I'm Married! My Final Post....

I had hoped to have been able to have done a few blog posts between the last time I posted and now but in all honesty, I Just couldn't find the time, what with getting married and going on honeymoon and all.

But here I am.  Today I write as a married woman.  Mrs S!

The day was everything I'd hoped it would be and we've had lots of lovely comments from our guests to say how much they enjoyed themselves.  My mm was hypnotised, we had 3 first dances and our vicar even joked during the ceremony how well organised I was as he'd counted up 28 or so (I'm quite sure he was exaggerating) emails from me.  But that's just how I roll.

We haven't got our photos back from the talented James Green and his assistant Merika just yet but we've been told to expect them shortly.  I will however show you the sneaky peek picture he sent to us as a teaser.

Photograph Courtesy of James Green Studio

And just another one we received from a family member as we were announced husband and wife!

Our honeymoon was fabulous.  We went to Lapland and stayed in Jeris in a little log cabin which looked out over the frozen lake.  We went husky dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing (Mr S' choice), skiing and had a picnic under the stars in front of a fire.  It was bliss.  To top it off, we managed to see the Aurora Borealis two out of the four nights we were there.  We were very lucky as some of the other couples didn't see them once.  

As it was the end of the season over there, it was very quiet and there were only 2 other couples that we saw and a family of 3 who we saw twice.  Other than the staff, that was pretty much it!

Now, this is going to be my last post on here as I only started writing this to stop myself from ranting everything wedding related at my friends and family for two years since our engagement.   And now I'm married so I suppose the intention has been fulfilled!

Thank you very much for reading over the last 2 years, whether it's been because I was stumbled upon by chance, maybe you read a few posts every so often or those of you who have followed the whole blog.  

I have just read a few posts back and those little things that I got stressed out about or those things that niggled me or made me anxious just seem silly now.  If you're a bride to be, I can honestly say, don't let the little things (and even some of the things you think are a huge deal) get to you.  I know it will, because I was given the same advice and so feel a bit hypocritical that I'm writing this telling other brides the same thing.  But on the day, as long as you are married to your beau and you have smiles on your faces, that's all that will matter.

Thank you again, sincerely, for reading.

Love, Mrs S  xxx

Four Weeks And Counting...

*Throws hand dramatically up towards forehead* Oh, I honestly don't know where the time has gone!  I've been super busy recently with starting my business, family life and attending meetings here there and everywhere, I've literally had no spare time to sit and write.  I can't lie; I have really missed it.  Gone are the days that I could sit and tap away on my netbook blogging to those who read it, but I've managed to get to a point now where I'm able to take a cheeky little 15 minutes or so for myself and update you on our wedding plans.  It is what this blog was started for in the first place after all.  

Long time no speak! On a serious note...

Hello, long time no speak!

I felt compelled to write a little post just now to clarify a little something that has been playing on my mind and that I'd like to stress.

Just recently, I noted somebody having a bit of a rant about bloggers "not keeping themselves up to date".  By this, I assumed that they meant that they were unimpressed with the amount of posts that that particular blogger actually blogged.  Pretty much like me I suppose.  However, I want to clarify the difference which is that I'm not a blogger that has created (if you will) a virtual style diary, to promote myself, any products or services and I certainly don't benefit from financial gain from advertisers.  The sole purpose I started this blog was to give myself a place that as a very excitable bride to be, I could rant, argue, put my points across, praise and be excited without boring to death my friends and family who understandably tend not to be as eager to talk about weddings 20 out of the 24 hours in a day.  A diary.  My diary.  I only want people to read it if they want to and not for any other reason.

 

It's a Hard Life Being Loved is all about me and my transition of being a newly engaged bride to be to that moment when I become a Mrs.  So when I don't write for a month, it's purely because I've not had much exciting happening in that month or even if something has happened, you lot probably won't want to read about it.  Can you imagine me tweeting to my followers to read my new post beginning;

"Hi there, I thought I'd tell you about how I got in touch with my vicar today and I'm waiting for him to get back to me now".

It'd be pretty boring reading.  Much like my ramblings are becoming now....

Anyway, now that I've got that all over with.  A quick update; I've managed to find and order my bridesmaids' dresses.  It has been a challenge to try and find a dress that both girls like but we eventually settled on one from Priddi.  It does take 12 weeks for them to be made but I'm looking forward to giving them to both the girls.   We've also now nearly paid everything off with just a few bits here and there so I'm super-pleased with how ahead of schedule we are.

In other news, I've actually been preoccupied with getting my health seen to.  I'm currently resting from an operation I had at the beginning of the week.  

I noticed a few weeks ago I had a mark on the inside of my bra.  Over the next couple of weeks I monitored it and it certainly wasn't clearing up so I left the house one morning and headed for my doctor's surgery.  

Image courtesy of feelyourboobies.com

Now, I am a regular self-checker due to my family history of breast cancer and the amount of advertisement and promotion that survivors and the NHS and various others have done to raise awareness.  However, I couldn't feel anything different and neither could my GP so she asked me to have some blood tests done.  

A hospital visit and phone call to check on the results later and it was confirmed that my blood tests were normal.  What I found worrying was the persistence on my part to my GP to see what we should do next due to my symptoms still being very much present.  It took maybe just over a week of phone calls to my GP to chase it up and then me having to "leave it with her as she wasn't sure what she should do next" before I got referred to The Pink Rose Suite at Grimsby, Diana Princess of Wales hospital.  

After seeing the consultant (6 days after I was referred no less), he also confirmed that he couldn't feel anything abnormal and for the majority of girls my age it was perfectly normal but that he would do some ultrasound scans because I was in the "moderate risk" category (due to my family history).  So I made my way back into the waiting room, weight lifted and sent a text to Mr S explaining everything was fine.

I laid down on the bed in the ultrasound room and was having a chat with the nurse who was explaining what everything was on the screen.  I sometimes think I'm too nosey for my own good but I strongly maintain that I'm just on a quest to enrich my brainbox.  Anyway, I digress.  As I carried on looking, I noticed a dark circular shape appear on screen and I knew something wasn't quite right.  The next thing I know, the ultrasound nurse had come back along with 3 other nurses and the consultant all suiting up ready to take a biopsy.  

I had gone on my own to this appointment.  I wish I had taken somebody with me instead of trying to be brave but shocked and with tear stained cheeks I drove back to work, then instantly got sent home.

I was due to attend the hospital a week later to obtain the results of the biopsy.  Now, here, I must explain that I'm such a person who doesn't think about bad things or scary things or nerve-racking things until the very minute I come up against it.  Especially in this instance, when absolutely everyone, including the consultant said the words "you're only 26, you'll be fine".  So, true to form, I thought "yeah, I will be, no doubt about it" and completely, utterly and wholly convinced myself that I would be, doing my typical nothing-bad-will-happen-if-you-don't-think-about-it routine.

So when I found myself sat opposite the consultant with him saying something along the lines of, "we've found a lump.  It's non cancerous but because of your family history we need to remove it just in case.  How'd you feel about that?", I couldn't quite decide.  Of course I was mortified but at the same time I had to remember and remind myself that the news could have been a whole lot worse.

I've just had my operation and I'm in quite a bit of pain.  My legs still feel weak and I've got headache and feel sick and dizzy every so often and my bruising is starting to come out.  The doctor permitted me to take my dressing off today and I won't lie, it's worse than I thought and yes, I cried.  

But after all is said and done, I am wholeheartedly grateful and lucky that the lump was caught before it could have turned into something more serious and that it's all been dealt with in the space of around 7 weeks.  Those 7 weeks have been very emotional and I can sympathise with those women (and men) who go through worse than what I've experienced.  Women like my two aunties and colleagues I used to and work with now.  How very brave and courageous these women are and continue to be.  

I want to say a huge thank you to all the team in the Pink Rose Suite and the B1 team at Grimsby, Diana Princess of Wales Hospital.

If you have any questions about breast cancer, self checking or worries please visit Breast Cancer Care and if you have any sort of worry please follow it up with your GP and if you feel unsatisfied with with any part of the diagnosis, don't be afraid to be persistent or ask for another opinion.  

Congratulations Sam & Nichole!

Just a quick congratulations to our friends Sam and Nichole who very recently got engaged outside Olivanders Wand Shop (Harry Potter for those of you that aren't familiar) in Universal, Florida.  

Image courtesy of harrypotter.wikia.com

It's such a relief that I don't have to watch what I'm saying around her now.  I've been panicking for months that I'd slip up but I've managed to keep quiet and now we can talk weddings! 


I'm looking forward to the engagement party as we chose not to have one.  We decided to save the money we'd have spent on the party and just put it towards the wedding.  Any chance for me to sport a nice frock and I'm there!

Dear Blog, I Haven't Abandoned You, Please Understand...

Gosh it's been a hard past few months.  That's why I haven't been able to find the time to actually blog for a little while so I sincerely apologise!  Firstly, and as you'll know if you read my post on redundancy (here) I was made redundant from my job which I'd been doing for 7 years.  Admittedly, I did have a year and a half gap where I trained, qualified and worked as a travel agent, was a local charity fundraising assistant and did a brief stint in telesales (bleugh!), but still, 7 years I put into my last job.

Next I had to deal with my Uncle Phil's death (which you can read here) and then my younger cousin was found dead in his house, and which, to today's date, we're still unclear as to the details.  It's just so sad.

Redundancy - On The Lookout

Image courtesy of citizensadvice.co.uk

I'm having a bit of a tantrum today (what's new?).  Some of you who follow me on Twitter may already be aware that I have just recently been made redundant from my 9-5 job.  I've gone through the motions of shock, anger, sheer panic and have come out the other end with the notion of acceptance.  

Invitation Drama

As I'm trying my hardest to stick to our budget for the wedding, I sourced my own invite making materials online.  So far, it's cost me approximately £50 to buy all the materials for 40 day invites (with 3 inserts each) and 40 evening invites.  I found Wedding Crafter to be a good quality and reasonably priced and have had no problems.  

You'd think I'd be over the moon at spending so little on wedding invitations when you can, in this industry, spend in excess of £150 for somebody else to do it for you.  That's all well and good if you have budgeted for that expense, or equally don't have the time nor patience or artistic flair to do them yourselves.

Hello again

No I've not disappeared, the most important thing is that I've finally found a little bit of time to blog! What with attending wedding fairs and making wedding related decisions not to mention working full time, redecorating or kitting out most of the house, welcoming a new nephew (congratulations to my sister-in-law and her husband on the birth of baby Walter, and well done for bringing all 10lb 6.5oz of him into the world Emma!) and looking after my teething puppy Dudley -  Who knew either frozen carrots or an old slipper stuffed with a few old t-shirts would work actual wonders!

Dudley

Ways to Save on Wedding Costs

Budget savvy brides, check out this post I found via Pre-Owned Wedding Dresses (.com)


It gives some clever and simple ideas on how to cut costs from the ceremony through to the cake and your Big Day outfit!

Click here to visit their site.  You'll thank me, honest!

GC Couture Cakes

Introducing GC Couture, a brand new division of Genuine Cakes (www.gccouture.co.uk)

Catherine

Genuine Cakes, the team behind Cheryl Cole’s birthday cake, has launched a specialist division for luxury wedding cakes - GC Couture.

Marie Sinclair, founder of GC Couture, said: “The GC Couture 2012 Collection has been individually and creatively designed around the style and genre of the Princesses of our time.

“Each cake will attract brides looking for something different; whether art deco, classic or vintage, our collection has something to catch every bride’s eye.”

To Update You & a Bonus - A Cheap, Easy DIY Wedding Decoration Idea!

I know it's been over a month since my last post but it has been such a hectic time so please forgive my absence.  Firstly, and as my last post explains, I had to see to my poorly dog Barney (who is now in doggy heaven) as well as try and train up our new puppy Dudley.  He's such an obedient and clever dog but he has a problem with nipping our hands which I'm really trying to get him out of the habit of doing.  Secondly, it's been Christmas and with me having such a big family, it's been a busy period of parties, cooking, get-togethers and socialising.  

So I hope whoever is reading this had a lovely Christmas and I'm sending wealth, health and happiness for the New Year.

My beautiful engagement ring which
Mr S picked out all by himself!

In the midst of indulging in the seasonal festivities, Mr S and I took a trip into our local jewellers and chose our wedding rings.  I did toy with the idea of having a traditional plain white gold band but in the end I decided it didn't compliment my engagement ring so have chosen something a bit more special.   I'll not show it just yet as I'd hate to jinx anything but the most important thing is that I love it and can't wait to wear it!  Mr S really surprised me with his choice but, to be honest, it is very 'him' and it's lovely.

The Planning So Far...

Just to keep you all updated.  We have (depending on how you want to look at it) one year, 5 months, 8 days, or 17 months or 74 weeks or 524 days left until our wedding (I only know this thanks to the Wedding Caddy app on my iPhone - I'm not that obsessive, honest).

Now, I'll admit it.  I'm an organisational freak. There are two things in life that I love (other than Mr S, my family, friends and my pooch).  1. A good moan about things, and 2. Lists.  I have lots of lists.  Lists of things to do today.  Lists with things to do short-term.  Lists for Christmas.  Lists for shopping.  Lists of wedding stuff to do (obviously), and to back them all up, a list of my lists.  I can't help it.  I was once known at my workplace to have surrounded my screen, pin boards and desk with post-it notes with lists on them.  My addiction is as such, so addictive, that now even Mr S writes lists.  Not to the extent that I do but still. Anyway, you get the point.  I love lists and being organised and efficient.

I know some people may think I am getting carried away with booking and planning the wedding at this 'early' stage, but, the way I see it is: -

a)  We get our first choice of various suppliers;

b)  I want to be in the situation that with 6 months to go before wedding, I will have everything sorted so we won't need to do much else therefore alleviating a lot of unnecessary pre-wedding month stress;

c)  We know exactly how much we now have to pay off and how much we need to save each month to do so;

d)  In respect of the above, because we have more months to save, the amount we put away in our savings account on a monthly basis is less than say having to find the money within 12 or 6 months.  I liken this theory to that of a mortgage.  People opt for a 35 year mortgage rather than a 20.  Why?  Because their monthly payments aren't as high;

e)  If I spent any more time looking through the minefield of what is the Wedding Industry trying to pick suppliers and my different options, I think I would literally explode;

f)  I get to tick lots of things off my 'wedding to-do list' and it makes me smile and I get an overwhelming sense of satisfaction when I see I'm getting through it.

Now tell me they are not perfectly good reasons to have started my planning and booking.

So, so far, we have booked/paid for/put our deposit on/decided on/have, our church,which is St Mary's in Marshchapel, Lincolnshire; our venue, the Habrough Boutique Hotel & Restaurant; our photographer, James Green; our wedding transport, Silver Spirit Wedding Cars; my wedding dress, a secret for now but was from Proposals Bridal; another secret is our entertainment but we have it booked; Mr S and the other men's morning suits are from 1860; our place cards are nearly complete; our guest list is as complete as it can be at this stage; hymns are chosen; honeymoon destination is chosen but can't be booked until 11 months before; I know what I'll be walking down the aisle to; the guest book is bought; I've planned a few surprises for Mr S;  our insurance is from E and L Insurance and yesterday, we picked out our wedding rings from Ernest Jones Jewellers.  Although, we haven't actually paid our deposit as Mr S wanted to be sensible and sleep on it.

So you see, nearly all of our 'main' things are in place.  Other than the bridesmaids' dresses (and this has only been put off because one of my bridesmaids is pregnant), flowers (as I'm waiting to have a look at a supplier's work at a wedding I'll be going to soon) and cake (I've not decided on a final design yet but I'm nearly there!), it's really just the nitty gritty things that need sorting out.  To be honest, when I look at my nitty gritty list, a slight sense of panic and anxiety overcomes me.  The list is just so long and I can't get anything ticked off it yet which secretly makes me want to rip the list into little pieces.

I'm concentrating on looking out for shoes and accessories at the minute.  I've also just finished a few mock designs of different invitation styles.  I just need to show Mr S so we can make a decision on which we prefer, then I can start sourcing the materials to get them made!  

Am I too organised (as in freakishly?), or am I sensible?  Leave me a comment, I'd love to know your opinions or tips!

Magician Anyone?

I'm very excited to have Mr Mark Waddington guest posting on my blog today.  Personally, I'm already sold on the idea but if you're still not sure on whether or not to hire a magician for your wedding, read on...

Reasons to hire a wedding Magician

When you are sorting everything out for your wedding day, hiring a close up magician doesn’t really come at the top of the list of priorities. You need to sort out your wedding cake, the photographer, the dresses etc. But, when you decide you do want to hire some kind of entertainment, there are many good reasons for booking a mix and mingle magician:

Keep Your Guests Entertained!

The most obvious reason for hiring any kind entertainment is for them to entertain people! At a wedding, there are undoubtedly a few periods of time which are quite long and drawn out for your guests. One of the times where you really need to provide entertainment for your guests (and is often forgotten about to be honest!) is during the photograph period. As the happy couple, yourself and your partner will be really busy getting them perfect shots for the wedding album which will leave you little time to go round and chat to your guests, so that will just leave your guests at the bar waiting around to either see you or wait for their call for photographs. By hiring a magician for this time slot, it will keep your guests entertained whilst they wait to take a more active role in the day! Typically the photograph period would last 90 minute to 2 hours, and is usually tied in with the drinks reception.

Another time during the wedding day where entertainment for your guests is crucial is at that point between the wedding breakfast and the evening reception. Some guests may want to go back to their hotel room for a bit, but yet again, more often than not your guests will just be left in the bar waiting for the next part of the wedding proceedings. Put a magician in at that point where it’s a bit more relaxed and a bit more informal and it will go down an absolute treat. It also shows to your guests that you have really thought about them. This period of time also can last about 90 minutes, so if you are considering hiring a magician for this period of time, why not book him for about 2 hours (depending on how many guests you have of course!) so then they can entertain guests that have been invited to the evening reception too!

Bring Your Guests Together

At a wedding, two different families are being brought together in the bond of matrimony, and the chances are that the majority of them will have never met one and other before the wedding! By hiring a mix and mingle magician, the two families will have something to talk about amongst themselves (y’know, like how good the magician was, and scratching their heads in unison over the perplexity of the situation that happened literally inches away from them, that sort of thing) and as a result the bridge will have been crossed and conversation amongst them will be so much easier for the rest of the day. This also reinforces why it is good to have a magician during the photographs, as this is the first chance during the wedding that guests have an opportunity to mix with each other, making it a perfect time to throw something in to get the conversation going!

Make It Easier For Your Guests

Weddings last all day, and by keeping things fresh and different for them, it will keep them interested, keep their energy up and give them something to remember the day by! A magician gives your guests a common talking point for the day (“ooooh, did you see the magician? He was dead good, and my wasn’t he attractive…” – you get the idea) and that extra something to remember your big day by. Of course they will remember your wedding day for what it is, but they will have something extra to remember, and years down the line when reminiscing about the whole occasion the subject of the magician will crop up again

Stand Out From The Crowd

Having a wedding magician is still a relatively new concept. There is on average 300,000 weddings a year in the UK alone, and I perform at probably about 70 weddings in a year, it is still a very different thing to do and you will be safe in the knowledge that you were probably the first one in your group of friends that has hired a magician for the wedding! (But obviously, all your friends will want to book the magician when they see just how much fun they can be, so make sure you tell your friends who you booked, then you can be safe in the knowledge that you were the trend setter!) Brides want something a bit different for their wedding day, so why not have a magician for that purpose!

Well, that is just a handful of reasons to book a professional magician for your big day. When you have decided you want to book a magician, you need to make sure you book the right one or, one that actually is what he or she says he is! (Make sure if they say they are a professional magician, that they are actually a professional and they don’t just do magic to earn a bit of money on the side – don’t be afraid to check their credentials and ask for references). The right professional magician for you might be me. Have a look at my website Yorkshire Wedding Magician 

If you would like a few reasons as to why Mark is ideal for you, then take a look here: 

Yorkshire Wedding Magician

-          About the author –

Mark Waddington is a professional close up magician based in Yorkshire. He travels all over the UK performing magic at various functions and weddings, with in excess of 140 bookings a year, but specialises in providing wedding entertainment. You can find out all about Mark by visiting his website Yorkshire Wedding Magician

Bridezillas, Please Take Note!

In light of recent events, (those of you on Twitter may already be accustomed to my woes) I thought it may be appropriate to write a Jerry Springer ‘Last Word’ kind of post.

You see, weddings are THE occasion that celebrates the love and devotion between two people who are happy to commit and spend the rest of their lives together.  Naturally, the two people will want their nearest and dearest to witness their commitment to each other when they express their vows to one another, be it, in the eyes of God or during a civil ceremony.

Traditionally, this is all that happened at a wedding.  It was once enough for two people in love to ask their friends and families to come together for one day to celebrate, be happy for the couple involved and cease the opportunity for the families to unite. 

These were the times before us, the times when a bride wore white because she actually deserved to and the husband traditionally carried their new wife over the threshold.  Heck, if you actually lived with your spouse prior to marriage then you had a quiet wedding and no fanfare at all! The big shindig, booze up and frolics on the hen and stag all came about at a later date (of which, I think we can all agree, are pleased about).

My point is, your wedding day is truly about getting married to the man (or woman) that you love and have willingly vowed to spend your life with.  Please don’t allow yourself, your sister, daughter, mum, cousin, aunt or whoever it is you know that is getting to be a bit of a Bridezilla, to think that the highlight and most important part of the day will be something which in essence, is a bit trivial in the cold light of day; the seating arrangements, the food choice, whether the cake has 2 tiers or 10, or the entertainment for your guests.  In fairness, your guests will be happy for you with whatever you choose and appreciate the fact that you have invited them to attend, witness and celebrate with you on one of the most special days of both of your lives.  

Getting over-emotional at the fact your cousin’s, best friend’s auntie had the same band as you is, to me, pretty bloody stupid.  So what if your next door neighbour wants the same colour scheme as what you’ve planned?  Who cares (apart from maybe you) that your invitations resemble the tiniest bit to the one you’ve just received for your other half’s sister’s friends wedding?

Another thing I think is key; don't be in competition with somebody else you know who is planning their day.  That is exactly what is it.  Their day.  Yours is completely separate and where the phrase "different strokes for different folks" is extremely important to remember. 

Your friend may love the idea of having a carnival or circus themed wedding, filled with fun and featuring bright colours and things to entertain in every direction you look.  This, on the other hand, may be your idea of hell.  And vice versa.  Do you see my point yet?  Do you? 

I'm not trying to put a dampner on anyone's day (honestly, I'm not).  It is, afterall, one of, if not THE most important day of your lives.  It's just that after going through this scenario over the last couple of weeks, with it heightening in the last few days, I've pondered over what is the meaning of marriage and how scarily huge the wedding industry is and how we can all get sucked in to thinking, what fundamentally is a jolly good knees up, is the most significant part of the day.  It isn't.

Please just take a step back from the Wedding Bubble you have surrounded yourself in for the past few months.  Remember that life is still carrying on as normal and will continue to do so after the event.  Most importantly, remember that this day is about you and your partner, standing in front of each other and your loved ones (who will continue to love both of you no matter what centrepiece you’ve chosen), to hear you vow to love and to cherish, from this day forward.

Love is all you need.

Bridal Party Gifts....Traditional or Unconventional?

Photography by James Green Studio

 

I've a way off my big day, just over 18 months to be honest. But my thoughts turned to my bridesmaids. Well, not just my bridesmaids but bridesmaids in general.

When I was a bridesmaid, I received a beautiful topaz and diamond necklace and I know people who have received flowers, champagne and jewellery as a token of appreciation but are they still an acceptable gift nowadays or are your right-hand girls (or boys) expecting something a little more unique?

Even though I am a bride on a budget, I still want to thank everyone who is helping me now, and will have helped come April 2013, make our day extra special.

Christmases, birthdays and in general, I am an easy person to buy a gift for. I'm grateful, appreciative and love to receive chocolate (not least because I'm a raving chocoholic), flowers, yes, even the £2 a bunch kind from the local supermarket, a gift voucher or cash. I know some people are of the opinion that a gift voucher is a bit of a cop out as it doesn't show any thought, as is the cash giving option, but I shall bore you with an example.

For our engagement, we received cash - not that we actually expected anything so it did come as a lovely surprise! Some people apologised, actually apologised for "just giving money". I don't understand why. With the money we received, we clubbed it together to buy a clay chimenea for our back garden and a large plant pot to rehouse our Devil's Ivy (which is currently taking over our hallway now it has more room to grow. Come see for yourself, seriously, it's like walking through a jungle before heading upstairs to bed). We'd wanted a chimenea for ages but it's one of those items that you sometimes don't have the spare cash to go out and buy for yourself. We also have a gift voucher for one of my favourite shops - Swags & Tails in Waltham, near Grimsby, Lincolnshire. They get new deliveries of different items every 3-4 weeks and we've yet to choose something to spend it on but I can't wait! Finally, me and Mr S have been saying for about a year now that we'd like a wood-burning fire but we've never gotten round to it for various reasons; time and lack of funds being just two but very main reasons. As a belated engagement gift, and when we get round to actually looking, we're having a contribution to our wood-burner.

So there you go, our loved ones who "just gave money" or a gift voucher have indeed made us very happy as we have things we couldn't have afforded to go and get ourselves and we're more than grateful for that.

Photography by James Green Studio

The point of that little ramble is to make brides think; do we buy our bridal party's 'thank you' gifts with something traditional, that maybe we would be happy receiving ourselves? Something like a bouquet of flowers, or a nice piece of jewellery that can maybe be worn on the day of the wedding? How about a gift voucher for them to book themselves in to receive a long needed relaxing massage, facial or pedicure. After all, they don't have a luxurious honeymoon planned to de-stress after the months of planning like us!

Or, do we try and tailor make their gifts to suit their personalities? You can even get things engraved with names and dates. Maybe one of your girls is like me and is a chocolate fiend. You could buy a basket or box, line it with tissue paper (colour to match your colour scheme to tie it in with the wedding day) and fill it with chocolatey goodness.

Same applies to wine lovers, cheese lovers, makeup or beauty babes, health freaks - you could use fruit, a voucher for a personal trainer session etc.

If one of your bridesmaids is usually a little bit short of cash, why not treat them to something you know they'd love but would never splash out on themselves. Maybe a lush pair of shoes, or a designer handbag, obviously depending on your budget.

How about a Pandora (or other charm bracelet manufacturer) bead or charm? It combines being traditional - the gift of a piece of jewellery - but also being able to personalise your gift with the type of charm or bead you choose for her.

Depending on when you hold your wedding, bridesmaids standing around all day in the summer months may appreciate a pretty fan, or for those bridesmaids you have wearing maybe strapless or spaghetti-strap dresses in the winter or cooler months, a wrap or bolero may be a nice and appreciated touch.

In all fairness, I do think that being asked to be a bridesmaid is supposed to be an honour and although I may be sounding a bit Bridezilla here, I'm actually just turning the tables and thinking about if it was me being a bridesmaid for someone else. I'd not expect a gift. Especially if the bride hasn't asked for the maids to pay for anything themselves. But to be perfectly honest, I think the idea of 'thank you' gifts can spiral out of control. If your bridesmaids are the type that expect you to spend an arm and a leg and aren't quite accustomed to the concept of a 'token of appreciation', especially if she knows you're on a budget, then maybe you should re-think whether that person is the right person for the job; the one who really knows you and will be there to support you through those smiles, memories and laughter and again through the tears, tantrums and late DIY nights!

If you have any other ideas or have been a bridesmaid who received an amazing (or not so amazing) gift, leave a comment to let me know! Same applies to all brides out there; what did you, or what are you going to be giving your girls?

Sass & Belle

One of my colleagues' sisters got married last week and kindly notified me about the wonderfulness of Sass & Belle. 

Sass & Belle offer giftware, vintage gifts and home decorations not to mention a whole section dedicated to wedding decorations!  If that hasn't caught your attention enough to go check out their website, their prices are exceptionally reasonable too, even for us brides on a budget.

Rose Garland, approx 180cm in length.
Available in cream, light pink and vintage pink - £8.95



These would look gorgeous draped over doorways, bannisters, around your cake or entwined around candelabras or birdcage centrepieces.

Birds Nest Hanging Tealight Holder - £6.95

Suspended by a 45cm chain with a hook at the end, hung around your venue or in the trees, would create a romantic, county garden feel to your wedding and can be used in your back garden after the event at a post-wedding BBQ!

Large cream vintage wire heart - 51 x 56cm - £9.95
Also comes in small - £4.95

I love the idea of using these as a DIY table plan.  You can display names and tables on the large heart or group several of the small ones on a board and use each heart to represent each table.

Cream wooden 'Mr & Mrs' - £5.95
20 x 8cm

Split into 3 separate pieces, can be displayed however you like!  Also would make a fabulous gift for the newlyweds.

DIY brides take note of their crafts and sewing section.  Lace, ribbon, buttons and pompoms that will be perfect to create invites, RSVPs and menus etc.

* All pictures and prices are correct at 25/08/11 on the Sass & Belle website.

Real Brides Q & A

                                  

I'm looking for some real brides and brides-to-be to be to answer a quick few questions about their big day.  Things like, venue location, dress designer, fruit cake or sponge cake....You get the gist.  Just a bit of fun.

Get in touch via Twitter xxChloeWxx, leave me a comment on this post or drop me an email by clicking here and I'll give you a few quick-fire questions which will then appear for all other brides to see!  See below for my example...

Name: Chloe W

Date of Wedding: 6^th April 2013

Fiancé(e) Name:  Mr S

Budget:  £0-5000,  £5001-10,000, £10,001- 15,000 , £15,001 – 20,000, More than £20,0001

Church/Civil Ceremony: Church – St Mary’s, Mashchapel, Lincolnshire

Reception:  Habrough Hotel, Habrough, Lincolnshire,

Number of Guests:  approx. 60 day, 130 night.

Insured:  Yes.  E & L Insurance.

Wedding Dress Designer:  TBA – Will be decided on Thursday!

Groom’s Attire:  Not even managed to get him to look at a picture of one yet.  Still looking!          

Number of Bridesmaids:  2

Number of Flower Girls/Page Boys:  2 page boys.                                 

Fruit Cake or Sponge Cake:  Sponge cake

Cake by:  Not ordered yet – still looking!

Photographer:  James Green Studio – James Green Studio

DJ or Band:  DJ but if budget stretched would hire a band also.

Veil, Hairpiece, Flower or Other:  TBA

Shoes:  Will be heels.  Have my eye on a few but will decide after chosen  dress!

Something Old, New, Borrowed, Blue?:  My new will be my dress, the others, well, I’m open to offers from nearest and dearest!

Transport to/from Reception:  Still looking!

Sweetie Bar, yes or no?:  I like them but may not have one at my own wedding

Colour Scheme/Theme:  Ivory as a base – English Country Garden.

Are you having entertainment?:  Not sure just yet.

First Dance Song:  TBC

Stationery designed and made by:  Me.  I’ll be making it all myself.

Honeymoon:  Maldives

Any top tips to share?:  Shop around and try not to  pay the first price you’re quoted if you can help it - always try to negotiate.   Also, make the most of friends and family with a talent!

Websites, suppliers or blogs worth a mention:  See the side of my blog page for blogs I follow and ‘My Wedding Suppliers’ page on my blog for, you guessed it, my wedding suppliers!  www.yourchurchwedding.org is an interesting read for those having a church wedding.

Lincolnshire Lovelies - I Need You!

I've just been having a bit of a discussion with a colleague about the area we live in and how when it has come for me to looking for wedding suppliers, I click on their web page or link, and it always ends up being a business in London, Manchester, Birmingham etc and there are never any suppliers (or not ones that I can find) who are based in or around the Lincolnshire area.  Considering Lincolnshire is one of the biggest counties in England, I'm looking for Lincolnshire Lovelies to help me not only find suppliers to use for my own wedding, but also so I can give you a bit of publicity and big you up to my friends, family and of course, readers of my blog!

If you are based, or cover the Lincolnshire area (and by cover, I don't mean charge a big fee for you to travel here), I'd like to hear from you.  Please get in touch with me via Twitter @xxChloeWxx or click here to send me an email.

Please let all your fellow supplier friends know and ask them too to get in touch, and I'll concoct some amazing exposure on my blog for you!

Another Rant Anyone?

I thought I'd start off with a warning.  This isn't going to be a short read, or influential or relevant to weddings at all really,  I'm just wanting to vent.  Again.  So are you sitting comfortably?  Then let me tell you about the series of events that happened to little 'ole me recently.  Well, Thursday night to be precise. 

It was my (soon to be) sister-in-law's birthday.  Mr S was working late so I said I would drop off her gift as soon as I left work.  I have been to their farm (she's married to a farmer) on countless occasions but as all country roads look the same to me, I'm never sure which roads I'm meant to follow.  After a courtesy-here's-the-directions-again-good-luck phone call from Mr S before I set off, I made my way through town and further out into the sticks.  Traffic thinned out, I was getting closer.  Then all of a sudden, from round a corner, a mahoosive tractor (a green one) towing an equally mahoosive wagon (in a matching green) was hurtling towards me.  He didn't slow down or anything and I had to swerve the car up on to the pavement to avoid being squished.  He didn't even care.  So I swore at him.  A lot.

Anyway, I carried on.  I was on the road I needed to turn right at the end of, however, 20 meters before my right turn which would have led me to the farm, a little man in a fluorescent orange jacket stuck a 'ROAD CLOSED' sign in front of me.  "But pleeeease?" I asked.  "No" said the little man.  So I turned down an even littler lane and followed a Tesco van who obviously didn't know where he was going either.  I know this because when we were 5-10 miles out in open countryside with only one lone house (you know, proper horror movie territory), he put his reverse lights on.  So I did the same.  He motioned for me to go first but I hadn't a clue where I was so politely smiled and waved him on in front of me.  I probably shouldn't have done in hindsight as the car was running on fumes.  I panicked and phoned Mr S.  "Well where are you?" "I don't know" I shrieked with a lump in my throat.  He tutted the 'God-you're such-a girl' tut.  The phone cut out as evidently, people who live in the middle of nowhere actually like to be cut off from the rest of the world and don't have any phone signals.  I sped up to try and find the Tesco van and managed to make my way back to a little village I know.  That's when Mr S phoned me again giving me more than a million directions all in one go.  I mean, how the heck am I meant to remember all of them when I'm lost?  In my panic stricken and angry/upset voice, I told him he had to stay on the phone and guide me to his sister's house whilst driving as I had told him I didn't know where I was going when I was on my own so this was all his fault.  Credit due.  He was fab.  Just like a sat nav but you could also have extra conversation and he checked I was still ok when pulling out of tricky junctions.  It did freak me out that he knew exactly where I was as I was driving (I had to check the car for hidden cameras and such like).  I drove past the farm, realised, started to do a 3-point-turn then realised a car was coming towards me.  Fast.  Turns out it was the in-laws.  I'd made it.  It was 40 minutes since I left work.  My shopping order was due to be delivered in 10 minutes. Turns out, my shopping was late anyway so it didn't matter too much. 

Not knowing this, I made a mad dash home.  I was met with a big hug in the back garden by Mr S who had now returned home from work (conveniently). 

Now, I've got a bit of a problem with my neighbours.  Two elderly gentlemen on either side of us.  Whilst I'm reading a book, doing something of obvious importance, or even just sunbathing (a rare occurrence nevertheless), they shout to each other over the hedges.  Over me!  Then a few weeks ago, Mr S came home to find neighbour 1 stood in our garden at OUR fence talking to neighbour 2.  Mr S confronted him in a polite but serious tone.  This time, neighbour 1 kindly offered us some homemade jam that his wife had made that afternoon.  "Thanks" we both said in unison, quite stunned at the generosity.  "Oh that's ok, it's plum jam.  I came and picked your plums yesterday".  He picked OUR plums from OUR plum tree in OUR orchard.  How very dare he.  My blood started to simmer.  "As long as I have some left for my plum crumble I'm doing this weekend" I said in as stern a voice as I dared.  I walked to the bottom of the orchard.  He'd only stripped the whole tree of plums leaving about 5.  Then he continued to say how he'd picked neighbour 2 a punnet as well!!  Blood officially boiled.  I had to go inside otherwise I think I could have said some things a lady just shouldn't be heard saying.  What has the world come to when you can't trust your neighbours not to steal your plums?

Then we found a leak in the kitchen window (as the blind was wet).  I still don't know what to make of that situation.

Somebody sent me this in an email.  It fits perfectly.

The reason this horribly long story is on my wedding related blog is this.  "We'll just have to put the wedding off", Mr S said.  I cried.  He apologised and said he didn't mean it.  I still cried.  This meant I woke up with puffy eyes and a migraine.  Then while I was putting on makeup for work, an eyelash fell in my eye and hasn't been seen since.  Every so often, my right eye will cry.  I'm not sure if it's because the eyelash is still there or if I'm subconsciously crying about the events I've just shared with you.

I still haven't got my DIY book that I won from Any Other Wedding, which is also upsetting me.  However I did get both of my typewriters that I won on eBay.  One is absolutely disgusting and is crawling with species of I-don't-know-what, hence why it is still in the box and all original packaging.  My other one is beautiful, and made up for all the crappy past events.  Only just though. 

My new vintage typewriter - made the day worthwhile!

Thanks for listening.  *Breathes a big sigh of relief*.