**October 2012 Brides and Grooms**

elin1984elin

I picked conkers and acorns last year, and they are covered in mold now so will need to get some more this year! Lucky you didnt bother stir_crazy :rotfl:

johannalf88

Yeah, we had to pickle ours to stop them from turning. They basically have a layer of acid on them! :rotfl: they were fine a few months ago when we checked.

Burlesque_Babe

The good bits:

-Parents visited and mum said she would do my invitations -we only need 14 and she does card making/scrapbooking etc

- we are paying 50% deposit on the handfasting reception on Saturday

The not so good bits

- I emailed our contact about the handfasting priest going quiet and she replied she had spoken to him and he wondered why he hadn't heard from us so I presumed the emails weren't getting to him. Re-emailed about 10 days ago, but still no direct contact from him so still don't have someone to do our second ceremony

- the handfasting dress........sigh......I have realised I am not going to get into the beautiful Sonsie dress i got for £100 and my dress situation is now back up in the air again - it is also way too long if I was being honest and is way OTT for the venue, however beautiful a dress it is.

The plan was to wear the sage dress and ordered ivory bridal coat to my registry office wedding and then the Sonsie dress with a velvet riding jacket over it I got from Holy Clothing. However, the jacket isn't right either - it is lovely but needs work to make it into a bridal coat.

So........I am now back on the search for dress number 2. I have decided to go for a simple A line chocolate coloured dress with no train and use the same ivory bridal coat (hopefully it will be ok when it gets here). I've contacted my big fat gorgeous wedding as other than their budget range and bridesmaid dresses are out of my budget and she has said to look out for their June offers. There are 2 I think would be ok in their budget range but I am a bit about the situation. I've been back on ebay looking at Landy Bridal etc and am getting a tiny bit panicky. I can't afford more than £200 really and am also at the mercy of the chinese seller who is making my ivory coat. I have decided to 'dress up' a chocolate dress and ivory coat with a very snazzy bouquet of dried autumn flowers and leaves, a lovely felt collar scarf on Etsy and something big and autumny for my hair.

It is frustrating because the perfect dress is at the shop in Bletchley I went to but I don't have £400+ to buy it and being plus size means all the original feelings of 'nothing will look good' are back.

The other thing is that when my parents visited we took them to the hotel we are having the reception at and my mum tried the main course pie. She said she is fussy with pies but wasn't impressed so am wondering if we should choose another main course (a nightmare with 1 non-fish eater, 1 shellfish allergy and 4 with a pork allergy!). She also said we should have a seating plan as otherwise both families will sit separately. We only have 18 guests on 3 tables and no top table and hoped they would mingle on the day, but perhaps we should do a seating plan?

We showed them the small function room we are having the meal and it looked a bit tired - I've started thinking I need to sort some table decorations of some kind other than silk autumn leaves and a few crystals, perhaps some LED tealights in some bits of glass. My mum thought the room a 'bit dark' but i said as it would be late afternoon/early evening in October all the lights would be on! I just didn't want any extra expense, we are already at 3.7k against a 3k budget.

There was also a bit of an 'oh' sound when we said there was no after meal band/entertainment. Both families are laid back and don't go for frills so thought a family meal would get universal nodding gestures. Whilst generally it is, there are just these little chinks to what I felt were laid back plans that would suit everyone.

stir_crazy

Aww BB I'm sure it will work out with all these little bits that need ironed out. For your dress, have you thought about looking on preloved? Maybe there will be a bargain on there? or maybe Debenhams or Coast?

stir_crazy

Thanks Jo and elin, makes me feel a bit better that I didnt get my finger out and pick them up last year!

Burlesque_Babe

I'm too big for Debenhams/Coast

Because I don't want white or ivory, I'm limited to bridesmaid dresses or having something custom made.

It will all be ok, but all feels a bit of a frustrating faff at the moment. To be honest I'd be happy to just get married tomorrow !!! I love planning and researching (I'm known as the queen of lists!) but I couldn't cope with a big wedding and all the logistics of loads of guests/planning etc

With the dress, I think it is just the frustration of not having a physical item that can be tried on - at a reasonable price - rather than having to trust photos online and people making something thousands of miles away and out of my control until it reaches my doorstep.

johannalf88

Ah sorry things have gone a bit pear shaped BB!

I had (another) massive problem with a BM last night, reduced me to tears. But OH stuck up for me, and he told me just to let it go- which I am tryin to do so won't go into details.

But it's sunny again, so may go for a walk before Yoga tonight.

stir_crazy

Poor Jo, hope it wasn't anything too serious. Going to see one of my bms this weekend to make sure she likes her dress, the sample came yesterday so she can try it on. The other one's on honeymoon so it'll be another week before she can try it on.

Burlesque_Babe

I don't work Fridays and am determined to find time tomorrow to have a go at making a buttonhole - I have everything for a basic white tulip with peacock feather buttonhole but just need to find some time to follow the instructions I've found online.

Another twist in the dress saga

I found on ebay someone in the UK clearing a few stock items and there was a champagne A line dress with the across the tummy 'ruching' I want....so I bought it....£89 and should be here in a couple of days. If (!!!) it is ok, I will then treat myself to a second bridal coat in a dark colour of chocolate or wine.....

anyone want to open a book on how many dresses i will eventually have in the house by 9 October? :eek::rotfl:

I have ordered a cheap 1 hoop petticoat to see if the dresses are enhanced by having 1 underneath. The dress/coat combo I tried on in the shop didn't need one but it's an 'in case' there's no shape to the items I'm buying - i'm trying to cover all eventualities!!

johannalf88

Ooh champagne dresses are nice. Mine is champagne. fingers crossed it is all ok!
And you can always sell them on!
I am really eager to go home and go for walk. In crummy office atm.