Hi everyone, now that we are htting the one year mark (mine is tomorrow eeek!) I thought I would start this thread so we can all introduce ourseves and our weddings- chances are we will all be going through a lot of the same things at the same times and thought it would be great to share our experiences and support each other through the next year!
So yes hello I am Nikki! Me and my OH have been together now for 7 and a half years and he proposed (as my family and friends would say.. finally!) in february 2012 in mexico 
We have done lots of planning so far, all of it very chilled out and no stresses yet......
Our wedding date is Thursday 15th May 2014.
We booked our venue last june, it is a beautiful barn with seperate room for our civil ceremony and accommodation for 60 guests as well. We live in Colchester, Essex and the venue is called Vaulty Manor in Maldon... I will do a seperate posts with all of our flashes together
On the morning of the wedding me my mum and best friend, moh and only bridesmaid Claire will be getting ready in the bridal suite. I've booked Dawn Taylor to do our hair and make up. Will flash my hair ideas seperately too.
The ceremony starts at 13:30. We're wanting it to be kept short and sweet so are not having readings. We are giving notice next week so hope to be a bit clearer about the ceremony soon. I will be walking down the aisle with my dad to Better Together (hawaiian slack key kings version) by Jack Johnson (on itunes if you want to listen) havent completely decided on the other songs yet. There will be 60 guests in the day.
Once the ceremony is over we are providing the prosecco and/or orange juice for the reception drinks, and will be having our photos here. Hopng for nice weather outside of course! Also having canapes. Our photographers are booked - it is a bit of a risk as our bidget was tight, they cost £500 for the whole day and are our age (27) with only about six weddings under there belt (more by next year) but check out the facebook page and you'll see why they won us over, the photos are gorgeous! We've met with them and also really like them too. We want our wedding to be casual with no airs and graces with our guests feeling comfortable and not on their best behaviours, so a chilled couple as our photographers works for us. Here is a link to some of their previous photos from another wedding
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.435756009793409.89096.185021771533502&type=3
So then it's food time! Everyone moves into the big barn room. We have sorted all the catering now too, met with them properly last week - We have booked the Aussie BBQ company and they are doing a big 5 ft chicken, chorizo and seafood paella, aussie steaks, aussie bangers, minted lamb kebabs and halloumi kebabs served with french bread, sauces and chutneys, mixed salad, potato salad and coleslaw. For dessert there is Triple chocolate mousse and fruit cheesecake.
http://www.aussiebbq.co.uk/pdfs/2013/FINALAussieBBQBuffetmenusMARCH2013.pdf
We are providing all our own wine (lots and lots, no rules per person) and having the speeches and toasts first before the meal (my OH has a small speech impediment snd wants the speeches out of the way asap)
We then have a bit of time time to fill and are thinking of doing a pub quiz (h2b is pub manager and it's quite 'us') but nothing set on that yet.
In the evening we will probably invite a further 40 guests ish and we ave booked a guitarist to sing live called Jamie Mcguire and he djs inbetweem we want sets of pop, rock and rnb and hip hop.
http://www.jamiemcguiremusician.co.uk/
We will be serving our cake in the evening on the bar along with a hog roast for our guests around 8:30.
I bought my dress last month too, it is White Rose R524 with a D'Zage belt for £1009.
Our flower ideas are daisies and gysophilia, we are meeting with a potential florist next week.
I've handmade all the save the date magnets and they are going out soon - they are in the colour theme for the wedding green and pinks.
I have bought some cheap little daisies from ebay and these will be tied in daisy chains around the beams in the venue.
I have bought small wicker baskets with candles for centrepieces which I will tie daisy chains round and am thinking maybe wood circles underneath.
Oooh and ordered my veil yesterday from Margaret, I am having a two tiered super soft tulle, elbow length veil with scalloped edges and thin pencil edge. It is costing me £41.28 including postage and a veil hanger. So far cannot reccommend her enough just hope it comes out how I imagine.
So the things left to sort now are:
* Rings (i'll flash some ideas below) going to go to Alba Rose first
* Shoes
* Honeymoon (I was very lucky and won a prize at work.. £5000 holiday vouchers with Thomson! hoping to book up soon, thinking of a safari then beach in mobasa kenya next july)
* BM dress
* Suits (leaving this to h2b so dont expect it anytime soon!!!)
* Make invitations
* Jewellery/ hair accessories/ underwear
* Buy wine/prosecco
* Gifts for family / bridal party
* Book hen do (got the time off work thinking a weekend in Valencia!) then another one local for family too.
There is probably loads more but so far feeling pretty organised
Cant wait to hear all about your weddings too happy planning!!!
