Aww, hope you enjoyed the baby snuggles! Very pretty name!
I have the dreaded chesty cough, feeling really sorry for myself this week.
CommentAuthorShellbell
Aw Lynsey I know how you feel. Ive had a sinus infection for 7 weeks now and that's just clearing only to be greeted by the cold now xx
Met 2004 lost contact after a few years
Met again 2013
Engaged July 6th 2016
Married July 14th 2018
CommentAuthorStaceyH989
What a beautiful name Emma! I wish my nieces were still babies enjoy the cuddles now they grow up so fast. My OH has been hit by a really bad cold but he is overworking himself. I'm really starting to feel the temperature drop but this is a good thing as it means we are slowly creeping closer to the wedding haha :)
CommentAuthorDuostar
Afternoon ladies, how are we all?
I'm currently off work recovering from an operation, well 2 actually after having to go back under a week after the original to be fixed! So had plenty of time to think about wedding stuff!
I have asked my best friend to be bridesmaid, and my brother to be a bridesman as wanted him to be more included than just be an usher or something. He's asked what is expected of him, and I don't really know what to tell him! All I've said so far is that I'll let him know when I'm going to look at dresses or anything else wedding related, and if he wants to come and give a male perspective on things, then he is more than welcome, but no pressure. Just wondered if anyone else is having any bridesmen and what you've asked them to do in regards to the wedding.
And what about the hen do, are you being inclusive or just keeping it to the girls anyway?
Thanks In Adavance Emz x
Met in 2005
Started dating August 2014 (yes it took us that long)
Engaged April 2016
CommentAuthorKathleenO17
Hi Emz, hope your recovering well.
I think it is lovely that your close enough to your brother that you wanted to have him in a special role.
Regarding the hen weekend I think it is entirely your decision whether you invite him or not. If you would like him there ask him and see if he would be comfortable with going.
I think his role shouldn't be too different from any bridesmaid really they are there to help and support the bride. You could ask him to do a reading to make him feel more involved in the day if dress shopping isn't his thing. x
Hi Kathleen. Other than being incredibly uncomfortable I'm doing alright thanks.
My brother is 5 years younger than me and we have always got on incredibly well. So much so that our parents have always asked me what's going on with him when he's having troubles as he usually comes to me first with stuff. We try and have regular brother/sister catch ups too. Make sure we know what's going on with each other. Only trouble with that is, when we've been out for a meal, we get mistaken for being a couple. He really looks like our dad and I really look like our mum. So we don't really look like each other. That always makes it nice and awkward!
I think he'd actually be quite up for giving an opinion on my dress. He's always been known to have an opinion and we've never let him forget the time he wore one of my dresses when he was little and ran around the house in it announcing he was a girl. So he has the ability to get in touch with his feminine side hehe
Met in 2005
Started dating August 2014 (yes it took us that long)
Engaged April 2016
CommentAuthorLynseyH10
Oh Emz, hope you are ok!
I love your brother being a bridesman! It's great! Take him on the hen, it will be fab!
Still feeling pretty rubbish. Having to use my inhalers quite a lot. I think I may need to admit defeat and ring the doctor on Monday.
CommentAuthorEmmaM1435
Hi Emz, hope you're recovering well. I'd take him on the hen do too, it's so lovely that you're so close to your brother. My father is not in my life anymore, and my grandad passed away so I asked my brother if he would give me away and he said he'd be honoured to.
Lynsey best to get it checked out with the dr and be safe than sorry, my OH was feeling the same as you, turned out she had a lung infection she ended up needing a course of antibiotics and steroids.
CommentAuthorJacquiS30
Hi ladies!!
We're getting married in September 2018. Seems like some of you are wayyyy more organised than we are!!
CommentAuthorDuostar
Hi Jacqui I'm April 2018 and all I've done is put deposit down for venue and paid the registrar as wanted to get our date locked in. Everything else is firmly on pinterest ready to be put into action hehehe
Met in 2005
Started dating August 2014 (yes it took us that long)
Engaged April 2016
CommentAuthorStaceyH989
Hi Jacqui,
Congratulations! I'm a May 2018 Bride and it does seem like a while away but I do want to get everything sorted as soon as possible. Hope you feel better soon Emz and you Lynsey, I've told my OH he needs to get to the hospital today as he keeps coughing up blood. On the plus side my lovely Aunt had kindly offered to pay for our wedding cake.
CommentAuthorDuostar
Oh Stacey I hope the OH gets seen to quickly and is on the mend really soon. Good news about the cake though, one less expense is always a good thing
Emz x
Met in 2005
Started dating August 2014 (yes it took us that long)
Engaged April 2016
CommentAuthorWizbit89
Stacey I'm May 2018 too!
I bought my dress at the Birmingham Wedding show but I cant go and see it or try it until next year as it was from the 2017 range so it isn't actually in shops yet. its killing me I want to show my MOH lol
Is everyone winding down on the wedding planning for xmas now or are you planning on through?
Emz! I Hope you have a speedy recovery and are doing okay x
CommentAuthorLynseyH10
I'm tackling the DIY list. Currently making mini bunting for the centre pieces.
I have a few Christmas present hidden away. My youngest is easy to buy for, she is only four and wants dolls. My oldest is 11 and is proving more difficult. She has asked for one set of 13g0, a book and a new bag for ballet. I have managed to buy tickets for her favourite ballet so really looking forward to seeing her reaction. Started on the family presents. OH has asked for a new bag for work, will need to start having a look for that.
CommentAuthorStaceyH989
I'm winding the planning down slightly but still keeping my eye open for bargains etc. Fantastic news on the dress Wizbit what designer is it if you don't mind me asking? May is going to be such a good month (she says optimistically but this is UK well known for its rainy weather).
On the Christmas topic I have one present and no idea what to get my OH so its going to be fun this year.
CommentAuthorLynseyH10
edited
I've added a picture of my mini bunting in my decoration album if anyone would like to look.
CommentAuthorKathleenO17
I'm winding down a little now as I can't think what else to do at this stage. Got all the big things booked (DJ, cake, photographer, decorations, venue, registrar). Going to wait until next year to go dress shopping! We have planned where we would like to go on honeymoon but can't book the actual dates on that until April x
CommentAuthorStaceyH989
They look so pretty Lynsey :)
CommentAuthorWizbit89
edited
of course you can Stacey, its ***@1fr3d @n6310 dress 2589 if I go without sleeves or 2590 if I go with sleeves (not decided this yet as I haven't tried it with sleeves to see the difference) . I have bought it from a shop in Stoke which is about 2 hours away but its made the dress and alterations tonnes cheaper and means each time I see it is like a proper day out with the girls which I quite like. :) Lynsey I may have to pinch your mini bunting idea! I am having 3 tiers of terracotta pots as my centre piece with a small post of cascading flowers on the top so I might finish the bottom tier with teeeeny weeennny bunting x
xx
****EDIT : BRAND NAME DISGUISED IN LINE WITH FORUM RULES. MODERATORS
CommentAuthorLynseyH10
Thanks ladies. My original idea was to have a flower garland wrapped around the candlelabra but I hated it when I did a trial run. The mini bunting was a complete accident, I found the pattern while looking for something completely different! Had a trial run with wool and paper before buying the material.
I will admit cutting and hand sewing the triangles is a nightmare. The actual measuring and cutting takes about an hour, depending on how many triangles you are doing at one time. I hand sewed 7 of the triangles while watching TV last night, so about another two hours as I wasn't rushing.
I have anotother five bunting wreaths to make. Then I need to think about the jam jars before moving on to the bunting for the top table and cake table. I need to ask the venue for table sizes before I attempt that. Then I have all the invitations to make. I have an awful lot of DIY!
CommentAuthorStaceyH989
Wow Lynsey that's dedication to your decorations.
OMG! Wizbit that is a gorgeous dress and I have a feeling we may have brought our dresses from the same shop... R0b3rtas Br1dal. I have an alf3d ang3l0 too but I have 254 instead.
CommentAuthorWizbit89
Stacey yes!! that is soooo bizarre! They were so lovely at the show and I felt so relaxed considering im very self conscious and it was a big shared changing room I wasn't worried at all.. I cant wait to go back again
CommentAuthorStaceyH989
What a small world of weddings this is haha!! But i agree 110% I wasn't looking to buy when I went in just to try on some different styles but the staff were so amazing made me feel so comfortable and as soon as I had the dress on that was it :)
CommentAuthorWizbit89
Guessing you are local to the area then? We should meet for a coffee when I am up trying on ! Same month, same dress designer, same shop. weird!
CommentAuthorStaceyH989
I used to live in Stoke but moved to Derby last year so not as far away as you but a bit closer still takes me 45mins to 1 hour to get there though! I would love to meet up for a coffee when you are trying on! Its such a coincidence its would be really weird if it was the same date too haha :)
CommentAuthorLynseyH10
Wow ladies! Talk about uncanny coincidence! Love your dresses!
Stacey it's half term so off for the week. Trying to get on top of the mountain of DIY tasks that need doing. Also need to finish painting my bookcase, recover the footstool and decorate the dining room. I need to wait until Saturday to decorate the dining room when h2b can help. Today is set aside to quiet tasks like the sewing. Currently cutting more teeny tiny triangles. Going to run out of binding though so will need to make a trip to the haberdashery this week.
CommentAuthorStaceyH989
I would love to spend the week doing DIY but I have a research project to get started for work haha
CommentAuthorLynseyH10
I work in a school office, been run off my feet for weeks so it's quite nice to do something crafty.
CommentAuthorStaceyH989
I made my save the dates and really enjoyed that so looking for more ways I can DIY things.
CommentAuthorLynseyH10
I made a list of everything I wanted in a wedding and then started research what I could and couldn't DIY.
The invitations we liked were so expensive to buy but we found that we could DIY for less than £100. Our wedding favours is another DIY project, we are having Welsh cakes. That's a job a few days before the wedding.
CommentAuthorStaceyH989
I might have to do that see what else I can do. I already have the stationary and favours that I am making what else do you have?
CommentAuthorLynseyH10
I'm pretty much doing all of the decorations myself.
I have a ladder which I plan on repainting. Going to hang the wedding photos of our parents and grandparents from each step. Will decorate with vase/cream jug of flowers on the very top shelf. Will paint the ladder next summer.
My centrepieces are the candelabra decorated with the mini bunting. The candlelabra will stand on vintage books. Either side of the books will be a decorated jar which I'm then going to fill with flowers. I'm starting the jam jars after Christmas. Will buy the flowers a few days before the wedding.
Large bunting for the top table and cake table. Decorate jam jars for both as well.
I have five artificial trees (picture in my photos). Will decorate the trunk and pot in some kind of chiffon type material before wrapping fairy lights around the trunk.
Table plan. Don't have a clue yet.
Table names. I have picture frames, need to start thinking about font for the name. Each table will be named after an author.
Need to write the table settings. Been practicing with a calligraphy pen.
All of the stationery. The only item I have bought is the save the date magnets.
Favours. Bake and pack the Welsh cakes. Children box favour also need to be considered.
Then I also need to think about presents.
There is probably more I haven't considered yet.
CommentAuthorWizbit89
We have a good mix of DIY and Pre Done.
Save the dates - magnets ordered off of a well known online craft buying site beginning with an E, then I ordered some little business cards from Vi$ta which just hold the wedding website details etc so they can have a nose
Invitations - are going to be a fully hand made pocketfold invitation set, will be so time consuming but hopefully worth it and a nice keepsake
Decorations - due to H+S we have had to get our lights supplied so these and some hanging lanterns are in the ceremony room, and then just large bulbed festoon lighting in the bar area
centre pieces - are 3 tiered terracotta pot stacks which I am painting white - I might make some baby bunting for the bottom tier (idea pinched from above)
no idea on place cards or table plan yet -
Favours I am DIYing bought 100 clear pillow boxes and will fill with coloured jelly beans and will be tied with a peacock ribbon - I might put peoples name tags on these so that they have a duel purpose
I need to decide on decorations for the ceremony table as I didn't order a flower piece for it.. but if I cant think of anything I will just order an extra bit of flowers lol!
when its all listed like this it makes me glad I have started so early hahahh!! have I forgotten anything?
xx
CommentAuthorLynseyH10
I have probably forgotten something.
CommentAuthorStaceyH989
I feel like I'm being lazy now haha save the dates and the favours plus some stationary I will be doing. The actual invites my sister is making but I might have a craft night with her and help. Decorations and center pieces are either being done by a supplier or brought pre made. I could do my wedding cake myself but I get so OCD about them it would be too much for me. I like the idea of the ladder Lynsey I just don't know anywhere we could put one in our venue haha.
CommentAuthorWizbit89
I don't think its a matter of being lazy... I quite enjoy a bit of craft, part of me thinks I should of rented things like centrepieces sometimes though as it means im going to have 8 stacks of terracotta pots to rehome lol. But its still cheaper then renting to buy and paint it all.
I am also going to DIY a sweetie bar as it is all the rage plus I love sweeties :) so currently looking into that. not sure how long in advance I should get things though..
xx
CommentAuthorLynseyH10
Ooh forget about the sweet table! This is my mums idea but somehow it has now been added to my list.
CommentAuthorStaceyH989
I would love to do a sweet table but there are two valid reasons why I can't: 1. the children in my family have previously destroyed one sweet table at a wedding before they were meant to touch it 2. OH sisters has an eating disorder so it would be like sticking a red hot poker down her throat which I'm not prepared to do
CommentAuthorWizbit89
2 good reasons Stacey! I am sure you could find a way around it, maybe have some pre packed sweet cones on offer, less temptation and more limited in destroyability! or maybe just offer then as favours to keep the kiddies busy.
I am a bit gutted, asked our venue if we could supply a few bottles of Mead (we do medieval re-enactments) so it is a drink my OH and a lot of our friends love, we would only need about 8 bottles and all other booze would be supplied by the barn bar and paid for by guests (so the barn are in to make a fortune from drink as we can have up to 150 guest evening and 80 during the day) they want us to supply the drink our self and pay £10 a bottle corkage!! I mean wtf! They have been so helpful up until now. I have told them they better make sure they supply ridiculous amount of ale as I cant afford their extortionate charges!
bloody venue!!
but everything else seems to be going swimmingly hahaha
CommentAuthorStaceyH989
We are meeting with our coordinator at our venue to ask about the favours we can supply we would love to do little bottle of our favourite drinks but we have to check if this is allowed haha I am doing a little pack for the children where they have an activity pack, a small lego bag and a hot chocolate cone so I might pop in a small bag of sweets in there.
That seems crazy that they want to charge 10 per bottle our venue has offered to buy in a cask ale as we have a few ale drinkers in our group.
CommentAuthorWizbit89
I may suggest that depending what they want to do! I will still supply bottles for the table but just means the men will have to buy their own ale throughout rather then getting a drink.. but if they are that bothered they can drink the wine lol!!
Yeah definitely talk to your co ordinator I bet they will have good ideas as they know how the venue works best.
and yeah it is crazy to ask £10 a bottle, I think they probably know that as they will want us to use their bar, I do get it they are a business after all. meh small thing in the big picture really
x
CommentAuthorLynseyH10
I need to start thinking about the menu in order to plan the invitations.
When are people sending out invitations? I was thinking October 2017, RSVP by the beginning of December, chase any no replies ready to give our final numbers by the end of January 2018 which is about 6 weeks before the wedding.
CommentAuthorWizbit89
I have no idea on invites! trying to send them one side of xmas so they don't get lost with the xmas rush! Save the dates I think I am sending between March and May next year.
we decided on a menu quite quickly it was one of the selling points of the caterer that she does much more down to earth meals, so we are having mezze platters to start, sausage and mash for mains and trifle for pudding . we cant afford to offer choices so that's it lol
x
CommentAuthorStaceyH989
I was thinking of sending the invites out about 3 months before. We have an idea of what we want from the menu but you can still do the base of your invites now and add the rest in later if you have a design that incorporates inserts.
CommentAuthorLynseyH10
Think we will start designing the invites after Christmas.
There so many things to consider when planning a wedding.
CommentAuthorStaceyH989
Its all the little details and then coordinating everything on top of that. I will admit I know there is probably going to be some stress but I know it will be totally worth it in the end :)
CommentAuthorWizbit89
I am getting stressed that I feel I have run out of things to do for now. it makes me worry that I am either stupidly over organised and look like a bridezilla orrr I have missed tonnes :o My SIL is helping me with the invites she is a whizz with computer design, then I will print and make them all up at home which will take some time quite looking forward to seeing them come together though.
x
CommentAuthorStaceyH989
I don't think your a bridezilla Wizbit, with the wedding industry how it is now if you don't get organised fairly quickly you run the chance of losing out on the suppliers that you want.
With 18 months to go I think you should have:
Insurance Date Venue Ceremony Theme Colour Scheme Guest List Min/Max A list of what else you need to book A list of ideas for what you would like
I think anymore than that is a bonus really, so far on top of the list I have one transport mode booked, save the dates done and sent, hair and make up booked, florist booked, dj booked, menu chosen and wedding dress brought.
CommentAuthorWizbit89
That's good to know! I don't want to be a bridezilla! lol from your list I would say we are about the same in terms of what we have booked etc! x
CommentAuthorStaceyH989
My aim is to have everything booked by the one year to go mark then work on a payment plan so everything is paid for on time.
