Ok..loads of newbies, possibly some lurkers too, let's have an introduction thread!

Name: Kitty

Age: 26

Wedding Date: 30th May 2009

Location: Hampshire

Colour Scheme: Navy and White and dusky pink

Wedding Planning tips: Wedding ideas is a great magazine for planning! and the cheapest! and remember..google is your friend.

Name: Melanie (Mel)

Age: 28

Wedding Date: 2nd August 2008

Location: London, but originally from Wakefield and that's where I got married

Colour Scheme: Silver and baby blue

Wedding Planning tips: Do what you want, not what you think is expected of you.

Zippy, don't these things normally have a "How/when you met h2b" line?

ETA:

Where/When met H: He was in a band with one of my flatmates in our first year at university. We didn't actually properly get together until the January of our second year. This coming Thursday will be 9 years.

Where/When got engaged: At home on December 22nd 2007. H said he wanted to cook a Christmas meal so we could have our own little Christmas, just the two of us, before going to stay with my parents for Christmas. Turns out he was actually planning to propose. He cooked the whole meal himself, including a lemon cheesecake for dessert - my favourite! He knew I'd say yes, but he's too shy to have done it in a public place. I liked it this way. Made it personal and special.

Name: Amanda

Age: 25

Wedding Date: 22nd August 2010

Location: Kent

Colour Scheme: Gold and Ivory

Wedding Planning tips: Enjoy every moment of planning, the ups and the downs

ETA

Where/when you met h2b: While working at Alliance and leicester 2005

WHen/Where got engaged: 25th Decemeber 2006 while opening our xmas presents. He was on his way down to getting on one knee when he just started crying and kinda of shouted "will you marry me" inbetween sobs!!

Name: Stacey

Age: 22

Wedding Date: 25th July 2010

Location: Kent

Colour Scheme: Ivory & Champagne (at the moment!)

Wedding Planning tips: Don't get stressed over the small stuff, don't let family politics rule your decisions, and keep an open mind! What's always been in your mind for the perfect dress, flowers, cake etc, might not actually be the one that works best. That way you might also save some money!

Name: Jen

Age: 22

Wedding Date: 3rd September 2010

Location: Glasgow

Colour Scheme: Deep purple, dark blue, and cream.

Wedding Planning tips: Ebay and google are musts! As is Hitched of course!

ETA:

Where/when met H2B: At school- he was in the year above me

How we got engaged: He told me we were going up to a hotel in St Andrews to visit his aunt and uncle who were 'on holiday there' so we went to the hotel they were apparently at and as I sat in the bar, he checked in. We went up to the room to 'have drinks' but they weren't there- there was champagne, chocolates, music playing, and he asked me to marry him there and then! He had packed me a little overnight bag with 4 outfits for dinner so I could choose, he even remembered my make-up remover, jewellery, hair serum- everything except a cardigan so I couldn't leave the hotel as it was too cold (not that that was a bad thing, lol)! ?

Name: Lynsey

Age: 27

Wedding Date: far too soon, 23rd May 09

Location: Lanarkshire

Colour Scheme: Don't really have one but kinda greens, blue and champagne colours

Wedding Planning tips: Does it really matter if everything does match! Don't stress over small things because on the day it won't matter.

Name: Nicole

Age: 20

Wedding Date: Sept 2010 (Don't know the exact date until a few days before!)

Location: Cambridge (H2B - weekends and holidays!), Northampton (uni) and originally from Sheffield.

Colour Scheme: Blue (sea coloured!) and white

Wedding Planning tips: Book a wedding abroad! All i need is a dress!! (almost!!)

Where/when you met h2b: In Turkey in 2006, hence the wedding in Turkey!

When/Where got engaged: Sept 2008, in a restaurant in Northampton (same as our valentines restaurant!) - very public display

Name: Bridget

Age: 27

Wedding Date: April 6th 2010

Location: Surrey

Colour Scheme: Light Blue, Silver and Cream

Wedding Planning tips: Get all your friends to get married first and then steal all their ideas!!!

Where/when you met h2b: Working at an outdoor activity centre for children in Cumbria.

Name: Rockclimbingtigger/Emma

Age: 31

Wedding Date: October 10th 2009

Location: Spalding, Lincolnshire

Colour Scheme: Champagne and chocolate brown.

Wedding Planning tips: Remember why you're doing it in the first place. As long as the person and people you love are there, the rest doesn't matter.

Where/when you met h2b: We met on an online dating site. ?

Name - Stupidgirl45/Becky

Age - 27

Wedding Date - 25th July

Location - Cardiff

Colour Scheme - Black and White

Planning tips - research lots on the internet, and get advice from Hitchers and your married mates.

Where/When met H2B - uni, he was my hall tutor...

Got engaged - in A+E in St Georges Tooting, and then chose ring together....

Name: Charley78/Cheryl

Age: 30

Wedding Date: 30/10/2010

Location: not confirmed yet, we're visiting the last venues in next 2 weeks

Colour Scheme: tbc but probably chocolate and a sort of burnt orange

Wedding Planning tips: it's about me and h2b and noone else.

Where/when you met h2b: at a work evening function

Got engaged: Hmmm - not romantic at all, we had a huge row because I thought he was stringing me along about marriage and didnt really have any intention of asking me/it wasnt a priority for him. He went to work the next day passing me on his way out without speaking to me. Didnt hear from him all day. He got home late, I was in bed crying and he flung a recipt for the ring at me ? turns out he thought he'd lost me by putting other things first for the last 5 years and i thought id lost him because of my big mouth! We may have to come up with a better version of this i think!

Name: Little.miss-scatterbrain/Annie

Age: 26

Wedding Date: 5th sept 09

Location: Argyll

Colour Scheme: Platinum, black and red

Wedding Planning tips: its your day, have it your way!

Where/when you met h2b: in a dodgy nightclub in paisley!

WHen/Where got engaged: 2nd sept 08 in our livingroom!

x

Welcome to all the newbies, and hello to all the lurkers - you should join in!

Name: bluewater aka lucy

Age: 29

Wedding Date: 1st august 09

Location: (another one in) kent

Colour Scheme: erm.... like purrfectgems, we're not really having one, but things are mostly navy and silver

Wedding Planning tips: i have a few..... ?

• it is not just your day, it is your h2b's day too - don't forget him in all of this.
• and it is only ONE day, so don't stress and become a bridezilla, and don't worry about the fact your ribbon doesn't exactly match your h2b's tie, or your roses aren't the perfect shade of pink. you are getting married to your h2b and *that's* what it's all about.
• come on hitched - lots.
• read wedding mags FOR INSPIRATION ONLY though!
• your friends and family will probably not be as interested in the wedding as you are until nearer the day so don't worry if they don't involve themselves in conversations about favours...

Where/when you met h2b: while we were living in paris, dec 2000

WHen/Where got engaged: in central london, gorgeous hotel, may 2008

ps and you can quote me on the whole stress / bridezilla tip in the week prior to our wedding... ?

Name: Scorpio aka Lori

Age: 27

Wedding Date: 16th May 09

Location: Hamilton but getting married in Gretna Green

Colour Scheme: light pink and shocking pink

Wedding Planning tips: Just enjoy yourself and remind to include your h2b

Where/when you met h2b: palying rounders with work

WHen/Where got engaged: we were out celebrating New Year and he proposed at the bells (last year)

A very big hellooooooo to all the noobs!.....and, in fact, to all the oldies who are still lurking(like me!)!?

Name: Mazzy-moo / Mazzy

Age: 24

Wedding date: 26th September 08

Location: Leicestershire/Rutland

Colour scheme: Choc brown, ivory, champagney and burnt orange flowers.

Wedding planning tips: Seriously, don't sweat the small stuff. You'll never manage to please everybody, so just do what you and our OH want. Figure out whats most important and start from there. And don't forget to enjoy your day.

Where/when you met your H: We met when we both worked for Sainsbuggers.......THINK that was about 8 maybe 9 years ago. I don't remember! We were friends through one of my good friends for a while before we got together.

Where/when you got engaged: On the way home from work one night I told H we'd be going on a last minute cheapy hol the next week. We booked it and he started acting all suspicious. I knew something was up! While we were away (a quiet part of Kos), we went for a walk on the beach at sunset and sat down on the farthest sunloungers from the towny bit. H was just about to do his thing when a random guy appeared from NOWHERE out the sea in nothing but the tiniest red speedos you've ever seen nd started walking straight towards us!? Kinda killed the moment! Anyway.....once said weirdo had buggered off, H got on with it and popped the question. That was either the 2nd or 3rd ofAugust 07. Everyone's reaction (except my parents - the oldies will know the back story to that one!) to the news was 'Congratulations! Its about bloody time!'

Name: DumbleSpud/Marie

Age: 26

Wedding Date: 5/6th April 2010 (depending on how quick we can organise the wedding in Tobago)

Location: Essex

Colour Scheme: None!

Wedding Planning tips: Chill - things will go right in the end!

Where/when you met h2b: Down the beach - I was 14 and he was 15. We didn't start going out till I was 18 and he was 20 in July 2001.

WHen/Where got engaged: October 2003 (had a lot of ups and downs since then) - H had finished work and was walking me home when he asked me to put my hand in his pocket - I refused as I thought he was playing one of his dirty tricks on me - I eventually put my hand in and found the ring box. H2B got down on one knee in a puddle whilst it was raining and proposed.

Name: Damiana/Sarah-Louise (but known as something else)

Age: 26

Wedding Date: 2nd May 2009

Location: Gloucestershire

Colour Scheme: Green, Gold & Ivory

Wedding Planning tips: Umm..... try to be organised....not working great for me tho!

Name: Pink Alien / Hannah

Age: 28

Wedding Date: 31st May 2008

Location: Totton - just outside Southampton, Hampshire

Colour Scheme: Dusky Pink, Ivory and a bit of Sage Green

Wedding Planning tips: Do as much as you can before the day, but on the day just relax and enjoy yourself! Also like someone said - don't feel silly asking any questions on here, someone is bound to have been through it and can give some advice!

Where/when you met h2b: Through friends at a party in 2001, didn't start going out till 2005 though.

WHen/Where got engaged: November 2006 in Bruge - H took me away for our anniversary and proposed in a bandstand.

Name: Fiona

Age: 21

Wedding Date: 8/8/09

Location: Wigan

Colour Scheme: Chocolate/Orange

Wedding Planning tips: If you can don't set a budget as such just keep track of how much you are spending but order all your major stuff first.

Where/when you met h2b: At Work

WHen/Where got engaged: Sept 06 Eiffel Tower

Name: Nina

Age: 28

Wedding Date: 10th October 2009

Location: Nottingham

Colour Scheme: ?

Wedding Planning tips: Nofavours!

Where/when you met h2b: On a street corner (!) 11 years ago

WHen/Where got engaged: In bed, whilst jetlagged, and needing something to organise after our amazing holiday

Name: Sarah-Kay (although most people just call me Sarah!)

Age: 25

Wedding Date: 5th September 2009

Location: Essex

Colour Scheme: Not decided yet, most likely some form of red

Wedding Planning tips: Use people around you, such as BMs and mums, they want to helo so give them a job to do!

Where/when you met h2b: He went out with my best friend? They only dated for 6 weeks and we got together almost a year after that so it's not as bad as it sounds. The friend is now my MOH, and is happily married. (Although she has since emigrated ?) Should make for some interesting speeches anyway.

When/Where got engaged: December 31st 2008, on a boat on the Thames before we went back to the Hilton. It was also our 5 year anniversary and my birthday

? Where abouts in Essex?

Loved hearing all your stories of how you met your other halves and got engaged!

Name: Lulu Elliott aka Wedding Saving Expert

Age: 29

Wedding Date: 24th MAY 2008 - Yup, still hanging out in Bridal forums

Location: Oxfordshire - the Cotswolds

Colour Scheme: Hot Fuscia pink

Wedding Planning tips: Don't emotional spend - it will be the day of your dreams because you're marrying the man of your dreams. You should be investing in the marriage, not just the wedding day

Where/when you met h2b: The boy next door - literally! He lived in the flat below

WHen/Where got engaged: Feb 1st 2007, Rushcutters Bay, Sydney 8am - we were jetlagged and had just had breakfast

Yes I'm now classed as a lurker...

Name: Rebecca

Age: 30

Wedding Date: 9th August 2008

Location: Sheffield

Colour Scheme: Dark blue and silver

Wedding Planning tips: Don't worry about the weather, there really is nothing you can do about it. I worried and worried, I cried when I saw the weather forecast, I said I wouldn't leave the house if it was bucketing down... On the day it rained and rained, I left the house (!) and still had the best day of my life, in fact it added to it in some ways :-)

Where/when you met h2b: He was a suppky teacher at my first school (I'm a teacher!)

WHen/Where got engaged: 2nd/3rd Feb 2007 (we think it was past midnight when he finally proposed) Sailing down the Choa Praya river in Bangkok, on a privately chartered dinner cruise, just the 2 of us.

Name: Royalty

Age: 22

Wedding Date: 29th August 2009

Location: Co.Durham

Colour Scheme: Gold, Ivory & Burgundy

Wedding Planning tips: Don't stress over small things, it won't matter on the day (hopefully!)

Where/When met H: Can't really remember when, he was my best friends boyfriends mate, and it we just hit it off right away

Where/When got engaged: At home on the morning of my 21st Birthday, with breakfast in bed.

Name: Royalty

Age: 22

Wedding Date: 29th August 2009

Location: Co.Durham

Colour Scheme: Gold, Ivory & Burgundy

Wedding Planning tips: Don't stress over small things, it won't matter on the day (hopefully!)

Where/When met H: Can't really remember when, we knew each other a while before we officially got together as he had a girlfriend he was my best friends boyfriends mate, and it we just hit it off right away, we have been together 8 years.

Where/When got engaged: At home on the morning of my 21st Birthday, with breakfast in bed.

Name: cantwait2bMrsC

Age: 29 (30 in june aaargh!)

Wedding Date: 27th June 2009

Location: Staffordshire

Colour Scheme: Ivory & red wine/Burgundy

Wedding Planning tips: Don't really have any tips as i'm fairly new to all this wedding planning, but Hitched has been a huge help to me (in fact i'm now a self confessed Hitched-aholic and cant seem to let a day pass without coming on here!)

Where/When met H2B: At work through a mutual friend. H2B nicked my phone number off his mate who was texting me at the time. H2B didnt have a clue who i was but randomly started texting me and we just really hit it off. Spent the first 10 days of "knowing" each other only communicating by text and then only met in person when we went on a proper date a week and a half later. But even before we'd sen each other and only "spoke" by text, i knew we'd be together a long time. That was 4 years ago :-)

Where/When got engaged: At home on Christmas morning 2008. My ring was wrapped up (in a larger box so i couldnt tell what it was) and hidden under the tree amongst the other gifts.

Name: Cat26

Age: 34

Wedding Date: 13th June 2009

Location: Kent

Colour Scheme: Purple and Ivory

Wedding Planning tips: If you ask a question on Hitched, you will get an honest answer! You only need to buy one wedding magazine, it gets the ideas started.

Choose the best time to talk wedding to your man, preferably when he's just eaten, has a beer in his hand or you've just had sex - he will agree to most things - and disagree to less things at this point! Don't get bogged down in the detail, shades of chair covers etc, people won't remember that stuff afterwards ;-).

Where/when you met h2b: We worked at Woolworths HQ (God bless it) and we were both fire-marshalls - how square!

WHen/Where got engaged: 24th September 2008 at Mount Etna

Name: Minnie09

Age: 25

Wedding Date: 27th June 2009

Location: Cambridgeshire

Colour Scheme: Green & White/Cream - Very neutral

Wedding Planning tips: Don't let others influence your day. Make the choices you want - the both of you!!

Where/when you met h2b: We worked together for a couple of years before finally getting together.

WHen/Where got engaged: 17th June 2008 in front of the castle during the fireworks at Disney, Orlando.

Name: Janet

Age: 29

Wedding Date: 21st Feb 2009

Location: Northampton

Colour Scheme: Ivory and Burgandy

Wedding Planning tips: utilise family and friends to the max - we did!

Where/when you met h2b: Working in McDonalds in 1999

When/Where got engaged: in a pub June 23rd 1999

? to you too!! I live in a inbred sleepy town near Colchester. How about you?