Dream Masquerade Carnival Event Recap

Hello angels! I know this post is long overdo but thanks to all the lovelies who placed orders at DMC, I've just been snowed under and only just now had a chance to come up for air. However, as the saying goes: better late than never!

Dream Masquerade Carnival Featuring Angelic Pretty was UK Lolita organisation Tea Party Club's 10th anniversary event, and Heaven's Atrium had the pleasure of being invited to vend at this glorious event; an opportunity I did not hesitate to take.

Saturday was the main event, and as always the day started with nothing but pure excitement; I love these events because it gives me a chance to meet up with all my good friends from other parts of the country and the world who I may never get to see otherwise. Unfortunately I didn't get to say hello to everyone I would have liked to as I spent most of my day at our table, but if I didn't get to see you or only said hello briefly please do know you were in my heart and mind the whole time!

Speaking of our table, I do want to say a huge thank you to everyone who came to visit! Honestly speaking, this being our first vending event I was extremely nervous, so seeing so many interested individuals who came to look at our older pieces or learn about the brand really meant a lot. If you visited out table on the day you would have also seen a preview of the new Butterfly Library pieces - which will be available online soon, I swear! - and many of your were kind and enthusiastic enough to even pre-order the pieces based on the samples you saw. This seriously meant a lot to me; creating is what I love to do, so seeing people get excited and enthusiastic about something I made really and truly meant a lot to me. I've also taken on board a lot of the advice you guys gave too!

Another big part of the day for me was the Indie brand fashion show, honestly preparing for this was hectic as always, especially with a model pulling out last minute, but my two remaining angels, Jessica and Sarah did an amazing job! Jessica was wearing our well-known piece, the My Dear, London skirt and Sarah was wearing a sample of the Butterfly Library JSK. They both looked amazing on the runway and really helped to bring my vision to life, thank you both so much!

Sunday was the tea party portion of the event, and this was one of the best parts for me as I finally got to relax and spend time with some of the new and old friends that I had made at the event... oh, and of course, the munchies!

The day was super enjoyable, we ate, we drank (tea!), we cam-whored like crazy, and we were very thankful to the British weather for keeping the whole weekend sunny and warm for us, even if it was a bit hard to bare under our numerous petticoats. While we're on the topic of being thankful, there are a few unmentioned archangels I would like to thank, who made this weekend extra special for me, and probably the best weekend of my life:

My Dearest Hannah

Hannah is my close friend from university, she was one of the first people I got along with after moving schools half way through my course and she's been a dear friend to me ever since. She was kind enough to volunteer to help me at my table all of Saturday even when she was busy with her preparation to move homes the following week, and she was really a star all day. While I'm generally quite shy, Hannah was talkative and full of confidence, and I'm really glad I got to share the day's successes with her over anyone else. Thank you so much, Hannah! 너무 너무 사랑해 ♡

My Dearest Poppy

Though this was our first time meeting, Poppy and I had been in contact many a time before the event; she's always been an enthusiastic support of Heaven's Atrium, but on the this weekend I got to see just how sweet, genuine and kind a person she is - and all those who know her will definitely back me up when I say she's one of the sweetest souls I've ever met!

Regrettably we didn't get to spend enough time together, but I hope we'll have a chance to meet again at an event in future. Take care and keep in touch, dear! ♡

My Dearest A*

One thing I've always loved and appreciated about these events are the friends I get to make, I mean how else would I have met A*? She came all the way over from the states to be part of DMC and I'm so glad she did because the two of us got on like a petticoat on fire! We met when she was kind enough to purchase two items from our table, but I didn't really get to know her properly until we sat together at the tea party on Sunday, we talked about a number of things and she taught me all about the EGL communities in all different parts of the states, not to mention she made me laugh so hard I almost spilt my tea!

It was absolutely wonderful meeting you and I hope we'll get a chance to meet again in future! ♡

Now there's one last group of individuals I'd like to thank, and I'm sure you can all guess who those are; even if you weren't able to attend DMC personally, I'm sure you all know by now that while TPC's Dream Masquerade Carnival was our first event, unfortunately it was the original Tea Party Club's last. These ladies have worked incredibly hard over the last 10 years, each year putting together an event more magnificent than the last, and this year, they rightful so, said that they wished to go out with a bang; they most certainly did.

Really and truly I want to thank you guys, but I know that those words will never really be enough. The fact of the matter is, no one but you knows how much time and work and planning goes into running these events, and none of us can truly appreciate how stressful and tiring it must be for you to prepare these massive occasions each year, emailing guests, organising venues, contacting brands, and of course, trying to live your own lives on top of it all. Event organising is a full time job, especially considering the large group of individuals you have to cater to, but each year, your small group of friends, fail to disappoint.

Although I only personally began attending your large events last year, I did attend a few of your smaller ones before that, and I've always been grateful because it was one of those events that encouraged me to finally pursue my interest in EGL fashion after literally years of convincing myself it wasn't for me. In a strange way, if it wasn't for your events, I may have never started wearing Lolita, I may have never started Heaven's Atrium, and I definitely would not have so many of the dear and precious friends and memories I have right now. You guys have well and truly changed my life in ways you can not imagine, you've made my dreams into a reality and there really aren't words I can give say to thank you enough.

Yes, it is sad to think this is the end, but I know how many people you've inspired, and I'm sure someone will follow in your footsteps in due time. I can only imagine the exhaustion that you guys feel, but I really hope you do appreciate how appreciated you are; though there will always be an ungrateful grump, I hope you know that the majority of us can't thank you enough; you guys have left a legacy that will hold a dear place in the lives of hundreds if not thousands of people, many of which you may never even meet, so once again, really and truly, I want to express my deepest and unending gratitude.