April 2012 Brides and Grooms

neilcrook

Have you got something in your mind you want? Did you take someone with you to get their opinion?

Unfortunately only you can decide on the dress you love but if you take a few people you can get their opinions too. Your perfect dress will be out there somewhere - you could also speak to bespoke dress makers for their ideas - this especially works if you like parts of different dresses.

I have suits to order and shoes to buy and i can't do much more until later on in the year.

CocoaK

Hello, I'm new - can I come and join you? We're getting married on 14th April 2012.

I had a bit of a flurry of activity at the start of the year (we got engaged in December) and so far I've:

Booked church
Booked reception venue (new venue, only just started doing weddings, so agreed we can use our own caterer and bring our own booze)
Booked band (free DJ included)
Booked harpist (total indulgence but heard her at a wedding fair and loved her!)
Booked cars
Made and sent out Save The Dates
Booked caterer and chosen menu (cheapest one!)
Booked mobile bar (will serve our wine etc. for us against the profits they'll make from the evening cash bar)
Booked photographer and had impromptu pre-wedding shoot when we bumped into him again at a wedding fair at our venue
Friend has offered to make cake
Another friend has offered to do videography
Bought dress (got a call this week to say it's come into the shop, going to try it on next time I'm down at my mum and dad's!)
Friend has lent me her tiara and hoop (she got married last year)
Booked rooms at discount rate at two local hotels for guests (lots of people coming long distances)
Got quotes for coaches to transport guests, can't book till nearer the time
Found dressmaker for bridesmaids' dresses (£45 each for the ones they like, bargain!), will order them nearer the time as some BMs are losing weight / trying to get pregnant!
Men's suit hire booked - will get cravats made by same dressmaker so they match the girls' dresses
Florist / hairdresser / makeup lady booked (my normal hairdresser does flowers and has just had a make-up lady start at her salon)

Next I want to start doing some of the time-consuming stuff like making invites, favours (hand-making wine glass charms with guests' initials on them) and place card holders (using champagne corks - mobile bar company collecting them for us - with craft wire stuck into them to hold the cards)

Also bought a 'My Beautiful Groom' journal and need to start writing in it as everyone says they take ages to do!

Looking forward to hearing how everyone's plans progress - can't believe how quickly the time's already gone since we got engaged, April will be here before we know it!

Miss_Bolan

Hi Choc Addict and Welcome Cocoak!

Choc Addict - My dress is already here! I ordered if off ebay and won it after a bit of a bidding war! I'm not much for the traditional dress myself and I really wanted a medieval gown (particularly one from the film ever after!) however I knew that I would never find the exact one I wanted on a budget (I am trying to do whole wedding for less than £2k and even that sounds like so much money to me - my cars not worth that and it's the most expensive thing I own!!). So I have been trawling through ebay obsesively! Then last week this dress came on, an ex theatre costume, and I fell in love. My mum loved it to an that was it - I HAD to have it. It needs some work and some beads adding and cleaning, but it is everything I want and more :-)


Choc Addict - I can't give much advice on dresses I am afraid as I obviously had something very specific in mind. However, I'd say if you have nothing in mind at all then try and think about whats most important for you - is it having something sexy, something traditional, something 'big', something blingy, something different...? Ths list is endless! But having some 'yes' and 'no' things might give you a place to start - I know that if I had to walk into a wedding shop and look at all those dresses with no way to eliminate any of them I'd go a bit mad! On the other hand, trying on things that you'd normally not touch with a barge pole may just find you something you love!

You have done so much more than me! I am very impressed by your organisation!!

Miss_Bolan

I know this is off topic girls, and I am really really sorry if I ruin anyone's wedding buzz but I just had to rant (and this may happen sometimes as my circumstances can be a little complicated!) but tonight we have had my H2b's ex wife on the phone for AN HOUR and she has been going on and on and on!!!!!! It's impossible to keep her on any topic and she just rants and rants and rants about all and everything, one minute she's discussing things normally, the next she is screaming her head off!! Most of the time I try and blank it out, but sometimes when she is off on one I just want to hide away from the world... I was in such a good mood too

Choc-addict

Hi there,

Thank you everyone for the advice re dresses - i've been and tried a few on and know what I like so to speak but haven't really liked one enough to say 'yes'....i'm sure i'll get there. I have booked an appt with dress shop of one I liked more than others for this weekend. Will keep you posted!!

CocoaK - WOW you have been soooooo busy! Congrats by the way! We too are using a venue that has only started doing weddings so can chose caterers/bring own drink etc. In fact we've just stocked up on pimms at half prices due to the tennis for our arrival drink Interesting on the bridesmaid dresses....hadn't thought of that.

Miss Bolan - sorry to hear OH's ex is causing problems. It's so hard when something like that happens, really puts a downer on such lovely things. I have an issue with my older sister as she is not a bridesmaid and decided to kick up a stink - it's still awkward with her now and I don't know what to do for the best as she can be really nasty towards me at times and I worry she'll ruin my day now if I do invite her. I just keep trying to rise above it and remember what/who the day is about. Try and stay positive and keep rememebering why you are marrying your lovely H2B

Oh and to add off to a wedding fayre Sunday....hopefully i'll find some inspiration! x

rock_queen

Hi Folks!

Thought I'd join this lovely thread, you guys are so organised!

We got engaged in May and spent ages trying to decide on a venue etc. In the end we have gone for a castle wedding

We have set the date for the 12th, hopefully shouldn't be problem guest wise as those that want to be there will be.

so far the venue is booked, provisional guest list drawn up (just waiting on mums opinion but she's refusing to talk about it) bought my dress at the weekend 70% off now trying to decide on a colour/theme. Would Claret/ burgundy look out of place in spring? i think it does but so far its the only colour OH likes and it fits in well with the venue.

congrats to everyone! Happy planning!

Choc-addict

Hi Rock Queen, welcome to the April Brides thread! I don't think that claret will look out of place in spring. It's quite a traditional wedding colour...friends of ours had it in June so not so far out. Also the colours will be so inkeeping with a castle! Go for what you want I say!

On another note....I found my dress!!!!!! :D:D After so much struggling I had the most amazing shop assistant that spent a good two hours with me and I came out a very happy lady! In fact I had left the particular dress out when chosing which i liked/wanted to try on but she asked if she could choose a couple for me to try on and asked for this one in particular as she thought it would suit me...I have to say she was soooooo right.....I felt amazing and like a bride....how weird that I passed it by when looking myself. Thank goodness for the lovely lady!

Hope everyone else is coming along nicely....we're budget talking this week as need to assess the damage that's building :eek:

xx

jemb

Hi Ladies! Only just seen this bit so got mega excited! I'm getting married on the 28th April 2012 at the Coniston Hotel in North Yorks. Booked it October last year. Does anyone have anyone that they would recommend for brown bridesmaid dresses? It's about the only thing except the mens suits which we need to order to sort out now! TOO EXCITED now I know other B2B for April 2012!

jemb

Aw Miss Bolan that's awful! Are there kids etc? Well done for getting hitched on my Birthday though! lol. Just remember, she's an Ex, she's the past, your the future. x

rock_queen

jemb,

If your not too far from northallerton there is a great shop on the industrial estate that do up to 70% off. My sister got her bridesmaids dresses from there and it worked out quite cheap as she could choose exact colour etc and they can be made to measure or off the peg and adjusted.