April 2013 weddings

sk00bie1

I'd say go with the one you're heart tells you to go with! If that's the more expensive one then so be it! I'm in the 'it's the only wedding day you'll ever have' camp.

Out of interest how much more are we talking? You don't need to quote figures if you don't want to but is it like double the cheaper venue?

Would you have to cut back on any other wedding spends to afford it? This would be the only thing that would make me hesitate I think, that I'd have the beautiful venue but not all the other extras that make a wedding special.

In regards to your thread about haggling, I remember people on here saying they usually had the best luck getting more for their money, E.g. getting an upgrade on the food/drinks package, rather than getting the price reduced. I think you'd have a better chance of getting the price reduced if you were booking nearer the time and the date hadn't been taken.
This is all my opinion though, hope it's helpful, I'm sure some people with direct experience will be along soon to give you better advice!

sk00bie1

PS both those venues look stunning! If I were a bit further north, I'd definitely consider them for our reception!!

daisiegg

I am sooooooo excited to come on here and tell you that we have booked the expensive dream venue! (http://www.downhall.co.uk/weddings/)

We didn't manage to knock anything off the price exactly but we did get them to lower their minimum numbers requirement (thus making it cheaper for us) and to throw in 2 extra bedrooms. So it's costing us 16 grand (I know, I know, I should be kicked off MSE right now!) and we get:

• use of the venue from 9am on the day, including special bridal dressing area
• red carpet arrival with 2 drinks per person (champagne, buck's fizz, pimms or orange juice) and hot and cold canapes, and if it's a nice day and we're outside they'll set up croquet, giant jenga and chess, etc
• three course wedding breakfast with half a bottle of wine per person and champagne for the speeches
• Master of Ceremonies/Toastmaster for the whole day
• evening buffet
• banqueting suite for reception until 1am although there is a 24 hr bar in the hotel should anyone wish to continue the party!
• Bridal Suite for the wedding night
• 4 other bedrooms for the wedding night included in the price
• a further 15 or so bedrooms reserved at a 'discounted' rate, but as their discounted rate is still 120 a night I think most of my family at least will opt for the Travel Lodge down the road!
• chair covers are included and all the usual stuff like designated wedding coordinator, menu and wine tasting, cake stand and knife, waiters and bar staff etc

I know it's still a heck of a lot of money for a package that could be got elsewhere for half the price - but the place is SOOOO beautiful. It's about a 15 min drive from my house and I've been back there to wander around a few times - with my bridesmaid, my mum, and just me and OH - and every time I fall in love with it even more.

The main reason we decided to go with it was because my parents finally decided what they were paying for (they had said as soon as we got engaged that they would contribute, but then they never really said anything more about it and I didn't want to ask) - they said they'd pay for everything to do with the church and any costs directly associated with the legal getting married part; the flowers; the cars; the photographer; the dresses. My grandparents have also said they'll pay for the cake.

So that leaves us with reception, honeymoon, rings, men's outfits, invitations.....I think that's it. So we realised that if we were only paying for those things, we could still do it to our original budget, and have the expensive venue

Sorry I know that was a hugely long message and don't blame anyone if you skipped through it! I'm just super excited!

The only thing is, now I'm not really sure what to do next....I feel like I should be planning, planning, planning....but what's next??!?!

How is everyone else doing with their plans?

sk00bie1

Yay! Congratulations on booking it! 16 grand is a lot but you had your hearts set on it so I'm so so glad you got it!

I've had a quick look at the pics again and it is absolutely stunning! Still wishing I was a bit further north :rotfl:

Hmmm as to what to do next, now you've booked the reception think about invites and save the dates? Have you booked the church as well?

I don't really know what else to suggest as most of our stuff is being taken care of as part of the package we've booked! Have you been to any wedding shows? They're great to gather ideas and details of local suppliers.

I haven't done anything about our reception yet, had loads of family stuff going on, really stressful! And the Save the dates haven't arrived yet (I think I'm subconciously waiting to get them sent out and then I'll focus on the venue )

My shoes are keeping me satisfied with weddingy stuff as every time I go round to my parents I get them out, don't try them on though, I don't want to mark them!

Weight loss is progressing slowly too, hopefully will be able to try on dresses in the next month or so... Eek!!!

TGWTARN

Hello,

I'm going to be an April 2013 bride!
Congratulations to all on here :T.

Our plan is to do as much of the stationery ourselves which will include save the date messages and invitations. It feels too early to do the official invitations, but how much information should we put in the save the date messages? I think we may email the save the dates and post out the invitations (a lot closer to the time - stamps already acquired).

So far, we have confirmed the venue and the registrar. Lots more to do!

Any advice?

Thanks,
TGWTARN

sk00bie1

TGWTARN wrote: »

Hello,

I'm going to be an April 2013 bride!
Congratulations to all on here :T.

Our plan is to do as much of the stationery ourselves which will include save the date messages and invitations. It feels too early to do the official invitations, but how much information should we put in the save the date messages? I think we may email the save the dates and post out the invitations (a lot closer to the time - stamps already acquired).

So far, we have confirmed the venue and the registrar. Lots more to do!

Any advice?

Thanks,
TGWTARN

Congratulations to you too! :j

We've just sent out our save the dates for the wedding, we only about 25 guests, but we wanted to give people as much notice as possible as the wedding is abroad.

Ours just had our names, the date and city on them. We also enclosed a separate leaflet about booking flights etc to Vegas (thanks Vistaprint!)

Will probably send out the invites around October/November.

We are having the reception when we are back in the UK. I think we'll send out these invites at the same time as the ceremony ones, even though there maybe more than a month between the two.

Now the save the dates are sorted need to sort out the venue for the reception!

Going preliminary bridesmaid dress shopping tomorrow! Exciting stuff

sk00bie1

Eeeeek! Have just realised, one year to go today!!!!

So excited already lol

Not much progress made here, although I have emailed our first choice of venue for the reception back in the UK.
I'm still waiting for a reply, how dare they not email me straight back!!

OK I only emailed yesterday but still

daisiegg

Hello fellow April 2013 brides, are you all getting as excited as me?!?!

It was 'one year to go' for us last Friday....and I was bouncing around all day!

How is everyone progressing?

So far we have...

• church booked
• reception venue booked
• cake chosen, designed, paid for (thanks to my amazing grandparents!)
• photographer almost sorted - parents have found one they like (as they're paying for it) so as soon as OH and I have seen his portfolio and if we approve it, then it's all sorted
• potential bridesmaid's dress found and tried on by one out of three bridesmaids lol, need to get the others in to try it on soon then we'll order it
• florist pencilled in - subject to a meeting to discuss styles and quotes once we have chosen the dresses
• Save the Date cards ordered today, will send out as soon as they arrive
• Ceilidh band booked
• appointment to look at wedding cars booked

Wow I didn't realise we actually had managed to sort so much, it doesn't sound bad does it!

It all started to feel very real last week when I went with my grandparents to order the wedding cake. The lady was sooooo nice and she said she could accommodate my allergies...I am allergic to dairy, eggs and nuts and I would really like to be able to taste my own wedding cake! - but other places I'd approached had said they can't accommodate this. However this lady was LOVELY and we agreed that we'd do a four tier cake, and for the top tier she'd lend me a tin, I'd bake it to my usual recipe then give it back to her and she'd ice it as part of the cake.

We discussed designs for ages and she was able to do EXACTLY what I want - a fairly unusual design but it's going to look amazing and with the four tiers will have a real wow factor my beloved grandparents paid for it there and then and even overpaid, bless them (the lady gave a discount as her grandmother knows my grandparents...but they wouldn't have that and they paid what they thought it should cost, bless them!)

Then back at my grandparents' house, they got out my mum's veil for me. I'd decided I wanted to wear it if at all possible, as it could be my something old and something borrowed, and my mum and dad have the happiest marriage I've seen so I think it would be a good start to my married life Plus my mum made it all herself - hand embroidered flowers, the works. I tried it on and even over my jeans and t-shirt, oh my god, it looked amazing and made me feel like a bride! I actually cried, and I can't wait to wear my mum's handmade veil on my wedding day

How is everyone else doing?

TGWTARN

daisiegg wrote: »

Hello fellow April 2013 brides, are you all getting as excited as me?!?!

...
How is everyone else doing?

Hi Daisiegg,

Wow, you have so much organised! :T

We will be visiting our venue next week - exactly a year before we get married!

We are currently looking at caterers and need to decide what we think we'd like for a tasting session.
We're also starting to send out our email Save the Date messages, but we're sending them gradually.
Next up will probably be photographers...

sk00bie1 - How did the bridesmaid dress shopping go?

Good luck to everyone with their planning!
TGWTARN

haxeybird

Hiya Guys - CONGRATULATIONS :j

We're getting married a year tomorrow and i have to say my biggest concern right now is this unpredicatable weather!! :eek: Is there really any need eh???

So we've had our venue booked since the middle of January, i've had my dress & bolero sorted since the middle of February, the mens suits are booked (there was too good a deal to pass up available during Feb :money:). I have sent out the Save the Dates this week to those we definetely know we want to come and we have started making the Day invitations. The Registrar has been provisionally booked and obviously I can confirm and pay that as of tomorrow. I have ordered my shoes as well and decided on my bridesmaids dress. I have my tiara and we have decided on a honeymoon venue which i am checking prices for on a weekly basis but they seem to be going up at the moment so i am happy to wait until they come back down. :T Photographer has been provisionally booked but we want to go and sit with him properly to see how we get on together and finally the band is booked for the evening reception.

How lovely that you can wear your mum's veil Daisiegg!! That really is beautiful.

TGWTARN - our Save the Dates just detailed our names, the date and location of the wedding and that children weren't invited to the Civil Ceremony or the Wedding Breakfast but they were welcome at the evening reception. We felt it was better to get that out there at the earliest possible opportunity to avoid any issues closer tot he date

Can't wait to become a Mrs :beer: x