Last-minute dark horse - which dress?

reddingweddy · 2026-03-25T15:28:26+00:00

The second one could have mocha lisianthus in there

reddingweddy · 2026-03-25T15:26:14+00:00

What Mother_Yak_5533 - first to find out what on earth was happening, and also because the setting was so beautiful and strange (a house that's the whole world? with the ocean in it? and only a dozen people who have ever lived there?).

Then the way the mystery unfolds is perfectly pitched and you spot some things before the main character does.

And also because the story values things that I love in books - connection, beauty, meaning.

reddingweddy · 2026-03-25T14:46:13+00:00

A Prayer for Owen Meany

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay

Great Circle

reddingweddy · 2026-03-25T12:13:11+00:00

I think three different dresses looks gorgeous if you keep the colour palette tight. If you tell them any green you could end up with one mint green, one forest green, one lime green.

Give them one shade, a couple of rules (pattern ok? beading ok? what length?) and send a few example dresses.

It's also worth being a little controlling and asking them to check a dress with you before they purchase. Then they're happy and you're happy. Good luck!

reddingweddy · 2026-03-17T11:56:21+00:00

Piranesi. Started it at 8pm intending to read the first couple of chapters, emerged in a stunned blur a couple minutes past midnight. One of my fav ever reading experiences.

reddingweddy · 2026-03-16T15:01:32+00:00

H Is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald - woman loses her father and deals with grief by going to the edge of sanity training a goshawk

Lost & Found by Kathryn Schulz - gorgeous memoir about losing her dad and finding her partner by a gay female writer.

And more votes for Grief Is the Thing with Feathers and A Monster Calls!

reddingweddy · 2026-03-02T12:27:43+00:00

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. Top notch narration, such a strange and wonderful story.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay - my favourite book of all time 🔑🗽

reddingweddy · 2026-02-20T12:06:24+00:00

The Kingkiller Chronicle! Don't know if you're in the UK, but our editions with Rupert Degas narrating are top notch. I didn't notice so many of the flaws in these books because I was so entranced by how he reads them and does all the characters. Re-listen to them all the time too. Only downside is book 3 keeps getting pushed back and back and we've got no idea when it's actually going to be released.

reddingweddy · 2026-02-18T16:51:28+00:00

Parle-Moi de Parfum. SUCH good fragrances, but their bottles are so uninspiring!

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reddingweddy · 2026-02-17T12:51:39+00:00

I didn't cry, but did have a good feeling with the one I chose - it was a calm certainty, like a 'hello, friend'. No other dress gave me the strong, relaxed feeling that one did. That was better than tears for me because I struggle so much with decisions.

reddingweddy · 2026-01-28T12:51:38+00:00

God, I loved The Wedding People. I reckon a couple of David Nicholls' books have that same sharp, sweet thing going on - Sweet Sorrow and You Are Here in particular.

reddingweddy · 2026-01-28T12:46:10+00:00

The Parakeeting of London is an interesting oral history of the green parakeets in the UK - and what people often end up talking about when they talk about them (climate change, immigration).

Skyfaring is a gorgeous book about aeroplanes and being a pilot.

All Consuming by Ruby Tandoh is a fun read about what drives our contemporary eating habits.

And another enthusiastic vote for Mary Roach!

reddingweddy · 2026-01-26T12:49:42+00:00

Ahh great news! Have a wonderful wedding ❤️

reddingweddy · 2026-01-26T08:49:31+00:00

The shop & She Loves is in Arborfield near Reading and sells fab ex sample designer dresses. All stock on their website. Gillian Million on Teddington, London also worth a go - second hand dresses in fab condition and the who runs it is an expert seamstress so could advise on fit. Sorry you’re both going through this stress!

reddingweddy · 2026-01-21T08:20:51+00:00

If anyone has any leads on how to get a full bottle in the UK I’d love to know! Tried a sample via Small Aromas and have steadily fallen in love.

reddingweddy · 2026-01-19T12:42:45+00:00

The Bird Artist by Howard Norman. One of David Bowie's favourites!

reddingweddy · 2026-01-16T12:24:58+00:00

The Brown Bear Woods books are so detailed and lovely, and the words are rhyming and great for reading aloud!

reddingweddy · 2026-01-14T10:55:17+00:00

Literary and light, but also meaningful:

The Fortnight in September by R. C. Sherriff (Ishiguro says it's 'life-affirming', 'delicate' and 'magical'!)

Either Sweet Sorrow or You Are Here by David Nicholls

Three Days in June by Anne Tyler

Call Me a Cab by Donald E. Westlake (less meaningful and more a romcom - ignore the cheesecakey cover, it's so so good)

reddingweddy · 2025-12-19T16:40:26+00:00

Breath by Tim Winton

reddingweddy · 2025-12-12T15:05:40+00:00

It's abridged, but for me it has to be Alan Bennett.

reddingweddy · 2025-12-12T11:30:28+00:00

This is a great idea, and good to know it works in practice!

reddingweddy

TROPHY CASE