I have been holding off celebrating brand Miss Bush’s 30th birthday. I have put on ice thoughts of its long association with Ripley, shelved some articles on its unique position in bridal retail and muted the musings on the shifting culture of wedding and fashion. I have put the kibosh on my creativity because behind the scenes I have been set a task as seemingly impossible as anything a jury of Greek Gods could conjure up. I have been as Sisyphus pushing an endless property boulder up a hill.
At the end of possibly one of the hardest working months of my life, at the eleventh hour and when my strength of character and my mental health was pushed to breaking point, Miss Bush finally completed on the two year project, not just to remain at our beloved Chapel, but to own it.
I feel somewhat numb. Although I am eternally grateful for all the best wishes and champagne from friends I feel like I have a spot of PTSD. I am not quite ready for ceremonial ribbon cutting but I asked Rosie Orr to bedeck the doors with boughs of yellow. I have many people to thank, probably too many for an interesting article, but I shall persist.
Thanks to the ever lovely Marshy who has had to live with me becoming a menopausal insomniac on a mission. I have so much gratitude to give to my boys, Harvey & William, without whom this could not have happened. My strong fierce female family, my Mum & daughter Georgia and my extended Bush family Corinne, Rosie, Leah and Jo have all been incredible in dealing with the wildly different predicted outcomes and an uncertain future yet have still had faith in me. At least to my face!
More showering appreciation goes to Tony for training me to be an officer, Malcolm for insisting I be a planner, Shane for reminding me not to take no for an answer, Alison for her belief and Chloe for a lot of listening and answering a lot of stupid questions.
My girl gangs of Luxe and L’enfer, c’est les autres, my home girl Mary, some of the good folk of the villages of both Ripley and the wider wedding industry know something of the struggle and have concealed yawns and feigned interest when none was to be had. To you all, I am more grateful than you can possibly imagine.
My brands, specifically Jesus Peiro and Suzanne Neville, both deserve a bear hug to end all bear hugs. Both knew what a big deal this property was and who have been beyond generous.
Most of all I want to thank our brides, who have, over and over again, told us what a special experience we are creating in our unique, non-denominational, female focused space and have given us confidence to go forward with our shared vision.
The future is a little more yellow than I dared to hope for.
