Wedding Tips start here...

rachieiceland

This morning did a feature this week on cutting the cost of weddings, it may be worth checking out their website,

Tips included: Clothes from BHS they all looked really nice; Cakes from Asda, although I know BHS do them as well. Stationery from Asda and M&S.

Hope this helps!;)

shellybelly_3

What is everyone's 'honest' opinion on Gretna Green. I am looking at a package that includes EVERYTHING. Basically all we need to do is turn up in our outfits with the rings. This is costing £2800. We're planning on imediate family only. Then having a big party/reception a few days later.

But i don't know if Gretna is a little 'tacky'???

Miss_Cinnabon

shellybelly wrote:

What is everyone's 'honest' opinion on Gretna Green. I am looking at a package that includes EVERYTHING. Basically all we need to do is turn up in our outfits with the rings. This is costing £2800. We're planning on imediate family only. Then having a big party/reception a few days later.

But i don't know if Gretna is a little 'tacky'???

I just got married in gretna 2 weeks ago and it was amazing to say the least. We got married at anvil hall with us and the 3 boys.

Gretna is a very romantic place to get married in as they focus completely on your needs.

Our minister was great, made us feel at ease and did a great service.

Hope this helps

oueyouey

Go to Home Bargains for favours. I managed to get fizzy bath bombs - 29p each. Mini Boxes of minature heroes - 29p each. Mini Gumball machines 59p each. Kids variety tubes which contain jelly babies, chocolate buttons, crayola crayons and colouring in sheets - 39p each

Becles

shellybelly wrote:

What is everyone's 'honest' opinion on Gretna Green. I am looking at a package that includes EVERYTHING. Basically all we need to do is turn up in our outfits with the rings. This is costing £2800. We're planning on imediate family only. Then having a big party/reception a few days later.

But i don't know if Gretna is a little 'tacky'???

I got married at the Old Blacksmiths with a reception at the Garden House Hotel. The Blacksmiths was great. They curtain off the forge while you have your ceremony so it's totally private. I didn't find it tacky at all - it was very romantic.

The price was a lot less than £2800 too! Shop aroud and book things yourself and you'll save a fortune. If you want any further help let me know and I'll give you all the contacts we used and prices.

emujuice

Hi All,

Thanks for all the great advice. I'm really enjoying planning my wedding, half the fun is finding bargains!

We were originally going to get married in 2007 after a year abroad, but we've now decided to get married before we go, which means doing it in 5 weeks time, on August the 19th! Which doesn't give me long!

The vicar has been brilliant, an absolute star, we're going to get a common licence so we can get married quickly (takes 15 days of living in a parish then a trip to a solicitor).

We've almost got a venue sorted.

got 5 bridesmaid dresses - tk maxx - need cheap tiaras and diamonte type necklaces from them. Also silver sandals for them to buy themselves.
got 5 year old's dress from debenhams - white and fluffy for £19.50 - so if anyone looking, go there - reduced from £65 and perfect!

got a possible dress for me from tk maxx as well - it's lovely and only £20. will show photos soon to get opinions. Also like a debenhams one at £400 - big difference! She's holding that one for a week for me to make up my mind. Lovely debenhams.

Need:
Groom and 2 best man suits (one is 6'6" any suggestions for hire places? pref £50 or less)

White veil for me if go for white dress, have friends to borrow if go for other.

possible table decorations - but might not bother as only having 25 for sit down and rest in evening.

wedding rings - mine needs to be a wishbone or from somewhere that can shape it as my 'rock' is quite large

flowers!!
-orchids or pansies? if i can't find a willing florist anyone know how i can DIY it with flowers from garden or shop?
- at a push would hydranga heads look ok for bridesmaid bouquets? colours are right, or am I being odd? and a bit cheap?

silver sandals for me...I'm sure I'll find some, but if anyone sees some nice ones with low heals, like kitten heals say...please let me know!

transport - mini bus from church to reception
cars for me and husband to reception and possible for bridal party to church - but might use mates and put ribbon on.
any sources of cheap ribbon?

anyone with a white viel for sale/loan in sheffield or plymouth area?

do i get hair and make up down proffessionally or DIY it?

Go invitations from Dunelm mill, marks and sparks ones reduced to 5p each from original 35p and very nice too!


Cakes - anyone tried the M and S, tesoc and asda ones? would prefer sponge cakes, but can we stack them direct ontop of each other (and jsut ahve ribbons and fresh flowers?)

Think that's most things that are fairly urgent...

Any help, advice offers of loans much appreciated!!!

Fa1ryw1ngs_2

I can totally recommend Asda's photo cake yummy and under £10 i am going to buy 3 and stack them tie with robbon and some flowers scattered around the bottom.

Contains_Mild_Peril

I really like the idea of hyndrangeas as bridesmaids' posies. I'm sure they'll look lovely, and quirky (which is good in my book!) rather than cheap. I'm not sure if pansies are available with long enough stems for a bridal bouquet, though, but that's something you can research.
Any fabric shop should have white ribbon at a reasonable price, or if you want to economise even more, you could try stationers for packaging ribbon.
Personally, I'd go DIY with hair and make-up, but have a practice run before the big day itself.
Do the groom and best man suits need to match each other? If not, buying secondhand (e.g. from eBay) may work out cheaper than hiring. The seller of this one has 4 in different sizes, so if they're the sort of thing you're looking for, you can check the sizes.

oueyouey

Fa1ryw1ngs wrote:

I can totally recommend Asda's photo cake yummy and under £10 i am going to buy 3 and stack them tie with robbon and some flowers scattered around the bottom.

Do you know if you get a choice with the Asda photo cake ie round/square/rectangular or sponge/fruit?

Didn't think of using the photo cake, i've looked at the Extra Special iced cakes but the piped icing seems to fall off in places

Was also considering asking a local bakery for a plain iced cake(s) and not mentioning the word wedding. I'm sure i've also seen them in places like Greggs but they may only have been small sizes.

Emms

oueyouey wrote:

Do you know if you get a choice with the Asda photo cake ie round/square/rectangular or sponge/fruit?

Didn't think of using the photo cake, i've looked at the Extra Special iced cakes but the piped icing seems to fall off in places

Was also considering asking a local bakery for a plain iced cake(s) and not mentioning the word wedding. I'm sure i've also seen them in places like Greggs but they may only have been small sizes.

The photocakes are rectangular and sponge. Ive only seen two sizes in them. They really are yummy though. I had thought about buying two and stacking them. OH wasnt so keen on the idea but since the wedding savings arent going as well as expected I think that he might need to reconsider!

Emma