Wedding Tips start here...

Jonono

HI all
Well we just had our wedding last week and it was FANTASTIC. we had a fab venue (Pollokshields Burgh Hall in Glasgow) amazing catering (deli 1901, glasgow) heaps of champagne provided at cost by the deli!!! I made my own dress which was a 50's style short dress which looked fantastic and wore it with Dune (xmas sale) shoes which I was seriously asked if they were vintage. The service was lovely (Wouldn't it be Nice by the Beach Boys played on an ipod sound system as I walked in had the guests all singing along which was a lovely spontaneous moment) lots of lovely memories and less than 6k. We splashed out where we wanted but still spent MUCH less than most do and we had a limo and a photographer and I paid for 6 close family guests to come and get their hair done prior to the wedding so definitely wasn't stingy! I will check in here from time to time and help where I can.

My lovely new Mother in law was tasked with decorating the tables and she LOVED doing it, they looked great and she was so happy to be involved.

Good luck everyone it was the best day of my life.

Jonono

Jonono wrote: »

Hi all
I have been registered on here for some time and have just browsed, but am drawn to this thread as I am now getting married too yay! My fiance and myself are both late thirties and (mortgages aside) debt free but still feel it is silly to have a ridiculously large and extravagant wedding. Having said that we still want to provide our friends and family to a day to remember, that is important to us. Having attended many weddings in the past I know that I have found extravagant weddings and in my view ridiculously greedy gift lists (from people who between them have 2 fully furnished homes) rather offputting and neither of us subscribe to doing that. We live in Glasgow area and some folk will be travelling to stay. My priorities are not a big dress etc but that we have a nice setting for friends and family (people approaching 80 in some cases and 2 years old at the youngest) to enjoy some decent fare. It doesn't even have to be a tradiitional 3 course meal, but food of good quality and well made is important, some good music and for everyone to feel welcome and 'at home' I will be working my way through this long and helpful thread but will also appreciate any advice. Date for wedding is not yet set, probably we are looking at 2009 springtime (that would be nice). I look forward to reading your advice and getting lots of hints and tips in the year to come!

Wow! Have just re read this and this is exactly what we achieved!

Reception and wedding were in one place so no stressful travelling around
Found an amazing caterer who did an amazing 3 course meal (this was the greatest expense but well worth it and the only priority I had) and 3 lush wedding cakes for wait for it £25 apiece. We didn't want a trad cake so we had a stand that held three (again at the caterer's suggestion - he was FAB) one carrot cake, one choc cake, and one orange cake to be cut up and served in the evening, everyone loved it and they looked amazing, also we tied them together visually (again at wonderful caterer suggestion) by getting some flowers on them. Simple.

I ended up making my own dress - vintage 50's pattern bought from the States at £25 and dress material prob no more than £200 in total so I never cried when I got some red wine on it at the end of the night. We got a cheap photographer starting out, agreed we didn't want masses of posed photos but let her do what she liked, a good friend of mine is a florist and gifted my bouquet again I let her do what she liked. Everyone said I was the least stressed bride they had ever seen again I didn't want to be stressed I wanted to chill and enjoy it. We saved so much money I managed to take my lovely mum off for 2 days spa in the days run up, therefore spending the money where it's WORTH it. Decide what's worth it to you and when people start saying 'you MUST have this' or you MUST have that, just tell them you don't.

Have fun!! and enjoy it all,!! and DON'T STRESS!!

one more thing our lovely wedding invites were 80p each from weddingprinter.co.uk and were excellent quality, I can't believe people pay pounds and pounds for one of these let's face it people lose them anyway. I can do more tips but am off to bed now!!

Roz_V

OK, so after spending the last 24 years of my life dreaming about my big day, I'm actually now in a position to start planning it!!! :j:T:j

We have found a venue that we are absolutely head over heels for, but it's :eek:very:eek: expensive, so we're trying to cut costs in as many other areas as possible!

• My dress budget is low - I'm going to look at Debenhams & BHS, but also to try a load of "posh" ones on and see if I can get them cheaper from houseofbrides / a local seamstress
• Bridesmaid dresses x3 will be from the high street - our theme is black & white so should be fairly easy to get them black dresses & shoes!!
• Making table centrepieces myself using supplies from Michael Dark
• Flowers will be silk and from Ebay - found a seller (lynnlifting) who does exactly what I'm looking for!
• My best friend is making my cake, and in return I am doing her wedding photography (I've assisted a pro (£2k per wedding) photographer at over 20 weddings so have some experience!)
• Not bothering with favours - I don't think anybody will miss them!

Also, I'm going to make my own invitations, and would like something similar to these - i.e. a square pocket with pull-out inserts containing all the information... Does anybody know where I can buy plain white pockets from?? I've had a look on madaboutcards and Hobbycraft websites, but as I'm not sure of the "proper" name, I've had no luck!

Thanks in advance!

thomthom78

Hey Pepps,

Big congrats & while I'm at it, Happy Easter folks, hope the bunny was good to you all.

Well saving tips and planning a wedding and keeping track all what you have paid & booked can be stressfull etc, so since me & I and the good lady getting married June 2011, I designed a spreadsheet wedding planner. I find it very helpfull and takes the pressure of my better half and myself & we both update it as we go along.


:T

If any of you, would like me to send you the templet, please email me..

you can email me @ [EMAIL="steven.thomson@hotmail.co.uk"]steven.thomson@hotmail.co.uk[/EMAIL] & I will send it over. all you need to do is put in the figures & basic information and the spreadsheet will calculate what you still to pay and what you have paid.

hope this helps.

all the best for your planning and look forward to hearing from you soon.


keep up the good work Martin and team.


cheers :beer:

Steve:j

cat_79

Please can someone give me a bit of advice please i am getting married in august next year and trying to start organising im a little confused regarding the whole after the service part do you have to have a wedding breakfast before the reception my mum says yes o/h says no

thomthom78

cat_79 wrote: »

Please can someone give me a bit of advice please i am getting married in august next year and trying to start organising im a little confused regarding the whole after the service part do you have to have a wedding breakfast before the reception my mum says yes o/h says no

I think to be honest, if you can afford it then why not, on the other hand, you might not have time in the morning of the wedding to attend, hair,make-up etc

I think cost cutting saving, might be good to by past it. I'm getting married in June 2011 & we decided not to so the breakfast thing.:)

veronicarose_2

I read in a magazine that 'Wedding breakfast' is the name for the first meal after your wedding because its the first meal of your married life. That would mean it is another name for the meal you have at the reception, whatever time of day that is. HTH

ashbtvs

Jonono wrote: »

HI all
Well we just had our wedding last week and it was FANTASTIC. we had a fab venue (Pollokshields Burgh Hall in Glasgow) amazing catering (deli 1901, glasgow) heaps of champagne provided at cost by the deli!!!

Jonono i hadnt heard of the burgh hall but it looks lovely from the photos i see on the website!
Were Deli 1901 good price-wise? I know theyre food is good so just wondering how much they cost?
Thanks

tartantotty

Roz_V wrote: »

Also, I'm going to make my own invitations, and would like something similar to these - i.e. a square pocket with pull-out inserts containing all the information... Does anybody know where I can buy plain white pockets from?? I've had a look on madaboutcards and Hobbycraft websites, but as I'm not sure of the "proper" name, I've had no luck!

Thanks in advance!

Is it pocketfols cards you are after? I have just sent for a sample pack from here - http://www.anatoliinvites.co.uk/store/986181/home, as I want black metallic ones.

Try www.pocketfoldinvites.co.uk www.pdacardandcraft.co.uk

for other examples too!

Also, I looked on www.etsy.com to get ideas of styles and colours that I liked and am basing my designs on one I saw there! I am so excited, can't wait to get making them!

tartantotty

Balls, I have just looked at your clicky, and I got the wrong spy! You might get the type you want on the websites that I suggested tho. Sorry! :silenced: