My wedding plans, any ideas appreciated

Blade26

Hi Black Saturn

I have read many of your posts in OS, and have no doubt that you will be able to out on a really graet day at minimal cost.

My best friend got married nearly a year ago, and had the kind of wedding I think you are probably looking for, the details were as follows:

Dress - Pronuptia in the sale, she went for ivory fitted bodice and straight skirt, but was less than half price

Shoes - again sale at Dune, bought cream leather shoes that would look just as good with black trousers for work

Flowers - £70 all in, for red gerberas. 1 bouquet and 2 posies for nieces who were flower girls. Also included 10 single stems for table decorations at Reception.

Husbands attire - just bought a new shirt, was v relaxed no formal wear for the blokes. No ties - was v chilled. I think he also bought new pants and socks - last of the big spenders!

Flower girl dresses - my Friends Mum made these, material (red silk) bought in a sale on Ebay.

TRansport - hired an old bus from a local transport museum, was v bumpy but also one of those things you will remember for the rest of your life. Sheffield Registry Office is bang in the city centre so it attrcted alot of interst from Saturday shoppers who remembered the bus when it was in service. Was totally unique compared with all the stretch limos that were parked up outside for the other weddings

Photographer - they got a good deal with a photographer and husband who were just building their client base.

Photo Albums - leather from E-Bay

Favours - made by us, Love Heart sweets wrapped in net.

Invitations - made by a friend who makes handmade cards, v simple but effective. Perhaps this is something you could consider doing yourself?

REception - dinner for 40 at a ;local Italian restaurant which onlt opens in the evening. Convinced them to open in teh afternoon. No licence so all wine/champagne was provided from a beer run to France

Evening/Afternoon - all returned to their littel terraced house where the garden was awash with gazebos all borrowed form various friends and chairs, again borrowed. Music system set up outside with garden lights for later. Loads more beer/wine etc. Table football set up for kids. Small buffets later on for those that wanted it.

Wedding cake - make by brides grandma.

Think thats about it, it was by far the best wedding I have ever been to as it was such good fun and so informal. Compared with a wedding my other half was best man at 3 weeks ago, which was ultra formal and obviously no expense spared, I know which one I had the best time at.

Hope this helps!! Best of luck

melancholly

just wanted to say congratulations b-s - you really really deserve a great day and a happy marriage!

black-saturn

Wow, thanks again for all the responses.

OK I have a couple of questions I'm confused about:

Whats an usher and do I really need one?
Whats a favour?

The last wedding I went to was about 10 years ago and I'm sure they didnt have all that.

Another thing thats slightly tongue in cheek is whats the possibility of getting Adam Ant as the best man? My boyfriend and I met at an Adam and the Ants convention and would love to have him as best man. Up until now it's been a bit of a joke between us but I might write to him and ask!!!

I went to the registry office today and they said I'd have to wait until a year before the date until I can book.

I like the idea of the transport museum bus and there is a transport museum very near here. Theres also going to be a lot of people coming from other parts of the UK so it would be a good idea to transport them all by bus.

Can you book these things even if you don't know the exact date? I want to get going but it's so frustrating not knowing when the date is. I know what date I want but if I can't get it and I've booked everything it will be a disaster.

Welshlassie

Ushers are traditionally used during church weddings to direct the guests to which side of the church to side and give out orders of services and are usually brothers, close friends. We didn't have a church wedding but had 3 ushers, asked them to help the photograher get the guests for certain photos as they knew most people there. It was also a lovely way to include close friends in the whole day - but not critical to procedings
Favours are gifts given to the guests usually during the wedding breakfast,as a small thank you for attending - traditionally they have been sugared almonds, but these days you can have anything you want, we had love spoons for the ladies and minature welsh whiskey for the men.

black-saturn

OK so do these ushers have to be wearing a posh expensive suit too?

Welshlassie

We just asked our friends to wear they suit - as they would be for the wedding anyway and bought them a tie that would match in with the tartan my dh was wearing as a thank you. They were thrilled to be involved in the day.

StockportGerbil

black-saturn wrote:

Wow, thanks again for all the responses.

OK I have a couple of questions I'm confused about:

Whats an usher and do I really need one?
Whats a favour?

An usher is someone who takes responsibility for ensuring your guests know what's happening, where to go next, rounding guests up for group photos, giving out orders of service, maps etc. They supplement the role of the best man / chief bridesmaid in terms of problem / issue solving, so you don't have to worry about it on the day

A favour is a small present you give to all your guests, usually only those who turn up to the ceremony / sit down meal. Traditionally it's a small collection of sugared almonds, but I've had a variety of sweets before now and a miniature bottle of spirits. But I struggle to remember favours, so don't get too worked up on the subject.

black-saturn wrote:

Another thing thats slightly tongue in cheek is whats the possibility of getting Adam Ant as the best man?

Realistically - no. Apart from organising the stag do the best known duty of the best man is the speech and I don't think he'll know you that well. Incidentally have you budgeted for stag / hen do's? Do you want them?

black-saturn wrote:

I went to the registry office today and they said I'd have to wait until a year before the date until I can book.

That's a problem. There's lots you can't do organise until you have that date. Are you sure you can only book a year in advance? Most reception venues are booked up two years or more in advance, particularly in the summer months, so I do wonder if the person you spoke to was mistaken. The bus / transport will need a definite date before you can book.

Good luck

Kevin

StockportGerbil

black-saturn wrote:

OK so do these ushers have to be wearing a posh expensive suit too?

Mine wore their own suits and ties (with some guidance (white shirt, pastel tie)) - we just sorted out matching button holes

Rachie_B

you dont really need ushers for a civil ceremony IMO
you could have "unofficial" ones i guess lol ,helping with seating people or making sure they know where to go etc

dont need order of days either really unless you can afford them / really want them

favours are an americanised thing whereby you buy a little gift to place by each setting on the reception tables again not needed unless you wanted them

Rachie_B

kevin yup its definitely 12 months in advance that you can book a registrar

of course you can book a venue before that but not the registrar that will be performing the ceremony