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

katini

I've not posted on here for aaaaaaaaaages!

Not a lot has happened to be honest. You all seem to be doing far more than us!!

So far I have ordered my dress, we've booked the venue, put a deposit down on our wedding rings (although am desperate to pay the other half and get them made but won't have the self control not to keep them hidden away somewhere), honeymoon booked and deposit paid, and photographer booked and deposit paid.

Still umming and aahing and basically stalling about booking a DJ or band. I feel quite unsure about how to ensure that they'll be good quality and so we keep putting it off. Anyone have any recommendations for a DJ or band in Kent?

I have made an appointment to see the florist who will be providing our venue decorations (included in wedding package) to obtain a quote for bridal party flowers. The bouquet I liked the look of on their facebook page turned out to be £95 which is twice what I had imagined I would pay!! Considering we are off on honeymoon the next day, it does feel like a lot of money!

I've been bridesmaid dress shopping with my Chief Bridesmaid twice and we have chosen the preferred dress...subject to the others all liking it and it suiting them of course. I probably won't order them until after Christmas though, which is good because h2b and I still aren't 100% sure about colour choice!

I've got quotes for a harpist for the ceremony and drinks reception. We saw one at a wedding fayre and thought it would be really lovely, especially as we are getting married in a garden. The quotes came through an agency so I have done a bit of sleuthing to find out the names of a few of them and contact them individually to see if it would be cheaper that way. Even if they quote me the same cost, at least it will all be going to them rather than an agency taking a cut.

I've got the Save the Dates (Vistaprint freebies!) and will send them out in September. We keep trying to condense the guest list because we have booked for 90 and could afford to add 10 more if we need to but 100 is the capacity of the venue. The guest list is hovering around the 120 mark. Obviously there will be people that won't be able to come but sending out Save the Date cards reduces the chances of people double-booking so we can't rely it. Therefore we need to do more work on our top 100 before sending out the Save the Dates!! 50 of the 100 (which includes the 2 of us) are my family...8 are his. Having a large family makes it very difficult indeed. Especially since my parents are divorced and have new partners who have children.

That brings me onto another issue. We had originally planned on not inviting any children since there's none in our close family or our circle of friends. Since then, an old friend from school has become pregnant and my mother's boyfriend's daughter (i.e. almost step-sister) has had a child. Also I do have a 10 year old cousin (albeit I have only met her twice) and my mum's boyfriend has a 13 year old daughter (almost step-sister to me really). So this makes it harder to ban children, despite the fact we really don't want them there. We are hoping that because it's an evening wedding (ceremony at 5pm), parents might prefer not to bring the babies anyway. We're quite happy to have my almost-step-sister being there because she's quite mature for a 13 year old. But we'd rather not have my cousin there. I know we sound miserable, but we don't really have any interest in children!!

We have been discussing the actual logistics of the day and have almost certainly decided against having a top table. This obviously removes the issue of who sits on it (divorced parents on my side, plus his father passed away some time ago) and also means we won't be feeling so awkward sat up at the front! So we will sit on a normal table with best man, bridesmaids and friends. Our parents can host their own tables with their friends/family that we are inviting.

Anyway that's my update, I have written far more than I had planned!

ruthybabs

Cleverclogs, your dress is divine! I love it and it will be so stunning (sticks her tongue at MIL2B) Glad you're getting things sorted and on budget too (well your bit lol!) Have all my plans and bills to show h2b when he gets back and know the budget has crept up a little, but I'll find the money somewhere!

MsShopper, your dresses are gorgeous too-you have such good taste! I love all of them and a bargain too with your friend picking them up for you. I was worried about the sugar rushing kids too, but decided the drinking adults would probably be more of a problem! Have got all my jars today in the sale in ponden mill (glass cookie jars, kind of ali baba basket shaped with lids. very cute and infinitely practical afterwards for pasta etc.) Have also picked up quite a few cut glass bowls in charity shops over the last week as well as loads of sweets in the £1 shop-all in date until 08/12. DDs are thrilled about the sweetie thing and have really got into helping me sort it out, so although h2b will probably hate the idea, it's done now! Just need to get a few choccy type ones at xmas.

Katini-It sounds like you're getting pretty organised, all your bits and pieces coming together. Have you spoken to your jeweller about keeping the rings for you? Ours will be ready in a month, but we're leaving them there until nearer the time. They're safe in their safe and removes the temptation to keep trying them on! Also means no pressure for us to pay for them in full. He's happy to take whatever money we pay whenever we're in town, so better for our budget too! We're not having a top table either and will be on a table somewhere in the middle, although we are trying to keep things fairly informal. i understand where you're coming from with numbers, we're way over, but it's really only a problem for the ceremony. Have to see how the rsvps pan out when i send the invitations. Kids is another tricky issue, but sounds as though you only have a couple of older ones and at their age they should be ok. Just maybe stick to the family only thing, then noone else gets ideas!

After the disappointment with bridesmaid dresses I ordered some more which have come, are loved by both ladies (my sis and sil2b), look gorgeous and were bargains at £37 each! Still waiting for dd1&2's dress to come from china but shouldn't be long, and found a dress in next for dd3. All in all a productive week!

Glad everyone is pootling along, it went so quiet I was getting worried!

MsShopper

katini, you sound like you're doing well - we still haven't sorted rings, I've not spoken to any florists yet, and honeymoon… well, it's not in the budget so far but I'm hoping we can manage something!

I don't know any bands/DJs in Kent, sorry, but you could try starting a new thread and asking other MSEers?

We're also struggling with our invite list. We need to keep the day guests to around 80 to hit budget, but the invite list is creeping up towards 110!

We had decided not to do Save the Dates, but I visited family/friends over the weekend and got asked half a dozen times when the wedding is, so now I'm thinking we might have to! Though maybe just for the ones we really want to be there.

ruthybabs, your BM dress is *fab* - very glam indeed! I really liked the other one you picked out, but this one is really gorgeous. I love the bling!

MsShopper

PS ruthybabs, just came across this and thought of you and your beach theme!

ShellG_2

I must be REALLY laid back as I'm getting married in a couple of months and am still arranging the reception things!! and see people here who are getting married in over 400 days

Marquee in parents garden

Tables hired from the local primary school - very cheap

Table covering from Bookers - Dad has an account

Flowers from a wholesaler, Nursery Fresh Wholesale Flowers or they have a special bridal site bridalflowersdirect dot com , who were superb - I am doing them myself - just some cheap vases from Tesco, filled with colour. I am not sure whether to try and do the bouquets myself but the suppliers have florists and said they will do them for me if I bottle out

Hog roast and Salad's - salads prepared by us - still deciding about which hog roast company to use - tempted to use cheapest, but don't want anyone to be ill :undecided

Drink on sale or return from majestic - great because I don't have to worry about people not having enough - also free glass loan

Music - borrowed a PA system - and bought the lights from Maplin - less than £50 for 2 banks of 4 flashing lights! - so much cheaper than a DJ and who needs all the nonsense talking

Anyway I hope I don't sound as though I am cheap - just trying to save money so we can splash out on a HUGE honeymoon to the Maldives - Selfish?

ShellG_2

Oh! I forgot to say that we have asked all those who have a camera to bring them and we plan to open a google picassa site where everyone can submit them on-line. We can then select the best and use photobox to make our own album with as many or as few as we need - saves hundreds

katini

ShellG wrote: »

I must be REALLY laid back as I'm getting married in a couple of months and am still arranging the reception things!! and see people here who are getting married in over 400 days

Marquee in parents garden

Tables hired from the local primary school - very cheap

Table covering from Bookers - Dad has an account

Flowers from a wholesaler, Nursery Fresh Wholesale Flowers or they have a special bridal site bridalflowersdirect dot com , who were superb - I am doing them myself - just some cheap vases from Tesco, filled with colour. I am not sure whether to try and do the bouquets myself but the suppliers have florists and said they will do them for me if I bottle out

Hog roast and Salad's - salads prepared by us - still deciding about which hog roast company to use - tempted to use cheapest, but don't want anyone to be ill :undecided

Drink on sale or return from majestic - great because I don't have to worry about people not having enough - also free glass loan

Music - borrowed a PA system - and bought the lights from Maplin - less than £50 for 2 banks of 4 flashing lights! - so much cheaper than a DJ and who needs all the nonsense talking

Anyway I hope I don't sound as though I am cheap - just trying to save money so we can splash out on a HUGE honeymoon to the Maldives - Selfish?

Sounds great! It's not at all selfish to spend the most on the honeymoon since that will be your first chance to go away as man and wife! Whereabouts in the Maldives are you going? I can't wait to go, I keep looking at it on the Internet!

katini

ShellG wrote: »

Oh! I forgot to say that we have asked all those who have a camera to bring them and we plan to open a google picassa site where everyone can submit them on-line. We can then select the best and use photobox to make our own album with as many or as few as we need - saves hundreds

Although we are having a photographer, we will be asking whoever brings their cameras to upload their photos for the same reason. Friends and family will capture some personal moments and also will get a different selection to the professional as they obviously have different reasons for taking the photos and can be in more places at once! My OH's step-father is an amateur photographer so we are hoping he comes up with some good pics.

ShellG_2

katini wrote: »

Sounds great! It's not at all selfish to spend the most on the honeymoon since that will be your first chance to go away as man and wife! Whereabouts in the Maldives are you going? I can't wait to go, I keep looking at it on the Internet!

Hi Katini - I don't really know - surprise!! I insisted on knowing which part of the world because of wardrobe!

katini

ShellG wrote: »

Hi Katini - I don't really know - surprise!! I insisted on knowing which part of the world because of wardrobe!

That's really exciting!! I told my OH that a lot of husbands book the honeymoon as a surprise and he looked panicked!!