He chooses one of Sera’s lightest lace over-dresses and holds out the hanger. ‘Everything off, and put this on!’
Ariella beckons me over. ‘Put your bra and pants back on for the sheer ones if you’d rather.’
I’ve done everything they’ve asked for hours without question, so I’m changed and out in the main room before I take in how thin the fabric is.
I look down past my boobs and get a view of my belly button. ‘My bra is quite see-through.’
Ariella studies me. ‘These naked dresses are often worn with nothing at all underneath, or our bride could add anything from a thong to granny pants, the same with the bra. If you’re comfortable carrying on as you are, that’s good for us.’
Jess’s eyes are shining. ‘Years ago the celebrated Josie Redman chose Sera to design her wedding dress; this bride is actually her very close, very special, world-renowned… influencer friend.’
Josie was famous for being famous before influencers were even invented, and the whole of St Aidan watched the way she sent Sera’s career soaring when she shopped here and her wedding dress was splashed across all the national papers and magazines.
Sera pushes her hands into the pockets of her ripped denim shorts and looks straight at me. ‘Josie saw one of our posts about Weddings at Windflowers, and knew her friend would adore the uniqueness of being the first bride to marry at such a special new venue.’
My throat is dry with nerves. ‘So our first beach hut wedding is for a famous person?’ I’m taking it in as I whisper. ‘But won’t they have a humungous guest list?’
Jess shakes her head ‘They actually brought their wedding forward as soon as they heard Windflowers was coming available, which is why the “A” team are here sorting out the dresses at short notice.’
Poppy’s eyes are shining too. ‘They’re having a tiny wedding here at the beach hut, then a festival-size party in the fields up at the farm.’ Her smile widens. ‘We’ve done so many weddings over the years, it’s not a problem to pull this together quickly for them. It also shows how the beach hut has been the starting point, and spiralled to include more of us.’
Ariella smiles too. ‘So this is why we’re looking for different dress styles for the different venues… and why they have to be spectacular and startlingly original.’
I let out a groan. ‘I can’t even begin to get my head around this.’ I’d assumed the beach hut would attract ordinary people wanting ordinary weddings without fuss, which was enough pressure in itself. But this is so off-the-scale, it’s more than I’m mentally prepared for.
Sera squeezes my hand. ‘The first time I met Josie I was so terrified I couldn’t speak. What I learned about famous people is that their hopes and dreams are very much like ours. They need our help for a short time to make their dreams happen. And then they go back to their life and you go back to yours.’
Poppy laughs. ‘They have to be pretty down to earth if they accept that the nearest toilet for Windflowers is the public one along the beach, and then they’ll be on Portaloos for the rest of the day in Rafe’s fields.’
Jess pulls down the corners of her mouth. ‘However many followers they have, we all have to go to the toilet.’
Asia nods. ‘Arlo’s very much in demand. He was hand-sewing sequins on Beyoncé’s chaps last week, weren’t you?’
Arlo looks up at the chandelier. ‘It was incredibly tedious if you’re wondering.’
Ariella smiles. ‘He handpicks his clients, and refuses to work with anyone who is difficult, so you have our word that you’ll be okay.’
Arlo grins at me. ‘I hope you’re simultaneously reassured and super impressed.’
I fan my face with my fingers. ‘I am.’
Asia pats my hand. ‘Don’t worry, we’re almost done. There are only about six of these overdresses we’re interested in. A dozen at most.’
‘Twelve?!’ I hold up my hand. ‘I need a comfort break.’ I’m thinking more about white chocolate chip cookies than a toilet stop, but no one needs to know that.
I make a dash before anyone argues. It’s only as I reach the end of the room that I hear the ting of the shop bell, and then I career across the hall towards the office and come face to face with Lando.
I gasp. ‘What are you here for? It says on the door the shop’s closed all day due to a private appointment!’
‘I thought that was meant for brides, not me. Is that a wedding dress you’re wearing?’ He purses his lips. ‘You do know it’s’—he gives a cough—‘transparent?’
There are two ways this can go. I can die of embarrassment or I can own it. I may as well stop giving a damn and have some fun. ‘For eff’s sake, Lando. Dua Lipa shows her nipples all the time. So does Florence Pugh.’
His mouth drops open. ‘Right.’
I carry on. ‘A lot of modern brides aspire to naked dresses! What’s your problem?’
His gaze is superglued to my boobs, and he gives another cough. ‘I don’t personally have an issue with it. But if we put that on the hoardings in B&Q car park, I guarantee there will be crashes!’
