Mid wedding season catch up & Sophie's travel dilemma

Wedding stationery can feel like one of those things you have to get right — but how much do you actually need, when should you order it, and do you really need save the dates?

In this episode of The Aisle Diaries, Joella and Sophie are joined by Sophie Elizabeth from Sophie Elizabeth Wedding Stationery to talk about everything couples need to know about wedding stationery, from invitations and RSVPs to table plans, menus, signage and those all-important little details.

Sophie shares her honest advice on when to book your stationer, how many invitations you actually need, what information should go on your invitations and why she thinks save the dates can be a waste of money. The girls also discuss digital invitations, wedding websites, QR codes, adult-only weddings, dietary requirements and how to make your guest list crystal clear.

Plus, they get into wedding stationery budgets, current colour trends, whether sage green has officially had its moment, why couples shouldn't be afraid to spend money on the details they genuinely care about, and some of the biggest stationery mistakes Sophie has seen.

And, of course, there’s a Bridal Spiral involving a missing table on a table plan… because even wedding suppliers are human!

If you're planning your wedding and feeling overwhelmed by stationery, this episode is packed with practical advice, honest opinions and plenty of laughs to help you figure out what you actually need — and what you really don't.

✨ In this episode:

• When should you book your wedding stationer?
• What actually needs to go on a wedding invitation?
• Do you really need save the dates?
• How many invitations should you order?
• Wedding stationery budgets explained
• Adult-only wedding wording
• How to handle dietary requirements
• Wedding websites & QR codes
• What to do when your guest list changes
• Wedding stationery trends and colours
• Why your wedding budget should reflect what matters to YOU
• The reality of running a wedding stationery business
• A very honest stationery Bridal Spiral!

Produced by TAEPodcast - www.taepodcast.co.uk

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:00

Oh my god. I've got nothing written down, nothing. I'm literally gonna have to wing it. We're gonna wing this episode.

SPEAKER_02 0:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 0:07

Shall we get started?

SPEAKER_02 0:08

Five minutes. It's fine. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 0:12

Welcome to the IOL Diaries Podcast, the place where you find out what really happens behind the chaos and confetti. 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. Hey! Hello!

SPEAKER_02 0:29

Again.

SPEAKER_03 0:29

Welcome back.

SPEAKER_02 0:31

We're back, back again at this point. My day is something hello.

SPEAKER_03 0:41

We sound the same. I don't think we do. I don't. Um is fine. Like, I know. So one of my couples was like, when we were listening, we're like, is that Sophie? Is that Joella? And then Joella will mention P and Sophie will mention Ethan, and that's how we know it's YouTube. I was like, oh. No, I don't think we do. I don't think we do either. You laugh at us own guys if we actually it's like we're talking to ourselves. Probably like Sophie's made up.

SPEAKER_02 1:13

Watch the video, watch YouTube guys, and then you'll realise. Yeah. I'm so grateful you got this coffee, so thank you. You're welcome. How are you? Are you surviving or thriving?

SPEAKER_03 1:24

Or are you floating and thriving all at the same time? Um, how are you doing? Yeah, I'm okay. First of all, if you're a supplier listening to this, I really hope that wedding season is kind to you. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:40

And I really feel like everyone who I speak to though is like, well, no, it's half and half. I feel like loads of people have put boundaries into place this year. Yeah. More and more people that I speak to have been telling me off. Saying, like, well, yeah, about three three hair size this weekend. I've been like, I have limited my bookings. Yeah. It's too much. Yeah. Another supplier has said I need to put my prices up and do less weddings and know my worth. Again, this weekend. They were like, You're doing far too many.

SPEAKER_03 2:13

Yeah. Scary though. It is, it's scary because like also you've lived in such a bubble of this is my pricing for so long. And it's a beauty cult.

SPEAKER_02 2:24

I think us beauticians are we have old school mentalities still, and it's you don't have a break, you work seven days a week, you say yes to every single person, you work 14-hour days, and it's old school. I feel like it's our generation as well, a little bit. Yeah, we are grafters. Big time. Like my mum is so worried about me. Like she is literally like, I am worried. You are working so much. I do think you need to slow down. I know. She literally like I was on the treadmill again this morning. She's like, You're in the gym already. Do you ever sleep? I'm like, not at the moment, mum, no. And I'm like, but the gym makes me ready for the day. On that topic, I've bought a treadmill. Have you? Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 3:07

All right, so you can't get out to the gym at the minute. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 3:10

You'll be doing like the crack of dawn or late at night. Either one.

SPEAKER_03 3:14

Um and I sold mine when I was pregnant. Is it proper to one of my best friends? It's just one of the, it's not like the one of the big, thick ones. But then we don't have space, it's literally a folding one that I can just put underneath. Yeah. What speed does it go to? Um 12k.

SPEAKER_02 3:30

Um, they're good. We have thought about them.

SPEAKER_03 3:34

Yeah, and it was a sale on TikTok. Yeah. 70 quid. What of well they're called like walking pads, but you can go walking pads. Yeah, so it was um I can't remember who it was about, it's like UMA or something. There was a sale on it. Yeah, there was a sale on the weekend, and I was looking at it on Amazon anyway. Um, Johnny doesn't know a boy yet. And Johnny doesn't listen to this, so Johnny's not gonna probably know until he sees me on it. So when that arrives, he'll be like, What? No. Um so yeah, he hang on, I'm gonna turn this on off. I did this on Saturday. What had you watch on loud? No, so because it's a new it's a new watch, isn't it? And um, you so you know where like the airplane button is? Yeah. I accidentally went middle of fucking vows. Oh my god, no. I darted out because it's so easy to do, because literally it's like the airplane buttons there and the ring one's there, and I was like, shit. And then I asked a photographer and videographer, and they were like, we didn't hear a thing, and I was like, God. I was like, okay, praise the Lord, because I was in the room next. Oh right. So I was like, oh my god, thank God. Like God no one heard. Be like, who was that? Um, but yeah, so I bought I bought one because I was like, I said to you didn't I the other the other week, like I've got I was like, I need to go running again because it's all I did pre-P, and um haps that you loved it, and I've just not had the time to and then obviously Paisley's not slept during the last three weeks, so I haven't slept. Yeah, but this morning she woke up at 6 45, not 4am. So that's always. But like it's a morning mate, you probably needed to I could have gone for God's sake, this is like bittersweet, isn't it? And he's like, I also then I was texting you, wasn't I? Like, what was it like 11 o'clock last night it got to? And I was like, I'm going to bed, and I was still doing admin in bed. In pitch black, just the project or not.

SPEAKER_00 5:26

Johnny was asleep next to me, and I was like, Oh, no, this is what I mean. You've just got to choose a free hour and batch a layer of workout.

SPEAKER_03 5:36

And it's this isn't negative at all because I we absolutely love what we're doing, and so does every single supplier on this planet, we wouldn't have any other way. Um, I just don't know what's going on this year because this year feels way different. What busier? Yeah. Well we've been in the podcast as well, though, aren't we? But it's not even just that. I feel like I am busier, but whether it's because I've got a child, well yeah, a toddler. A huge big yeah, it will be that. Chaos and the confession.

SPEAKER_02 6:02

Well then it has you are growing.

SPEAKER_03 6:05

Yeah, that's true. Very, very true. We are busy. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 6:09

It's just it's just hard juggling it, isn't it?

SPEAKER_03 6:13

Yeah, but also at the same time, like I feel like I've probably found my feet for next year now this year, and I know come so we've got our last wedding I've got wedding on the 8th of November, and come the 9th, we're gonna go on holiday on the 9th of November and go away. And literally the day after, and go away for two weeks or a week. Um and I'm going to take those two weeks to just like decompress. Um and I then not got a wedding until the 22nd of December.

SPEAKER_02 6:47

Oh wow!

SPEAKER_03 6:47

And that's so I've got a big gap. I've got a really big gap, which is really nice, because like this week I've got three, and then it's like constantly well, it's two in a setup. Um so it it's it's just been like that every single week, um which is crazy. It's absolutely crazy and it's such a blessing. And then my one from then isn't until March. You've literally got December to March. So my admin is like gonna be shit hot on it. Marketing as well, yeah, and I'm just gonna play catch-up from that like 16th, 20th of November, whatever it is, when we're thinking of coming back.

SPEAKER_02 7:27

Yeah, and have some time because I know like I put so much pressure on myself, but that's every January. I feel guilty.

SPEAKER_03 7:35

Like I said, I was so ill this January, so nothing got implemented, did it?

SPEAKER_02 7:39

No, not with you. I mean, you've had a rough year anyway with illnesses. Obviously, with P, I know that that's always standard when children are at nursery. But like, it's the first year I've probably not had a meltdown. I I spoke about it on like one of the first episodes we did, where I felt like, no, enjoy this because you are literally so busy throughout the rest of the year where you don't have any time to spare. Yeah, that's why we always do a city break, and that's why I have like slow mornings. Yeah, because I'm just like I try and really push myself to just chill. I saw another makeup artist actually speak about it on Instagram, and she's just recently got back off holiday. She's a big makeup artist, and she was like, right, a really scatty video, not aesthetically pleasing, but I'm just sat in my car and I just want to come on and talk about the guilt of Phelps being on holiday. You just said I literally was like, Oh, I could film that kind of content. She's like an influencer with it as well. And she and then she was like, My partner was like, No, just relax, like you're on holiday, like this is our switch off time. We you know, you don't go on holiday usually to switch off, it's usually for work. Or and she just said, like, can we all just talk about like does anybody else feel like this? Like there's constant pressure, even when you go on holiday, when you're self-employed, you know, to be doing that, to be doing this. And loads of comments were like, I feel you on this, even like smaller people like myself, like this is so valid. Um, so I know it's not it's not just us, it's all it's everyone who thinks it's oh my god, massive.

SPEAKER_03 9:08

I'm just gonna turn my phone on sleep mode because Johnny keeps texting me. See you later, hon. Um yeah, like I totally, totally relate to that massively. I was talking to this, so I've just been in the lakes for the weekend for Rob and Jenna's wedding. Um and it was absolutely incredible, it was beautiful. But I was so grateful that I was saying, my best friends, I could have a little bit of time to switch off, but I couldn't switch off.

SPEAKER_02 9:36

No, you're so much.

SPEAKER_03 9:36

But then like on Sunday, we went for a walk in the morning before I went back, and um I was we were talking, and she's the exact same as me. She's very and she's the exact same as you as well. Like, she works constantly so much. Um so she works in at a venue in the lakes, um at HR, and she does some of the operations as well. Um she was like manage operations manager slash HR basically. So yesterday when we were on a walk, somebody had asked her to change her shift, change their shift, and if she could have an extra day off. And I was like, Charlotte, switch off. Just switch off.

SPEAKER_01 10:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 10:16

She's like, I can't. I said, I know exactly what you mean because when you get a text message, I said that's why I've had to separate my phones. Have you seen the benefits yet? Yes, I know. So yes, because I think it's gonna be a process game. I think it's gonna take a while because like last weekend when I actually had that Saturday Sunday off after like four weeks straight, I was like, no, I need that weekend to reset. And I took the Saturday and Sunday, and I text um Jen and Rob who were getting married this weekend, because I knew that they'd have probably stuff being put in our group chat and everything like that. And I just said, look, hey, um, I just want to give you the heads up. I am taking Saturday and Sunday off. If I don't reply, I promise I will do first thing Monday morning. And they were like, enjoy yourself, we'll send stuff, but just don't feel like you need to reply. Yeah. Like, don't like spend time with family. Um, but I did keep switching my phone on. So I This is what I'm like on holiday. Like people are like, Why are you working? But I've started now to stop using this more and using this. So it's just a transition game of thinking that that number that was my personal number, that is now my work number, is just gonna stay as my work number, and then this one, my personal one, is gonna just stay as personal. And I have found that like I'm using it a little bit less because when I get in, I'm switching this phone off and I'm making sure that I'm spending time with Johnny and P. But then I just need to make sure because I I'm not picking this up as much.

SPEAKER_02 11:46

Yeah. You also need a case on that. I know it's really scary. I can't Right. I'm telling you off now. I know. Look at the state of the black one. I know. And look how nice the white one looks.

SPEAKER_03 11:56

Right, if you watch if you're watching this on video on YouTube, come on. That's my old one. Tella Joella. That's my new one.

SPEAKER_02 12:03

If I come into the podcast and that is smashed. Oh no, I dropped it in Costa.

SPEAKER_03 12:08

Right. I dropped it for the first time getting a Costa with George on the way to a wedding the other day, and I just went, and the woman just went, I thought that was the drink. I was like, no, it's my phone, it's more important. Yeah.

unknown 12:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 12:22

Luckily, the floor was soft. I was like, it's fine, it's okay, we're good, we're good. Um, I did say I'm gonna go into town and get one because they're cheaper, and then I'm gonna order a lanyard off um Amazon. Okay. Because I just don't ever have any pockets.

SPEAKER_02 12:35

Yeah, I know you've got a shoot off later, but yeah. I was gonna say get yourself into town as soon as possible and grab that case. I will do. Thank you. That's mum safe coming out.

SPEAKER_03 12:46

Yes, yes, madam. Um, but yeah, how's um how was you've been away, so how's um how's the last couple of weeks been?

SPEAKER_02 12:57

You're not gonna believe it. It was so traumatic. Like my eyes are filling up now.

SPEAKER_03 13:01

Oh so you had a wedding on the Saturday.

SPEAKER_02 13:06

Yeah, which went really well. So I had severe anxiety, didn't I? And I was saying this openly, like I just feel like I overdid it. My husband Ethan was like really cross with me. The fact I kept a wedding in. I I've spoken about this. Yeah, you have, yeah. And it was a big hoo-ha, and this the bride that I did keep in is so lovely. They all were so lovely.

SPEAKER_03 13:30

She was like, she even said, Why have you kept me in?

SPEAKER_02 13:32

She did. Um, but she had a trial two years ago. I've done the group numerous times over and over. You know, my dad was like, I can do it, and I did do it, and it all went smoothly. Literally, I I can't tell you how many magpies I saw on the way to this wedding. And I was like, saluting every single one, like, we're gonna have a great day. Or it's just manifesting like it was gonna be a smooth day. So the wedding went really well.

SPEAKER_03 13:53

You were in a cracky mood as well when you were voicing outing.

SPEAKER_02 13:56

Yeah, like I literally just like I said to the bride, Charmin, I was like, I am unfortunately I can't hang around, I do need to go because it was like an hour and 20, even from my home. She was like, Yep, no worries. So um got home, had loads of time between grabbed a panini, treated ourselves. Um, and then Ethan was like, see, I told you it was gonna be fine, like you've smashed it. Yeah, but he just went, yeah, and I and he was like, We can just go and enjoy it now, get these later flights, and we'll be fine. So we get to the airport. I've obviously taken a medium case, no hand luggage, because I didn't need that many clothes because really one of the default days was the wedding, but I did need the medium case for my kit. It was all like bubble wrapped. I did all that when I got in, decanter all the kit, my light was in there, everything was good, and um I had to check it in. So I was flying with one of the bridesmaids, Dan, myself, and Ethan. And it was a big hoo-ha checking the case, and it takes ages, doesn't it? So we checked it in and I said to the guy, the check in, I was like, listen, we've only got an hour, bearing in mind we're all giddy at this point. Do you think that's doable? Because I was stressed about the the time he had to get to the next flight. He looked at me and snarled and went, What? So I looked at Ethan and Dan and we giggled and I went, Well, that doesn't fill me much hope. And we just joked and laughed it off. And that was that. Oh no. This was in Manchester with BA, by the way, who I would never ever fly with ever again. So if somebody works with BA, hit me up because I've got a massive, massive carrying complaint to make. Um, so yeah, we all just like giggled, didn't think anything of it. My friend Dan was about to check in his crappy hand luggage case, and I was like, Don't do that, your suits in there. I was like, I'm only checking this in because I've got to because of all the liquids, yeah. And I'm and he was like, Oh, but I've got this in my bag and this bag. I said, just put it in here, mine's way under, there's hardly anything in it. Um, so he put what he needed to in my case, and then it went. Goes through um custom uh like um security, yeah, and my friend Dan has got severe ADHD, so he was just scatty as hell.

SPEAKER_03 16:07

Just excited as well.

SPEAKER_02 16:08

Excited, just all sorts. He tried scanning this boarding pass with a boots receipt. Like it was honestly, I was like, oh my god, it's like having a child. So anyway, we're through, we're all excited, we get put on the plane, and then um we weren't taking off.

unknown 16:22

Oh no.

SPEAKER_02 16:23

So I was like, um, we kind of need to take off because we're gonna miss the flight. No one was telling us.

SPEAKER_03 16:29

Sophie says we need to go.

SPEAKER_02 16:31

We need to go now. Like I was constantly checking what I'm gonna do. To be honest, um, and then next minute the pilot comes on, I'm really sorry, but we're unable to take off at the moment. Um, there's been a problem. We've got a passenger on the plane who shouldn't be on the plane. Um, he the connecting flight for his flight has has been cancelled, so he can't be on our flight basically. So they removed him, bless him, he looked as stressed as we did when we got to Heathrow. Um he had sweat all over his back, he was flying on his own, but this time of getting him off and his luggage took an hour and 20 minutes.

SPEAKER_00 17:04

What?

SPEAKER_02 17:05

So you missed your flight? So we missed our flight. Fuck. Yep. Yeah. So my friend so my friend Dan was just like reading his book as if there wasn't a fucking problem. I'm sat in the middle of Dan and Ethan, and I was like, We've missed the flight. And they and then I spoke to the air hostess and I was like just saying like what's the score here, and they were like, Yeah, you've missed it. And they were like, I said, Is it delayed? Can you not radio in? Like, blah blah blah. And they were like, No, you you've you've missed it. So we were sat on in the air, panicking, basically, just like we can't do anything, you can't do anything, no sense. You can't Google, you can't even go on your phone, nothing. Yeah, so they were like, You had to get off the flight and go to customer services through the connecting flight section. So we did that. Um, and then my case had gone, completely gone. It was up in the air somewhere. I'd lost my case. Fuck off. Yeah. I know it was really bad, Joella. They'd got theirs, and luckily I had my bridesmaid dress, shoes, and the three bouquets. So I was literally got to the customer service desk and I was flapping, and I was just like, um, what's the next option here? And they're like, oh, don't worry. Um, what we're gonna do is we're gonna put you up in a hotel and you're gonna fly at 6am tomorrow morning. That's not freaking possible. So I went, no, I'm not. I said, I've got to be at Four Seasons in Athens at half nine in the morning to start work. And like he just looked at me, and the only way he can describe it was like I was absolutely psychotic. I was talking, but my eyes were streaming with tears, just crying. And I was like, I can't miss this, I can't miss this. And that's when it hit Dan, and I was like, Dan, we're gonna miss every single photograph of this wedding, like we're bridesmaids, we're not gonna be there till 2 pm at least if we get that flight. So I was kicking off a little bit, I'm not gonna lie. Like, no, we didn't tell anyone. I was gonna say, so I was like, what's the next option? They were like, Well, the next option is to fly to Istanbul.

SPEAKER_03 18:56

Did you have to fly to Istanbul?

SPEAKER_02 18:59

Like, I'm saying this now as if like this this was my life, guys. Bearing in mind I'd been up since 4am to do this wedding on Saturday. So it's you're delirious. I was already shattered, I was emotional, it was a lot. Dan is slumped up against the wall, like in like an ADHD tunnel, just like and and Ethan was just like, babe, calm down, like, calm down. I was like, I am, I just really can't miss it. I was literally like that, and all these lovely people are getting ready to go on holiday, dead excited, and I was just hysterically crying. I couldn't control myself. I was like, I I had a gut feeling, I've been saying all week something wasn't gonna go right, and I was like, I was trying to be positive, I just knew I said my gut feeling was right. So then I was like, I can't get on the um Istanbul flight. We would arrive at 6 55, but would have not slept for another eight hours because of all these flights and layovers. So I was like, let me go on skyscanner. So there was another flight going out with Asian Airlines. So I said to this guy, I was like, Can we not just jump on that one? Like, I know it's a different airline, but surely you can do the transfer here. And he was like, basically, we can do a standing boarding pass, that's what they call it. This flight sets off in an hour and ten minutes. It takes 33 minutes to get to the gate. This is where I'm gonna make a massive complaint with BA. So it takes 33 minutes to get to like your connecting flight and into Heathman. You shouldn't be allowed to get, but then you have to board 20 minutes earlier when we were only given an hour. How's that even how's that?

SPEAKER_03 20:20

You've literally got 10 minutes split.

SPEAKER_02 20:23

Like it's it's just shouldn't have happened. Um, and apparently, the Asian Airlines, who were absolutely amazing, said they did the same with a passenger the day before, which is just how you even get let on a fly. How many times do they check that boarding pass? Yeah, like I just don't get it. So, anyway, cutting this story short, we ran to the bus because he throw is that big, you have to get on a bus to the next gate. Yeah, it's huge. Um, ran to that, and then we get to the desk, and again I was just streaming with tears, and Dan was crying as well.

SPEAKER_03 20:51

We'd contacted at this point, like, what the fuck?

SPEAKER_02 20:54

Yeah, he was a blessing. Without him, we'd still be stood there now. Like, because he I just went into a big black hole, and Dan just it was looked like he had a stroke to be honest, he his ADHD just couldn't handle it, and he he did say, I can't handle this. Yeah, um, he was so flustered by this. Oh bless him. Um, so yeah, we there was seven standing boarding passes, and there was already five people waiting. So I literally barged through like crying. To be honest, like I hate the thought of seeing myself now, like I probably was a little bit rude to various people, but I was so stressed. And the woman was like, It's okay, she was amazing. She was like, We're gonna get you on this flight, and um, she said, Your case, I'm not sure about. She was like, We have put it on like an urgent request, but it takes a while. Anyway, we were queuing up to get on this flight. I didn't know where my case was. I said, just get me on, I don't care, we'll we'll sort the case. Um, she was like, It's literally been the fastest a case has ever come through, but unfortunately it's the next door and it's gonna be 10 minutes and we've already closed the plane. I said it's fine, leave it. Like, I'll just make do. So in this stage, I'd contacted every single bridesmaid of the wedding. I rang The bride's mum crying, Amy, and she just said, Get on the 6am flight, it's fine. And then finally, we contacted the bride and we were said, Look, you're either going to go to bed knowing this information or wake up with this information. And we thought it'd be better to know now.

SPEAKER_01 22:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:13

Um, I said, We're either going to be there at two, Beth, or we hope for the best and we managed to get on this flight. And she was like, Don't worry, and because we were really upset, she was like, Please don't cry anymore, like it's fine. She was like, The makeup's soap, all it's fine, we'll sort it. And I was like, It's not fine. My head was just spinning off. Anyway, we got on the flight, my case wasn't there. We arrived in Athens at four in the morning. I arrived at my hotel at five. You've been up for what, 20 minutes. Like sleep, everything obviously had worked in between all this, and then um we got picked up at quarter to nine in the morning. There's a photo of me and my friend in the taxi like this. Delude, delusional. I've got nothing but my makeup brushes, dress, and shoes, and the three bouquets. The three bouquets nearly ended up in the case, but Ethan said, again, really odd how things pan out.

SPEAKER_01 23:05

It is, isn't it?

SPEAKER_02 23:06

He went, babe, I know they fit in the case, but they'll end up squish just popping in that beach bag, which was my hand luggage.

SPEAKER_01 23:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 23:12

So I did that before we went. Dan nearly didn't have a suit because he nearly checked it.

SPEAKER_03 23:16

Yeah, and you made him not.

SPEAKER_02 23:17

Yeah, so all I had, I had nothing but that. I didn't have any knickers, bra, I borrowed everybody's stuff, didn't have a toothbrush. When I got to the four seasons, all the girls blessed them, had all their makeup that they brought layout ready to do. But that's what I said to you, wasn't it?

SPEAKER_03 23:31

I said, worst case scenario is maybe I've protected it.

SPEAKER_02 23:35

So when I but like honestly, doing makeup with none of your stuff, I was scattered. Yeah. I was I was like, oh but you've made dough. I did make dough. Yeah. I felt awful though. Like one of the other bridesmaids played the violin and she played us down the aisle, it was beautiful, and then obviously I did all the bridal parties makeup, and um the bride bought us of an engraved bottle of perfume to say thanks for doing those things. And I was like, I feel like I've not even done my job properly, like I don't deserve it kind of thing.

SPEAKER_03 24:03

But you have done your job, I know she would have said that you have you need to give you give yourself a break because you cannot, there is only so much you can control. I know there is literally, and there is there is nothing you could have done about that situation, nothing.

SPEAKER_02 24:17

But I felt embarrassed. Like I said to my friend Dan, I was like, I feel like if you don't say the full story, it's like you miss your connecting flight, but a passenger got let on the plane who shouldn't have been on there. I said, I just feel a bit embarrassed, and he was like, I do know what you mean. It was like, but it we literally couldn't have done anything. Um anyway, we arrived to this uh to the prep room and it was like a switch. It was like we were on something, and we were like, We're like, we just went like now it's time to ramp up. No, honestly But you were generally wouldn't have been on a high day. I had five espresso coffees in like the space of two hours. We were bouncing round and then we stayed up till four in the morning that wedding night. I honestly I've only just recovered from the lack of sleep. I'm not surprised you've had the what less than three hours' sleep and then. Every night. Yeah. And we were there for three nights because the the day after was of an after party. So again, it was a late one. We didn't get in till two. And then finally, two days later, the day before we were going home, my take my case turned up at the hotel. So I have to borrow everybody's bikinis, shorts, clothes, uh luckily Ethan, we shared his toothbrush, you know, because we're married. He had his stuff in his hand luggage, so it was fine. It was just literally me. No, what you're gonna do next time? Not take a medium case. I'm just gonna pop it all in hand luggage, but I wouldn't have been able to take what I did in hand luggage, it was way over. No, but I would never get a connecting flight again. No. For a destination wedding, ever, ever, ever. And you'll go a day earlier. Yeah, and and put myself first. I will put myself first. Yeah. Because I missed all the pre-party as well. Yeah. Which is fine, but like Yeah. A massive learning curve, and Ethan was so cross on the way home. He like we nearly had like a full-blown argument on the flight home. Why? He was just like, What did I tell you? He wasn't blaming me, but he was like, This could have been resolved if you would have listened and put yourself first. And I think you need to. Yeah. Maybe this is the wake-up call as I know. It was a lot. It was I was cry I mean, I was I've I've been so exhausted. And then I got back on the Wednesday.

SPEAKER_03 26:25

And then you had a wedding.

SPEAKER_02 26:26

And then I've had four back-to-back weddings, bridal trials, events.

SPEAKER_03 26:29

But I think this is maybe the sign that you needed to actually switch off a little bit of self.

SPEAKER_02 26:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 26:35

And actually take your time with things.

SPEAKER_02 26:38

Can you believe that that happened, guys?

SPEAKER_03 26:39

I I can't.

SPEAKER_02 26:40

What did I say on previous episodes?

SPEAKER_03 26:42

Yeah, we've had this conversation, and I even said to you, take stuff in your hand, look, it's just in case your things get lost. That's what my brush says. Because if not, you'll be using everybody else's. I think I said it in the last literally the last catch-up we did, I was like, You'll be using everybody else's and you'll be fine. And you were, you used everybody else's. I did, but it was still wasn't it's not, it's not, it's not the best thing to happen. It's not, but you've got to look at the positives.

SPEAKER_02 27:04

But there's like Kimmy, Kimmy, you did best. Thank God the bride was sorted. Yeah. Um, Mickey Makeup, she's a big, massive makeup artist. She's I was so inspired. I stunned. I was like, I can't believe I'm working with you. Yeah, but uh for me it was amazing. Um so she her flight got delayed, she was flying the day off. Luckily, the wedding wasn't until later, so Beth's makeup didn't start till an hour and a half later because all of her Manchester Airport is shocking that you never leave on time, there's always a problem. Like, honestly, the minute we got into Athens with Asian Airlines, straight off the plane, everything was dead smooth. I was like, why is Manchester so crap? How have they let a passenger on? I can't wait to write that email.

SPEAKER_03 27:48

It's not Manchester that one, that's BA.

SPEAKER_02 27:51

Yeah, BA is appalling. I thought they were a really good airline. They couldn't give a shit on the flight. I was crying on the flight. This other woman, bless her, she was getting a connecting flight. She was flying to Singapore, travelling on her own. She was had to get the connecting flight at 20 past nine, we were 10 past eight. And when all this was going on on the plane and we weren't setting off, she was like, I really, really need to get on my flight. Please, please, can somebody help me? She was so stressed, they just kept walking past her. What? Yeah, going, it's okay, miss, it's okay. And she was literally hysterically crying. She had a huge flight to get on to back to like to Singapore. And we were we were like, Love, we're we're even more in a predicament here. Like, we're flying the hour before you, like, our flight's well gone. Yeah, we're still sat in in Manchester and it's gone. Honestly, you couldn't write it. So, yeah, whenever when I didn't reply to you and you were like, Are you there? Are you okay? And I I I was just like my mum was my mum was messaging, she she hadn't heard of anything at any time.

SPEAKER_03 28:51

When did I when did I send that?

SPEAKER_02 28:53

You you you messaged me like, Are you there? Are you okay? And I just didn't reply to anyone.

SPEAKER_03 28:58

It was a lot. Oh, that's not our messages, hang on.

SPEAKER_02 29:05

No, the Sunday. And that's when I was in like bridesmaid mode anyway.

SPEAKER_03 29:12

Because the wedding was on the Sunday, wasn't it?

SPEAKER_01 29:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 29:15

Yeah, I messaged you at 104. And then I think you were born.

SPEAKER_01 29:18

I think you were replied, I think you messaged me again.

SPEAKER_03 29:21

I messaged you on this phone saying, Hey, how are you? Did you make it all okay? Let's have a look if I actually actually we text on two, we should just put ourselves into a group of chat together, to be fair, with both my phones. Um, when did you go? Because we have conversations on this one and then go to this one. I would have been like probably on my fourth expresso at that point. When was it? Is it the 19th? Oh, it was.

SPEAKER_02 29:47

But my mum was the same. She was like, um, Ethan, I haven't heard off Sophie. Like, what's gone on? And I just screamed.

SPEAKER_03 29:54

I messaged you in the morning about the podcast and was like, I hope you've had the best time last night. And then you just put all the bridal spirals I have, and then I just put, and then I just put, guess where I am. I was in fucking bake by B. Yeah. And then you just put, oh my god, goals, as if there's a Q already, and then Yeah, no, it was And then you've literally it I replied on that saying, Hey, did you make it? And then I sent another one saying, Did Jake send the photos?

SPEAKER_02 30:26

Yeah, and I I didn't reply, did I? No. I mean it was the wedding day, but I screenshot it to Ethan. I just said, Can you deal with this? And it was my mum like saying, Are you okay, babe? Oh bless her. And then I think Ethan, because obviously he had all day, he he could sleep. Yeah. Yeah. So there we go, guys. What did I say? What did I say? Cut feeling is a funny thing. It's a very funny thing. But honestly, on the way to the wedding on the morning of Saturday, it was all going well. I was like, la la la la la la la. It's gonna be a great day. I'm gonna get on my flights, I'm gonna make it, it's my best friend's wedding tomorrow. And the bridesmaid, I'm working with one of my absolute inspirations, like everything in my head. I was like, it's gonna be great.

SPEAKER_03 31:08

But it's worked out okay. And she's they've had the best day ever, they've had the best time, it was had the best time, it's just that one one little slash big hiccup that has gone wrong, but also you learn from it massively, and I think that's the biggest thing you need to do. You learn from it in terms of flights, you learn from in terms of switching off, you learn from it in terms of you. I think that's a learn as well.

SPEAKER_02 31:31

Like, you can't always plan. You can't plan, you can't, and you sometimes, well, yeah, a lot of the time you just have to go with the flow. That's my job, yeah. And I feel like again, like maybe when a family comes for us, that is another thing. What I said this to Ethan yesterday, like it's just gonna be a big learning curve, like you've just got to wing it.

SPEAKER_03 31:51

Yeah, you have to, you can't always plan everything, you can't, and it's the biggest thing ever that you you genuinely got. Everyone says this to me, they're like, How are you so calm on a wedding day? I'm like, because whatever happens, happens. Yeah, and also no matter what the situation is, you always find a solution for it, and you've just got to find a it's how you deal with that response.

SPEAKER_02 32:11

So it's how how you I mean, I don't know how you would have been if I was flying on my own.

SPEAKER_03 32:16

But I then I did go on skyscanner and find that third final option. I think if you were on your own, you would have composed yourself a lot quicker, I think, because Ethan and Dan were there, you probably felt a the responsibility for them too, but also you probably felt the burden a little bit more because it wasn't just a destination wedding, you were a bridesmaid speed. I was doing a speech.

SPEAKER_02 32:32

I did the speech, guys. I did it.

SPEAKER_03 32:34

I was gonna say, how did that go?

SPEAKER_02 32:35

Really good. I'm so proud of myself because there were so many people there, and I am just I do sound and come across quite confident, but deep down I'm really shy.

SPEAKER_03 32:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 32:47

Um, especially I'm not in the people, the group of people I know. Yeah, but I am I am, yeah, I am really shy, and I actually am quite quiet. I know wow, can you believe that? Um they got you on the live podcast, you're like, fuck. Um I only got one word, one word mixed up. That was it.

SPEAKER_03 33:07

That's fine.

SPEAKER_02 33:08

But I feel like everybody does alright, do you want to I did on Saturday?

SPEAKER_03 33:12

Go on. So and obviously announced the body other than your watch. Yeah, other than the watch. Announced the bride and grooming, absolutely fine. Did speeches, announced each speech, and then don't know what possessed me after speeches are done. I was like, obviously, I'd say like, um, thank you guys, food will be served shortly. Please go in to the bar and get yourself a drink. For something, something decided to say, Go and help yourself to a drink. And I went, no, no, no, don't go and help yourself to a drink. Please don't go behind the bar. Please don't mind me behind the money. Everyone just started laughing because I just turned around and was like, please go and help yourself to a drink at the bar. So everyone would have been like, okay. The bar looked at me and I was like, no, please don't go and have yourself to a drink. Please make sure you pay either card or cash. And you've just got to make a joke out of it. Yeah. Because if you don't, then you're just like. Well, I did.

SPEAKER_02 34:04

I got I like giggled down the microphone and then everybody else giggled, and I just carried on as if I didn't make a mistake.

SPEAKER_03 34:10

I got two words muddled. I think we forget we're all human at the end of the day. Um, and I think it's so important to remember that. I think that even during this wedding season time as well, we are all human. So no matter if some and I say this to couples, if a supplier isn't replying to you and they're usually quick, just bear with. Just like a week because they might have, you know. Well, I I've got messages from last week that I still haven't replied to because I haven't managed to sit on my phone and actually reply to them. I can even tell you now, like on WhatsApp, I think I've got yeah, 36 unread messages on that phone. So just bear with them because there are things that either could be going on in our lives, there are also wedding season on top of it. It also could be summer holidays too, because the childcare is a hell of a lot to do. But do you notice how quiet the roads are? It's so bliss.

SPEAKER_02 35:07

It's really is bliss.

SPEAKER_03 35:08

On the way here, I was like, wow, that is so nice, yeah. But nursery's quiet as well. I'm lucky that I've got nursery two days a week, but the rest of the time I don't don't have childcare. So juggling. Because of half terms and parents not being able to take time off and all that sort of stuff. So just give give suppliers that time. If you are a couple, please just bear with people, please be kind during this time. But also, as well, if you are a supplier and you are struggling, just be open and honest. Put something up on your story. I I've done it a couple of times over the last three weeks, and I hate doing it. I like seeing it though, but I also know that my couples appreciate it. Yeah, because you like that. Like, oh, she's busy. It's reassurance that she's around, yeah, nothing's happened.

SPEAKER_02 35:50

Yeah, she's just extremely busy, just extremely busy.

SPEAKER_03 35:53

Like last night I put one up that was like, um, this is what this week is, like Monday podcast, and then something exciting this afternoon that I'm working on. And then I was like, Tuesday is a feral toddler day, so you might not get a reply. Yeah, and it it I just made like a lighthearted joke about it. Like, if I do a voice note you you might hear a toddler in the background, yeah. But it's just to say that we are all humans and we know you are too. And I know you completely understand. So just be kind and patient with people is all I can say, but also be kind to yourself.

SPEAKER_02 36:23

I know. How did the wedding go? This weekend. Sorry. Um, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 36:28

And late. Oh, it was beautiful.

SPEAKER_02 36:30

You were setting up late till late.

SPEAKER_03 36:32

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, so I got so I did the nursery run on Friday, left home. Well, I after the nursery run, dropped P off at half past eight, went back home, got home for like ten minutes later, took the child carty out, which took forever. I just couldn't get it out. It just wouldn't. It was like, and you know when you're in your rush and you're like, yeah, I just want to go. And then sweating. I was meeting them at Limb Services to put flowers in my car. Yeah. Um before the wedding was. Because they had a bit of a dilemma, didn't they? They No, they didn't. They had, so they had when the lady had dropped off all the flowers, they were beautiful, by the way. When the lady actually done it in a van, so they'd done it in three cars. So we had like my car, father of the groom's car, the bride and groom's car. Um, mum had already taken stuff beforehand, and then we had um Father uh Mother of the Bri uh Mother of the Groom's um car as well. So it was four cars. Instead of me meeting them at Limb Services, I drove to theirs. They lived like to their parents to his parents, put all the stuff in my car, drove to the lakes. So we got it in front of the house. That's very kind. We got I was like, well, it was actually paying for a van. So we put flowers in my I've got a video actually, I'll share it on socials of me literally, like of all the stuff in the back of the car. Um it got to the lakes. I stopped off on the way a couple of times and it got to lakes at like half past one. So it's a good three-hour journey. That is, I think we're the three-hour journey.

SPEAKER_02 38:07

Yeah, I mean usually it's about two, isn't it?

SPEAKER_03 38:10

So where we were, it was two and a half. Yeah, okay. It's only an extra. So it was only extra because I stopped twice to get I stopped once to get a coffee and then it was a prayer, and I was like, I really want a Costa. Yeah. So I stopped again at the next one, which was a cost priorities, priorities. Um and then yeah, set up Friday um because they'd done everything pretty much themselves. Wow. I didn't have any dresses, so we set up Fri I set up Friday, told them to go and switch off, go into the spa. They went into the spa. I told all the parents everything to go do what you need to do. Yeah, because it's easier sometimes. Yeah, too many chefs in the kitchen. Yeah, and also then they're asking the couple where do you want this, where do you want that, where do you want that, when they just needed somebody to make the executive decision for them. So, and I could tell that they and the bride she just wanted to go in the spa. She's like, I just want to go. I was like, just go, enjoy yourself. They had a meal that evening on the Friday. Um, so they had that at half past six, and then I had a call with one of my couples Friday evening at quarter past six, quarter past seven. While she was still there, whilst I was still there, I took it while I was there, just before I left. Um and then joined my friends and got there at like just before nine. So it was a long day. It was a long day, and then I was up then and then out the dawn at the venue for quarter past eight the next day.

SPEAKER_01 39:38

What time did you get in on a Saturday? Um just before midnight. Yeah, another long day.

SPEAKER_03 39:46

Yeah, that's that is and everything in the lake shuts early, so I was like, get me to McDonald's and just get me a McFlurry, please. Yeah. Um just because I don't know, but I just Mcflurry in a fanta after a wedding hits differently. Yeah, it does. Especially when you're on a late one. Yeah. Yeah. Um but no, it was the most, it was the most beautiful day. I can't even tell you the view was it on a sunny as well. Insane. So Channel won't mind me saying this. She paid an exe witch. Did she? Yeah. Um just very popular at the moment, isn't it? She paid an exe witch and Rob was like, How much did you pay? And she was like, only eight quid, it's fine. Was it eight quid or did she change? No, it was eight quid. That's on the Friday. Oh wow. Clouds as well, which is what you always want. That was the Friday, and then how stunning is that though? Yeah, so nine. Um have you heard off them since? Yeah, yeah, yeah. So yeah, so they um they text me on Sunday because I text them saying where all their stuff was in our group chat, knowing that they wouldn't reply. Yeah. But they wanted me to anyway to put it in there. Um and they so what just during halfway through wedding breakfast, I went to check on top table, and um Father of the Bride was sat next to obviously to the bride and um was like, Where can I leave a review? And I was like, who for? For me, and he went, Yeah. And I was like, I'll send it to Jenna, and then she can send it across to you. And he was like, Oh my gosh, please do. And he was like, 'Cause you're gonna get five stars. I was like, stop, that's too cute.

SPEAKER_02 41:28

And that's Father of the Bride, that's so nice.

SPEAKER_03 41:31

And Jenna went, So do you do you think you've been proven wrong? And he went, Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 41:36

Or was he a bit apprehensive?

SPEAKER_03 41:42

No, you can't. And um Jenna turned around to him and went, Do you think you can still do Joella's job? And he went, No.

SPEAKER_02 41:49

At least he's honest, at least he admitted it.

SPEAKER_03 41:51

Every wedding, as well, I'm known for some reason as the scary lady. Like, there's one coup always one couple that will come up to me and go, You're the scary lady. Because obviously I have to project my voice when moving guests. Like, guests is like herding cattle, can't tell you how long it takes, and for some reason, you just don't fucking listen. I know. But everyone's so excited, aren't they? So excited.

SPEAKER_02 42:13

You want photos, they're there, they're here, they're there. Yeah, yeah. So, like, this this couple couldn't have been like, you know. So, top tip, if you're a guest at a wedding, listen to the coordinator. She means business.

SPEAKER_03 42:25

She does, and she's only trying to get you in that, she's only trying to get you in that place for one reason, and it's for a photo, or it's for competing.

SPEAKER_02 42:32

For the next step, it's like you say. Or they look at you and acknowledge, and then they carry on what they're doing. Doing that. I don't know why.

SPEAKER_03 42:42

You're like, Am I just talking to a brick wall? Yeah, I get it. So, so yeah, so we um they came up to me and was like, Yeah, you're the scary lady. And I was like, I'm not actually scary, and they're like, No, you're not, it's just when you when you project a voice, you project it really well. I was like, Right!

SPEAKER_02 42:56

I was like, that's the bonus.

SPEAKER_03 42:59

This is trench ball, mistrenchable, it is because um what's it they're trying to get the microphone to work at a wedding a couple weeks ago and I went, No, it's fine, I'll just use my voice, it's loud enough.

SPEAKER_02 43:08

Yeah, there's nothing worse than a screechy mic as well.

SPEAKER_03 43:10

No, and also I was scared of that speech. Constantly got told on my report when I was cool, like, I'm too loud. There's a reason I'm too loud, it's this reason.

SPEAKER_02 43:20

Apparently, I've got a soft voice, but when I shout, obviously it is loud. Everybody says you've got I can't hear you when I'm talking like this. It must just be like mellow. Yeah. Calm. I do think I've got a calm voice. Yeah. Anyway, I have been everywhere. On where have you been this week? Like everywhere, and I've loved it. I love going to new like places. So I went to Arlie Hall the first time. How stunning is Arlie Hall? Unreal. Who's fanged?

SPEAKER_03 43:47

Was it Millie?

SPEAKER_02 43:47

Yeah. Yeah, she was. Didn't see much of her there, which was fine. Um, and the bride paid me to stay for touch ups. And in between that time, I was sitting at Tommy Shelby's desk taking cells. Selfies sending it to Ethan. And then I was like, I'm just gonna have a walk where you know where we set the bomb off. PQ finders. And everyone was like, You are fangirnate. I was like, Too right.

SPEAKER_03 44:10

Yeah, you have to pay to come in here. Yeah, because I had one there two weeks before you you did, didn't I? Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 44:16

Yeah. Loved it. Beautiful venue. Stunning. Really, really nice. And the bride.

SPEAKER_03 44:19

Did you have an outdoor ceremony at your indoor?

SPEAKER_02 44:22

I felt a bit bad. It was originally outdoor and it was drizzling Thursday morning, if you remember. So Rachel just said the bride, she was like, Do you know what? Save the stress, we'll go in. But their ceremony room's beautiful. I only saw the doorway. Did you? It's nice. Yeah, I did address and help. Obviously, it was there right until like the end. Um for the next hour. But yeah, so basically, Rachel wake my saying that she sweats a lot. So that's why she paid me. She was like, I need you to stay. Do you want to know my fun fact about Arlie Hall? Go on.

SPEAKER_03 44:52

So we did our ancestor tree. We're related. Really? Yeah. Go on. So um one of the girls that works, um that I worked with at Arlie Hall, she's the daughter of the owners. Um, and I showed her the text message to my dad, and she's taking it to her parents because we're related somewhere way down the line. If you notice, all the names on the wall are Warburton.

SPEAKER_02 45:16

No way.

SPEAKER_03 45:17

Yeah, they originally changed their name.

SPEAKER_02 45:20

Well, it wasn't Millie telling me, it was somebody else, a lovely girl, when I was like pecking around about Peaky Blinders. She was like, Yeah, all the hallway here that they painted it navy and we've decided to keep it. All the photos on the wall, they changed peakies. Yeah. Um what else did she say? Because I was like, this is definitely haunted here, isn't it? And she was laughing. I was like, well, it is, isn't it? You can just I feel a bit like spooky there.

SPEAKER_03 45:42

It's such a such a gorgeous place. Unreal. It's and it's a really it's definitely working for a coffee. Barrett's barrels run the cafe.

SPEAKER_02 45:51

It's really yeah, well, that's why I was taking the pics because I was like, So Ethan, we should definitely come and walk the dog here. It's beautiful, so nice. Yeah, the gardens are massive. Although I wouldn't have found the cottages without me knowing one of the bridesmaids and she dropped me a pin um at the location. I wouldn't have found it. I would have got a phone call if you had six o'clock, like dwelling. Where am I going? And literally Jen, bless us, didn't know anybody, and she was like, I'm really struggling to locate it. Would just Jen do her? Yeah. Oh, so we did it together. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 46:15

Oh, that's beautiful. I know.

SPEAKER_02 46:17

So yeah, I was there on Thursday. Then Friday I was at um Sandhole with a lovely Lizzie, and I got a text off her yesterday, and she put Sophie, um, I was saying you a proper thank you, um, but just want to say thank you so much for our wedding day on Friday. It felt flawless, but beyond that, it genuinely felt like having another friend in the room, getting us ready, staying to do all the extra touches and sorting the dress out when we needed you at the last minute. You were so genuine and beyond talented. I really mean it when I say we couldn't have asked for a better person to get us ready. Thank you so much. And she simply is photos. I feel like you knew when you just gel with someone.

SPEAKER_03 46:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 46:56

And then I was at the Lion and Swan Saturday.

SPEAKER_03 47:00

Yes, you did Nate, uh you did Nate Borsie's wedding. Did I? Yeah. I only know Rebecca. So Zoe, the maid of honour. Yeah. My old best friend. Oh yeah. What does Zoe look like? Zoe's bond one, yeah. Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Lovely. Yeah, really nice. Lovely. So we were best friends growing up. So um there were three of us, me, her, and and Jem. Um, and yeah, from like the age of like three.

SPEAKER_02 47:28

No way. Well, she couldn't have done done enough.

SPEAKER_03 47:30

We went to high school, we went all to high school together in the street. No way, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 47:34

Lovely bride, lovely group. Um, I did say to Rebecca, because it was a bit of a late book in, and I said, I've got trials in and they can't move, so I can do your wedding, but you are going to be done a little bit earlier, and I have got to get off. And she was like, That's fine, I want you. She looked stunning, she looked beautiful.

SPEAKER_03 47:49

Kat did um from SimPlay Socials content. She did, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 47:52

Yeah, she dropped me a message saying it was nice to see you again. Yeah. And then finally, yesterday, I was at the plough, an early one with Charlotte Orte. She was on her oh, you did, you were Charlotte yesterday. So it's been you've had a wild this weekend. Oh, really? How was the plough's wedding? Lovely, beautiful, yeah. They had a bit of family sadness prior to the wedding, so we had a stressful week. Um, but yeah, I know Claire was gorgeous. And how are you and Ethan? Good, yeah. Yeah. Did come back tomorrow family I know, which I'll speak about another time. But um, yeah, it has been a whirlwind. I'm like, can anything else hit me? Yeah, but no, I'm I am actually fine and I've I have caught up. I've been having a couple of early nights, managed to get one last night and I've feel so much better for it. So yeah, busy. Busy, busy. We have got a huge bridal spiral that we do need to talk about. Do we? Yeah, because the messages on the Isle Diary is. Oh, we have got a few. Um, so one second, guys.

SPEAKER_03 48:52

I was gonna talk to you about something else and I can't remember what.

SPEAKER_02 48:56

So it's actually one of my brides, and I already know about this. It's a very long one. Go on. Have you are you on it?

SPEAKER_01 49:06

No, it's not on that phone. So I'll be fine.

SPEAKER_02 49:15

Basically, um I asked her to pop this in because it's a bit of a meaty story, so bear with guys. This is a bridal spiral, um, and it starts with I ended my almost 10-year plus friendship with my best friend.

SPEAKER_03 49:28

I have read this one in the inbox, yeah. Because then like I screen, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, yep, go for it.

SPEAKER_02 49:34

Um 10-year friendship with my best friend as I wanted to do my wedding the way I wanted, and she wasn't centre of attention. There were red flags for us for a long time, but I just didn't want to see it as I thought she was my best friend. There I'm with it. Mostly started when we got engaged, and I called her as soon as we got back to the hotel to let her know. She seemed happy but asked why she she didn't get to pick the ring. I just thought it was a funny joke at the time. She then came over to our place to celebrate. When my future husband left the room, she took a few photo of my ring to see how much it was online. I thought it was weird, but I didn't care what he spent on the ring, as it was a platinum band and it had a di had diamonds. Plus, he told me as he wanted me to know, he definitely got a good quality ring that that will last a lifetime, and then some. She found out how much it was and approved on the same night she asked if she would be, and then it's hidden the message. Can you see that? I can't read the next paragraph. Sorry guys.

SPEAKER_01 50:34

Where did you get up to?

SPEAKER_02 50:36

The the the from the first trunk. On the same night she asked if she would if she would be allowed a plus one at the time.

SPEAKER_03 50:44

I said yes, but fast forward three years, we want to keep things small and intimate, and she did and she didn't have a significant other at the time. We decided to say no to plus ones and explain this on our invitation as to why. Everyone was fine, and this is everyone was fine with this, sorry. And everyone was fine with this. We had partners' names on the invite and everyone had been in a long-term relationship. Before we sent out the invitations, my best friend was upset and she didn't get to pick my dress. Let me just scroll down to unhide the message. Yeah. Before we sent out invitations, my best friend was upset that she didn't get to pick out my dress with me. I just had my mum and mother-in-law there as I wanted it to be a surprise for everyone. I thought she would be a little upset and she didn't get to see it, but she was more upset that she didn't get to choose my dress. As we were getting close to the wedding, she hadn't made any effort to plan a hand do and then said, let's get the bridesmaid's dresses from a website. She kept making a big deal about going to a boutique instead. It almost felt like she wanted a bridal experience and I wasn't being heard on what I wanted to do. I wanted to get them online so it'd suit everybody within their budget, but again, she wasn't listening. Finally, after this, I sent out the invitations and I get a text back asking for a plus one. I send a text back saying, I know it's disappointing, but again, I explained why we aren't doing plus ones. She then tried to guilt trip me. So I didn't respond until the morning. I sent a final message saying this isn't where I thought our friendship is going, but I need someone who will support and respect me. I uninvited her from the wedding and said we need to take a step back from our friendship, and that I was blocking her, as I need to protect my peace. I'm not gonna lie, I'm really proud of you for doing that. While all this was going on, she was rude and disrespectful on a couple of occasions to my future husband. This was the last straw, as we both didn't want a Tinder date in our forever photos. As soon as I blocked her, I felt a wave of calm, so I knew it was the right thing to do. I was sad about ending the friendship, but the person that she'd become wasn't a friend. I know this is a long ass story, but I just wanted to share in case anybody else is going through something similar, and it's to say it's okay if you've outgrown that friendship. I had the best day of my life and I had the love of my life, and I didn't think once about her. I was surrounded with people that truly loved and supported me, and if I had to do it all over again, I would do the exact same thing. It's just crazy how weddings bring out the worse in people, and sometimes it's not you, it's them.

SPEAKER_02 53:13

Thank you for finishing that off. I just couldn't see the rest of the message. But yeah, I know it's a meaty one, and there was loads more to it when we were talking about it during her trial. Oh hi. Um, so she's obviously just rounded all that up.

SPEAKER_03 53:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 53:28

I just I feel like she just wanted every single decision to be on her part, and that was that jealousy also is coming out there.

SPEAKER_03 53:36

Yeah, massively. And also, I think sometimes we forget, like, especially as girls, I think we hold on to this expectation in our head of how how we want a wedding to play out, and how we've had this image in our head for such a a long time, nine times out of ten, from such a little young girl age, and especially if you've had that friendship for such a long time, I know that there's people that aren't in my life as much as they were. That I know that if we were to get married, I'd miss a hell of a lot, and that but th those friendships have just changed, have changed a hell of a lot in that. She said that's okay, isn't it? And it's and it's perfectly okay, and it's absolutely fine. Like one of my she used to be one of my best, best friends. There was like there was me, her, and Charlotte, and she's getting married next year. And I would have never imagined her getting married without that friendship and without us doing stuff together, but at the same time, you outgrow you do outgrow things, and it's okay, but also like we're now on talking terms again, and like we're meeting up and doing stuff and all that kind of stuff, but it's it is a lot, and you have that expectation in your head, but you've just got to remember that it's okay, and that you should be so freaking proud of the world. I feel like she made the right decision. She's made the right decision because if you hadn't on that day, you would have been self-conscious, you would have and the stress that that's been causing like she said as soon as I blocked her and just was like felt a relief. Yeah, yeah. So there we go, that's her answer. But and you never know, you might stop talking in five, ten years' time down the road. And if you do, that's absolutely fine. But people change and they grow at different times, and that's okay too.

SPEAKER_02 55:10

Yeah. So, guys, keep the bridal spirals coming. We love to share, we love to listen, and like that one, you know, it it might help you out, it might answer a few of your questions. So get them in, guys. Um, but I feel like that was a really good catch-up. There's obviously loads more to share, but we will keep that for another episode. So loads. I hope you've enjoyed it, guys. Thanks for listening. Joella, where can everybody find us?

SPEAKER_03 55:35

Um, the IELD Iries Podcast on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify. And Sophie, what's our email address? The IELDAS podcast at gmail.com. I do know it guys, I do. And you can find me at Serafina Weddings underscore on Instagram or at Serafina Weddings on TikTok and Facebook. I will be better posting.

SPEAKER_02 56:02

Well, it's busy. I'm the same. Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Sophie.com. Thanks for listening, guys. Thanks for watching.