The Wedding Morning
I spent my Wedding morning as a very chilled Bride. I showered and applied a fresh bag first thing. I wanted to make sure I was well hydrated, so I was drinking a lot of water and took my electrolytes.
We had a lovely breakfast delivered to us, loads of pastries, waffles, fruit and nibbles. As I was wearing white, I was paranoid of any type of leakage with my bag but I just made sure to empty it as much as I could!
Emergency Kit
I was staying at my venue the night before, so I had to ensure I had more than enough supplies packed—just in case I had any accidents or mishaps.
I always carry an emergency kit in my car anyway but I made sure to pack enough of everything. I pack more bags than I think I’ll need, respond adjective remover sprays, mint drops, and barrier wipes.
The Dress
I can honestly say after months of worrying about choosing a wedding dress, and thinking I wouldn’t be able to wear my dream dress because of my stoma – I did! My dress was everything I ever wanted and more.
When it was time for me to get ready, I emptied my bag and slipped into my dress. One thing I was definitely conscious of before hand was how tight it would be around my stoma, but it was actually really comfortable!
My bag really did behave so well, and I had no issues at all with it on the day. Then, I changed into a party dress for the evening.
Trusting someone
It’s no secret to my family & friends that I have a stoma. I was worried about how I would empty my bag wearing my wedding dress but it was surprisingly easier than I had expected. My maid of honour helped me, and I actually managed it myself on a few occasions too.
The Wedding Day
My Wedding Day was everything I could have ever dreamed of.
The best day ever!!! I didn’t spend too much time worrying about my stoma. I made sure to drink plenty of water. And I went to the bathroom to empty my bag regularly.
The wedding meal was so enjoyable, and I made sure to eat slowly and chew my food well. After our first dance I changed into my evening dress, I danced, laughed, ate, cried and honestly had the most amazing day and tried to soak in all the special moments
To anyone planning their wedding with a stoma, you can absolutely wear the dress you dreamed of and have the day you’ve always imagined!
26 year old me would never have believed that almost 4 years post surgery I would become a home owner, get engaged and marry the love of my life. From thinking my world was falling down around me after surgery to experiencing the Wedding Day of my dreams (which technically wouldn’t have happened without my stoma).
On reflection my stoma really has changed my life for the better. Because of it that I get to life my life to the fullest!
