Confused bride!

Hi,

The only thing that pops out for me is that the ceremony will be from 12-12.30 approx.

The venue is 30mins away, so guests will arrice approx 1.15-30 ish but you're saying the reception will be at 3.30.

Will you realistically be taking photos for 2 hours? That's an awfully long time for people to hang around whilst cerytain shots are taken.

Congrats!!! And don't worry, I never sat and daydreamed about weddings/dresses either.

My thoughts:

Maybe too long a gap between ceremony and reception.

Will you have day guests and evening guests?

You will most likely need 2 servings of food, there are some great options for informal, inexpensive snacks or meals.

The dress is a big part of your day, I know exactly what you mean, I couldn't grasp the concept at first either. But go for the one you LOVE. The point of a wedding dress is that it ISN'T a dress you'd wear another day. This is the one big day of your life, the dress should be extra-special.

Will you have any bridesmaids? Ushers? Any entertainment in the evening?

Hi thanks for you thoughts.

We have left the gap as we know that as well as having photos taken in that time, majority of our guests will be travelling to us that day and that time gap will be for them to check into their hotels as they won't be able to do it before the wedding. It will also give us time to check everything is sorted at the venue. Does that make sense?

Thanks for the advice about the dress - I can see I am going to need to change my view of it!

Have the dress that makes you smile the most and if thats a proper wedding dress then so be it! The gap sounds like a good way for your guests to do the hotel thing. I would be tempted to go for a buffet if you want to keep the day fairly informal but a meal at 3.30 then a later buffet for evening guests if not x good luck!

I was the same at first with the dress, but you might find (like me) that the more you try on the more you want one! I was adamant when I first started looking that I wouldn't spend over £400 on a dress, but then I ended up blowing that budget and didn't care at all. I ended up telling myself that I can sell it after the wedding and hopefully get some of the money back!

I understand your thinking about giving guests tome to check in their hotels and freshen up a bit - I'd appreciate that opportunity if I'd traveled a long way to get to you. A lot of hotels though don't allow you to check in before 3pm, so it might be worth checking that out first just to ensure that your guests will be able to make use of that extra time.

I really didn't think I'd spend more than £300 on a dress, never seemed important before but suddenly became a lot more important when I found 'the one'. High street shops like monsoon etc have some gorgeous and very reasonably priced dresses if you were looking for something cheaper - or sample dresses or second hand?

The only thing I'd say on your suggestions so far is if some people are there from 12 onwards they'll definitely need two rounds of food

Hi,

Don`t know if you need them but i have a website with pretty fascinators, handbags and pretty hair accessories. let me know if yoy need any help

Lynne

www.weddingfascinator.co.uk

I know what you mean I never saw myself as the marrying kind but now I am getting married in 40 days!

I have no dress and have not even tried one on yet.

I ran out of the only wedding dress shop I went to as they all looked hideous to me.

We went shopping last week for honeymoon clothes and Coast do their own range of shorter, less structured wedding dresses and some were under £200.

Unfortunately nothing I liked enough to try on so I am still looking.

I don’t have much money to spend so the lovely Justin Alexander dresses are way out of my league. I found a lovely vintage shop in London but they started at £895 which I just don’t have so I am stumped!

We are eloping to St Lucia so at least we don’t have to plan anything else but I am sure the lovely ladies on this site will help you in regards to the guests and food etc.