December 2011 Wedding Planning thread :)

98sidney

gold and silver crackers in 99p shop

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Gold and silver plain crackers in 99p shop box of 8.
Just bought them to use as my wedding favours as getting married in dec.
Planning to take contents out put in my own item then add my own printed label. roughly £4 for them off ebay..

Dekazer

WOOHOO got my dress at the weekend, from Vivien of Holloway. Made a lovely day out with my Mum and my best friend and her 5 month old baby I love it and can't wait to wear it. My only question is how does everyone else resist the temptation to show their fiance?! I'm desperate to show him!!

VICSH

Mine is still in the shop so not picking it up until a couple of days before the wedding, I have managed to keep it secret and it is SO hard though I tell H2B everyhting but this is one secret I am not going to let slip!
only 10 weeks for me and he will see it anyway!!!

How is everyone elses plans coming on

Dekazer

Has your fiance asked or is he being considerate? Mine keeps asking for clues I need to tell him some bits so he can co-ordinate, but I'm desperate to let slip the rest!!

Big_Alf

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction Dekazer!



Another frustrating day trying to find a venue. Though only two days into arranging things I need to be a bit more patient with myself!

Have started on the invitations to take my mind off that area. 'Borrowed' 50 flowers growing wild near my school and they are currently sitting under a very large plant pot in the corner of my classroom.

First time I have done flower pressing since I was a nipper 25 years ago so no idea how they are going to come out. Lucky to be in a position to access all manner of arts and craft stuff for free


I have about 8 different to do lists in 4 different notebooks so will try and keep an up to date on here as I have a mind like a sieve!

Finalise food menu with caterer
Hassle said caterer to find a suitable venue!
Write up alcohol, cigarette and gift bag list.
Mount, print and laminate invitations
Find suit (lose weight first!)
Pre wedding photos
Arrange transport for OH and parents
Find Wedding Photographer
Arrange Clown/Entertainer for kids
Organise PA/Sound system/possible kareoke

Dekazer

I've got to ask, what's an 'alcohol, cigarette and gift bag list'?! Sounds awesome

I'm having a day off organising - just go tback from my hen weekend so not firing on all cylinders, brain wise.. Sounds like you're fairly organised Big Alf - don't envy you having to organise 2 weddings though!

Big_Alf

OH will be arranging the second one in her home town. It's a hamlet by Chinese standards, only 100,000 population so there is not a snowballs chance of me arranging anything there!

Only the chocolates go in the gift bag, though I like the way you think :beer:

As there is such a big smoking culture here it's just custom to put a few packs of cigarettes on each table, luckily they are dirt cheap so it's not a factor in expenditure.

Same goes with the alcohol. The local whisky runs about 2 pound a bottle for the good stuff and beer 30p. Such a luxury to have really as everyone I know loses so much sleep over the booze policy at their weddings.

What did you get up to for your Hen Weekend? OH wants us to have one together, bless :rotfl:

ClaireBetteridge

what has everyone got left to do if anything?

im still yet to pay for the disco, if they send me a contract, pay for the entertainemt, get more disposable plates, and confetti poppers, and hire a helium tank, and hire the suits

Dekazer

Love the idea of the smokes on the tables @Big Alf!

Hen weekend was a BIG success. My amazing best friend/BM organised a huge cottage in the countryside (complete with Tesco food+booze delivery) for 12 of us. We had a pub lunch when we arrived, then all went down to the beach for a professional photoshoot! They'd all dressed in costumes of the way they met me (!) and made me dress up as a baby, complete with bottle filled with Tequila Then back to the house for dinner and games and drinking and singing and dancing and general merriment. Next morning we had a lovely walk to a ruined castle while 3 pals made us a massive roast! Then a hairdresser came and did a hair rehearsal, and a friend did a make up trial. Then we just got very drunk and silly and ate our own body weight in cheese. All topped off with a first class train home with free sandwiches, scones and wine! Awesome.

The things I loved most were i) that all my friends had travelled, and most of them live miles from me so it was a real treat to see them, and ii) they had all brought an object and I had to guess who brought it and why, and each object related to a funny story - I got most right! and iii) I had secretly brought them all a wee gift too, and we all sat round while I told my favourite stories and laughed hysterically. My best friend is getting all the photo shoot photos plus everyone's own photos and making a DVD - I can't wait to see it!!

@Claire, I love your optimism 'what has everyone got left to do if anything? '

We still need to sort out a decorator, buy my shoes, buy our wedding rings, sort out the iPod playlist for in between the band's sets, pay lots of people, buy some more booze (although we've got a fair amount already), make my bouquet, meet the potential photographer on Tuesday, chase up RSVPs, buy gifts for people, final bits of paperwork with Registrar, strain my sloe gin and blackberry vodka, whisky and brandy, buy the cake for a friend to decorate, and figure out all the logistics.

Goodness, I could weep seeing that all written down Is everyone getting excited yet, or still in planning stress mode?

Big_Alf

Sounds like you had a great time! Fantastic idea to hire a place and get Tescos to do the catering. :T

Changed the battle plan here due to tie restrictions, OH being away with work for two weeks and moving to a new place next week. Fortunately a great boutique hotel has just opened next door to where we live and is perfect for what we need.

Works out around 15 pound per head for around 20 different dishes so seems a good deal even if it will cost a little more than the original DIY route. No idea what the food is as I can't read the menu, but OH assures me it's good :rotfl:

More importantly however, no corkage fee so I have spent a very enjoyable and productive morning shopping for booze :beer:

1 bottle Smirnoff
1 bottle Gordans
1 bottle grants
30 bottles baijou
50 bottles Corona
5l keg mod some German beer
4 bottles red and 4 white south African plonk

Tried not to overdo it as despite there being 100 or so guests, most of the women won't drink, and it being a lunchtime event will curtail things some what. Only cost about 125 quid so happy with that.

Yesterday went to a hole in the wall tailors and got fitted for suit. Great fun looking through all the designer catalogues knowing I could choose whichever one I wanted for a tenth of the price:D

Also managed to get our wedding rings. We were that exhausted by the time we got round to this we just decided to get the first ones we didn't automatically dislike. This worked out very well and we were in and out in ten minutes, both very happy with what we got.

Now just to sort out:
OH dress
Make up and hair person
Photographer
MC to host the ceremony
Decorations.