FOUR married friends from Wroughton in Wiltshire decided to do something different and trash their wedding dresses in Bude.

Charlotte Mason, Genia Roberts, Gemma Drury (all aged 33) and Jen Taphouse (36) eventually agreed to do it when Your Digital Memories’ photographer Glenn Stanley, who was covering Charlotte’s wedding, mentioned the possibility.

Despite initially thinking what a ridiculous idea, Charlotte started to give it some serious consideration when her wedding photo’s arrived a fortnight or so later.

Charlotte said: “The first ‘Trash the Dress’ seed was sown for me at my wedding reception last October. In the middle of saying goodbye to Glenn he mentioned a Trash The Dress shoot! I remember my reply clearly; Ummmm, I’m still in my dress Glenn, let’s not talk about trashing it!

“The next time I thought about it was two weeks later when Glenn delivered my proof book of wedding photos. I was unsure of the idea at first but then started thinking about what else I would do with my dress? Dry clean it and box it? Or spend another day in it having more photos? It was a no brainer really!”

Once she had decided that she would like to take part, she had to gage the interest from her friends.

Like Charlotte, most of them were initially puzzled by the idea, but soon came around.

Jen said: “Charlotte said come with me and watch me trash my wedding dress, it will be a great girlie few days away. I said I’d never trash my dress so quite how I ended up taking part I’ll never know!

“When you buy your wedding dress you expect to be wearing it on your wedding day and then it’s cleaned and boxed up for nothing I guess.

“Getting the chance to spend another few days in your dress is fantastic, talk about getting value for money!

Following a year or so of planning, over Facebook and around the local pubs, the ladies decided to take the plunge, and headed to the North Cornwall coastline.

Over the course of three days, the ladies were pampered and made up just like on their real ‘special day’, before taking part in the shoot which took place all over the town and surrounding areas.

The hairdresser across the weekend was Kaylee Robertson who runs Kylee Marie Hair in Bude. She was approached via a message on Facebook but was more than willing to help.

Kaylee said: “With over 12 years of experience and previously doing bridal catwalk shows and various regional competitions, this was something different and new! What is a day of your time to help others in the same industry as me (weddings)! To showcase something different and for us all to build portfolios.”

“They were a cracking bunch too. I knocked on the door of their holiday home, and they were so warm and welcoming. I had a blast of a day and saw the passion in each and every member of this team.”

Photos were taken dipping their toes in the sea, on the rocks, by the harbour, and outside the tearooms just to name a few.

This was before the real event, which saw them run full pelt into the sea and have paint thrown at each other.

All the ladies were in agreement that it was three days that they’d never forget.

Genia said: “I can honestly say, it was one of the best weekends I have ever had, with some of the most daring and creative people we know. Nicole (Floral Studio) created some incredible bouquets of flowers for us using her knowledge of what flowers would look best with our dresses and her expert eye. Bev and Alice (Your Inspired Beauty) were on point with our make up, which stayed put all day long with only a quick fix of lipstick needed after lunch.

“Kylee was able to make our hair beautiful from her own imagination with no style requests from us, and strong enough to weather the Cornish wind and sea. And last but by no means least, Colin andGlenn (Your Digital Memories) organised the entire weekend and captured thousands of photographs that are just breathtaking.”

Gemma added: “From arriving in sunny Bude on the Saturday afternoon, being whisked through hair and makeup, to fabulous feathered lashes, stares from passers by, climbing walls and of course the final plunge into the sea.

“The whole weekend could not have gone any better. Bude was absolutely stunning, the perfect setting for our little project and the whole team involved in making it happen were amazingly talented, creative, professional, but above all else so much fun.

“I feel absolutely blessed to have been a part of it all.