How we do things now… inside our Jesus Peiro Designer Day

“ I am sorry you found our new safety protocols disappointing. I can assure you I would rather have my buzzy boutique back with corks popping and cappuccinos for all. I have to take the safety of my team and our clients extremely seriously and have had 'exclusive-use' appointments with cleaning buffers in place since July when we reopened…”

I have only had to apologise for a more clinical environment once or twice. I prefer to acknowledge the new world with a smutty innuendo or two.

“A clean Bush is a happy Bush,” or

“Nothing beats the smell of a freshly bleached Bush”.

I have strived to make the name Miss Bush synonymous with our brand values but there is nothing better than a carefully timed, double entendre to diffuse a tense situation.

The challenge of hosting a Trunk Show, an annual opportunity to showcase an extended selection of a designer’s collection, in a fun fashionable way is, currently, particularly demanding.

Compare our Jesus Peiro event from 2019 to 2020. Last year was a riot of Catalan inspired food, drinks and fashion.  A cast of thousands, a capacity crowd and creativity overload. This year, an equally beautiful Jesus Peiro collection was launched with a more subdued supporting cast.

One of my new inductees in to the Peiro-Bush family, the lovely Miss P, had seen all the brouhaha surrounding designer events that I have flung into the ‘dig-o-sphere.’ There had been a tinge of sadness for her that the curtain is down in the theatre of wedding planning. Encouragingly, and in common with so many brides that are breathing life and optimism into wedding world, Miss P assured me that Sunday was the best experience of wedding planning to date. Treated to a Covid secure hair and make-up trial with Carolanne Armstrong and Sharon Roberts, a still private appointment, a goody bag of Jesus Peiro, The Wedding Present Company and Taurus Wines treats and notwithstanding the complementary made to measure on ‘that dress’ it was one of those glorious squad days brides dream of. Whilst we are still only having one guest per bride, with careful planning there was coffee and cakes at Nest beforehand and lunch at The Anchor, with drinks on us! . Add in the selfie opportunity below the freshly buffed Arch of Bush, groaning under the weight of spectacular blooms from Mad Lilies and Sophie Duckworth darting around like a reportage ninja, one could have been forgiven for thinking this was the golden, olden days.

Each wedding supplier rigorously applied their own trade’s safety protocols, each discipline risk assessing to the highest standards of their trade. This is a real blueprint for the way forward; a socially distanced, safe ‘tasting menu’ of an event. Not everything under one roof but under many roofs. This is a shopping and experience safari that allows each artisan to provide maximum service with minimised risk.

Yes, I would rather not have my in-action shots accessorised by a mask with all the style of a pant liner but it’s the best option for prolonged wear. One of my worries when we reopened was could I land a punchline in a mask? Of course, you can’t keep a good Bush down…