But when you have to find outfits for the whole family of teenagers it becomes a little more than merely stressful.
So I decided to book a personal shopper at our local DEBENHAMS store. A completely free service I might add.
I have done this before and ended up with two dresses that I would never have chosen for myself, but loved them both. Alas this wedding is with the same people so something new was required.
I arrived at 11am with my two daughters aged 18 and 13 in tow. They were pretty much dreading the whole experience.
We were greeted on arrival by the assistant Michelle and taken to a side room with tea making facilities and a private changing area and comfortable seating area. Michelle was really bubbly and engaged with the girls straight away, just chatting about the event we was attending and telling them a little about what she does.
They seemed happy enough.
It was me first as I am a nightmare for clothes, I don't shop for myself enough to know what suits me or not so just left it up to Michelle.
Well I must have tried on 15 dresses from fitted to vintage, both short and long and nothing jumped out on me.
I knew my dress instantly last time because it made me feel special, that's the reaction I wanted this time too. Michelle was really patient and went back out into the store and came back with dresses priced from £30 to £195.
You could tell what was expensive and not, by the feel of the fabric and the way it hung when on.
I kept going even though in my head I had already decided that nothing was going to look any good and I would come away with nothing.
We all know that feeling and it normally means time to go home.
As last time I put on the last dress and fell in love it felt amazing and I would never have even looked at it if I had been walking round the store myself. My heart jumped to my stomach when she told me the price and I thought that's it I can't spend that much on a dress.
Hang on said Michelle it is in the sale with 70% off. I couldn't believe it and was so chuffed.
Me sorted and now the girls..
Then came my youngest daughter who lives in leggings and tshirts and plimsolls. This was going to be an experience, but she told Michelle she was open to try anything and that's what she did.
At one point she was in a pale peach meringue which was hilarious as she got stuck in all the netting and we could just hear her chuckling in the changing room. She tried on fitted dresses that looked amazing but made her look a bit too old for my liking.
It becomes very difficult when at 13 she is 5'6" a size 10-12 with curves and long blonde hair. She doesn't look her age anyway, so as a parent you need to be aware of this and dress them appropriatley, not always easy when their friends are wearing heels and revealing outfits!!
She put on dark dresses and light dresses, floaty ones and lace ones. She tried an off the shoulder dress which was pretty but just not right.
Then she tried on a midnight blue chiffon dress that comes just above her knee and the front is covered in crystals and beamed. She said it felt really nice on and kept going back to it. She had found her dress and it looked lovely.
Now for daughter number 2
Well what can I say, my oldest daughter went to the dress fitting with black skinny jeans on and lace up boots, covered in tie up bracelets and rubber band bracelets.
I really thought Michelle would struggle as my daughter explained to her that she doesn't like attention and would rather go unnoticed, oh and that she normally wears black.
She started bringing in various dresses in every colour and pattern and black!!
Shannon was trying the dresses on but I could tell she didn't like anything and was just getting like I had been. Everything looks bad on me attitude, though not just being her mum, she has a lovely figure, but cannot see it herself.
She is almost 6ft tall and is a size 12 with curves and legs that go on forever. Top that with really long, colour changing with her mood, hair that she wears straight or naturally curly.
I stepped in and asked for more dressy dresses as the ones that were on the rail were playing it a bit safe.
She tried on lace dresses and prom dresses with sparkles, but everything was nice but just not right.
Then she tried on the dress that my younger daughter and myself had said wow when Michelle had carried it in.
Oh my goodness, I felt really emotional, she looked stunning. She felt stunning as well she smiled and I just can't describe how I felt. The dress is black lace top over white with a black sash belt and white netting skirt, if it had been another colour it wouldn't have been the same. It was so dramatic and she could wear it again and again. It wasn't too short and she can wear her shoes that she already has, amazing.
Michelle truly outdid herself as what we all came away with was brilliant. She made us feel special the whole time and we was laughing and joking and most of all had fun.
It made what would have been an awful trip, enjoyable and the help we received with colours and styles was really useful, for us to use ourselves.
Personally anytime I have an event to attend I will be using DEBENHAMS personnel shopping service as it is just your time and stress levels your saving.
Would highly recommend this great service and lovely staff, can't wait for our next event now!!
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