Ribbon and Roses

A Ribbon & Roses Wedding

I first came across Ribbon & Roses on facebook when I was in England. Lots of friends had "Liked" the site and I was interested to find out what the buzz was about. The website was completely different from any other online shop – pretty, whimsical and enchanting. There were lots and lots of beautiful things that I would have loved for myself or to give to friends, none of which I'd seen on the high street or elsewhere online, and all were really well priced.

I was particularly drawn to a beautiful long blue silk dress. I flicked between the thumbnails (front long view, front top view, long back view) again and again. I loved it from every angle, but I didn't have an occasion to wear it...

When work posted me to Singapore for 6 months I met up with a friend who was also living there. She was wearing a gorgeous white cotton embroidered top – I had enormous outfit envy. She told me it was made by “an awfully clever friend of a friend who had set up her own company and was designing beautiful clothes from Singapore” and we both marveled at the genius of the venture. "Ribbon & Roses, if you've heard of it?" I went back the website and continued to ogle at the beautiful silk dress.

My boyfriend, Mark, joined me for Christmas in Singapore and Santa brought a wedding proposal. We were flying high with excitement (at iFly Singapore)!

Occasion or no occasion, I was in the mood for celebrating and I FINALLY hit the "checkout" button.

The dress arrived the very next day to work, wrapped in tissue paper and accompanied by a gorgeous Ribbon & Roses embroidered bag full of lavender (still hanging in my wardrobe).

I dashed to the bathroom to try it on. The material (100% silk) was stunning, incredibly smooth and had a velvety finish. The dress was very flattering at the waist, beautifully light and easy to wear. The skirt drop was long and generously cut, so the dress had a fabulous swing to it. The colour was a dusty navy blue. I instantly adored it and couldn't wait to try it on properly at home. When I got home I realised its full potential – as a bridesmaid dress.

At that point in time I hadn't really settled on a theme or colour for the wedding – I like things to be natural and rustic, loose rather than structured and my preferred colours are fruits of the forest (blueberry, raspberry, lavender etc.) and Mark is also a fan of navy blue. Buying the dresses off the shelf meant that there was one less decision to make and, given that the dress was not one of thousands produced for the high street, I was confident that it would look bespoke.

My bridesmaids were: my sister Caroline, my school friend Jenny, Mark's sister Nicki and my “godsister” Holly. They all loved the dress and looked absolutely stunning on the day. The navy blue was the perfect backdrop and made the bouquets stand out even more brightly in the sunshine.

[By Twisted Willow incorporating flowers from our garden]

Mark gave each bridesmaid a present on the morning of the wedding, a white pearl coupled with a gold antique charm – each charm was different and personal to the bridesmaid. Nicola, who is a Squadron Leader in the RAF was given a tiny gold whistle, to keep us in line, and, as Holly’s father was our chauffeur, Mark gave her a gold car. Choice was a little limited so Mark gave my sister a little gold cow (slightly tenuous but she does take a keen interest in Dad’s cattle!). Thankfully she didn’t take offence and loved the quirkiness of the present!

[Jeweller: Howards, Stratford upon Avon]

Dad’s tractor was the carriage for the bridesmaids and, to our surprise as we left the Church, emblazoned on the front hay bale was a large sign “Four Pippa Middletons") – intending to outdo Pippa Middleton in the shapely bottom stakes! You can judge our success for yourselves: