****2016 Brides**** 326 brides (and 3 grooms!) so far!

Big hugs. I had similar problems - in the end we've found a venue closer to the church (H2B and Mum adored it, I did really like it but not as much as them, but 'settled' on it due to its proximity to the church!) I was looking at 'up to an hour away' venues but had similar comments. I think at the end of the day, those that really matter and are really important will find a way to get there, as it's your day. We had planned provisions for grandparents etc that obviously were important but we knew would struggle (as didn't drive/didn't like driving unfamiliar routes) but were quite happy to leave everyone else to fend for themselves. I've been to weddings and travelled over an hour from church to venue. Yes its a bit inconvenient, but it wasn't my day and that was the venue they liked. I dont see why a bride and groom should have to settle on a venue they dont like just to satisfy others. Is your cousin married/did she have a church wedding? It may be she just doesn't understand. I know before I got engaged that it would be a given that I'd find my dream venue within spitting distance of the church - in reality once you factor in budgets and numbers quite often thats just not possible.

Wait and have a look at the new venue once its finished, and see how you feel. If it really blows you away the distance will be worth it.

I'm feeling really down about the whole wedding thing at the minute too. It just feels so far away, I really want to start organising more but I've not got enough saved. I'm working in a job I hate, with a stupid commute, can't find any other jobs, still not earning enough to put any money away for wedding, starving hungry thanks to my pre-wedding dress shopping diet, and I've got an exam in 2 weeks that I just can't get the revision material to stick for

Sorry - having a woe is me day! Once this exam is out the way I'm hoping I'll perk up (and again once I pass the 2 year mark!) Off to try and book some appts with photographers for consultations after exams are over to cheer myself up!!

@ Natlouise

Wow, that’s a lot sorted, glad it’s not just me then . If you struggle getting some of the glue off the jars, if you go to Lakeland and get this product called sticky stuff remover (you can sometimes get it in the Aldi) and it works wonders. I use it in work to take old labels of filing cabinets.

@xMrsC2Bex

Ha, I hate looking at how long away mine is. I’m getting really jealous of all the wedding reports going up at the minute (but shhh don’t tell anyone that ) te he he

@laurafish

Everything pretty much sorted with the move now? you looking forward to it?

Not too sure what to suggest about the situation to be honest. (I would be peeved if my OH’s parents had that much sway on what is meant to be our day). You shouldn’t have to “come round” to the idea. I’m not familiar with the area (and geography is not my forte) but are they any venues that are perhaps this far out that have accommodation? Is your OH totally on the side of his parents in this one?

@louise.coe93

ahhh sending big hugs hun. Try focus on one thing at a time. Try focus on your exam first and then go from there. Will passing your exam help you in getting a better job? As for saving for it at least you have get enough time to do it, and join facebook groups and mailing lists of places and shops you like and that way you can find out when they have offers on or big sales. There was a bridal shop not far from me selling most things with 70% off their sale prices and I only found out on facebook. As you said go and book a few chats with TOGs and the like, and if my hug hasn’t helped, you want me to send wine? Te he he

Louise - Thanks for your reply My cousin is married (20 years ago - I was her 2 year old bridesmaid!) and did have a church wedding. Her reception was at a place in the same town which is no longer open, but obviously at the time it was easy for her. Our area really sucks for wedding venues, it would be the perfect place to open one! I totally get what you're saying about the timing too, I think hitting the 2 year mark will make a difference definitely. Concentrate on your exam too, I find that concentrating on something else (for me the move and then friend's wedding) means time flies and all of a sudden another month has passed

jen-lou - I'm kind of excited but kind of scared too, it means I'm finally a grown up haha! Everything is mostly done, the tenants leave next week (we bought it 2 years ago but rented it out) then it's going to be a mad few weeks of decorating and moving everything in! Kind of just want it all to be over but at the same time I'm looking forward to 'making a home'

Totally with you on the parent's having too much input thing, it's an issue we've been through many times but nothing ever really changes. OH is not 100% on their side but he also thinks nothing of long journeys just for a meal or something like that. The problem is that we love barn venues but have found that they typically don't have accommodation included.

I will just keep looking I guess! Maybe all my worries will disappear when we go to the renovated venue. I just wish someone would launch a brand new barn venue with hotel next to it in the next few months, right next to our church... I will keep dreaming!!

Newbie over here - this is my first post. Engaged v recently and I'm eager to get planning! This site is a bit of a godsend.

We're aiming for 11 June 2016 :-)

Congratulations and welcome You have a date twin too!

Thanks for the heads up on that stuff Jen-Lou luckily my mum had some lying around and it's brilliant isn't it??!! Couldn't believe how easy stuff came off :]

Hi everyone, newbie here

Looking at getting married either April or June 2016. We are going to look at a venue next wed and trying to sort viewings for another 3 venues

also trying to fit in viewings for flat hunting (renting out which will pay for the wedding)

I have requested to join the fb group but havent been accepted yet x

Welcome! Once you have a date let me know, and I will pop you on the list The facebook group is pretty silent at the moment so you're not missing out on much, but I'm sure it will liven up as we all get closer to our dates.

xMrsC2Bex - Feeling you on the money side of things! It's difficult but I just have faith that it'll work out in the end

Hello and congratulations to all the newbies

Not too much going on here update wise. We've got A LOT of venue showrounds booked in for the next 4 weeks so looking forward to that! Seeing a range of budgets as OH is out of work at the moment, so unfortunately don't want to contract with a venue until it's secure. I'm just worried we'll either book an expensive venue and then not be able to pay for it, or book a cheaper venue and then have enough money to have a better one! It's soooo difficult!

Also, I love my dad so much, but he was driving me mad yesterday! The venue's we are looking at are dotted around our home town, maximum being about 30 miles from where my family live! He was saying that if it's too far away he won't be able to drink and will have to leave early to go home and look after the dogs! BUT if it's in or very near where he lives, he'll be able to pop back and come back! It really upset me as he is one of the main people I want there and I don't want him to go really early, but at the same time the venue's in the local area are RUBBISH!!! I was so stressed out last night and ended up giving myself a headache and the wedding is still 20 months away!!!

Sorry ladies, rant over! I can definitely see why people elope though! How can it already be a ball ache when it's so far away!

On a good note, hopefully over the next few week's I'll have found a venue that I love

Is there a FB group for us brides? If so, can someone send me the link so I can join please? xxx

I'm getting married on 16th April

Congratulations and welcome I've added you to the list and you have a date twin!

YAY!! Hello date twin

Please remove me from the list.

My wedding is now 2015 - happy planning all!

Hi!!! Do you have anything set in stone with your wedding? x

We have our venue & registrar booked that is all, I was thinking to start properly planning next year but have started looking at hair/make up options now as not getting married in my local area.

What about you? Xx

@laurafish.

Im so excited for you, I know what you mean about “making a home”. We’ve put of getting a new house until after we’ve got married (I moved into his house so it’ll always be his house if you know what I mean, not our home), but you’ve not got long left to go, hope youve got a bottle of bubbly for your first night there.

Hugs about the inlaws hun, well, go and see the renovated venue when you can, see how you feel about it, but a lot can change between now and even the next six months, so don’t be too disheartened, and to be honest your OH is marrying you, he should take your feelings into account not just his parents! (sorry had a few whiskeys sorting wedding invites out..). Anyways, a lot can change in the next few months and a new venue might pop up that is perfect for you (a secret location has opened up by me and its relying on word of mouth to pull custom, which seems to be working so you never know), it’ll all work out in the end though.

@Natlouise

I know!! fab stuff, stinks though te he he

@xMrsC2Bex

Ahh hun, I know the money side is daunting, but we are lucky we have time on our side, and if you can manage to get a deposit together to book things now, you get the prices as they are today, not the 2016 prices. I said to someone else recently, join mailing lists of places and suppliers you like and facebook groups and they will let you know when they have offers and sales (and even competitions!) on. I found if you are willing to shop around, and change the words you use in google when you search, you can get some great bargains. You will still be able to have the day that you both want and dream of, but it may take a lot of leg work first thats all. If you want help in looking for things just let me know and I will see what I can do.

Ohh exciting, keep us updated ?, what type of venue you looking at?

ahh bless him, lol, start hinting about a neighbour popping in to check on the dog that day, but there's plenty of time to sort it out as you say. Try not to stress yourself too much about it, if you still feel bad about it, just tell him you'd fell hurt if he went home on your wedding day, but make sure that if he insists on going home to make sure that he comes back again (there is usually someone who isnt drinking who might do you the favour of taking him and brining him back again).

Welcome to the new comers ?, good to see we have another date twin ?

Well, so far we have got:

Venue

catering, day and night

Photographer

Decorations

Wedding dress (will be in the shop by September)

Wedding shoes (had to for the next dress fitting, te he he)

We can only book the registrar 2 years in advance so will do that as soon as the dates become available this summer.

Ive looked at make-up already too,..i'm sure there is other things too,

ohhh, and ive got the invitations sorted......

...thinking about it think I may have a slight organisational problem lol ?

Good morning

Could you please change my date to 26 th August, deposit paid and date confirmed ))))

Ah exciting, congratulations! And you still have a date twin

Hiya girls, I have 2 venues to view next wed now and hoping I like one them and we are trying to view a third but its getting it all in as we are also buying a flat to rent out so are arranging viewings for that too! stressed is not the word! Plus juggling 3 kiddies and Dans hospital appointments! ARGH!

I didn't think you could book the registrar till 12 months before...? Or is that just my crappy area, lol.

I've heard that's the case in some areas but I booked mine 2 and a half years in advance, think it's just that I'm lucky with the district we are marrying in.

Wow, I can't believe how organised everyone is, putting me to shame! So far we have booked our venue and registrar, that's it. I have still only been to one dress shop and that was more just for the fun of it than seriously looking. I'm starting to see the benefits of doing most things early though, as others have said it spreads the cost massively, maybe we had better get a move on...

I can't believe how organised everyone is either!!!

Booked our venue thought we were doing well!! Sometimes when I'm telling people about planning they're always telling me I've got plenty of time and it's too far away to be thinking about it!!!

I might try try contact a registrar though because I thought if was 2 years, were getting married in the Harrogate district, does anyone know??

I really want want to go try dresses on too!! But I'm scared they're going to tell me to come back later!!!

Better start making more plans soon though!!

I know what you mean with dress shops, the one I went to was great and the shop assistant helped me try them all on, even extending my appointment to go on a bit longer as they had a cancellation. Some are snobby and rude about it though, before I found the one I went to I tried to book an appointment somewhere else and I got a snotty email telling me to come back when I'm 'looking seriously.'

I haven't even booked my venue so you ladies seem super organised but we're going for viewings over the next few weeks :-)

With dresses, I went with my mate who's getting married in June 2015 and most of the shops told me I've got loads of time and didn't seem that interested which I thought was a bit mean!! But I did go in one and she said they already had dresses in for weddings in Sept 2016 so never too early! Xxx

Hi all im a hitched newbie. im planning my wedding for 4th june 2016. Looking forward to getting to know all the ladies on this thread. Xx

Oooh Leanne that's day after me!!!

16th September 2016 ?

so excited

Hi everyone.

we are getting married in sept 2016 and It's so hard to decide on what you should and should not start organising. We are currently looking around venues so hoping to get them booked up soon. We also have appointments with photographers. As for anything else I don't know if we should wait til next year to start thinking about things. There is an upside to setting a day for two years time, the upside is having time to save for things, the downside is being stuck in limbo and wanting to buy everything you see but being told it's too early hahah

Morning ladies, hope you all had good bank holiday weekends!

becksh1981 and LeanneMills I've added you both now - welcome

becksh I don't think there is any harm in looking in to other stuff now, at least to get an idea of what you want and how much it's likely to cost.

Glad to see the group growing, still waiting for a date/venue twin but hey ho. We have sort of made progress by deciding we will definitely have a Humanist ceremony. If the law stays the same this will mean we will go to the registry office the day before and do the 'paperwork,' but this doesn't bother either of us and our wedding day will still be the day we declare our love, the legal bit isn't as important. I'm not booking it yet as I want to wait another year and see if the Government does decide to change the law, then we'll take it from there. Anyone else having a humanist ceremony?