May 2012 Brides (and Grooms) + Diary of a 2012 Bride

MsShopper

Ooh, I'm loving that our thread is getting a bit more action this week. Welcome Poppleminster. I'm getting married on the 26th too - looks like it's a popular date!

I have to confess, I had to Google 'folly' as I wasn't sure what that was. Seems like it'll be a really magical setting for your ceremony.

Cleverclogs, your debate with your OH sounds exactly like the conversations I've had with my H2B about doing a DIY photo booth. I managed to convince him it was a good idea, and then ruthybabs your description of your hired photo booth got me thinking… And thinking… And basically I've decided to rejig our budget so we can afford one (and even H2B is enthused)! I'm so excited about it! We're probably booking this one, as it's a bit cheaper than others I've seen *and* the booth has a wind machine. A wind machine!!! Oh my goodness, I cannot wait.

Olokia, sounds like you're getting a great deal there! How are you getting on with your guest numbers?

I was wondering about invites too, clairus. We might send our day invites out at the end of Nov - six months before - and our evening invites three months before. That way, if we get more daytime 'no's than we're expecting, we could upgrade some of the evening guests.

I'm designing our invites (I do a bit of design as part of my job, so I can source great typography and images from work). We're probably going with Vistaprint too.

Poppleminster

Ooooh I am doing a photo booth too! If you get a chance, call your local council and ask who they have given the license to for all their re-cycling from their re-cycling centres. Devon has lots of little shops set up that sell stuff taken to the recycling centres for the councils. For next to nothing you can get all sorts of things - i've got several large old wooden picture frames, taken the pictures out, spray painted the frames and they will look fab for people to stick their heads through for pics to be taken

I'm doing a 'thrifty 1940's' theme for our reception so that place and charity shops have been awesome for old crockery and antique jugs etc. I have also managed to get a gorgeous vintage 4 tier cake stand but as we don't really 'do' big cakes, we're having cheeses on it instead!

clearing_out_my_pockets

Just popping in to say hello to you all - wish I could join you and do our wedding all over again! I got married in May this year and had the most amazing time! I just miss the planning......

Cleverclogs

Welcome Poppleminster! Great tip about the recycling - I will investigate. It looks like the 26th is becoming increasingly popular. We were more concerned about the inflation of the hotel prices for our guests staying over on a bank holiday as we were looking at that weekend at first, but as we're getting married in the New Forest the hotel was going to charge up to 3x the normal amount for rooms on a bank holiday - and bearing in mind it's not cheap at normal prices! Total rip off, so you have done really well Olokia!

I'm not sure about invites. Like Poppleminster I'm getting all excited especially now I've found my dress and I want to send out our invites quick! Plus I don't want my OH's friends to go and bag girlfriends before we send out invites because then we'll have to re-open the 'Plus One' debate (that one was a few weeks ago!). But I think it is a bit too early so we'll probably send our day invites out November time. Considering different options for the invites at the moment but I know we'll be designing them ourselves - it's just whether to go for inserts and pocketfolds or go for a more traditional invite. Too many things to think about! What is everyone else going for?

Poppleminster

I've made my invites all different. Why should we be bored making them all the same? I have antiquey ones and modern funky ones all tailored to different people. I'll try and add some pics later

I made a Wanted notice on freecycle and got a huge response. I'd just asked for anybody's spare wedding bits left over and got all sorts of goodies that were really useful in making the invites. My sister thought I was being really cheeky but if they are just spare then why not?

Poppleminster

As for plus ones... i've been really mean and refused to invite anyone we don't actually know. Our numbers are only 45 max for our venue so it is tough. Some people have been snotty but it's not an event to show off in front of people, it's about those we love and cherish sharing our big day. To be even more annoying we haven't told anyone the venue! I am organising a vintage bus to collect people from our house (apart from those who have genuine need to travel seperately) and are taking them to the wedding and back! They will be returned in order to make their way to the reception but I loved the idea of everyone arriving at once and picking me up on the way. The bus is as cheap as posh cars anyway and more fun for a geek like me The kids will love it.

MsShopper

Hi clearing_out_my_pockets! Glad to hear you had a brilliant day. Do you have any words of wisdom for us lot?

Invites-wise, I'm not sure what format to do yet. I designed a set that was a standard folded card, with a postcard-size insert as the RSVP, plus an A4 sheet of general info (venues, accommodation etc). But I keep seeing really cool/quirky ones on the ruffledblog.com in different shapes/sizes, which is making me want to start over from scratch!

Olokia

I will just meet the 50 minimum hopefully, even if it means inviting a load of work colleagues that wouldn't have usually got an invite.

Bought my bridesmaid dresses today. I needed an 8 and a 10 and the site I was getting them from was going in and out of stock of all the sizes for all but the 8 and 10. I phoned them up today to ask when they are likely to get the 8 and 10 in stock and they said that they weren't because they were discontinuing the dress. I got two of the smallest size they had (14) and I will get someone to take them in to the right size. If it doesn't work they were only £9.95 each anyway (£22.95 yesterday :D) and I'll sell them.

It's better anyway, one of my bridesmaids is approximately a size 16 but is on a diet and told me to get a size 10 as she will have lost her baby weight by then. I was a little worried that she might not fit in it but didn't want to offend her but I'll just blame the stock levels when I tell her I got a 14.

MsShopper

Wow, that is a proper bargain Olokia! What are the dresses like?

Olokia

MsShopper wrote: »

Wow, that is a proper bargain Olokia! What are the dresses like?

I hope they are good enough quality but its these

http://www.bonprixsecure.com/uk/Chiffon-dress-2693893-bundle.htm?sk=14&sourcePageClick=carousel_navi

I wanted a lilac chiffon dress and apart from spending £200 each, this was all I could find.