... nothing will.
Showing posts with label Wedding Inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wedding Inspiration. Show all posts
Thursday, 10 June 2010
Monday, 7 June 2010
Glorious Treats Indeed!
How adorable is this Sweet Strawberry Party from Glorious Treats?!
I love a good buffet table but this is too cute!! Need to see more pictures? Thought you might!
I love a good buffet table but this is too cute!! Need to see more pictures? Thought you might!
Thursday, 3 June 2010
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Table Plans
I haven't really thought very much about our table plan, we know what we want to call our tables and are almost sure of where everyone will sit, but I haven't really had any ideas about how to display this to our guests.
I've noticed a few cool ideas whilst mooching through the many blogs I read, these are some of my favourites...
I've noticed a few cool ideas whilst mooching through the many blogs I read, these are some of my favourites...
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
Picture Guest Book
Most of the weddings I have attended have had some sort of guest book available for friends and family to leave their words of congratulations and advice. It's a lovely keepsake from the day and we will definitely have one.
I would love to have a book, or individual cards for people to leave us their messages but what I would also love is for the guests to leave their pictures too!
I came across the Fujifilm Instax Camera
a little while ago. This super cute mini camera is the Poloroid replacement. It produces credit card sized photos instantly.
How much fun would it be for guests to be able to have their picture taken and then stick it in a book or on a card next to their message!?
A friend of mine did something similar at her wedding. A few friends were enrolled to take pictures of the guests holding a massive frame. The pictures were then printed on a printer that plugged straight into the camera and stuck in a book ready for guests to write in. This was our photo.
a little while ago. This super cute mini camera is the Poloroid replacement. It produces credit card sized photos instantly.How much fun would it be for guests to be able to have their picture taken and then stick it in a book or on a card next to their message!?
A friend of mine did something similar at her wedding. A few friends were enrolled to take pictures of the guests holding a massive frame. The pictures were then printed on a printer that plugged straight into the camera and stuck in a book ready for guests to write in. This was our photo.
I can imagine we'd get quite a few funny photos and messages, it's meant to be informal and silly. It's a great way to remember the day along with the messages.
I also think the camera would be really fun to take on honeymoon with us. Obviously the picture quality isn't perfect but I think that is part of it's charm. This little dude is well and truly on my birthday list!
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
What way is the right way?
Before I started to plan a wedding I always imagined I would walk down the aisle with my dad followed by my bridesmaids and never really gave much thought to it. This is how it has happened at all of the weddings I have ever been to, so never imagined there would be another order to the entrance of the wedding party.
At Suzie and Rob's wedding her Mom was escorted down the aisle first by Suzie's brother James, then the bridesmaids and finally Suzie and her Dad. Having seen it played out this way, I can't imagine it being any other way at our wedding.
I would love my brother and usher Paul to escort my Mom down the aisle, followed by our 4 bridesmaids and then me on my Dad's arm. I think it makes sense for the bride to be the last person in the room.
Other things I've come across whilst planning this wedding is whether or not the bride and groom should see each other on the morning of the wedding. Again I'd always taken it to be bad luck if the groom saw the bride before she walked down the aisle. However I've found at some weddings in America the bride and groom share a private moment and come together before the ceremony in a "first look" meeting. This must be such a precious and emotional time. I can imagine the rush of happiness, nerves and love, sharing that "We're getting married in a few minutes" feeling. When you walk down the aisle towards your groom you have all eyes on you, so this private meeting must be something special.
Saying that, I don't think we will be breaking "tradition." The first time I see Has on the 5th November will be as I walk down the aisle. I can be a little superstitious (I'm one of those crazy people who salute magpies!) so although a private encounter with Has before our vows would be sacred it would be on my mind that it's bad luck!
Which brings me to another point. At a couple of the weddings I have been to, the groom has not turned to watch his bride walk down the aisle. He has waited until she's reached him before looking at her. In fact at my cousins wedding, when her groom tried to turn to look at her, the registrar told him he wasn't allowed! When Has and I spoke about this he told me that nothing would stop him watching me walk down the aisle. In fact I know when I begin my walk, I'll catch his eye and won't be able to look elsewhere. Everyone else watches as the bride makes her entrance so why shouldn't the groom?!
At Suzie and Rob's wedding her Mom was escorted down the aisle first by Suzie's brother James, then the bridesmaids and finally Suzie and her Dad. Having seen it played out this way, I can't imagine it being any other way at our wedding.
I would love my brother and usher Paul to escort my Mom down the aisle, followed by our 4 bridesmaids and then me on my Dad's arm. I think it makes sense for the bride to be the last person in the room.
Saying that, I don't think we will be breaking "tradition." The first time I see Has on the 5th November will be as I walk down the aisle. I can be a little superstitious (I'm one of those crazy people who salute magpies!) so although a private encounter with Has before our vows would be sacred it would be on my mind that it's bad luck!
Which brings me to another point. At a couple of the weddings I have been to, the groom has not turned to watch his bride walk down the aisle. He has waited until she's reached him before looking at her. In fact at my cousins wedding, when her groom tried to turn to look at her, the registrar told him he wasn't allowed! When Has and I spoke about this he told me that nothing would stop him watching me walk down the aisle. In fact I know when I begin my walk, I'll catch his eye and won't be able to look elsewhere. Everyone else watches as the bride makes her entrance so why shouldn't the groom?!
I've learnt so much during my time as an engaged lady. I've come to realise that there is no right or wrong when it comes to weddings. What ever YOU want to happen on YOUR day goes. Just because it's the "norm" or "that's how it's always happened" doesn't mean it has to be that way for you.
At my best friend Suzie's wedding she broke tradition and totally rocked a stunning midnight blue dress because it was her.
Just because ever woman in my family before me wore a veil, doesn't mean I have to. If I want to wear purple shoes or wellies on my wedding day then I will!
I'm not saying our wedding will be a million miles away from "traditional" but we will be personalising our wedding to suit us. In my opinion I think that is what helps make a perfect wedding.
Friday, 26 March 2010
Amazing Animation
Such a cute, cute video!
A Toronto animator made this video to play for his wife during their wedding reception. Enjoy
A Toronto animator made this video to play for his wife during their wedding reception. Enjoy
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
San Francisco Wedding
Imagine a wedding backdrop like this...
To read the wedding story and see more photos from this gorgeous wedding visit Style Me Pretty
Sunday, 7 March 2010
National Wedding Show
On Saturday me, Mom and bridesmaid Natalie went to the National Wedding Show at the NEC in Birmingham.
We went before back on October 2008 and had a really good day out. It was actually where we found our venue Nailcote Hall.
This time we started out early and arrived at the show just after 10am. Collected our goody bag and watched the catwalk show which featured dresses from designers such as Benjamin Roberts, Jonathan James, Charlotte Balbier, Pronovias and Blue by Enzoani and menswear from Slaters, Moss Bros and Peter Posh. I really enjoyed the catwalk show and have to admit I think it was better than the show we watched the last time we were there.
The show quickly became very crowded and within an hour and a half of being there felt we had seen the majority of the stands. Our main objective of the day was to look for bridesmaid dress but we failed to find a single one. We left a little disappointed.
The day wasn't a total wash out, we each scored a gorgeous silver heart charm from Individjewel, saw a few potential ideas for the front of our invitations and found some really gorgeous shoes from Rachel Simpson and Victoria Allinson.
The show had left us all with headaches so we stopped off at Tesco on the way home and treated ourselves to cupcakes and enjoyed them with a cup of tea!
We went before back on October 2008 and had a really good day out. It was actually where we found our venue Nailcote Hall.
This time we started out early and arrived at the show just after 10am. Collected our goody bag and watched the catwalk show which featured dresses from designers such as Benjamin Roberts, Jonathan James, Charlotte Balbier, Pronovias and Blue by Enzoani and menswear from Slaters, Moss Bros and Peter Posh. I really enjoyed the catwalk show and have to admit I think it was better than the show we watched the last time we were there.
The show quickly became very crowded and within an hour and a half of being there felt we had seen the majority of the stands. Our main objective of the day was to look for bridesmaid dress but we failed to find a single one. We left a little disappointed.
The day wasn't a total wash out, we each scored a gorgeous silver heart charm from Individjewel, saw a few potential ideas for the front of our invitations and found some really gorgeous shoes from Rachel Simpson and Victoria Allinson.
The show had left us all with headaches so we stopped off at Tesco on the way home and treated ourselves to cupcakes and enjoyed them with a cup of tea!
I feel shows like this are really aimed at people who have recently become engaged, a lot of the stands are similar and do not really offer anything different. I really enjoyed the show the last time I went because it was like joining a club, it felt good to say "I'm the Bride" It's a great place to gather inspiration as well. I had no idea how I was going to plan this wedding and what options were open to me. Going last October opened my eyes to a lot of new and exciting ideas and I had a fab day out.
This time round I went with a purpose. I wanted to seek out bridesmaid dresses. I know at previous shows exhibitors have offered hefty discounts to show attendees so I wanted to see if we could get ourselves a bargain. They only had two stands that came under the category "Bridal Party Wear" One was Coast (I love clothes from Coast but they don't really sell the types of dresses I am after.) and the other was "Totally Magical" (I only know this after looking at the exhibitors list... We didn't find them on the day)
I really don't want this to come across as negative because the first time I went I had a blast. I just think I've come too fair in the planning to really benefit from the National Wedding Show.
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Central Park Wedding
Sometimes I'd love to be greedy and have more than one wedding day, obviously I'd always be marrying Has but if I could have another wedding day I would love it to be small and intimate and in Central Park after a snow storm!
Doesn't Central Park look stunning covered in a blanket of snow?
I love how the little red details really stand out against the white snow and the neutral colours of the Park
Gorgeous, yes? For more pictures and details about this stunning wedding visit 100 Layer Cake
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
My Google Reader has Exploded!
For those without magnifying glasses for eyes, that's 86 unread posts!
I've added about 10 new blogs to my Google Reader today because I found the 100 Blogs to watch in 2010 list from BrideTide.com. I already follow the majority of the wedding blogs on the list but I found some new gems today!
Starting this blog and reading posts from over 80 blogs has really helped me with my wedding planning. I enjoy writing this little blog so much, even if it's just me who reads it! I've even stopped buying wedding magazines, I find the pictures and information online are so much more inspiring... and free!
For lots of wedding lovelies I strongly recommend you get yourself signed up with Google Reader and subscribe to the blogs listed on BrideTide.com... and Purple and Pearls of course!
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
DIY Placecards
A gorgeous DIY option for placecard holders from Dolci Odille via Once Wed. They would make such a cute setting for a spring or summer wedding, really simple but really sweet!
On a slightly separate note, look at that gorgeous curvy handwriting! Oh how I would love to be able to write like that! I'd never use a keyboard again and people would receive handwritten notes from me all the time!
Check out Dolci Odille for more really stunning DIY projects
Friday, 29 January 2010
Wedding Style Guide
“Australia’s answer to Martha Stewart”
I found this website this morning and have spent the last few hours browsing the blog and the back issues. I've decided it's far too fabulous to keep to myself.
The great things about this website is that they offer gorgeous FREE downloads! I've already downloaded the Rock Chic labels!
If you love the website as much as I do you may even consider downloading their current issue for just $11.95 or an earlier addition for $4.95, which is, as we speak sitting in my shopping basket!
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Light Writing Proposal
An amazing video of a very unique proposal!
"The most common question so far about the proposal video is “How did you do it?” The technique is most commonly known as ‘light writing.’ A light source is moved (in this case, a 3 million candlepower spotlight) while the shutter of a DSLR camera is left open, creating a streak of light in the final exposure.
Here’s the story of this particular video..."
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Simply Beautiful - Gorgeous Purple Table Inspiration
Love, love, love!
The flowers in the back of the chair, the colours, the votive holders, the feeling of being in a field on a spring day, everything is so soft and simple. Absolutely stunning.
Thursday, 21 January 2010
Hey Look!
My "I Do" shoe stickers in action!
A fabulous photo taken by the super talented San Francisco based husband and wife team Paco and Betty. The whole wedding looks like it would have been such a fun day! Check out these crazy photos!
A fabulous photo taken by the super talented San Francisco based husband and wife team Paco and Betty. The whole wedding looks like it would have been such a fun day! Check out these crazy photos!
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Vintage Love
Lately I've been spending a lot of time on Vintage Amethyst, a totally gorgeous online shop that sells beautiful decorative items for your home and really sweet gift ideas.
At the moment I'm loving:
Everything is so reasonably priced, I would love to use the chalkboard tags as name places for our wedding, they would look so cute!
At the moment I'm loving:
Set of 2 Heart Candle Holders, Set of 4 Chalkboard Tags, Distressed White Photo Frame, Set of 2 Zinc Candle Holders, Zinc Heart Shaped Candle Holder.
Not only would these pieces look amazing featured within a wedding, they'd make excellent wedding gifts too!
Thursday, 14 January 2010
Gasp!
I seriously gasped when I saw this wedding! Everything about it is stunning, the dress, the venue, the colours (!) everything! It's just so unbelievably glamorous!
Oh how I want that bed!
Her dress is absolutely stunning, so elegant. I'm in love with the brooch!
She has a gorgeous smile.
I want that photo!!
Read more about this amazing wedding on Style Me Pretty
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Blog Reading Made Easy
Ok so I may be a million years behind everyone else with posting this but I have just stumbled across Google Reader. If you're a blog-a-holic like me then this tool is seriously invaluable.
Usually my day starts with me sat in front of my computer with a cup of tea and a bowl of Weetabix checking my daily reads via my bookmarks. Sometimes they've been updated, sometimes they haven't. With Google Reader this has all changed!
I've subscribed to my favourite sites and now as soon as there is a new post it tells me so! It means I no long have to keep checking my bookmarks to make sure I'm up to date in blog land, I never miss a thing!
But because this isn't geeky enough, I have also downloaded a little app for my IGoogle, which I keep open all day. This means I only have to have 1 window dedicate to my none work related reading! This makes me very happy!
So if you read a lot of blogs and haven't caught the Google Reader bug yet, try it out!
Usually my day starts with me sat in front of my computer with a cup of tea and a bowl of Weetabix checking my daily reads via my bookmarks. Sometimes they've been updated, sometimes they haven't. With Google Reader this has all changed!
I've subscribed to my favourite sites and now as soon as there is a new post it tells me so! It means I no long have to keep checking my bookmarks to make sure I'm up to date in blog land, I never miss a thing!
I can also see a list of blog posts made by all the sites I follow. So if I found something I really liked but couldn't remember where I saw it (this happens quite often!) I can check my Google Reader
But because this isn't geeky enough, I have also downloaded a little app for my IGoogle, which I keep open all day. This means I only have to have 1 window dedicate to my none work related reading! This makes me very happy!
So if you read a lot of blogs and haven't caught the Google Reader bug yet, try it out!
Friday, 8 January 2010
Star Wars, Orchids and Dress Wobbles... Introducing Suzie's Wedding!
I have something special to share with you this frosty Friday afternoon...
Suzie has kindly agreed to share her wedding planning story. Suzie and I are completely different brides so it'll be nice to see a different side to the planning. (One thing you should probably know is Suzie and I refer to each other as Moo...)
Name: Suzie
Husband to be: Robert
Wedding Date: 20th February 2010
Wedding Venue: Forest Hotel, Dorridge
Wow, your wedding will soon be here, are you feeling nervous yet?
I've been planning now for about 15 months, most of the hard work is done and it's just the little things that need tying up. But now that I don't have the major planning parts to concentrate on I have the really small, really important things like the wedding vows, the music and what actually happens on the wedding day!
HELP! I sat and thought about it last night and I was scared to the core - I don't know what to do on my wedding day! Questions kept flying through my head like: "How do I walk down the aisle? How long before the ceremony do I need to be ready ? What time do I need to wake up in the morning? How long will it take the hairdresser to do my hair? When do we cut the cake!?"
There is so much to think about! I know everything will be alright on the night but its just these small things that slip your mind when your doing the major planning like booking the venue, ordering the cake and choosing the wedding dress! No one tells you to think about these things!
All that said - more than nervous I am so, so, so excited! I can't wait to be Rob's wife! To marry my soul mate, to be there always when he needs me and to love him like I do, forever. The wedding day will be a wonderful day that I get to share with my nearest and dearest!
Needless to say - I cant wait!
Let's go back to the beginning. Where and how did you and Rob meet?
Well now this story starts much like a fairy tail ..... A long long time ago....but I’m afraid that's where the fairy tail ends!
Who was the first person you told?
Apart from telling my mum who pretty much knows everything before I do! I told Has!
I was a bit nervous about telling Moo that I'd just got engaged, Laura has been with Has for longer than me and Rob. I was really aware that she was itching to get engaged and just waiting for Has to find the right moment. Every time we would get together we would plan our lives and talk bout getting married.
I was at a BBQ that day to celebrate Laura's birthday and me and Has got talking about weddings, knowing that they were jetting off to Las Vegas soon I had a feeling he was planning to pop the questions whilst there, when I mentioned this to him with a little wink he said something along the lines of..." If you could keep your inkling to yourself it would be a big help - you may be thinking along the right lines"
Well.... Being at the BBQ with Laura there and being privy to this information and as those of you who know me are aware I am a TERRIBLE secret keeper!! I just wanted to shout my congratulations to her! But I couldn't! I just remained secretly ecstatic. Knowing that it wouldn't be long until Laura was as happy about being engaged as I was I felt a little more comfortable in sharing my good news with her. As I was leaving the party I asked her to see me out... We walked along her path and I said I had a favour to ask her.....cluelessly she replied...."Oh yeah what's that"....."Be my bridesmaid?"
Well she jumped up and down and couldn't be happier for me... oh how I longed to do the same - but Has I didn't breath a word honest!!
What's the ring like?
The ring! I went shopping in Birmingham Jewellery Quarter for my ring the following weekend I tried on ring after ring, after ring and was completely uninspired! I knew I didn't want anything too conventional and wanted something different so I tried on rings with sapphires, ring with rubies, rings with emeralds. Nothing seemed to fit the bill.
I decided to look at diamond rings and again none of the conventional solitaire types were me. I then stumbled upon the perfect ring. We were tired and it was about the 100th shop we had been into but as soon as I saw it I knew its what I wanted.
It's 18ct white gold with 4 diamonds in an offset square design. Its perfect! The engagement was official!
What was your first official wedding related purchase/booking?
I've been thinking about the question for a while and it's a difficult one for me to remember. We got engaged on August 31st 2008 which is quite some time ago. If I had been as clever as Moo doing something like this blog would have been a wonderful idea - documenting all the wonderful planning and run up to me big day - but of course I’m not that clever!
I took my mum and mother-in-law-to-be to the National Wedding Show at the NEC that October where I think I found my first wedding purchase. With no venue booked, no colour scheme picked and no idea of the guest list I bought my wedding dress!
How wonderful for my wedding dress - such an important part of our special day to be the start of my wedding planning!
Tell us in one sneak peak word what your dress is like?
What has been the best part of wedding planning?
I am thoroughly enjoying all my wedding planning, the up's and the down's. I've have found the experience on the whole very easy and natural.
If I had to pick one thing that stands out about being the best part has been planning it with my mum and my two bridesmaids, Beth and Laura. I don't know what I would have done without them! They have helped me in times of need and calmed me in times of sheer panic. Planning alongside Moo has been a big help - our ideas of a perfect wedding day are totally different but we have been able to help each other with ideas and inspiration.
I will really miss all the planning when its over
What has been the toughest part?
I have experienced a couple of wobbles during the planning of our big day.
The most major of which, was a dress panic! As I explained earlier my wedding dress was the first thing I bought. Not only that, it was the first dress I saw and the only dress I tried on! I thought it was perfect and no other dress could be more suited to myself and my personality! This was all great UNTIL......
The time came when Laura was looking for her prefect dress - it was really nice for me to be involved in the search and I feel quite bad for my bridesmaids that they weren't involved in all the excitement over my dress search as there really wasn't one! Laura tried on dress after dress and even though they all looked stunningly beautiful and Laura also being stunningly beautiful it was difficult to imagine the the two would not look outstanding!
We were wrong. Don't get me wrong its not like any of the dresses looked bad on Laura some just suited her shape much better than others, some where a brighter white, some had more bling - they were all just very different. This got me thinking......
Unfortunately I’m not a stunning size 12 like Laura - I’m a more rounded 16. This causes a problem when dress shopping as the in-store dresses all seem to be in small sizes. The shop girls do their best to pin you in and make it look ok but you really don't get to see how the shape of the dress will compliment your own shape when its all pinned and bodged at the back.
I started to have a major wobble about how the shape of the dress wouldn't suit me and I'd made a huge mistake. The day came that my wedding dress arrived at the shop in my size ready for me to try. So on Saturday 31st October I rallied my troops (Mum, Laura and Beth) and off we went. They girls had to calm me down and I finally stepping into my dress.... Wobble over - it looked perfect.
Have you found any amazing wedding bargains?
I think the best wedding bargain I have found is my veil! I don't want a conventional veil and wanted something more along the lines of a birdcage veil to sit on my jet black hair. I searched and searched with no luck. Ones I did see, although they were perfect, were in the region on £100 - £150!!! WHAT!!! Just for a bit of net I will wear for about 2 hours! Give over!
I was just about to give up on the veil idea and just go without when I stumbled upon a great Burlesque style pillbox hat with attached veil on eBay by a seller called Kalandra. Well she became my saviour! The original one I saw was a little heart shaped hat in burgundy with a white veil attached. It was perfect except for the colour! I wrote to the seller and she emailed me back to say she would make one for me. I paid my £24.99 and awaited it in the post. When it arrived I was gobsmacked! It was perfect and a steal at under £30!
This is the one I have.
After Laura's advice I have been looking up wedding blogs. I now read them everyday and find them really useful!
Daily I visit:
Rock'n'Roll Wedding
Offbeat Bride
The Alternative Bride
Snippet and Ink
And of course Purple and Pearls!!
I also really love wedding magazines! My favourites and the only ones I really buy now are Wedding Ideas Magazine and Perfect Wedding Magazine. I have a feeling I will be still be buying them after the wedding! I really like to read the real life wedding section and see how others have celebrated their special day. It always amazes me how different and personal a wedding can be. Ours will definitely not be run of the mill, traditional!
We are jetting off to Thailand on 23rd February for 2 weeks! We will be staying in the slightly quieter Khao Lak, it will be a little less touristy and more relaxing. we have booked the 5 star Le Meridien Khao Lak. I cant wait! It's just dawning on me that not only do we get this amazing wedding in 6 weeks time but we get to go on a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
We plan to go elephant trekking through the jungle, bamboo rafting on the rivers, snorkelling off the world famous Similan Islands and speedboat to Phi Phi Island. It will be the prefect way to start our married life.
Any words of wisdom you can pass along to newly engaged brides to be?
The best advice I can give you is:
1) Do it your own way. You can do whatever you like. Have whatever theme you like. Wear whatever you like! Its all up to you!
2) If your planning an offbeat/alternative wedding don't give up when you cant find what your looking for - it will be our there!
3) Never lose sight of why you are planning this special day - its all just run up to the marriage not just the wedding.
4) Its the grooms day too! Let him be involved when he wants to and make him get involved when you need him to be.
5) Have fun - the planning may seem endless and daunting but take it from me - when its drawing to a close you will miss it!
Suzie has kindly agreed to share her wedding planning story. Suzie and I are completely different brides so it'll be nice to see a different side to the planning. (One thing you should probably know is Suzie and I refer to each other as Moo...)
Name: Suzie
Husband to be: Robert
Wedding Date: 20th February 2010
Wedding Venue: Forest Hotel, Dorridge
Hi Suzie!
Wow, your wedding will soon be here, are you feeling nervous yet?
YES!! A Big yes! I'm starting to feel nervous, people keep telling me that 6 weeks is ages yet. I've been getting comments like: "6 weeks! You could plan a whole wedding in 6 weeks!" Haha what a joke!
I've been planning now for about 15 months, most of the hard work is done and it's just the little things that need tying up. But now that I don't have the major planning parts to concentrate on I have the really small, really important things like the wedding vows, the music and what actually happens on the wedding day!
HELP! I sat and thought about it last night and I was scared to the core - I don't know what to do on my wedding day! Questions kept flying through my head like: "How do I walk down the aisle? How long before the ceremony do I need to be ready ? What time do I need to wake up in the morning? How long will it take the hairdresser to do my hair? When do we cut the cake!?"
There is so much to think about! I know everything will be alright on the night but its just these small things that slip your mind when your doing the major planning like booking the venue, ordering the cake and choosing the wedding dress! No one tells you to think about these things!
All that said - more than nervous I am so, so, so excited! I can't wait to be Rob's wife! To marry my soul mate, to be there always when he needs me and to love him like I do, forever. The wedding day will be a wonderful day that I get to share with my nearest and dearest!
Needless to say - I cant wait!
Well now this story starts much like a fairy tail ..... A long long time ago....but I’m afraid that's where the fairy tail ends!
I met Rob through my brother Jim, they have been really good friends since they met at School ohhhh a good 12 or so years ago. Rob would regularly be round our house along with some of Jim's other friends including our 2 wonderful ushers Rich and Pete. As I mentioned before this was a good 12 years ago and being 25 now that would have made me around the super awkward age of 12!! Not the most flattering time in a young girls life to meet her soul mate I’m sure you'd agree? I got to know more about Rob over a period or about 6 years. To start with I am sure I was nothing more to him than Jim's annoying little sister but as I grew and matured I was occasionally get invited to parties out with Jim and Rob got to know a different side of me and I of him.
We actually realised that our somewhat awkward relationship was changing and turning into something neither of us expected. I will admit now that I've always had a bit of a thing for Rob, we got closer and closer and unbeknown to my brother (Sorry Jim!!!) we would arrange to meet up and spend hours in the house just chatting. We soon decided that we'd make is official so in August 2003 we told my brother that we were a couple!
And that's the beginning!
We actually realised that our somewhat awkward relationship was changing and turning into something neither of us expected. I will admit now that I've always had a bit of a thing for Rob, we got closer and closer and unbeknown to my brother (Sorry Jim!!!) we would arrange to meet up and spend hours in the house just chatting. We soon decided that we'd make is official so in August 2003 we told my brother that we were a couple!
And that's the beginning!
When and how did you get engaged?
Rob and I had been talking about getting married for about a year before the engagement. Rob's brother Dan got married within that year and it just made us want it more. Rob came into the bedroom one morning and said he had something to talk to me about. The conversation started.... "You know I love you and I’m really not good with the romance thing and I actually don't know how best to do this, I know we have been talking about it more over the past week but I really want to get engaged" I replied "All you have to do is actually ask me you know" so he said "Will you marry me?" to which I replied ...."YES".
Rob and I had been talking about getting married for about a year before the engagement. Rob's brother Dan got married within that year and it just made us want it more. Rob came into the bedroom one morning and said he had something to talk to me about. The conversation started.... "You know I love you and I’m really not good with the romance thing and I actually don't know how best to do this, I know we have been talking about it more over the past week but I really want to get engaged" I replied "All you have to do is actually ask me you know" so he said "Will you marry me?" to which I replied ...."YES".
He then went on to tell me that he hadn't got me a ring because he would be totally clueless on what I would like, knowing that I’m not the conventional type, so on that Sunday 31st August we went ring shopping.
Apart from telling my mum who pretty much knows everything before I do! I told Has!
I was a bit nervous about telling Moo that I'd just got engaged, Laura has been with Has for longer than me and Rob. I was really aware that she was itching to get engaged and just waiting for Has to find the right moment. Every time we would get together we would plan our lives and talk bout getting married.
I was at a BBQ that day to celebrate Laura's birthday and me and Has got talking about weddings, knowing that they were jetting off to Las Vegas soon I had a feeling he was planning to pop the questions whilst there, when I mentioned this to him with a little wink he said something along the lines of..." If you could keep your inkling to yourself it would be a big help - you may be thinking along the right lines"
Well.... Being at the BBQ with Laura there and being privy to this information and as those of you who know me are aware I am a TERRIBLE secret keeper!! I just wanted to shout my congratulations to her! But I couldn't! I just remained secretly ecstatic. Knowing that it wouldn't be long until Laura was as happy about being engaged as I was I felt a little more comfortable in sharing my good news with her. As I was leaving the party I asked her to see me out... We walked along her path and I said I had a favour to ask her.....cluelessly she replied...."Oh yeah what's that"....."Be my bridesmaid?"
Well she jumped up and down and couldn't be happier for me... oh how I longed to do the same - but Has I didn't breath a word honest!!
What's the ring like?
The ring! I went shopping in Birmingham Jewellery Quarter for my ring the following weekend I tried on ring after ring, after ring and was completely uninspired! I knew I didn't want anything too conventional and wanted something different so I tried on rings with sapphires, ring with rubies, rings with emeralds. Nothing seemed to fit the bill.
I decided to look at diamond rings and again none of the conventional solitaire types were me. I then stumbled upon the perfect ring. We were tired and it was about the 100th shop we had been into but as soon as I saw it I knew its what I wanted.
It's 18ct white gold with 4 diamonds in an offset square design. Its perfect! The engagement was official!
I've been thinking about the question for a while and it's a difficult one for me to remember. We got engaged on August 31st 2008 which is quite some time ago. If I had been as clever as Moo doing something like this blog would have been a wonderful idea - documenting all the wonderful planning and run up to me big day - but of course I’m not that clever!
I took my mum and mother-in-law-to-be to the National Wedding Show at the NEC that October where I think I found my first wedding purchase. With no venue booked, no colour scheme picked and no idea of the guest list I bought my wedding dress!
How wonderful for my wedding dress - such an important part of our special day to be the start of my wedding planning!
Different
I am thoroughly enjoying all my wedding planning, the up's and the down's. I've have found the experience on the whole very easy and natural.
If I had to pick one thing that stands out about being the best part has been planning it with my mum and my two bridesmaids, Beth and Laura. I don't know what I would have done without them! They have helped me in times of need and calmed me in times of sheer panic. Planning alongside Moo has been a big help - our ideas of a perfect wedding day are totally different but we have been able to help each other with ideas and inspiration.
I will really miss all the planning when its over
I have experienced a couple of wobbles during the planning of our big day.
The most major of which, was a dress panic! As I explained earlier my wedding dress was the first thing I bought. Not only that, it was the first dress I saw and the only dress I tried on! I thought it was perfect and no other dress could be more suited to myself and my personality! This was all great UNTIL......
The time came when Laura was looking for her prefect dress - it was really nice for me to be involved in the search and I feel quite bad for my bridesmaids that they weren't involved in all the excitement over my dress search as there really wasn't one! Laura tried on dress after dress and even though they all looked stunningly beautiful and Laura also being stunningly beautiful it was difficult to imagine the the two would not look outstanding!
We were wrong. Don't get me wrong its not like any of the dresses looked bad on Laura some just suited her shape much better than others, some where a brighter white, some had more bling - they were all just very different. This got me thinking......
Unfortunately I’m not a stunning size 12 like Laura - I’m a more rounded 16. This causes a problem when dress shopping as the in-store dresses all seem to be in small sizes. The shop girls do their best to pin you in and make it look ok but you really don't get to see how the shape of the dress will compliment your own shape when its all pinned and bodged at the back.
I started to have a major wobble about how the shape of the dress wouldn't suit me and I'd made a huge mistake. The day came that my wedding dress arrived at the shop in my size ready for me to try. So on Saturday 31st October I rallied my troops (Mum, Laura and Beth) and off we went. They girls had to calm me down and I finally stepping into my dress.... Wobble over - it looked perfect.
I think the best wedding bargain I have found is my veil! I don't want a conventional veil and wanted something more along the lines of a birdcage veil to sit on my jet black hair. I searched and searched with no luck. Ones I did see, although they were perfect, were in the region on £100 - £150!!! WHAT!!! Just for a bit of net I will wear for about 2 hours! Give over!
I was just about to give up on the veil idea and just go without when I stumbled upon a great Burlesque style pillbox hat with attached veil on eBay by a seller called Kalandra. Well she became my saviour! The original one I saw was a little heart shaped hat in burgundy with a white veil attached. It was perfect except for the colour! I wrote to the seller and she emailed me back to say she would make one for me. I paid my £24.99 and awaited it in the post. When it arrived I was gobsmacked! It was perfect and a steal at under £30!
This is the one I have.
What websites/resources have been invaluable to you whilst planning your wedding ?
After Laura's advice I have been looking up wedding blogs. I now read them everyday and find them really useful!
Daily I visit:
Rock'n'Roll Wedding
Offbeat Bride
The Alternative Bride
Snippet and Ink
And of course Purple and Pearls!!
I also really love wedding magazines! My favourites and the only ones I really buy now are Wedding Ideas Magazine and Perfect Wedding Magazine. I have a feeling I will be still be buying them after the wedding! I really like to read the real life wedding section and see how others have celebrated their special day. It always amazes me how different and personal a wedding can be. Ours will definitely not be run of the mill, traditional!
How would you describe the theme of your wedding?
The main theme of our wedding is Blue and White. The sub theme of our wedding is... Star Wars!
Star Wars started as a very subtle theme with just hints like the table names being named after the Star Wars planets, the groomsmen all wearing Star Wars cufflinks and socks. The theme has some what extended and we have now acquired a Space/Star Wars backdrop to go in the smaller reception room along with a couple of Storm trooper cut outs directing people to the toilets, guest book etc...
I think its really important to include things that the groom wants as well as the bride. Its not something the groom will have dreamt about his whole life but it will be the most important day of his life too so I feel the day should reflect both of us as a couple. Plus I think it will be quite fun!
Lets just hope Darth Vader doesn't make an appearance and spoil the day!
The wedding flowers will be Orchids too, I’m looking a a bouquet style like this:
Where are you going on honeymoon?
My wonderful in-laws-to-be, Gill and Al are giving us money towards our Honeymoon - this has enabled us to book our dream getaway!
The main theme of our wedding is Blue and White. The sub theme of our wedding is... Star Wars!
Star Wars started as a very subtle theme with just hints like the table names being named after the Star Wars planets, the groomsmen all wearing Star Wars cufflinks and socks. The theme has some what extended and we have now acquired a Space/Star Wars backdrop to go in the smaller reception room along with a couple of Storm trooper cut outs directing people to the toilets, guest book etc...
I think its really important to include things that the groom wants as well as the bride. Its not something the groom will have dreamt about his whole life but it will be the most important day of his life too so I feel the day should reflect both of us as a couple. Plus I think it will be quite fun!
Lets just hope Darth Vader doesn't make an appearance and spoil the day!
The wedding flowers will be Orchids too, I’m looking a a bouquet style like this:
Where are you going on honeymoon?
My wonderful in-laws-to-be, Gill and Al are giving us money towards our Honeymoon - this has enabled us to book our dream getaway!
We are jetting off to Thailand on 23rd February for 2 weeks! We will be staying in the slightly quieter Khao Lak, it will be a little less touristy and more relaxing. we have booked the 5 star Le Meridien Khao Lak. I cant wait! It's just dawning on me that not only do we get this amazing wedding in 6 weeks time but we get to go on a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
We plan to go elephant trekking through the jungle, bamboo rafting on the rivers, snorkelling off the world famous Similan Islands and speedboat to Phi Phi Island. It will be the prefect way to start our married life.
Any words of wisdom you can pass along to newly engaged brides to be?
The best advice I can give you is:
1) Do it your own way. You can do whatever you like. Have whatever theme you like. Wear whatever you like! Its all up to you!
2) If your planning an offbeat/alternative wedding don't give up when you cant find what your looking for - it will be our there!
3) Never lose sight of why you are planning this special day - its all just run up to the marriage not just the wedding.
4) Its the grooms day too! Let him be involved when he wants to and make him get involved when you need him to be.
5) Have fun - the planning may seem endless and daunting but take it from me - when its drawing to a close you will miss it!
Thank you for sharing Suzie! I really can't believe we are now just weeks away from the wedding. I seriously can't wait, I'm so excited for the morning where we'll busy ourselves about getting ready, sipping champagne and watching Shrek! (Suzie and I reckon if we watch Shrek on the mornings of our weddings we won't feel as nervous and won't cry! I'm not sure why or how we think this will work, but if it does we'll have cracked the wedding morning jitters!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
