July 2013 Brides and Grooms

lisajane8482

Hey guys,

The suits are adorable Pinzy. I've decided on my make-up with the option of 2 lipsticks as I can't decide which one I like the most. My friend has just done a beauty course so is doing my lashes, I've had a trial with some party lashes which I love. She's only put a few in so they look very natural and no one has actually noticed (beside OH and my mum/nana).

It's scary how quickly it's creeping up Wendz, 59 days to go for me

We have our meeting with the registra next Thursday and I have a hair trial with a new hair dresser that day too. We've started thinking about music choices but we're a little stuck for the recessional as we did pick highway to hell AC/DC but since it references hell and satan it's a no no. I also can't decide if I want to walk down to a instrumental version of metallica or Canon in D.

We have most of our RSVP's back for the day with the exception of 2 and I've just fouund out that OH cousin who lives in Austrialia may be over here and will be coming. We've started getting reply's from the evening invitations too.

I've finished the button holes for the family members, am half way through making the favours and have started on the place cards. I put together the card box and started decorating that. I was really pleased with it until the kitten decided to stick his claws through the sides and the lid when he figured out how to open the cupboard door where I was keeping it so now I'm going to use a wooden memory box I have instead. It just needs sanding and painting then my dad will router a hole in the top for the cards and add a heart shaped padlock to it.

One of OH best men has dropped out as he has a stag do in Budapest that weekend, OH is not bothered and was considering asking him to step down anyway.

I've ordered hip flasks for the men with their names on and thank you for being our .... with the date on too. I've ended up ordering OH one too as he asked if he was getting one. On his I've had engraved "Something to settle the nerves on our wedding day" with the date on.

One super long post again

nuatha

lisajane8482 wrote: »

We've started thinking about music choices but we're a little stuck for the recessional as we did pick highway to hell AC/DC but since it references hell and satan it's a no no. I also can't decide if I want to walk down to a instrumental version of metallica or Canon in D.

Would you be able to use an instrumental, 2Cellos have done a decent version of Highway with Steve Vai. (I presume you know of Apocalyptica's Metallica covers?)

lisajane8482

nuatha wrote: »

Would you be able to use an instrumental, 2Cellos have done a decent version of Highway with Steve Vai. (I presume you know of Apocalyptica's Metallica covers?)

It's Apocalytica's cover I'm thinking of using or a pure guitar solo, I love them both so it's hard to choose and OH doesn't know that I've chosen it yet.

We are going to ask if we can have an instrumental version instead of the original and I was thinking of 2Cellos version. I stumbled across it after listening to their version of Smooth Criminal.

wendz86

Can't believe is less than 10 weeks now for me. Trying to sort everything out so am not in a mad rush at the end.

How did the hair trial go Lisa? That is rubbish about the best man dropping out, you would think the wedding is more important than a stag do??

We have finally ordered suits to hire from Moss bros so they all just need to go and get measured now.

Have ordered a plain card box off ebay to decorate for cards. Trying to decide what to do for place cards . My writing is rubbish so not sure whether to get stamps or something?

Booked a car today for the bridesmaids and my mum. Is just a silver mpv but no one will really see it anyway.

In terms of things left to do this is my list:

Choose readings (and who is reading them!)
Buy wedding rings
Finish making bunting
Book hair cut, nails etc
Buy presents (some bought)
Order cake
Make the kids goody bags
Have dress alterations
Decorate post box
Make placecards
Make seating plan
Sort out 'guestbook'
Buy flowergirl shoes
Pay various people
OH etc suit fittings

Isn't too bad really but would like to try and get as much as poss done soon so am not stressing last min.

laura_hoggle

Grr, I sat down and wrote a message on here yesterday, only to loose the flipping thing!! Will try and remember what I wrote...

So, haven't been on here in a little while... Have been working long hours at work and been busy busy on my days off!! Hope everyone is getting on ok, Wend you seem to be getting things done, and Lisa, good luck with the music!

I'm still having issues with my dress... The dressmaker didn't want to take the dress up anymore so offered to make a hoop for it... Went in on Thursday to try it again, and it was awful... She'd tried to make a hoop and not got it right, and tried to make a different underskirt... The best way of describing it is like a burlap skirt, which was far too big and not long enough... Not a good start! It did nothing for the dress, and I nearly burst into tears in the shop (but waited until we got outside and we were stood in the street...woops!) The dressmaker sort of shrugged her shoulders in a kind of 'what do you want me to do' look, and said I'd just have to hold it when I walked... When I reminded her I kind of need my hands to walk down the aisle!!! I ended up separating the dress into layers, and tried walking forwards... And I was still standing on them, so we made her take up each layer individually. She pinned them individually, and a couple of layers still needed about 2 inches taking off!!!! Whilst doing this,mum and I had a proper look at the dress, and there is only actually one layer which would need hemming, the rest is net so would just need cutting. We are going back in on Tuesday and if it's still too long we are just going to take it and do it ourselves. We have also ordered a hoop off eBay, which mum says looks good (it arrived to her house today) and we will see if that helps.

With all this drama with the dress, I have sort of fallen out of love with it... but I can't figure out if it's the dress or the stress it's causing that making me feel like that. Tough one!!

On the plus side, I had my hair and make up trial with my cousin a few weeks ago, and she did a fab job. I barely needed to tell her how I wanted my make up, she did it exactly as I wanted. It was really weird, with the hair and make up done, veil and tiara on, I really felt like a bride!! Does that sound silly?!

I did a budget last week and it looks like we are ahead of our savings targets, and just need to save a bit more spending money for the honeymoon, although this is all inclusive so hopefully won't need too much! We are really lucky that my parents have paid for my outfit and are paying for the reception (although we have bought the wine), and OH's parents contributed too, and that pretty much paid for the honeymoon. I have been wondering if there was anything else we wanted, or if we want to invite more people to the day, but if we've gone the last year not needing/wanting it, we don't need it now!

I have decided to pay for the bridesmaids and my mum to have our nails done the day before the wedding, and am in the progress of arranging this at the moment. Have found a mobile beautician who will give a special rate for 5 or more people, and it will be 6 with all of us. Thought it might be easier to have someone to come to the house the day before, so we don't have to go out and can get stuff done while the others are having theirs done!

OH has his stag do this weekend, he's off to Glasgow. I have my first of 3 (!) hen dos this weekend, am off to Spain with Mum and 3 of my cousins (one of whom is doing my hair and make up). Really can't wait to get away for a few days, work has been hectic lately! Just hope the weather is ok!

We set up a gift list at John Lewis at the weekend. We weren't sure whether to or not, but as a lot of people have been asking for some time what we would like as a gift, we thought we would set one up. It wasn't as fun as the movies make out... OH HATES shopping and didn't really have an opinion on things... I wish I'd taken my mum! But it's done, and can always be changed if needed.

I sat down last week and cracked the table plan - we have had all RSVPs back apart from 2, and OH isn't hopeful to hear back from them - he has messaged him a few times asking for a reply but hasn't heard back, so think we are writing them off. Really pleased to have got that done, I was least looking forward to that!!

Still left to do:

Hope dress alterations work out!!
1 BM needs to try dresses on
1 BM needs to figure out dress as is pregnant!
Choose first dance, and most music for the ceremony
Buy gifts for men and mums
Have appointment with florist (6th June)
Finalise numbers for chair covers
Attend 3 hen dos!
Buy bay trees for decorations
Make table plan
Write place cards (all made, just need names)
Men need suit measurements
Buy jewellery
Buy gift for OH (have lots of ideas!)
Sort out timings for the day, and with car company
Pay final balances to photographer, florist, cars, chair covers, disco, suits, and anyone else on the list!!!

Pinzy

Oh Laura, I feel for you, the dress will be fine in the end, like you said, it's only one layer that actually needs hemming and the rest is net, so hopefully your dressmaker can grow a brain and sort it. The changing feelings about it are really only because it's becoming a hassle, and we want these big things to be simple! I'm feeling just the same about the honeymoon at the mo, it's such a hassle I feel like I just want to book a cheapo package holiday and be done with it. In fact, I'd go so far as to say I'm feeling indifferent about the whole wedding. (:eek:, I know.) There's no major horribleness going on, it's just so many fiddly little things. I just want to marry h2b and be done with it. It's costing so much money, I'm gonna be baking in July, not sure how my back will cope with the day or the honeymoon. I know the stress is affecting my mental health which contributes to the lack of enthusiasm. I want to be excited !!!!!!, it's my wedding!

Sorry for the blehy post, online is safer than family.

wendz86

Sorry to hear about the dress issues Laura, what a nightmare. I am sure it will all be lovely in the end even if you and your mum end up doing it yourself.

Glad the hair and make up went well.

That is lovely of you for the nails. Myself and one of my bridesmaids are getting our nails done the day before by my make up lady (if i can get hold of her). She is coming from Australia so this is going to be our mini hen do.

Have a fabulous time in Spain, sounds amazing!

Pinzy - sorry to hear you are a bit deflated at the moment . i am sure it will all work out and you will have an amazing day.

I had a look at our table plan yesterday and was really struggling with some tables. Will have to sit my OH down to sort it out i think. Still need half his RSVPs but he has only just given some of his invited out!

lisajane8482

Under 7 weeks for us J

My hair trial was brilliant Wendz. I am so much happier with the new hair dresser, she made me feel completely at ease and did a fantastic job. I told her what I would have liked, curly and down but my layers are too short for this so she suggested curling it and pinning it to one side. I was over the moon plus she will do everyone’s hair (7 of us) for £95, I was paying £100 for 5. We decided for the bridesmaids they will have scruffy side buns, our oldest girl wants a curly side pony tail and have found something we like on Google, not sure what our youngest wants yet.

I have printed our place cards onto plain white paper and mounted them on to a burgundy card background then stuck them onto the place cards. I am going to add a burgundy mulberry rose to the left side of them closer to the date. Could you do something similar with yours Wendz? My writing is awful and although my mum can do calligraphy she has bad hands and I didn’t want to ask her to write 85 of them out. I’ll have a look and see if I can find a picture of what they look like.

Oh Laura that sounds awful about your dress, hopefully your dress maker will pull her finger out and do what is needed. I’m sure the way you feel towards the dress is caused by the unnecessary stress and once it is all sorted and how you want it you will love it again.

Pinzy, I sometimes feel a little like you do, I think it’s just the stress of worrying over everything and trying to get things done. I go from being excited to just wishing we had arranged a small wedding with a big party a few weeks later but at the same time I want to have all our family and close friends there.

We went to see the registrar to sort out the finer details. We picked our vows and chose the vows for the exchanging of rings. We were going to write our own and I had done mine but I think I would probably forget them plus the one we picked is really nice. The lady we had our meeting with is going to ask the superintendent registrar if we can have highway to hell and will email me but OH has chosen Bruno Mars Marry You just in case. We paid the £412 for the ceremony plus 3 copies of the certificate so I can update 2 things at once and still have a copy at home if we need it.

I picked my dress up from my aunt who was doing the alterations on Thursday too. The dress didn’t need taking up, just some loose beads sewing back on, some loose stitching in places and there were a few hooks and poppers on there that weren’t needed so she took them off. The modesty panel was in two pieces and didn’t sit properly so she was going to take them out and put a one piece panel in but she took out the top panel when I was in the dress and done it up it looked really nice so I now have a half panel in the bottom. I hadn’t tried it on properly where it was fully laced and pulled tight until then and I absolutely love it and can’t wait to wear it. My dad put some hooks in the ceiling in their spare room so I can hang it so hopefully the main of the creases will fall out as it’s been stored in a box for over a year. Any creases that are left we will take out with a hand steamer closer to the date.

My aunt also made us a ring cushion, it’s absolutely gorgeous. Originally we were going to give the best man our rings but we are now going to have my youngest cousin who is 3 carry them down on the cushion.

My hen do is now the week before the wedding and we have 15 people going. We had to change the date as the boat didn’t sail the date I had picked and this was the only date that everyone could make, on the plus side it means my aunt who is coming over from America can come too. OH isn’t having a stag do now but is planning to go out for a couple of drinks one night with his mates.

We have all of our daytime RSVP's back with the exception of 2 who I said can let me know beginning of June as they are struggling money wise and live down south. We have around 30% of the evening RSVP's back but they have until the 1st June.

Things I have left to do:

Create ceremony music playlist on IPod
Buy present for OH, Dad and last presents for Maid of honour and Best Man
Take fruit cake to get iced
Complete favours (about 50% completed)
Sand and paint/decorate wedding card post box
Make place cards (about 50% completed)
Make seating plan (has title and top table on, leaving rest until the week before)
Buy nude tights for oldest daughter
Attend hen do
Sort out timings (have a schedule but need to make sure it’s realistic)
Sort out where men are being picked up from
Get family’s buttonholes to them
Dress fittings for Daughters and 3 cousins (all booked in with my Aunt)
Sort out nail and eyelash appointments (friend knows when they want doing but need to confirm timings closer to the date)
Arrange final meetings for cars, reception and photographer.
Pay final balances for cars, cake, reception, photographer, coach, nails etc, hair and possibly alterations if needed.
Buy thank you cards for bridal party
Sort presents and put in gift bags

lisajane8482

This is the prototype I made, our place cards are white now. It's taking a few hours to cut the card and names then stick them together but I do a few each weekend so it's not too bad.

Pinzy

Thanks wendz, and lisaj, I'm glad I'm not the only one! Have gotten a kind of honeymoon plan down now so feeling a lot better about that. My hen night is a week before the wedding too! It was going to be the beginning of June but something went wrong. It's fine, just means I'll have to pace myself drinking - don't want a 4 day hangover! Also, will have to stick to vodka & diet lemonade to avoid spots!

Table plans are a bit of a mission, two brains are definitely better than one!