October 2015 brides....

Hi all,

I've just bought my day after the wedding attire

Glad to hear they've picked up on what's wrong MrsWatkinsToBe, hopefully you'll be feeling tip top and back to normal soon.

Looking forward to seeing an invitation flash ?

MrsFRtobe I love that shirt, so cute!

Ok ... so we need to try and figure out some locations that are accessible to all of us ...
(I don't drive but I can get a train to most places)

LMP – I’ve told H2B this is the last weekend I’m driving down south for a long time (August is the next time) Gives people 2 months to come visit us if they want to.

Yea that’s what I thought, my brothers response was.. “Yea... nothing where I sounds stupid though”, so obviously that now means I’m going to find the most “us” but soppy thing in the world. It’s got to be done now he’s said that hahah.

God, people hey! I read an article earlier about how stressful it is not getting RSPV’s back and it really is. The odd thing is it’s also people who have recently married themselves, so they know how stressful it is waiting for the RSPV’s to come back. People hey. I think I may just be like on deadline day.....”so you coming...?”.

Well like i mentioned I’m in midlands/Warwickshire area and can drive/train.

MrsFrtobe – love the post wedding top!

So trhe list for the spa day so far is:

LMP – Wiltshire

Lui – Midlands

Mrswatkinstobe – Cardiff

Firstimebride83 – North East

Morning all

Lui I can totally understand taking a break from driving down south till August. If people want to see you they can visit you instead...
Haha definitely find something that's "you" but soppy enough to make your brother cringe! I'm doing the same to my BM ?
I think every bride everywhere knows the stress of RSVP's and I know I definitely try to be prompt with them now I know what it's like to hang around waiting for them =/

So anyone think of somewhere that's roughly the same distance for all of us? I am SO rubbish with stuff like this it's unbelievable!

EDIT - I've been told by one of my work colleagues that Leamington Spa would be approximately the same travel time for myself, Lui and MrsWatkinsToBe. I'm not sure how that would work for Firsttimebride83??

That's the plan until I realised that h2b younger brothers birthday is in June and when I mentioned not going down in August he sounded a bit sad! Stuff like that gets me cause I can't not take him as I'll feel bad! But I'm kinda fed up of driving everywhere! I'll work something out!

haha glad I'm not the only one doing something to make the reader cringe! It's got to be done!

ice had a few texts last night which was nice! So hopefully more will come in. I'm exactly the same though now, don't keep people waiting.

Really? I work in leamington but no idea of any place that's a spa, I'll have to check! Don't worry I wouldn't have a clue with out looking at a map. Worse case there's Birmingham? May be easier to get in to with trains.

Oh dear, I'm sure you'll work something out. Maybe you could all meet up somewhere in the middle?

You have to make the reader cringe, I'm currently trying to get my BM to read 'The Lovely Other Dinosaur'

I'm sure you'll get all the RSVP's back in. I had a look at my spreadsheet last night and was quite surprised as I'd had more back than I thought!

Oops I think I've confused myself ... apparently Leamington is known as Royal Leamington Spa, but I dropped the Royal bit in my last post ?

Birmingham works fine for me, does that work for everyone else?

I've never heard of the lovely other dinosaur. Is it nice?

thats good! YEY to rspv!

oh yea I always forget it's a royal place! Not sure what even makes it royal!

I mi think there's more places in Birmingham although until everyone is cool I shall hold off googling ? got to ale sure all the ladies can make it! It's going to be so awesome!

also anyone else noticed we seem to be the threat that is the most talkative! Almost 1000 posts here! X

I think The Lovely Other Dinosaur is really sweet, and quite appropriate for myself and my OH
http://www.itakeyou.co.uk/wedding-ideas/wedding-readings-poems/a-lovely-story.htm

Ok so provisional plan (subject to confirmation from all ladies) is that Birmingham is where is at!
It is gonna be seriously awesome ?

And with this post we are now at 1,000 replies!!

x

I could do Birmingham too :-) take me about 3 hrs to get there.
Is this before or after October though...

The Birmingham/Coventry area is good for me too.

Came across these (may have to click on spa days, though some of the overnight deals are good too) -

http://www.spabreaks.com/venues/mercure-brandon-hall-hotel-and-spa (have been here for a wedding and it is a nice hotel)

http://www.spabreaks.com/venues/village-urban-resort-coventry

http://www.spabreaks.com/venues/walton-hall-the-hotel-collection

Or if you fancy a trip to Wales, I can recommend the Celtic Manor near Newport - http://www.celtic-manor.com/spa-fitness

I'm sure there are others though if anyone has any recommendations :-)

Did I hear Spa break?! Just come back at the right time! Lol!

I'd love to join in if I may (I am in Dudley, so Midlands is also great for me)

I am midlands based and can give the following personal recommendations:

It is an expensive one, but http://www.ragdalehall.co.uk/ is too good not to put forward - the best spa I have been to and great water rooms!

Accessible fro M1 J24 or M1 J21a so quite central? It isn't cheap though and you need a car/lift share as no station nearby.

I wouldn't recommend Hoar Cross Hall as although they used to be fabulous it seems to have tired a lot in recent years.

Champneys Springs only has one simple basic pool and you have to pay additional for a lot of their classes - so I'd avoid those too.

Heard good things about a Walsall spa but not tried it http://www.fairlawns.co.uk/

Mrs FRtobe - love the Wifey T-Shirt! Is there a Husband one as well to match?

MrsWatkinstobe - sorry to hear you have been ill - but good to hear you seem to be on the mend

I am also looking for advice from you ladies. We are getting our invites now to send out this month. My OH loves the design and I love the table plan/name cards/order of service elements in the design but not too sure about the invites themselves.

Can I ask for some honest opinions please? My BM isn't responding to my requests for help on this which I know means she doesn't like them and doesn't know how to word it, so I am a bit worried! We have decided on a simple normal card style as we didn't like the tri-fold arrangements.

Honest thoughts appreciated.

[View:https://www.hitched.co.uk/chat/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Discussions.Components.Files/27/4657.day-invite.pdf:550:0]

My £14.99 ebay shoes came. Gorgeous and comfy!

Excuse my unhoovered carpet and pj pants!

Hi everyone! I feel like I've missed so much! Thank you so much for all your good luck messages; I think it went pretty well, and I'm so happy to be done. After, I had a lovely weekend; I went to visit family and friends that I hadn't seen in 3 months. Had a nice time just relaxing, and talking wedding!

I've applied for a few jobs since as well. I had a job interview yesterday; at the end of it they said I'd hear from them today. I'd get an email if I was unsuccessful and a call if I was successful. And I missed the phone call! I will call them first thing tomorrow, and hope that it's good news!

All your flashes look great. Spa day sounds fabulous; I live in Hertfordshire, but I'm in Northampton a lot too.

I've got a few little things I've sorted. I spoke to OHs favourite football team press secretary, and got him a good luck card signed by the first team! I've also been to Thorntons and bought all the chocolates for the tables (so I know what the table names are). I also started my first bit of DIY; I made the table names! I'm so pleased with them! I'm not creative, but I think I did a pretty good job. I may flash one later

I've also ordered stickers so that I can do my own coathangers. But I ordered them on 22nd April and they still haven't come, so I'm getting a little concerned now

I'll be in the 4 month camp soon! So excited! I hope everyone else is having a lovely week.

Hi Ladies,

Hope everyone is well, just popping for a quote post this morning as I’m on a tea run! (haha!)

What’s everyone doing with their photographer regarding food? Are they going in a separate room? The only thing that me and H2B are confused about is when it comes to that part? My photographer is an old friend (I’ve known him since I was 16), the question is do we keep him in the list for the day guest or do we keep him separate as a supplier?

Confused!

Morning,

Hope everyone is well.

Have been chatting to my cousin from South Africa. She is a wedding coordinator, owning a licensed venue and organising everything. She's also a qualified make up artist.

Firstly, she has confirmed that she will be able to make it to our wedding which is brilliant news. Secondly, as our wedding present she's going to do all the flowers and also my hair and make-up which is so kind and will save us lots. Have been having great fun looking for inspirations for the bouquets

So, here is a quick flash of the new inspirations for my bridal bouquet and the bridesmaid bouquets. Mine is the gold & ivory one :-) Top table flowers will use similar flowers and colours as the bridesmaid ones.

.

Morning everyone ?
How are we all doing?

I'm quite excited by all this talk of a spa break! Birmingham definitely works for me, and I don't mind if we do it before or after October.
Love looking at all the recommendations, it's going to be hard for us to pick one I think!
What works best for everyone?

misslynx - I think your invitations are lovely, the pictures are really cute and their informative but to the point ?

firsttimebride83 - I couldn't see the picture of your shoes, but I bet their really nice. Good to hear that their comfy, nothing worse than painful shoes!

TheFutureMrsKay - Good luck, hope you get the job. Let us know how you got on ?
Sounds like you've been busy again, I love the idea of Thorntons chocolates for the tables.

Lui - Our wedding breakfast venue is different our evening venue, so our TOG is going to photograph a 'dummy cake cutting' and then leave. He'll then join us at the reception venue later. Sorry I know that's no help at all!

MrsWatkinsToBe - Love the flower inspiration, very pretty. That's really nice of your cousin to offer to do all those bits for you, that must be such a relief

Love and hugs to everyone

xxx

LMP – Thank you, it’s ok. I got hold of him, he’s moving house so didn’t want to hound him but he was in the studio so managed to sort it out.

Mrswatkinstobe – Love the flower inspo and that’s so lovely that your cousin is coming and doing that for you.

Thefuturemrskay – Good luck, hope you get the job!! (Somehow managed to read the email with your post while asleep! Haha)

Depending on cost i could be good for before October but definitely good for after October. Although some months pre wedding are booking up fast eep!

Hope everyone is good!!

Glad you got everything sorted Lui

So I had a mad 5 minutes on my lunch break today and decided that I'd spend some of my hard earned overtime on new pj's for my bridal party, so that we've all something funky to wear while we're getting ready.
I bought Olaf ones for my MOH, Spongebob for my BM, Marvel for my mum ... and I have Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!!
Definitely safe to say I shouldn't be let out alone ?
Just gotta hope these fit in the lovely keepsake boxes I've bought them for all their gifts!

I'm happy to do the spa day before or after October, but will need to figure out a date fairly soon if possible ??

LMP – Those pj’s sound AMAZING!

All want all of them.... mainly for me!!

I had not even thought about stuff like that. Should I be?

Paid off the photobooth today and on Tuesday I purchased the miniatures for the toilet boxes so really now only have the smallest things to pay for now like the favours and the seating plan, flower girls shoes, obvs the videographer and the photographer, oh and H2B gift haha!

We had a fab idea the other night of writing our seating plan on a mirror, H2B likes the idea and it means we can buy the really ornate mirror and frame that we like from Ikea! Yey!

Now I just need to work on the centrepieces which I’m going to get stuck into after this weekend. Heading back down south this weekend for H2B birthday and his best mans baby was born on Monday so going to see her.

Oh also need to move the music we have decided for the day on to one of our phones/ipad so that we can have the music during the ceremony.

I believe we may have picked a reading as well and I’m getting ideas for vows at the moment, however depending on H2B will depend on what I say as I don’t want to be a little bit silly if his are sweet ect.

I think *think* I’m almost done.

Give it time.... something else will crop up hahah!

I got all of the pj's from Primark Lui, their really nice if I do say so myself!
(And a bargain at £10 a set)
I did have to stop myself buying more pairs just for me thou ?

I don't think you 'have' to be thinking about stuff like that, I just got myself in a tizz the other day because I have lots of things that I've started but not finished and decided I had to start finishing things. So I've bought all the gifts now for my mum, MOH, BM, sister & FMIL.
Next on my list...

Finish buying bits for my OH's gift box
Buy the flip flops & slippers for the flip flop/slippers basket
Buy the bits for the toiletries boxes
Buy the chocolates for the favours (yum!)
Go to Ikea to buy the material for the wall draping

And then just have to make the final payments for the photographer, cake and flowers ... wow I have loads to do!!

I love the idea of writing your seating plan on a mirror, extra plus that you get to buy (and keep) the one you've wanted.
I'm not sure if I'll need a seating plan as we're only having 35 guests to the wedding breakfast...

Sounds like your really getting through your to-do list! Are you and your OH writing your own vows together, or are you going to surprise each other?

Maybe I should just treat myself to something nice hehe! I have loads of PJS but I don’t think I have suitable ones. Maybe as a treat for all my hard work and effort in the wedding planning.

I’m at that stage; I have a lot of unfinished things that I need to finish. I’m going to throw myself into it over the next two months as August every weekend is booked and September I don’t even want to think about and god I do not want to be doing everything in October. Hahah, I’m aiming for a stress free October which probably won’t happy but I can always hope right?

You’ve got a tiny list and some of them can be done in one day (with the help of the internet) regarding your box for the toiletries, super drugs are doing 3 for £3 on miniatures if you’re having them.

I saw it on pintrest (love that place) and thought it would be a good idea with little putting together with not a lot of work. I’m going to be buying this one: http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/40213759/

I love it and can’t wait to have to buy it instead of wanting to buy it hahaha!

I think you can do a seating plan for any size, just depends if you want too, hehe! Trust me if you don’t feel the need to do one, don’t! Politics of who cant sit next to who came up on our and it was stressful.

Well i was thinking it would be nice to do them separately, just depends on what tone he wants.

Lui I definitely think you should treat yourself, it's always nice to have a little something even if it is TMNT pj's!

I'm trying to do the exact same thing, really focusing on what needs doing and actually finish things off before starting something else. Money is a factor but I'm hoping this overtime will help me get some things finished. I don't even want to look at my calendar for August/September...

Note to self, go to Superdrug. Thanks for the tip ?

Absolutely love that mirror. A seating plan would look lush on there! And you get to keep it afterwards, yay!

I have got a seating plan but I have got little name place cards for everyone so I might just leave it at that and allow people to find their own seats before my OH & I arrive (lazy.com)
The politics of seating plans are awful.

Aw I think it would be cute to do them separately, you'd get a lovely surprise on the day that way.

LMP – I think I shall just what on, I’m not sure hehe!

My August calendar scares me, there isn’t one weekend where I can have some time to myself, if I’m not on my hen do, I’m support H2B on the London to surrey bike ride or at his dads for a family BBQ or have my dress fitting.

How am I meant to have a social life and exercise and do all this and work! Haha! There are not enough days in the week.

I like your style with people finding their own places, I could do that but with possible babies and H2B nan in a wheel chair it’s just easier. God I wish i could short cut some stuff hahaha!

I hope so, just hope we get the same tone right haha!

Today we submitted the food to the venue which is good. But on the topic of food, the guys at work are talking about Nandos and now im starving hahaha!

Hi all, as usual I've missed so much!

I'm up for the spa if it's a day I can do. I'm in Hertfordshire but the midlands in pretty straightforward to get to.

Life is insanely busy at the moment. I start a new job next month and I want to put our house on the market and start the moving process in July. Wedding planning is being sidelined!

On the wedding front, my veil came and it's lovely. I would flash but hitched still hates me and won't let me. Hmmph. I love all the flashes on here and in getting annoyed I can't add to it!

Still on the lookout for shoes...

Hi everyone

Lui my calendar is exactly the same, every weekend in June and September has stuff pencilled in ... how are we supposed to get everything done when there's so much to do?!
I'll totally blame the busyness on why I don't exercise! I think I'll just need to quit work so I can do it all ?
Aw if it's any consolation I always think seating plans look lovely, I just don't see the point of doing one as it's a fairly cosy room and everyone will be there for an hour whilst OH and I are having photos done
I'm sure your vows will be lovely, maybe you could ask him what sort of tone he's going for?
Ooh what food are you having, love hearing other people's menus!

Yay another one for the spa break, we'll have a nice group going at this rate
AnnaMolly I can't believe your starting a new job and wanting to sell your house whilst planning a wedding, you must be Wonder Woman!
I can't even get myself out of bed atm!
Am so glad you like your veil, I got mine from the same website and I love it. I was hoping yours would be perfect for you.
Any luck finding shoes?

Hi all,

AnnaMolly - We're also trying to sort out moving before the wedding. OH has a job in Lincolnshire so commutes up and down at the moment for his shifts, so we want to get moved up there asap. Pondering the idea of renting my house out to make it quicker.

FutureMrsKay - Hope the job applications prove successful.

Spa wise - assuming it's a date the OH isn't on shift so he can mind my son I'm happy. Before October could be good fun - a bit of relaxation in the midst of the planning, like a hen party just for the hens! Will try and fit in with what most can do though :-)

Have today created a draft table plan - table names are TARDIS (top table), Serenity, Liberator, USS Enterprise, Millennium Falcon and either Starfury or WhiteStar (haven't quite decided on that last one yet, other than it will be from Babylon 5).

Hope you're all well :-) x

Finally having lunch so i can properly reply to you ladies!

LMP – You are completely right, we all need to win the lottery and just not work or work less and do all of this. I think it’s what we all need to do!

I have to keep exercising because I did a stupid thing an entered the London Marathon ballot before it closed so now I’m keeping up in case I actually get through! Eep! Stupid stupid move Lui hahaha!

AnnaMolly – Yey to the spa day! Congrats on the new job1 Is it in the same field as what you are working in? Wow go you, I couldn’t do that all with the planning but go you! Do it!

Booooo to hitched, I want to see your veil! Have you found any shoes that come close to the ones you liked before?

MrsWatkinsToBe – YES A HEN PARTY FOR HENS!! Love that!!

Love the table names!! Still figuring out how to put table numbers on ours but we shall see.

Away from weddings does anyone have plans for the weekend?

Crazy woman more like LMP! I just need to get into a new area before I have to apply for a school place for my daughter.

My new job isn't very exciting, new contract with a different company but only four days a week so I can spend some time with the littles.

Lui, I entered the London marathon ballot too! I have to say gin was involved in the decision Kind of regretted it as I struggled through a 5 mile run on Monday! My OH already has a place as he deferred his 2015 entry because of injury. Maybe we'll be a husband and wife marathon team!

MrsWatkinstobe I love your table names, very cool!

AnnaMolly – That’ll be nice that you get to spend some more time with the little ones. Good plan! I know quite a few people who are moving so that they can get them into the same school as their brother or sister or into the school of their choice.

It’s so crazy how even a small distance can make a difference on what the school is.

I’m so glad I’m not the only one that made the crazy decision to so that. I had instant regret too; I was like what have I let myself in for. I have only told h2b and the girl I’m going to be doing it with if we get in.

I was planning to do 2017 ballot so I could just relax for a while and then something took over.

Why did we decide to do these things?

Hey all,

I don't think I will be able to afford a spa day sadly! Plus, I live in the south so getting to the midlands would take a while

We ordered my OH ring the other day and are looking to get mine in half term. Annoying this is that there is now a planned rail strike on the day of our ring appointment...boo!

In terms of how busy we are getting, things are manic right now! Good luck to us all closer to the wedding lol

xx

So the RSPV's are coming in, however what is with people asking if they can bring someone?

How do people think it's ok to do this? I'd never dream of doing it!

I've had two people today alone ask!

how do people not understand if your names not in there your not invited!

Morning everyone, hope you all had lovely weekends

I absolutely love the idea of a hen party for the hens! Would be so much fun

MrsWatkinsToBe - I think your table names are awesome, especially Serenity!
How's the house move coming along?

Lui - I'm not going to comment on you entering the London Marathon ballot, I'm sure you'll do great though if you do get picked.
I haven't had anyone add people to their RSVP's (yet) but I've heard to happen to lots of people. It is so rude! I'd never dream of doing that to anyone...

AnnaMolly - Aw it's nice your new job is 4 days a week, I'd love to do that! Did you manage to get your daughter into her first place school since you've moved? I find the whole catchment areas thing very odd =/

CatD - That's a shame you wouldn't be able to join us for a spa day
How annoying that the train strike is when you want to ring shopping!