July 2013 Brides and Grooms

mixenvixen

Hey Everyone!
Sounds like you've all been bust bees booking photographers and buying wedding dresses!

LisaJayne- What did you think about the wedding fayre? Me and the H2B have been thinking about going to one, but worried we'll see lot's of things we want to buy! lol Was there many freebies??

Yimmie- I've been thinking about wedding toppers too. Flowers look classy, but I'm tempted by something a little quirky- like lego people toppers and I would say enjoy your work holiday rarther than wedding stressing! Easier for the inspiration to come!

Laura- SUPER MSE on the dress! Well done!! How did you bargain down almost £500!!?? Tips would be most appreciated!!

Also been thinking about invitations. Going to make a simple postcard on vistaprint and have a wedding website (might make 5 or so 'proper' invites for relatives a little to old to use the internet!

laura_hoggle

Hi all!

Mixenvixen - Well, I tried on some dresses in a shop, found one I really liked and suited me really well, made a note of the style number and got online searching!! I was REALLY lucky to find someone selling the exact same dress, in my size, on sellmyweddingdress.com. I said all along that I'd be happy to wear a second hand dress, and this was brand new, unaltered, tags still on. The woman who was selling it didn't end up getting married, but had already ordered the dress and had to pay the full balance. She was really nice, she even brought the dress to my parents for me to try. It was advertised at £400 but she said she was open to offers, and accepted £350 straight away - we could have probably got it for less but I left the negotiation to my mum and she didn't feel she could offer any less as she had driven it to us! My maid of honour came to visit at the weekend and made me try it on so she could see, and after 3 times of trying it on I finally had the tears and the 'oh my god, this is my wedding dress!!' I love it, and I'm so pleased we got such a good deal.

I've been busy ordering LOTS of stuff on Vistaprint. We got postcards as save the dates, which will be being posted out today. I've also got a banner for the sweet table, canvas bags, and have started ordering mugs and pens as gifts.

We are currently in the process of booking the disco that was at a wedding we went to a few weeks ago - have left it with the OH to see if he can get the price down at all - I've done the negotiations so far, it's his turn now!!

Next on my list is flowers - I've emailed a couple of florists and have a meeting with one of them next week, but I have a feeling they will be out of our price range!! Although I don't know if £700 is enough for what I want - has anyone else had any dealings with florists yet? I really would like fresh flowers, although may consider silk if fresh ones are out of our price range!!

lisajane8482

mixenvixen wrote: »

LisaJayne- What did you think about the wedding fayre? Me and the H2B have been thinking about going to one, but worried we'll see lot's of things we want to buy! lol Was there many freebies??!

Hi mixenvixen, sorry for the late reply. The wedding fayre was ok, we were in their for around 30 minutes. I have most of our stuff booked and there were only around 12 stalls. We were given a glass of bucks fizz and a selection of canap!s on arrival, had a quick look round, had a go of the chocolate fountain, spoke to the girl who does balloons, had a look at the flowers, said hi to the co-ordinator and then went for tea. There wasn’t many freebies but they did have competitions to enter. They also had a fashion show but I already have mine and the BM’s dresses so didn’t want to stay in case I saw something I liked. To be honest it wasn’t what I really expected from a wedding fayre but I think it was actually more of a push to get people to see what the ballroom looked like when it was set up for civil ceremonies so people would book it.

mixenvixen

Laura- Good tips on the dress haggling, I'm currently considering buying a dress online, as I thought I wouldn't be able to get the price down in the shops. I like your idea of trying it on first though, as I feel this would give a better feel if it would suit you. I've been keeping an eye on stillwhite (website) for second hand deals and got my eye on a vera wang dress, am considering other websites too though. Also I've been searching for vista print bargains. Have you recieved your banners yet? What are they like?

LisaJane- The wedding fayre sounds fun!! Can't beat some free bucks fizz! May have to take a little look at some in my area!

laura_hoggle

Vera Wang?? Wow. Jealous!! I know that the people on here are really good at finding second hand dresses and things for people when they have said what they are looking for, but I like a challenge when it comes to finding the best deal online and got looking myself! The dress I ended up with is exactly what I said I didn't want before I went dress hunting, but of all the ones I tried, it was the best for me by far. So I would definitely say going to try them first is a very good idea! I know a few other people who have said they ended up with the exact opposite of what they wanted too.

The banner I got from Vistaprint is fab! Bigger than I expected, but then I should pay attention to the sizes they quote online really! i ordered one for our sweet table, and its the perfect size to hang on the front of it and make it stand out. Everything I've ordered so far has been delivered far quicker than the quoted times, as well. Now I can't stop ordering off there though!

monchis

Spencer_Li wrote: »

Depends really on how much you like the photographer, their work, and what you get for that price.

Coincidently, we just went to see a photographer yesterday.

I'd see one of his albums at another venue, looked him up on the web, sent him a few emails and arranged to have a chat yesterday.

He's charging just under £1500.
This will include 2 discs of the photos (1 optimised for the computer and 1 optimised for printing) and a 20 spread 12" x 12" album.

Most photographers will offer a range of packages which can be chopped and changed depending on what you want.

For example, this guy offers just the 2 discs for just under £1000 or a bigger album (16" x 12") for £1750.

Personally, I believe that with photography - you get what you pay for.

But, it's important that you go and see their work. e.g. a whole wedding album so that you know they haven't just selected the good ones.

You should also meet them so you can get an idea of whether you'll get on with them on the day. They need to be assertive enough to order people arround, but also polite enough so not to upset anyone.

And of course, you have to like the style of photograph that they take!

I couldn't agree more, you get for what you pay, have you ever wonder what sort of pictures are behind passwords in photographers websites?

I do and a lot.... a friend of a very close friend kindly let me see her pictures protected by password in a 'certain' photographer website, ...just to simplify ...the photographer website was really really good, full of fantastic pictures of brides and grooms (all athletic like models) ok, that was fine, nothing wrong with wanted to stood out for the clients....but stood out was not the word word that was on my mind as soon I saw her pictures!.... nothing like the website! what a lier! the poor lady's pictures where all 'heads' from guests, individual heads, the if I just saw 10 pictures of the bride and groom and to be honest they where horrible, full of flash, weird colours of the dress, this is bad really bad, and has to stop...

So girls check very very well the photographers websites, a wedding cannot be repeated if the photos turn out to be horrible.

I feel so sorry for that lady.....

I dont wanna sound negative....weddings are such fun, it's even better when we can remember them with beautiful pictures...

Congrats to all

:-)

Labsettings

Hey all, I'm a 27th July bride too!

I've only booked venue and registrar - though the register office when I rang said that it's already a really popular day. I think it has something to do with schools breaking up about 4 days before. I know that affected me! Lots of time off to relax Good luck to everyone with their preperations! I don't know how much I'll actually be able to start before this years summer holiday rolls around.

monchis

wendz86 wrote: »

Wow i feel really unorganised now , we have only so far booked our venue and paid deposit and booked the registrar.

I am starting to look at photographers now.

being wondering....have you found one photographer yet? ... :-)

Lauralou

Congrats everyone:D

I feel quite scared that by the time you all get married i will have been married a year.
6weeks 5days:eek:!!

Enjoy all your planning and remember it's your big day and do things how you want/like.

p.s Hi wendz:) didn't realise you have a date

wendz86

Monchis- yes we have chosen photographer now.

Hi AmyJoan - Welcome, we chose the end of july because of school holidays too as my mum and auntie work in a school.

Hi Lauralou- not long for you now! Will have to get some tips from you.