*November 2011 Brides and Grooms* Time to Chat!

Enchantica

OMG WHAT AN ESSAY I WROTE! :silenced:

Bluespirit

I've got my dress! Ended up going for the Maggie one in the end, as nothing else compared to it. And, I managed to get it for £271 cheaper than the original cost in another shop, so really pleased with that. Its been ordered in a size smaller than I currently am, so I really need to stick to the wedding weight loss plan so that it fits. However, so far its been giving me the right pressure - as I've had a couple of really good workouts and when I've been tired I keep saying 'dress' to myself, the same as I do when I want to eat some chocolate! I'm so pleased to have it bought now, and looking forward to starting bridesmaid dress shopping.

I've also managed to get a flowergirl dress for my niece. My mum and I found a beautiful dress in John Lewis, much cheaper than the FG dresses in bridal shops, and it has lots of sparkly bits on it so it fits in well with my dress. My mum's friend has also knitted this beautiful bolero top to go with the FG dress, that looks just like snow, and will keep my niece nice and cosy! My niece is super excited by the outfit, and keeps telling me how much she's looking forward to wearing it for my wedding!

We've also managed to get OH's wedding ring - ended up with a paladium ring, that has a bit of a pattern on it, for just £325 - so much less than an almost identical ring he liked that another jewellers wanted almost £1000 for. We need to get mine still, but we're going to wait until next month's wages are in first.

Chrissy - your dress looks lovely. Justin Alexander dresses are beautiful - my sister had one for her wedding, and I just love the material and detail on them.

Losing patience - that's great news about the bridesmaid dresses, and a good idea about stamps - I had no idea they were going up in price, so I might do the same! I agree with Enchantica about shopping around for your cake. We're lucky as my sister does cakes, so she's doing ours as a wedding present, BUT the cake we're getting costs £620 in the shop I originally saw it in, and she said she would only charge about £300 for the same thing, so cake companies costs can vary massively. I completely understand what you're saying in terms of budget - our budget is about the same as yours (though my parents are generously paying half of that), but the way we're seeing it is to get what we want to make our day special but save money where we can.

Enchantica - think there must have been a bit of confusion with the dress. The Maggie one had always been fine, but I found another one I liked which I then discovered was only plus size! Its all solved now though as I got the Maggie one within budget! That's birlliant about your honeymoon - the important thing is you are both happy with it, which it sounds like you are. I bet you'll have an amazing time. I'd love to go to Florida Disney.

We're probably sending out invites around the end August/beginning September, so that we have time for extra invites if necessary. We're only going to send the day invites at this time, so that there's potential to upgrade some of our evening guests without them knowing they weren't going to be invited to the whole thing, if we get some no's.

Chrissy1981

Losingpatience - well done finding your bridesmaids dresses! I've got a date booked at the end of the month for shopping for mine so fingers crossed we'll find something. I blimmin hope so cos I can't sort out loads of stuff til I've confirmed my colours! (hopefully blue)

I've now booked the hotel for the wedding night and the DJ. I've made enquiries about the cake and have had 2 quotes back so far and have arranged a tasting session! The guest list has finally been decided, after a tense stand-off between me and OH's mum. Am glad to say I stood my ground without looking like a complete cow and OH backed me all the way! Save the date cards should be posted off soon and I think we'll send out the proper invites at the beginning of August.

I know what you mean about the money for the wedding. Ours is costing way much more than I ever thought it would. But we're not getting into debt over it, and we're saving money where we can. One thing we're not saving money is the florist. I had a consultation last week and I do have a chunky budget for it and it killed it off! But it's exactly what I want...

Enchantica, your Disney honeymoon sounds fab! I went to Florida a couple of years ago and loved the theme parks mixed with chilling by a pool. And the shopping of course! What are wooden roses? My theme will hopefully be blue so am intrigued as to what they are and how maybe they might fit in with my wedding??

Bluespirit - am so pleased you got your dress!

Ooh we also ordered our wedding rings. Got them from Ernest Jones and I asked if she could do anything on the price as were buying them both there and then and she gave us 10% off! I had my heart set on a plain white gold band but I just wasn't feeling it. Ended up with one I thought I absolutely wouldn't -- half-eternity with teeny tiny diamonds channel set with bevelling around the edge. Sets off my engagement ring perfectly and I didn't want to take it off. Can't believe I have to wait til November to wear it!!

Good luck with the dieting. The size I tried on was a bit snug but that was the one that my measurements supposedly fitted. I weighed myself that day and now I have that to keep me going on the straight and narrow!

Ooh, going shoe shopping on Saturday! I want shoes that I can wear again, so I've decided on silver strappy sandals! Wish me luck!

Swinstie73

Hi ladies,

Hope you are all busy with the organising! I'm at the end of my tether worrying my headpiece is not going to match my dress

I ended up buying another one which I love (and my niece can wear the first one I bought) but can't picture it all together. Anyway, here is the list I'm working from, if anyone can let me know if I've forgotten something obvious.

Registrar (Legal)
Notice of Marriage - Paid
Wedding Certificates
His Wedding Ring
My Wedding Ring - Paid
Stationery - Paid (Making myself)
Postage
Groom's Attire
Best Man's Attire
Bride's Dress - Paid
Bridesmaid Attire/Accessories
Headpiece - Paid
Shoes - Paid
Lingerie
Hair/Make-Up
Accessories/Jewellery
Venue/Table Decor - Got most of so paid
Catering/Venue Hire - Paid deposit
Staff Tip
Cake - Sister making
Cake Topper
Drinks
Flower
Favours - Paid (apart from choccies)
DJ
Photography - Guy I know doing it
Guest Book
Transport - Mum paying for car
Bus
Wedding Night Hotel - Booked

Thanks girlies, just let me know if I've missed something.

losingpatience

Evening all

Hmm I think you have it pretty much all covered in your list. Only thing I can think of is gifts for your bridemaids/groomsmen if your doing that and your gift list if your having one.

After having my dilemma over whether to have a proper wedding cake or just stick with my idea of getting one from M&S I have decided on cupcakes! Not entirely sure how much they're going to cost me yet but their standard ones start at £1.25 and they are yummy. We're having a small carrot cake for the top tier as we tried a cupcake in this flavour and it was delicious so we still have a cutting cake. Paid the £25 deposit for those yesterday so thats another thing to cross off the list. Only thing is they charge £50 for delivery and set up or we can go pick them up ourselves the day before. Really picking them up would save us a fair bit but then I've got the stress of having to get them to the venue and I don't know whether I would have to set them up as well.

For anyone in the North East who's thinking about cupcakes this is where I'm getting mine from http://www.lottiemcpheescupcakes.com/home.html

Bluespirit

Losingpatience - Be careful about doing the cakes yourself - my sister makes cakes and says they can be really difficult to transport sometimes if you don't know what you're doing. What are the top of your cupcakes like? If you were taking them yourself, you'd need to be sure that any icing etc. on the top wouldn't be damaged during the journey to your venue. Obviously if the cake company were transporting them they would be the ones liable for any mishaps! £50 does seem a bit steep though, so I can understand why you don't want to pay it!

We were bridesmaid dress shopping on Saturday, which was relatively successful. It was quite difficult as I have two adult bridesmaids and one very skinny ten year old who I want as a proper BM rather than a flower girl. As I want them all to match, we were restricted to ranges that also did a junior style. We did find one possibility though, that suited everyone: http://www.bridesmaidsbyromantica.co.uk/POP_ROM_Bridesmaids_gallery01.html I can't get a link to the picture, but its the one in the top right called 'Ezra', and in a bright red.

Other than that I'm still getting driven mad by MIL to be, who is now interfering with the flowers, the hymns, the length of church ceremony, can't understand why I don't want her wearing the same colour as the brides and generally dropping comments about what we should and shouldn't be doing. :mad:

Chrissy1981

Bluespirit how are you coping with the MIL? I have only had one run in so far and that was tricky -- guest list! I put my foot down though and although there were awkward silences I won! To be fair, OH backed me up all the way. I was meant to be involving her lots as she doesn't have daughters but there hasn't been much I want to involve her in...

We ordered our cake on Wednesday! The cake tasting was yummy and she came up with some lovely ideas and did a nice sketch for us. OH was impressed anyway! And she was cheaper than I thought it'd be.

Have got BM shopping spread over 2 appointments this week as my MOH can't make Saturday with my other 2. (Bridezilla moment, please ignore me). So I'm going with my MOH on Thursday after work then back to the shop on Saturday with the other 2 and my mum. Fingers crossed we'll find something they (I mean me of course) like and can get a swatch of the colour (thinking cornflower blue) then full steam ahead on everything else. So much swings on the colour!

Going to set up a gift list soon as well (we're hoping to move over the summer from a one-bed flat to a 2/3-bed house so will need loads of stuff!) and then get the invites sorted... One thing at a time is what I keep telling myself...

Just a question -- is anyone else finding they argue a lot more with their OH since getting engaged?? And not really about the wedding stuff?? Please someone agree with me! Although then I'll feel bad that you're arguing as well!

Hope everyone's planning is coming along well.

Chrissy1981

P.S. That erza dress looks really lovely Bluespirit.

Bluespirit

That's great news about the cake Chrissy. What is it going to look like? Good luck with the bridesmaid dress shopping too. I was shopping yesterday with my 2 adult BMs and have found a better dress - I can't find a link for it, but its a taffeta dress, still in red, with a corsetted back which will match my dress really well. We're going back next Saturday with the younger bridesmaid to get her to try it on, and fingers crossed its a winner.

We're hoping to move over the summer too Chrissy, and are in a similar situation with house size, so I'm really looking forward to doing a wedding list too as we'll need quite a bit of stuff.

Chrissy1981

I ordered my bridesmaids dresses today!!!! Am so relieved -- one or two or all of them had been a bit difficult in the lead-up!

http://www.impressionbridal.co.uk/page12.html

It's design 1763 (on the bottom row in purple on the left of the picture) in cornflower. All 3 of them looked stunning in it and I'm so pleased! Ordered side-style tiaras for them all as well. Now just for their shoes (thinking silver sandals) and jewellery (thinking a little set from Next or somewhere).

Ooh Bluespirit -- the cake! Have gone for 3 round tiers with flowers between the cakes. There will be a wide blue ribbon at the base of each cake with a thin textured ribbon running through the middle of the wide ribbon. Should look really simple and lovely. Came in under budget!

Your BM dresses sound amazing, hope you can find a link to post!

Next thing to tackle... Gift list and ties! I didn't like the colour of the ties where we're hiring the suits so OH has offered to find ties/hankies to match BM colour. Now I have the swatch I can go shopping. I'm afraid I really don't trust OH to find ties that actually match, or if he does, he'd leave it til the day before the wedding... Think I'll be "helping" him with this task!