'Til Death Us Do Part...

( Bride's Speech )

I wasn't going to write about the hassle I've been having but I thought I may as well note it down...
Gary's auntie and her partner wrote me a snotty letter saying they couldn't come because we didn't invite one of their kids' girlfriends.

My dad's sister threw a wobbly because we didn't invite her son at all.

So did my mum's sister.

My grandmother (maternal) decided not to come and told me via RSVP rather than on the phone (she lives 150 miles away so that rules out face to face) then changed her mind, then changed it back again... finally deciding to come at the eleventh hour (today, actually!)

My maid of honour (MoH) is leaving early in the evening to drive to London because her cousin is getting married and her uncle is annoyed she won't be there, even though I announced my wedding day about 6 months before her cousin. So MoH is leaving so she can join them for a family breakfast the next day. Forgive me, but I'm paying for a dress, shoes, bag, hair and food for the day and her buggering off before the First Dance is really, REALLY making me mad.

One of Gary's friend misunderstood his invitation. It stated that he was invited but he seemed to think that meant he was invited, along with his wife and 7 month old baby!! WTF?!

Gary asked an old friend to come to the wedding about 6 months ago and he never responded. Until yesterday, when he asked if we'd booked him and his girlfriend who we've never met a hotel room! I've never even met the old friend!

A few weeks ago we were well under the 50 needed to ensure the cheaper prices at the venue, and now we're overrun with people who don't seem to realise how much these things cost! Sure, £20 per head for a 3 course wedding breakfast isn't that much in the grand scheme of wedding rip-offs, but it all adds up, especially when you add a glass of mulled wine and an evening buffet.

Harumph!

There, got it off my chest now. Phew.

Good things are happening though...

It's my hen night on 22nd November. Just a nice quiet meal with my nearest and dearest... and some others thrown in for good measure and to make myself look a little more likeable!

Finally found a ring that fits Gary's childlike fingers!

This is the dress my mum has bought for the wedding along with the matching jacket / bolero thingy. She also bought a hat in the same store that matches exactly. I'm soooo glad I went with her because my dad kept picking out really dowdy things that would have made mum look larger than she is. She looks absolutely fantastic in it. She's also been really great with all the family feuds that this whole thing has caused!

( Some more planning pictures... including my tiara, bouquet and favours! )

I finally have a day and time for my measurements to be taken for the dress! Tuesday at 6.30pm. Now to dig out the A-Z!

( Invitations )

Now I just have to make about 50 of them, design my evening invites and finalise a guest list!

My dressmaker said she won't take my measurements unless I'm wearing my wedding underwear. I guess she knows what she's talking about. on Wednesday I went shopping with mum and tried on a million and one bras in a whole variety of shapes and sizes. I came away with nothing but a bad feeling. :(

I always knew I wanted a winter wonderland holiday and it took little to convince Gary that a trip to Iso-Syote in Finland would be just perfect!

Thomson Ski website
Resort website

Excursions include:
snowshoeing • cross-country skiing • snow mobiling • dog sledging • reindeer safaris • ice fishing • snowmobile to see the northern lights

Of course, there is the chance to ski, which I'm sure we'll take up!

I've bought my wedding favours. Well, the rest of them. I bought some personalised bookmarks months ago, I just need to finish them off by laminating them and threading some ribbon through the bottom. Every guest will get one of these. Yesterday I bought some silver snowflake wine stoppers for the female guests.



I bought them on an American site because it worked out much cheaper, even with postage costs, to get them from there. We're definately ripped off a lot in the UK!

I'm still waiting for the costings for the food we've ordered and it's been two weeks now. I guess I'm a little impatient, but it'd be nice to know how much we have to save and budget with for the next few months.

We're visiting the Little Haven Hotel today, which is the venue where we'll be getting married. We choose our venue based on the enthusiasm of their planner, Matt. Unfortunately he left amid a whirlwind of rumours that he had stolen a lot of money, and we're unsure how his replacement will be. Matt had agreed, albeit verbally, to let us choose our own menu, not have a drinks package from their list and to pretty much do what we wanted. His replacement might not be as flexible and it's worrying me. Still, we can only see.

Todau we're hoping to sort out the menu. At the moment we would like to have:
Vegetable soup and crusty roll
Bangers and mash with seasonal vegetables (we would really like the bangers and mash to be on the plate already, and bowls of veg to be on the table for guests to serve themselves - same with gravy)
Treacle sponge pudding with either cream or custard (or some other kind of warm and wintery dessert)

Between the actually ceremony and lunch we'd like to serve hot chocolate and mulled wine to guests.

I'll let you know how we got on later!

( Behind a cut because of pictures! )

... and made an invitations. They're gatefold cards (fold in middle) and I want to tie some silver ribbon around them to keep them closed but I don't have any lying around at the moment. I've addressed the invite to my parents. Bear in mind it's just a rough draft.

( Pictures )

This evening our photographer, Judith of Village Photography came to see us. The website is pretty poor compared to the amazing shots she showed us of her work. We've paid a deposit and secured our date. She is doing the photography for Kieran and Jen this Saturday so if she's rubbish / rude / mean we can cancel the cheque! I very much doubt she's any of those things. Poor woman, she had to endure Monty licking her bare legs and trying to get her to play tug with him. Naughty pup. So, another thing done!

Done so far:
Booked venue - paid deposit
Booked makeup artist - paid deposit
Booked photographer - paid deposit
Had meeting with dressmaker - awaiting quote and contract
Ordered and received 'save the date' magnets - fully paid for
Bought raw matierals to make invitations
Chosen bridesmaids
Started collection 'decorations' for the venue - e.g. snowflakes, bits and bobs for centre pieces.

Today I tried on this dress with a stunning back detail. It's £750 but alterations are free. I've had a look online and most American retailers sell this dress for $550, which is under £300. I hate bridal shops.

I still want a red wedding dress but no bloody store has any in. Those that do only stock a 'deep' red, by which they mean burgundy. I'm becoming disheartened.

Silver snowflake bookmarks






Since they're from America I'll have to pay a small fortune in shipping, which is a shame because they're perfect for my theme. I'll only be giving them to the women though.

I've found a really good (and very reasonably priced!) photographer, in the form of Judith Graham of Village Photography. I found out after I'd spoken to her that she is also Kieran and Jen's photographer so I will get to see her 'in action' before the big day! She charges £355 for 50 8"x6" photographs and takes about 200-300 for you to choose from. She will take pictures from me getting ready right through to the cutting of the cake. She will also do the evening reception for only £150 for 60 prints. I don't really need this service though as I'm planning on leaving cameras out on the tables for people to take snaps on our behalf. I had originally planned on spending £600 on photography so I am delighted I've found someone more reasonable.

I know it seems that I am planning way too early, BUT I am a born worrier, and the more things I get sorted in advance, the less I have to worry about as the day approaches! Also, it means we aren't forking out money all in one go, since we can stagger our deposit paying.

I've bought some personalised 'save the date' fridge magnets. I've been emailed this 'proof' and I've approved it, so they should be arriving soon! I've ordered 40, since we're having a maximum of 50 guests, and many of them live in the same household as another guest.



The actual magnets will be much crisper and clearer. I can't wait to receive them!

Yes, I'll Marry You
Pam Ayres

Yes, I'll marry you, my dear,
And here's the reasonwhy;
So I can push you out ofbed
When the baby starts tocry,
And if we hear aknocking
And it's creepy and it'slate,
I hand you the torch yousee,
And you investigate.

Yes I'll marry you, my dear,
You may not apprehendit,
But when thetumble-drier goes
It's you that has tomend it,
You have to face theneighbour
Should our labradorattack him,
And if a drunkardfondles me
It's you that has towhack him.

Yes, I'll marry you,
You're virile and you'relean,
My house is like apigsty
You can help to keep itclean. 
That sexy little dinner
Which you served bycandlelight,
As I do chipolatas,
You can cook it everynight!

It's you who has to work the drill 
and put up curtaintrack,
And when I've got PMTit's you who gets the flak,
I do see greatadvantages,
But none of them foryou,
And so before you seethe light,
I do, I do, I do!

I'd change 'labrador' to 'lurcher', just to personalise it a bit!

This lady on eBay has a whole range of stationery that I love. You can pick which picture you have, but I'm torn between them all as they're so pretty! Here are some to choose from:




I have spoken with her and she can do place cards, RSVP cards, invitation inserts (I am making the outer 'packet' myself), bookmarks (for the favours) and a even little personalised 'books' of mints. The stuff is really cheap too, but I've seen her work and it's fab! She's an American seller but even with postage it's cheaper to buy from her than a stationery supplier over here. Score!

I went shopping with Joanne yesterday (bridesmaid number 2) in Newcastle. None of the stores I went in were stocked with anything I liked or was remotely what I had in mind. Once nice lady suggested I try Confetti Bridal in the Metro Centre. I'm so glad she did! The lady who worked there was so helpful and I didn't need an appointment to try on the dresses! I've fallen in love with two:

Alfred Angelo £400



The trim is cherry red, which is the shade I've been looking for.

Mori Lee £685






The trim is not cherry red, it's claret, which is a little darker than I had in mind, BUT I really suit the sweetheart bust. It's more expensive than the other one too, and with alterations it'll probably be at LEAST another £150.

I'm going to look at having someone make my wedding dress for me. All I want is a red dress (but a specific red, nothing too dark like burgundy and nothing too bright and orangey) with a corset bodice and an A-line skirt. I don't want a train. I don't want a veil (red wouldn't look stupid). I don't want white/ivory/cream. I don't want to pay £800.

I have decided on using 'pocket' invitations like the ones shown here and here for my wedding invitations. I will have several card inserts, one with the invitation itself, an RSVP card with stamped addressed envelope, an info card with hotel booking details, local taxi firm numbers, list of local atractions (Gary's family are travelling a long way) and for those who are coming a distance I want to put travel directions from their home area in there too. Of course I will be making all of these myself but at the moment it looks like the pockets themselves will have to be bought and then I can take it from there.

As for table decorations I've been thinking about things along the lines of these:
( Cut for pictures )

I would very much like to have a red and white theme, with silver thrown in there too. I want a feather facinator in my hair and lillies in my bouquet. I've managed to get myself three bridesmaids in Lucy, Joanne and Eve (she's my friend's daughter and will be 10 by the time the wedding comes around).

So, that's just a little update, nothing too specific that it needed seperate entries I don't think!

I've had an idea for my night time party theme - Casino!

I've found loads of cool things here and my friend Adam used to work in a Casino and we can have cocktails etc. It'll be great fun and a little bit unusual.