Sweating, exhausted from chemo, and surrounded by reality TV cameras – it’s no wonder that Louise McSharry’s bridal boutique experiences fell somewhat short of the fairytale.
“I wasn't ready to go shopping,” the popular 2fm presenter admitted earlier today at the launch of RTÉ2's new season schedule at the station's Montrose campus.
“I'd done the Late Late Show the night before and I’d had chemotherapy the previous Tuesday so I was exhausted.”
The 32-year-old was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma last year, and spent much of early 2015 filming for her forthcoming show, Reality Bites: F**k Cancer.
“One of the side effects for me with chemo was having really bad hot flashes,” she added, explaining that one particular outlet she visited had no ventilation.
“I was sweating SO much!” she laughed.
Unsurprisingly, and despite being surrounded by “beautiful” dresses, Louise admitted she felt uncomfortable the whole time.
“Anybody who has gone wedding dress shopping knows that they only have them in one size and that is never my size, so I was trying to squeeze myself in to dresses that didn’t fit me.
"It was just a really bad day.”
Today, Ms. McSharry – who was adamant she’d avoid a pre-ceremony crash-diet – said that her experience was far from unique.
"I’ve heard horror stories from friends who've been told to wear Spanx or lose weight, but if anyone had said that to me I honestly would have ripped their face off because it's bullsh*t.
"The idea that you need to have a particular body for your wedding – I don’t buy into any of that.
"I found the whole wedding dress shopping thing really difficult in that regard.”
Thankfully, she eventually found her dream gown at the Bridal Corner in Glasnevin, on the recommendation of a nurse treating her in hospital.
“The shop happened to be right outside my house and I went there with just one friend, really low key, and that was when I found stuff I liked.”
And without a doubt, she looked absolutely stunning on her big day – marrying long-term partner Gordon Spearin last month in front of friends and family in Co. Cork.
Meanwhile, though many newlywed couples might put starting a family on the long finger, Louise says it’s at the forefront of her mind.
“My eggs are decimated. I was given an injection during treatment to help my ovaries take cover and go back to normal after chemo but I went for fertility testing a couple of months ago and it wasn’t good news,” she explained.
“I definitely want a family 100 percent, but we’ll just have to wait and see and let nature take its course.”
