Someday we'll meet in Capri, my love.

Even though I haven't been blogging for the entire time that I have been engaged and so have not shared with you the whole saga, it has still been quite a journey - quite a year. As my last few days as an unmarried person come to a close, I have a huge mix of emotions that I am not even going to begin to bore you with. All except this.

In one of my first blog posts I started my "Wedding Countdown", and in this countdown I mentioned how the whole wedding planning experience has definitely not been the most stress-free ordeal. In fact, it has been so much more stressful than I ever thought it would be. I down-play the excitement of it all, not because I am not excited, but because right now all I can think about is getting the last of our jobs done, and the huge amount of cooking and preparing we have ahead (this is what deciding to "self and family cater" your afternoon high tea will incur).

What rings true, beyond all the stress and worry, is that I am marrying the one person who is my most perfect match, and of this, I am certain. Lewis is the best person I know; the most kind and generous, funny, witty and charming, selfless and steadfast. He is terribly clever, crazy emotional, desperately handsome, and a killer on the dance floor (funny how a pre-requisite for your perfect partner is one that you didn't really know was a pre-requisite!!). We - him and I - are a team, a unit, a family. He is my first priority in all that I do and decide and I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I am his. To be married to him is my greatest wish, and I am so amazed that it took me so long to realise it.

So it is with this that I push aside all the stress and focus on him, and count down the very last days...

Four days until The Wedding.

Louis, Louis...

I am not, repeat not, a Louise Vuitton fan. However, these from the LV Spring/Summer 2012 Ready To Wear are stunning.

That is all.

For the love of floral...

In the lead up to the wedding, I have been lucky enough to legitimately 'google' so many beautiful things for inspiration ("It's for wedding dress ideas!".. "I need to get ideas for centrepieces!"... "I need photography ideas!"...).
One of my favourite things to browse online or in magazines, and especially in person, are floral arrangements - flowers in general. I have always wanted to do a floristry course, and so you can imagine the amount of soul-soothing that has come from being able to flick through page after page of divine flora. I am of the opinion that flowers are the perfect gift, whether for someone special, for something special, going to a dinner party or just because. So I thought I would share with you some seriously stunning stems.

It may not be winter, but it's definitely doable...

Look... Here's the thing... I love winter. Love, love, love it. I love the cold; how it slices through you, makes your skin clear (and yes, dry, but get a moisturiser people!), makes you cuddle up with a hot tea and a book, and mostly? I love winter fashion. Autumn fashion. Any kind of cold/cool weather fashion. Give me boots, scarves, jackets, cardigans, jeans, stockings, anything to rug up in. I feel that fashion in the cooler seasons is just so classic and chic, and I also believe that women and men (and women and men dressing children) are able to express themselves through cool weather clothing so personally. Enough about winter. I may just change my mind about this whole post, because it actually has nothing to do with winter or winter clothing, and I am suddenly melancholy for the cool.

In a nod to making myself a little more "spring friendly", I have done a little research on what I would like to wear this Spring/Summer. A little bit of what is on trend a little of what I just think is cool, fresh and yacht (love that for describing... anything!!).

Surprising how the dress makes it all real...

I had my second last wedding dress fitting today. My gorgeous little/big brother came with me, which was impromptu and actually really special. I honestly thought it would just be the "bones" of the dress; maybe the top half, and only to make sure that we have the right measurements, but I walked into the room and there was my beautiful dress on the dress maker's mannequin, basically finished and absolutely perfect. I was blown away, and beyond excited. It was exactly how I had imagined it.

Duncan (brother) came in after I'd put it on with my wedding shoes, and even though we were in a hot, dodgy little room, my hair pulled up roughly, barely any make-up on and with my dear old dress maker, her husband and mother... for me it was a moment to remember. My brother and I are extremely close, so this was a lovely moment for us to share. Both of us grinning, me posing (as per usual) and swishing my skirt around, still euphoric after seeing and now wearing my wedding dress!

So, here it is... The last few weeks before the day....

20 days until The Wedding

Dancers by Degas

I'm not a huge art buff, and I couldn't "talk" art even if I wanted to, but there is one artist I simply adore! I love how the tutus are airy and light, and how the pointe shoes are their shiny pink. And I love his fascination with red hair. Degas' dancers are divine...

This is my favourite. 

This is my bargain...

The Bargain

by Sir Philip Sidney

My true love hath my heart, and I have his,

By just exchange one for another given:

I hold his dear, and mine he cannot miss,

There never was a better bargain driven:

My true love hath my heart, and I have his.

His heart in me keeps him and me in one,

My heart in him his thoughts and senses guides:

He loves my heart, for once it was his own,

I cherish his because in me it bides:

My true love hath my heart, and I have his.

A poem that we were going to use for the wedding, 

but had to choose between two. 

Sadly, this one lost. 

Was actually a very hard decision, 

so I thought I'd place it here because it is beautiful...