September 2011 brides... lets talk!

vesper

We booked it at the beginning of May. I don't think its just the wedding I am worried about, it's the finding time bit to organise the wedding. I currently run a Sports Club and we are currently looking to buy a house. Doesn't help when family members decide they don't want to stay in the b&b booked for them which is 4 miles away, and instead what us to sort out booking them into the b&b in our village at double the cost of a room and nearly fullly booked by other family members.
It will all sort itself out, think I will be happier when I get dress back from alterations

angelcakes_smw

we booked ours june 2010 and it's only just started to feel real this past week or so! I can sympathise with trying to find time, I'm currently doing a midwifery degree, FH is doing a design degree and we have 3 small children with no family or friends nearby so we never get any time to do anything together which is pants there is so much to and time just seems to be flying by with nothing getting done! I'd tell your family members that they can sort their own room out, we have provided numbers of b&b's and they can do the rest! I dont get a dress fitting until 5 weeks before the big day now. I'm sure everything will come together for you though xxx

angelcakes_smw

quick question ladies.

is it acceptable to invite people to the ceremony only? we are getting married at 3pm and we're planning on having a drink and cake or something immediately after the ceremony in the church social area and then going on to the reception venue for food and a party later on, this will cost us £6/head and can only accommodate up to 100 people whereas the church can hold 250 people and a drink and some cake is far cheaper than that.

So, can I invite guests to the ceremony only and keep the reception for immediate family and friends or is this really bad form?

tia

neenaww

Wow how did you get such a good deal on £6 a head for reception and party?!!? Well done you!

I do not think it will be a problem to just invite people to the ceremony, if it was me I would just be honoured to have been invited at all. Hope this helps x

s23xy_c

I have just wrote down a list of things that still need to be paid and then discoverd theres still a good few things Ive to buy arrrgggggghhh lol

Norton_Blade

angelcakes_smw wrote: »

So, can I invite guests to the ceremony only and keep the reception for immediate family and friends or is this really bad form?

Hehe... we're doing the opposite. We're only having around a dozen people to our actual ceremony, absolute close family only. It's a civil ceremony in the city centre and we aren't doing any of our own vows or readings to put a show on for people, as it were. We're then going for a light lunch with those family members at a nearby bar before having a bigger party in the evening which everyone is invited to.

I think some of the extended family are going to get the face on but it's tough. We can do without all the logistics of trying to organise all those people when we aren't having bridesmaids or a best man or anything... we want a relaxed day on our terms

Anyway, all my outfit is sorted including shoes which have been something of a hassle! Happy with the ones I've got though, even though they did nearly cost as much as my bargain dress.

H2B is pretty relaxed about his outfit so we're going to start looking about a month before the wedding.

Invitations were designed by my clever H2B and are currently with a friend of a friend for printing.

One of my workmates does lovely cupcakes so I'm ordering them from her. Had some samples and they fit my colour scheme perfectly.

Thanks to working there in my "spare" time, my reception venue have decided I can have the room for free. Just need to pay for my food. Pretty much know how I want it laid out... just need to order seat covers, sort out centrepieces and decide what hot food we're having on our buffet.

Entertainment is my H2B's responsibility as is sorting the photographer (which might end up being a favour from a professional photographer mate).

Need to find someone to make me a posy and some button holes but there's a disabled charity project up the road who do floristry so might go up and ask them when they can do

I've been to weddings where everything was polished and expensive... but that isn't us. We'd rather give our money to small local businesses and mates. Hopefully it will still all work out lovely but at the end of the day, we'll still be married so we'll have achieved what we set out to do!

neenaww

Norton_Blade wrote: »

Hehe... we're doing the opposite. We're only having around a dozen people to our actual ceremony, absolute close family only. It's a civil ceremony in the city centre and we aren't doing any of our own vows or readings to put a show on for people, as it were. We're then going for a light lunch with those family members at a nearby bar before having a bigger party in the evening which everyone is invited to.

I think some of the extended family are going to get the face on but it's tough. We can do without all the logistics of trying to organise all those people when we aren't having bridesmaids or a best man or anything... we want a relaxed day on our terms

Anyway, all my outfit is sorted including shoes which have been something of a hassle! Happy with the ones I've got though, even though they did nearly cost as much as my bargain dress.

H2B is pretty relaxed about his outfit so we're going to start looking about a month before the wedding.

Invitations were designed by my clever H2B and are currently with a friend of a friend for printing.

One of my workmates does lovely cupcakes so I'm ordering them from her. Had some samples and they fit my colour scheme perfectly.

Thanks to working there in my "spare" time, my reception venue have decided I can have the room for free. Just need to pay for my food. Pretty much know how I want it laid out... just need to order seat covers, sort out centrepieces and decide what hot food we're having on our buffet.

Entertainment is my H2B's responsibility as is sorting the photographer (which might end up being a favour from a professional photographer mate).

Need to find someone to make me a posy and some button holes but there's a disabled charity project up the road who do floristry so might go up and ask them when they can do

I've been to weddings where everything was polished and expensive... but that isn't us. We'd rather give our money to small local businesses and mates. Hopefully it will still all work out lovely but at the end of the day, we'll still be married so we'll have achieved what we set out to do![/QUOTE]


What a brilliant sentiment (I love all of your ideas and applaude you supporting locals and using friends where you can) but this last bit really stood out to me ... as I think sometimes we can all get lost in the organising and trying to make everything "perfect" when, as you say, that really is all that matters! :T Well done and thank you... I will try and adopt your way of thinking!

angelcakes_smw

we were really lucky with the venue but it's only posh pie n' peas lol so not much hassle for them

I think I would rather have people witness our marriage as, like you said, that's the whole point of the day (plus it doesn't cost us anything to have the extra guests at the church whereas it costs us £6 per extra person at the night do!) my mind's made up, getting excited now!!

neenaww

Yayyyy well done angelcakes, glad you are feeling a little more relaxed! You know it makes sense & its also the most moneysaving!! lol

jrtrauts

It is getting so exciting! My sister's wedding was at the weekend and it was amazing- now the countdown is on until mine!! 11 and a half weeks now :-) :-)

If anyone is thinking of a guestbook, I would totally recommend what my sister did- she had a polaroid camera, a photo album and a sharpie on a table and all the guests took their photos and stuck them in the album with a message. It looks absolutely amazing and was a real talking point on the day.