October 2015 brides....

Oh my god Lui! Is it 99 days??? SQUEEEEEEEEE. I didn't realise!

I am both excited and terrified!

It really is! It is exciting!

Just paid off the flower girl shoes, videographer deposit.

Really only have the favours, videographer and photographer left to pay off, oh and my dress needs altering.

Cant believe how fast double figures arrived!

Holy sh!t I'm down to 79 days!! How the F did that happen?! I need more money ha ha.....?

Cat those Converse are fab! I was going to get some flats for the evening do, is anyone else having two pairs of shoes? I just know I'm terrible for taking my shoes off when dancing/drunk so may as well pre-empt it with comfies ha ha

Its going fast, i think OH almost had a melt down when I told him this morning!

I have a feeling it will go pretty quickly from here in!!

I was thinking about comfy shoes but due to my shoes being so expensive I want to wear them all night, plus others who have the same said they are really comfy, so just need to break them in.

Ahh your shoes are fab Lui I don't blame you! I'd be walking around the house in them now, you know, to break them in a bit ?

Same here Steph. I need a lot more money! Here are the scary figures;

chair covers - £300 by 1st Sept - already saved ready to pay

videographer - £855 by 1st Sept - already saved ready to pay

church - £930 by day before wedding - £750 so far. Apparently they had a bride that dropped off a check very early on the morning of the wedding so I know they are flexible but I won't push it to this point.

hog roast - £1500 - we could add this to final invoice which would be 14days before wedding.

Dj -£380 - he wants an envelope of the whole thing on the day of wedding

Hair and make up - £300 - on day of wedding like the dj

dress and veil - £800 - mum promised to pay for my dress and veil. I just need to remind her just in case she forgot?

Altogether I need to find another £1k. Mum might be able to help out with the hog roast but if not then we need to find another £2.5k ?

It is actually focuses the mind writing it down like this.

Yes I am having a 2nd pair. It is a silver sparkly number with a high heel but it also has a massive platform at the front that it is almost flat but it gives me height. DH is 1ft taller than me.

Something like this but all silver glittery

Ooh those shoes are lovely Happy Polly!

We've got about £12k to pay off still, but that includes the venue (£4k) and food, we're not exactly sure how much this will be yet, but have budgeted for worst case scenario of £6.5k, and they are both payable 7 days before the wedding latest. We need to save another £5k, I think we should just about manage it, provided I get my bonus from work on time! Think we may possibly have to lend £1-2k if I don't, but I think we'll have done well if that's all we borrow in the grand scheme of things.

Will be SO glad to have money again when it's all over, won't you?! My work shoes have got holes in them ha ha!

I've only really paid deposits for things so I still have to pay it all off in full. The money is in the bank but it will still be a bit stomach churning when all that money leaves ?

I've got 2 pairs of shoes also, or I will when the ones I've ordered arrive. I think my heels might actually be fine to wear all day as they're not super high and I'm hoping for the glorious numbing effect of alcohol I bought some flats just in case and because I can't pass up an opportunity to buy more shoes!

I know this seems very unusual, but I insisted on paying pretty much all of my suppliers up front. It's a very risky thing to do, I know, but I'm really OCD with numbers and I needed it this way for my sanity! ?

So I've fully paid the photographer, all but the added extras (e.g. chair covers and place cards) on the venue, the hair, the make-up, the DJ, the accommodation, the honeymoon, all the gifts and all the other usual bits you pay up front. This just leaves me the final payment on my dress when I go to pick it up, the payment for the suit hire after they've been fitted and then those extras for the venue. I think it comes to just over £1500 left to pay.

This has been great for me, but I doubt I'd ever recommend this to others as you never know if a supplier will fall though/go out of business. It's a lot of money to loose! ?

The thought of how much still needs to be paid for scares me!!

After a crappy week last week the bridal shop phoned me on Wednesday to book in my 1st dress fitting!! Eeeeek!!!!

Thanks for all your lovely comments about my Converse ladies! I'm super chuffed with them and even though I know I want to wear my wedding shoes for as long as poss, I think I will need these shoes by the end of the night lol.

Checking out how much needs to still be paid is slightly scary but I know we have enough money for it all so we are happy about it. I'm kinda in the middle of most of you; a lot of things have been paid off and some, where I know they could fall through, I am waiting to pay until closer to the day...in some cases just in case something unexpected happens! I do kinda feel though I want to get it all paid off though! I hate owing people money!

I've also just got back from my mate's hen do! It was great! She is a real competitive gal who loves sports and adventure so did we Go Ape and camping (all in the rain), Go Karting and Laser Quest and drinks too! There weren't many of us but it was so much fun - it kinda makes me feel better about mine as we didn't need many people to make it awesome and it was organised last minute and it still turned out just as the hen wanted! I'm excited for mine now!

What exciting things have people got coming up soon? I have my first dress fitting and menu tasting in a couple of weeks so that's gonna be great

xx

Afternoon ladies,

Sorry I’ve been so busy recently that I’ve been away!

Happy polly nice to hear that your mum has all her outfits! Is she excited to wear them?

We really don’t have much to pay off, apart from the venue, it’s just the photographer and videographers final payments and then it’s done.

My dress fitting is the 29th August which I’m excited about. Going to cost a bomb though as its massive on my.

We met with our celebrant, he was lovely and we had more of an idea about our wedding ceremony now and luckily our vows and reading fits. We are not 100% sure on him though, he was lovely but we felt more comfortable with the other one we met, we have emailed the venue to see if the other gentleman is free. If not no big loss but we both want to be 100% comfortable as we will probably be full of nerves already.

Hen do is the weekend after next and I think I have just sorted everything. Just arranging driving there and back, mainly the times and then we should be sorted.

OH has his 100 mile bike ride this weekend in London, I’m not looking forward to it as I’m really tired already and won’t get much rest at the weekend and with my hen do, that won’t happen either. Might have to get the pro plus out.

My RSVP deadline is Saturday as well. We have also worked through and upgraded a few of our close friends as some of the day people couldn’t make it. So happy that they can all make it. Now just have to wait until Saturday to see if the rest come through.

Anyway feeling pretty crappy today, think I ate something dodgy yesterday and being tired is not working out well. I’m currently working on 1 bag of skinny popcorn and 2 cups of tea! Haha. Oh well lack of food may help with the diet hahaha!

Hope the rest of you lovely ladies are doing well.

Cat your friend's hen do sounds like fun! I've got my first dress fitting on 6th August but I need to bring my wedding shoes with me and they haven't arrived yet. I don't think they'll come until mid August so I'll have to rearrange.

These are my page boys boy ties which I got from Etsy. They're so cute I can't wait to see them in their little outfits!

I'm also trying to find a hair vine. I really like these two:

One of them is over £100 which seems insane but is so pretty! I'm going for a leaf theme with the hair accessories if you hadn't guessed

Lui, I forgot to say, hope you're feeling better lovely. I was feeling a bit rubbish today but I hit the wine and chocolate and now I strangely feel better

Ohhhh I can't wait for your shoes to come Annamolly!

Are you excited to see your wedding dress again? I can't believe we are all having a fittings soon. It's starting to feel a lot more real now! The time is going so fast!!

The dickies are so cute!! They are going to look adorable!! Have you tried eBay or maybe making one yourself? An Comb and some other bits could make that. With a try I guess? Or if you know someone who's crafty they could make it maybe?

Sorry if I've missed anything replying on my phone and it won't let me go up.

Im feeling a bit better thank you, just run down and migraines left right and centre so just being a grumpy Lui most the time haha! Poor Mr Lui is handling it pretty well!

Hows wa everything going for you?

Ah bless you Lui. Migraines suck.

I don't think I'm creative or clever enough to make my own. Good call on the eBay suggestion though, there's some on there which are nice and sooooooooo much cheaper!

They really do, this is only the second one I’ve ever had an I really don’t want any more but I imagine I will have another one at some point! Booo!!

Glad eBay was worth a shot!!

Have you got most things sorted now?

Morning ladies, hope your all ok.
Sorry I haven't posted in a while everything's gone a bit manic!

My grandad is having his second op on Aug 4th, and it's going to be a big one. So we've had to accept now that he and my step-grandma won't be able to come to the wedding. I'm absolutely gutted, but my OH has promised me that we'll go and see them afterwards as we have a week off.
Also not sure whether OH's grandad will be well enough ☹️

Bit of a brighter topic, I had my first dress fitting on Saturday. The seamstress was really lovely and put me at ease straight away.
She's going to make a beaded halterneck for my dress, and I was trying to explain that I didn't feel very secure. The halterneck lifts the front of the dress and brings it right in against my bust so I'm much more 'contained'. She's also going to dip the neckline very slightly so it's more of a sweetheart shape.
Very happy with everything she's going to do, and the price wasn't too bad!

I'll try and catch up with you all now...

AnnaMolly - I was also hoping that alcohol might help me last all day in my nice high heels, but my mum pointed out I can't even walk properly in flats so she insisted on getting me a second pair of shoes.
Would've been rude to turn down new shoes ?
Can't ever pass up the opportunity to buy new shoes...
Fingers crossed your shoes arrive soon so you can have your dress fitting ?
Aw I just love your little page boys ties, they are so cute. Bet their going to look adorable!
Have you tried looking on Glitzy Secrets for a hair vine? I know they had a sale on not long ago

Cat D - Ooh lucky you having summer holidays, wish that applied to me ?
How are you getting on with your RSVP's? Sounds like you have a few exciting things coming up, got to love a menu tasting!
Are you looking forward to your hen do? That must be coming up soon...
Love your wedding Converse, their really awesome ?

Cornish Bride - I did the same as you and paid most of my suppliers up front, I had to know what money we'd have left to work with so I figured it was best to pay off the big stuff.
Sounds like you've been super organised, do you have much left to do?

elvira-darkside - Hope your doing ok and your stress isn't too bad ?
Did you have a nice hen do?

Happy Polly - Like the sound of your second pair of shoes, bet they look fab!
How's juggling the numbers going? Sounds like you've had a bit of a time of it ?
Hope everything's going ok for you, money stresses are the worst.
Fingers crossed you'll hear about your dress soon, and your friends arrange a wonderful hen do for you...

LeighB3 - I haven't heard of Bistro Live but it sounds amazing, I'll bet it's a fab place for a hen do ... after all you can't go wrong when a free cocktail is involved ?
When is your dress fitting? Exciting stuff!

Lui - Hope your feeling ok lovely, sounds like it's been a bit tough recently ☹️

My RSVP deadline is 8th August as that's 8 weeks (!!!) until the wedding. Luckily most people have responded with just the nicest of nudges. How are your responses coming?
Gotta love a pink camping chair! How excited are you now?!
Loving that your list is getting smaller, that must be a relief ?
I reckon your shoes will be fine just strut your stuff around the house a few times to get used to them!

Pleased to hear your meeting with the celebrant went well, and that your vows & reading fits in nicely. Bet its a relief to know what to expect now. Hopefully the other gentleman will be free for your ceremony so you & Mr Lui both feel more comfortable.

Stephied9384 - I'm having two pairs of shoes, my mum bought me a lovely pair of sparkly silver flats as she knows I can't walk/dance in heels when I've had a drink! I think it's a sensible plan to be honest ?
I'm sure you'll get everything paid off soon, and then you can buy some new work shoes!

xxx

Morning Miss Panda.

im sorry to hear about both granddads! Big squishy hug lovely! Are they going to watch the stream of the wedding? At least this way they can still see and you can both know in the back of your minds that they are watching over you on the day...literally!

I hope your granddads op goes well! Is this the one to get the yucky stuff out? He will be awesome and come through it!

So happy to hear about your dress and that the fitting went well! I like the idea of a top part! I know what you mean about being secure, it's like the strapless top talk all over again. Plus halter always makes boobies look awesome so you'll have that too! Did the fruit and water help at all?

Cant believe that next week is 8 weeks for you! That's gone so fast! Mine deadline is Saturday coming and recently we had quite a spate of people replying so now we only have 19 people from either side left which is good. We think about 5-6 of them may not come so we have decided to lower our numbers if that happens.

My chair is so awesome haha! Tried it and loved it haha! Cup holder and everything! Right old bargain at £2.50 haha!

i am excited for next weekend now, just have to get passed this one hehe.

How is your list coming lovely? Ready for your three hen dos?

Hi ladies! How are we all?

Lui - hope you're feeling better hun, there's definitely something in the air, people are dropping like flies in our work!

Annamolly - I LOVE those hair vines! The one on the left is especially pretty.

LMP - so sorry to hear about your family members not being able to make it lovely that must be really upsetting, especially as we're getting so close now. Fingers crossed the op goes well too.

Our numbers are pretty much finalised now, next stage is food and table planning ? . Ordered the cake at the weekend and my MOH is finally sorting out my UK hen party (going away with the girls for the main one!). Had mum on the phone to me this morning and tbh, I am a bit annoyed. She basically said she couldn't afford what MOH was planning for me as it was £42 and may not be able to come. So I immediately said, don't be silly, I'll pay for you etc but the more I've thought about it, the more angry I feel. She offered to buy our wedding our cake as her present to us, but she asked me to pay for it first, and she will give me the money back in installments. She also asked me to buy her outfit and she'd pay me back. So she currently owes me over £300, and I'm thinking, did she not save ANY money up for the wedding?! We've been engaged for two years!

Thanks lovely.

I know I'm just run down and will be like this for a while! Holding out until the 24th August so I can have a rest day and just do nothing! Hehe.

Oh god the seating plans are the worst! It's like running the gauntlet of tables with people! I dread when I have to finalise mine. Do you have much left after your seating plan?

Sorry ta to hear about your mum. It's really hard to advice when it's your mum and money, however maybe offer still to pay for her place on your hen do but explain you can't afford any more out goings because it's so close to the wedding and you need to save for all of the final payments (even if you have paid them off.)

Hope you work something out!

Thanks for the hugs Lui, much needed this morning!
We're not too sure if we will have the video link as both our grandads aren't great with computers ?
However my dad went and got a camcorder (totally ignoring what I want) so we may have a video to show them anyway.
My grandad's op is going to be quite a big one apparently, he has to have the bottom part of his lung removed and part of the gullet (I think that's the right word). So we're just crossing all fingers and toes that nothing goes wrong, I hate that my family are scattered about as I just want to see him right now.

Haha yes funny enough I was thinking of our strapless top talk at the fitting ?
Because my dress is fitted at the top there's no room for a strapless bra, if I had one on I probably wouldn't be worried. But I love how my dress look (and boobies!) change with the halter neck, and she's going to put it on poppers so if I do get fed up of it I can whip it off!
Fruit and water definitely did the trick, I was a lot more comfy then the last time I tried it on. I was a bit disappointed when she said she was going to take it out by half a centimetre each side, but she assured me that she was only doing this so the zip would sit flat as it's a little bit bunched up at the moment (apparently it goes too far down the back? I dunno...)

I know, it's 8 weeks on the 8th August. Insert Epic Freak Out here!!

Really pleased you've had lots of people replying now that's great ?
Did you get my RSVP ?

I love those camping chairs, I have one but it's not pink ... think it might be time for a new one ... !

Only 10 days to go for your hen do, hopefully the weather perks up for you ?

Please don't mention the list, I'm ready to throttle Mr Panda with it!!

I am ready for my 3 hen do's, really looking forward to them. Plus Mr Panda is going to Monza 3rd - 7th Sep with my (biological) dad so I'm going to have some down time.

Thanks Stephied, I appreciate that ?
Sorry to hear your annoyed with your mum, it is a bit weird that she's offered to pay for stuff but in installments after the wedding, Has something happened that she's not told you...maybe a big unexpected bill popped up, we all know that happens!

Thanks Lui - I know, I am dreading the table planning! I have rough ideas in my head but I know when it comes down to it, it is going to be hell...! I think after that it's just little crafty bits like the centrepieces, place name cards, decoration for inside etc. Oh and the table plan itself! Saw a lovely one on Pinterest which I've picked up some cardboard for and delegated to OH as he is was more crafty (and patient) than me! Here it is:

Our tables will all be named after trees so I thought it would fit nicely

And I know I'll end up paying for mum, I don't even mind, I just don't get how she couldn't have put at least a tenner a month away or something you know?! Something about weddings which makes you think, "what's wrong with people?!" an awful lot ha ha

Your granddad does seem like a pretty good fighter so I have no doubt that he will kick the operations arse and get through it. I mean at the end of the day he wants to see you married so thats an incentive right there.

Good old Daddy panda, i know its not what you want but least this way they can watch it and you can relive it with them all over again which will be nice for you both to do.

All my fingers, toes, hair, basically anything that can be crossed are crossed for you!!

Ohhh your seamstress sounds amazing. Such a good idea with the poppers as well so you can change it when and if you need to. Half a CM is nothing lovely and if it’s just so the zip sits flat it’s not cause youve added weight on and I imagine this will make it perfect for you.

I’m glad the water and fruit worked for you. You did very well lovely!!

I didn’t get your RSVP? Did you send one? When was this hahaha? Maybe I need to check my spam? Did you send it to my real email address not the throw away one? Although you know what I brought today, your wedding card! It’s AMAZING!! Hahaha!!

Maybe you may need one for your camping trip, I mean you never know! *wink wink nudge nudge* haha.

Aww sounds good that you will have some downtime. You can treat yourself and starfish in bed and have a lazy weekend just for you to recharge you batteries!! I have 2 when OH goes on his 2 stag dos (abroad and at his dads) can’t wait.

Oh god, hope Mr panda books his ideas up for you!!

Seriously poop the bed, 8 weeks!?

Stephied – Oh that one is lovely!! I’d love to see how OH gets on with that when completed!

It is all the little things now which is annoying but they have to be done haha! Always leave the little things to last and then think WHYYYYYY hahaha!

Oh god, i have thought about recently, its been crazy with people. Kinda want it to be over so people stop annoying me but now it’s getting close i think sod it and sod them. It’s bad i know but i’ve reached the limit hahaha.

Stephied - Your table plan inspiration looks lovely, hopefully it won't cause you too much of a headache.

Lui - He definitely is a fighter but it's such a scary thing to think about ?
Have just had to take his name off the list of guests as well and that upset me.
Yeah I have mixed feelings about being videoed though, I'm really not comfortable with it. Guess I'll just have to deal with it.
Aw thanks sweetie, I appreciate that ❤️

I'm not too bummed out by the half a centimetre now, I trust her totally and I know it'll all look fab when she's done. Still sticking to the water and fruit though, don't want to gain any weight when I'm so close!

? I'm insulted that I'm not automatically added to your table plan...
OOH exciting I want it now ?
I've got to get yours soon, that's an excuse for a trip to town me thinks!

Ah ha excellent idea, I can't have a hen do camping trip without a pink chair ?

Mr Panda is in serious trouble after deciding he wants a pink tie.
I HAVE NO PINK IN THE COLOUR SCHEME ANYWHERE <-- had to use shouty capitals to get my point across!

Cannot wait for downtime, will totally starfish in bed ... hell I might not get out of bed ...

I know, 67 days to go ❤️

I’m just going to give you a massive squishy hug (i may have hugged my computer screen...shhh... I’m not odd!!)

If it helps im on the water, fruit and skinny popcorn food during the day hahah! It’s all I get time to eat nowadays, I’m just so busy at work.

Well what you don’t know is that there is an OM’s hitched table in the corner of reception for you lovely ladies, full to the bring with processco and all the food! You don’t need to RSVP! It’s like a done deal hehe!

Hahah yea town trips!! I wanted to find the perfect one and then I did and I love it hahaha! I got my OH wedding day card from the same place which is also awesome. I cant show you cause you’ll see yours hehe! I’ll show you after your wedding day though, that’s a promise.

Well thats true, you need a pink chair to be the camping princess, I’m also sure your niece would think the same haha! Oh did you buy her gift?

Hahaha men right, Mr Lui and his suits seriously, he was the same, he wants a red tie, luckily we have some red in the flowers from the centre pieces but seriously. He wouldn’t accept black, then put the groomsmen in black tie. What is it with men! I honestly think Mr Panda and Mr Lui would get on well haha.

Just dont, its more fun, all you need is someone to bring you food and your sorted!

Waaaaaaaaah amazing!!! 94 days, although 31 days until my first dress fitting!! My seamstress doesn’t know what they are in for hahaha!

Hi everyone. I can't believe how fast the time is whizzing by! we only have rings and the photographer left to pay now.

All the invites went out last week and we have nearly half back which is amazing!

just a couple of flashes..

My gorgeous side hairpiece, indulgent present bought by my mum so also my something new

The sign for my nephew who's 3 to carry in front of me

Hope everyone is well

Morning MrsFRtobe!

Your head piece is so lovely; I’m totally in love with it. Where’s it from if you don’t mind me asking as i think it may be something my best friend may also love.

I love those signs they are so adorable. Your nephew is going to look so cute it this sign! EEP!

Are you excited?

Morning everyone, how are we all today?

Lui - Aw thank you for the squishy hug, that's much needed ?
(don't worry I won't tell anyone you might have hugged your computer...)

Blimey that doesn't sound like a good diet, hope your eating proper dinners at least ?

I LOVE the idea of having a Hitched table, especially if it's full of free prosecco and food ?

Oh the pressure is on now, I have to find you and Mr Lui the perfect card. Better hope the awful shops round here have something special tucked away! Looking forward to seeing Mr Lui's card, I haven't been able to find one for Mr Panda yet ... I might get one from Moon Pig for him ...

Camping Princess, how very apt for me ?
I haven't got in car charger hair straighteners honest ...

I did get my niece her gift, I went with the rag doll idea and got her this one
http://www.personalisedbears.net/sophie-leigh----bridesmaid-flowergirl-doll-2362-p.asp
She's absolutely gorgeous, I'm really chuffed with her

66 days for me, 93 for you!
And 30 days until your dress fitting, am sure your seamstress will be fine!

MrsFRtobe - Pleased to hear you've had half your invites back already, that's excellent ?
Love your headpiece, it's absolutely gorgeous.
Your nephews going to look so cute with that sign!

Ugh, hitched hates me this morning apparently and is refusing to post things so I'll try again...

Anyway, I love your hairpiece MrsFRtobe, it's beautiful. Do you know how you are having your hair?