Soo many questions

Sorry to hear about your FIL job situation.

1. Rings - we got ours from a studio in Hatton Garden, much cheaper than the shops. Not heard of the shops you have quoted.

2. Flowers - We got fake flowers from a HIB on here, which we could sell on after (or keep next to my bed like I have!). This for me was much cheaper than real flowers and I didn't have to worry about them being delivered on the day.

3. Make-up & Hair - I did my own make-up after a trial at Benefit and got a friend to do my hair for a lot cheaper.

We also bought the suits for the Groom and Best Man, at £120 for the Groom and £50 for the Best Man it was cheaper than hiring and they got to keep them.

1: Never heard of either of them companies. We used Smooch for ours and they were very reasonable with a massive collection to choose from.

2: My BM bouquets were £35 each for about 20 roses and £75 for my bouquet which are essentially orchids. Gerbera's aren't overly expensive so you should be looking at far less that that. Your best to go to a few florists and get some quotes.

3: You don't have to spend that much on hair and makeup. It depends on your priorities, if your not too fussed about professional make up then do what Mrs C did and go for a trial at a make up counter to get some tips then do it yourself. If you would rather someone else do it then shop around for quotes and find someone who is within your budget.

1. Rings: I've never heard of those shops.. I would be careful when comparing the two rings, though. Are they different metals? Do they specify the size, cut, clarity, etc of the diamonds (if you have them), are they covered for life with free cleanings and repairs if the stones fall out? Money shouldn't be the only deciding factor! My ER is from Swag, and we will probably get our wedding rings there, too.

2. I was quoted £70 for a hand-tied posey of peonies, garden roses, and bits and bobs of green things to make it interesting. BM bouquets of garden roses for £30 each, and rose button holes for £4.95 each (carnations would have been £1.50!) I would assume that gerberas would be much cheaper than the roses and peonies, but I would expect you'd still be paying somewhere around at least £30, £20x4, £2x6, and for the table top decoration, I have no idea. This is on the very very cheap end, though, and I'm only speculating.

Personally, after getting that quote I decided to buy the stems the day before, condition them myself at the venue, and then I'm making my own peony and rose bouquets and button holes on the morning of the wedding myself. I did a few flower arranging courses in Japan, and I feel confident in my ability to put the bouquets together, I just need to make sure I know how to condition them properly before hand so they last on the day!

There are tons of flower arranging tutorials floating around on the net, too, if you decide to DIY.

I was in Tesco the other day and they had a gorgeous bunch of tulips and ranunculus for £7, and I looked at it and thought, "all this needs is a pretty ribbon and it would make a wonderful bridal bouquet!!

3. I'm of the opinion that they are unnessesary, but good to have if you can afford them.

You can get make up tutorials for free at department store make up counters, then you can do your own on the day or have a BM do it. As for hair, if you're confident that you can do something you'll be happy with, then by all means! Putting a fresh flower in your hair could be pretty, or DIYing a tulle birdcage veil attached to a comb or fabric flower hair clip. So many options here.

Rings - both Smooch. About £650 but we chose to have extras such as diamonds and specially shaped one for me. We paid by installments so that was good.

Flowers - about £300 for all silk

Make up/hair - friend doing my hair, got her a £20 Pandora charm to say thanks. Make up - £170 for me aand my mum's, inc trial and travel.

1. Not heard of those... am getting mine from hsamuel.

2. Getting silk flowers from a HIB on here, If I recall correctly it's about £70 for my posy style of gerberas and roses, £30 each for bridesmaid gerbera posies and something like £5 each for buttonholes.

3. Having mine done professionally but if you want to do yourself either get a friend to do it or have a trial at a makeup counter and get them to talk you through it. Make sure you have quality makeup though as it needs to last all day. Thats partly why I'm having mine done, by the time I bought all the stuff I'd need it would cost just as much (as I don't really have a lot of makeup day to day)

Hiya,

My engagement ring is from Seventy Seven Diamonds and they were fab, really good customer service and the ring is wonderful - I had to get my ring resized when my OH proposed and it was back within a week (which included me sending it to them via special delivery & them returning it to me). We are planning to go to their showroom in London for our wedding rings.

Not sure on your other points yet as not that far into planning.

Claire x

Our rings are from a studio in Hatton Garden. Just under £900 for both platenium rings.

Our flowers are silk from a local supplier. costing £350 for 10 centerpieces, top table centerpiece, my flowers, x4 bridesmaids flowers, 7 button holes and 4 corsages.

I am having my normal hairdresser do mine, bridesmaids and mums hair. I am having a MUA as she was amazing at my trial and she is my one indulgence. Bridesmaids and mum are both having hair and MU but are paying for their own

Can I just say shop around. We knocked money off our rings by trawling the places on Hatton Garden and haggling. We looked around for flowers and settled on a lovely lady with a shop in Epping. If you can save money with points 1 and 2 you can afford 3!!

If you need any DIY ideas then please give me a shout. We did all our stationary and my MIL is making our bridesmaids dresses and men's cravats.

L x