Here To Help With Weddings

katglasgow

Thanks to all for your help so far. I had a very successful shopping day on Saturday, found a shop I really liked with very nice helpful staff. I have actually paid £10 to reserve a Mori Lee sample dress that is ex-sample being sold for £199. I will need to paid c. £65 alterations on top of this. They also had 2 normal stock dress I felt were suitabke for me too - £199 and £150, they are a bit plainer but I havent quite decided what I will feel most comfortable in. The deposit is transferable onto any of the 3 dresses, and I am going back with 2 friends to confirm next week. SO I have a week to decide whther I want to take the Mori lee dress which is very flattering but has a full skirt and train or whether to opt for one of the lainer dresses without a train. Not sure which I want yet (30 years old, 1 year old son, am I going to look ridiculously over the top...)
Will keep coming back to the site, your advice has been great. Maybe once I have firmed up o the dress I could post up the rest of my budget and plans and you can help me reduce our budget from £1,500 to £1,000?
Thanks again x

Mrs_Thrift

That's brilliant news about your dress Katglasgow! And fantastic prices, especially for Mori Lee which are all gorgeous designs.

Please don't worry about anyone thinking you're "OTT" or "shouldn't" wear a full skirt and train - people don't react like that these days. You're hardly ancient at 30, and as for the son, how many brides these days are actually virgins even though they wear white?

I bet you look fantastic in the full skirt, in fact you describe it as "very flattering" and I have to say you don't sound quite as excited about the other dresses. You must go for the one you love. Friends' opinions can be helpful, but you have to go with your own gut. Did the full skirted dress make you smile and feel wonderful when you put it on? I remember that after looking at hundreds of dresses my Mum pointed out that my dress was obviously "The One" as it was the only time I actually came out of the changing room smiling from ear to ear! ;D

And sure, post your budget and we'll see where we cn whittle away! It'll be great for others planning weddings to see as well as helping you and the future Mr katglasgow.

Mrs Thrift

shoe_addict

Hi,
I was wondering how soon you should book the wedding/reception venue. I got engaged earlier this year and we've decided to wait until summer 2007 to get married so we can save up a bit. It seems really early to start planning the venue, but then I read in a wedding mag that this should be done about 2 years in advance. Any ideas?
Also is there any sure fire way of getting a discount at a venue, as I'd really like to get married at a castle or stately home, but they're all so expensive? ???

Freebie_Hunter_2

Great stuff Kat.
Just out of interest, do you have the style number of the Mori Lee dress? I'd love to have a nosey if that's ok ;D

At the end of the day no matter what age you are, you are a bride. It's a day for your husband and yourself so you wear the dress you like hon.
For some reason some ladies feel it's the 'right' thing to do to tone down because of age / kids / second marriage etc.

If you're worried about what some of your wedding party will say then don't invite them. You want to be surrounded by people who care and make you feel good, not those who whisper behind their hands!

Once you have chosen (you will be drawn to a certain gown and keep going back to it.Ii wasn't one of these brides who put on a dress and 'knew' - I whittled it down from 12! A lot of girls do that these days to save from impulse buying and then they know they have made the right choice) maybe you can negotiate a nice price on a veil and a tiara as well

Glad to hear about your sucess and look forward to hearing from you soon.
S.

Freebie_Hunter_2

Hi,
I was wondering how soon you should book the wedding/reception venue.  I got engaged earlier this year and we've decided to wait until summer 2007 to get married so we can save up a bit.  It seems really early to start planning the venue, but then I read in a wedding mag that this should be done about 2 years in advance.  Any ideas?
Also is there any sure fire way of getting a discount at a venue, as I'd really like to get married at a castle or stately home, but they're all so expensive? ???

Hi Shoe!
Firstly, congratulations on your engagement. You are about to embark on a journey that you'll never forget!
They say it's never too early to start planning! In some areas venues get booked up very quickly and I have known of a booking 4yrs ahead - although I think that is a bit extreme!
The main things to get booked are:
Church / wedding venue
Reception
Evening do (if not at the same place as reception)
Photographer
Cars

Those are the bare bones and usually get booked quickly.
Have a look around and see what sort of reception venue you would like.
Going to the discounts a lot of places do special wedding packages which you usually get welcoming drinks, reception meal, table decorations / flowers and a room for the night and special rates for guests should it be at a hotel.
Some give a bigger discount as the numbers go up. For example: 5% for numbers over 50, 10% for numbers over 100 etc.
Be careful you don't overspend just to get the discount. I know it sounds silly but if you aim to make up the numbers then it defeats the object of saving money with discounts.

Stately houses and castles will ALWAYS be pricey. People will pay what they charge and if you don't want to then someone else will. Some also charge more in the summer than the winter so be aware of this.

How about having a civil ceremony at one of these places, doing the 'Pimms on the Lawn' thing and then getting carted away to a nice hotel for the rest of the day?

Weddings are always expensive and if you want high standards you will be paying high prices. You get what you pay for so if a castle or stately home is your dream, you have plenty of time to save for it

katglasgow

Thanks for your help so far guys. Going back to make final decision on dress with pals this Saturday so will let you know how I go! Unfortunately I cant get the Mori Lee code ref. as it is ex sample stock so the shop have taken it off. I have had a look on the Mori lee website and others and cant find one similar. Not sure if 1 could even attempt to describe it properly. However, your comments were appreciated, feeling a lot more positive again, also my mum has offered to give me her veil which might be an option - she made it herself so could alter it if necessary.
Shoe - the major problem I am having (for wwedding July 05) is finding a band! Still lots left to try but I think I will need to put a lot of work into this!
Back again soon, K x

Jay-Jay_4

Shoeaddict try this for venues. (Scroll down to regions, select a region and look at all the venues)

We found a lovely castle on this website and visited it the following week. We've just put a deposit on for our 2005 wedding.

Our wedding is on a Tuesday which is cheaper and we've chosed to have a 4.30pm ceremony with a 6.30pm meal. Instead of an evening do we've paid for all our guests (18 altogether) accomodation in the castle.

The castle quoted a ridiculous price for a weekend wedding in summer with master of ceremony, meals, buffet, flowers etc but I phoned and explained that there weren't going to be that many of us, I wasn't bothered about a weekend or morning ceremony and that I wanted to keep the cost down and they halved their bill.

If you're willing to compromise on some things such as days and times you can get the cost down quite a lot.

shoe_addict

Thank you so, so, much poochy for that link. I just found out that my favourite stately house does weddings. I used to go their every year when they did tudor recreations, as a child it was one of my favourite trips out. Gosh I'm so happy and excited now ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Thank you

Jay-Jay_4

You're very welcome shoe_addict.

Let us all know if you manage to book it for your wedding

Freebie_Hunter_2

Kat, pick up your local yellow pages and look under 'entertainment agencies'.
An agency has a list of entertainers including live bands and usually have demo's and info packs you can take away so you make the right choice.

Unless you have contacts in the industry it's hard to source a good band.

It's always good to ask where they are playing and go along to have a listen. If they only do private functions then at least meet them.
It's good to find out if they are accustomed to weddings. You don't want them turning up in torn jeans!
It may be prudent to ask them to wear formal dress, but a good band would know that anyway.

Good luck with your search!