and just being like so if a question arises and they text it you or if you ask it in person just well oh it'll be up on the wedding website later. And then add it onto the wedding website and just resend them the link so all they need to do is revert back to that website. Yeah you can even have your order of the service in the day and everything like that on there too. So a hundred percent would recommend that.

SPEAKER_00

So wedding website if you've got the budget a wedding coordinator and just try and be as organised as possible whether that's making a wedding timeline um doing a little spreadsheet for the morning of the day give them certain jobs as well if you want if they might be doing it also to want to feel part of it.

SPEAKER_01

So even if you give them little jobs like putting those order of the service or the order of the day onto the chairs or church or wherever it may be putting them down. Maybe it could be that they're doing another job or they're they're gather like watching over this person or whatever it may be or they can hand out confetti whichever maybe giving those a little jobs might make them feel a little bit more important too which can always help boost egos too okay thanks Joella feel like that's really helpful.

SPEAKER_00

You're welcome so shall we wrap it up? We shall so where can everybody find us off?

SPEAKER_01

At the Ile Diaries Podcast on Facebook Instagram TikTok Apple Music Spotify and YouTube I remember ton and our Gmail our Gmail email address is theisle diaries podcast at gmail dot com and please please please submit your submissions whether it's a bridal spiral groom spiral supplier spiral questions questions tips what your experience what you want to hear next. Yeah like anything podcast related yeah you know tips um tips and tricks whatever it may be just submit them you can go into our link on our bio on Instagram or you can send us an email address or you can put it into the comments on anything like we always check everything out anyway so please make sure you do that.

SPEAKER_00

And on that note where can everybody find you so you can find me on Instagram Facebook and TikTok and it's Sophie BrownMakeup or on Instagram there is the bridal page sb.makeup no sb.bridal makeup even I stopped then because I knew that that was wrong.

SPEAKER_01

What about you? I am seraphina weddings underscore on Instagram and seraphina weddings on Facebook and TikTok so yeah feel free to pop me a message if you've got any more questions thanks very much guys see you next week I just had