Many basic ways to SAVE - Part 1

Plan the wedding of your dreams breaking the bank...

1. If your parents are helping to finance your day, make sure they give you an exact figure of what they're contributing. This may seem awkward, but it's best to sort out these matters from the outset rather than discovering you've overspent.
2. Avoid getting married during peak wedding season. Choosing a midweek date in February will cost you a lot less than a sunny Saturday in the middle of July. 
3. Stick to the reception size you can afford and don't let the guest list spiral out of control.
4. Never accept the first quote you receive, and make sure you approach more than one supplier. That way, you can negotiate with your favourite by showing them what their competitors are charging.
5. A wedding planner may seem extravagant but it's actually one of the best ways of controlling your expenditure - you simply hand over your budget and they will allocate what you have.
6. Set up a separate savings account at www.weddingmagazine.co.uk/saffron, which enables you to keep track of your spending at the touch of a button.
7. Get married abroad. Not only are wedding suppliers overseas often cheaper, but you'll also cut back on the guest list. 
8. Extend your engagement. Having more time to plan the wedding gives you a better chance of getting the suppliers you want within your price range.
9. Don't invite children. It may sound harsh, but their parents may well be thankful for the opportunity to let their hair down, and you'll save yourself the cost of their meals.
10. Go for an ALL-IN-ONE venue. If you can host the ceremony and reception under the same roof, you'll save on transport costs.
11. Look for a venue that doesn't need lots of decorative finishing touches -  these can quickly add substantially to your costs. 
12. If you are happy for another wedding to take place at your venue on the same day, you will save yourself a hefty exclusive-use fee.
13. Limit the number of bridesmaids and ushers. This will cut down on the cost of outfits, bouquets and buttonholes (and quite possibly stress as well).
14. Set up a gift list at www.youbuymywedding.com so guests can make pledges to pay for certain aspects of your big day.
15. Safeguard against any unforeseen emergencies by taking out insurance. Good policies will offer £5000 to £30000 worth of cover for between £50 and £300, and is now available as part of the wedding services at John Lewis, Debenhams and Marks & Spencers. You can also arrange it online at www.eandl.co.uk or www.ecclesiastical.com.

Wedding to do list...

Officially 4 months and 1 weeks till our Wedding ooh how exciting.
So many of you have been messaging me regarding doing a post about a wedding to do list or how I have gone about with my own planning.

So here is an explicit guide which helped me...

As soon as possible

• Tell relatives and close friends of your plans
• Announce your engagement in the local paper
• Think about your wedding theme or style
• Set the initial wedding budget and ask relatives if they would like to contribute
• Decide on the number of guests and draw up a guest list with both sets of parents
• Start looking around possible venues
• Choose a date; check this with preferred venue and registrar or celebrant
• Book date with Registrar (for register office or civil venue ceremony)
• Book your venue
• Book caterer if different to your venue
• Sample the menu choices
• Choose your wedding party - best man, bridesmaids, ushers, flower girls, page boys etc
• Book wedding insurance
• Start looking for your wedding dress and attendants’ outfits
• If hiring a wedding co-coordinator do this now

 

12 - 6 months to go

 

• Choose and book your musicians / entertainment
• Choose and book your photographer / videographer
• Choose and book your florist
• Choose and book your transport
• Select a wedding cake company and order
• Choose and order wedding stationery
• Post your save the date cards
• Select honeymoon destination and book
• Check with Doctor if any vaccinations / medications are required for overseas destinations

 

 

 3 - 6 months to go

 

• Order stationery and favours (if not already done)
• Choose wedding venue decorations
• Choose shoes, veils, headdresses and any other accessories
• Arrange your wedding gift-list
• Order rings
• Pick up Marriage Notice form from Registrar
• Book hairdresser / beauty therapist / make-up artist
• Arrange for fittings for grooms, ushers, pageboy's etc

 

3 months to go

 

• Meet with your minister/priest to discuss the service
• Choose hymns, music and readings for the ceremony
• Send out invitations
• Buy gifts for attendants
• Choose any extra accessories required
• Have a trial make-up / hair-do sitting
• Book your first nights hotel room (if different to reception venue)

                                           

2 months to go

 

• Arrange final fittings for wedding dress/bridesmaids outfits
• Any children should be measured up for hired outfits 
• Prepare initial seating plans
• Prepare order of service and order them
• Post invitations and send them along with gift list suggestions
• Send out thank you notes as gifts arrive
• Check the groom and best man have organised their outfits
• Choose presents for your attendants
• Check all travelling documents and requirements
• Choose your eco-friendly confetti petals

 

1 month to go

 

• Review seating plans as RSVPs come in
• Inform venue / caterer of final numbers
• Inform stationer of names for place cards and menu details if required
• Keep record of who is giving what gifts (if gift list in place this will be recorded for you)
• Check all dress wear and accessories
• Book hairdresser and make up appointments for the morning of the wedding
• Make sure everyone involved in the wedding knows what is happening and the timings
• Write to banks and official bodies if you are changing your name
• Arrange rehearsal if an option
• Arrange hen/stag parties

 

2 weeks to go

 

• Confirm all arrangements with suppliers
• Make sure all speeches have been prepared
• Try on your full wedding outfit and practice waking in your shoes
• Order travellers cheques and currency for your honeymoon
• Enjoy your hen night ad get your groom to hold his stag night in plenty of time

 

1 week to go

 

• Pick up Marriage Schedule or meet with registrar if required
• Ensure best man has rings and cash for services to be paid on the wedding day
• Arrange rehearsal at the ceremony venue if required
• Confirm timings with florist, photographer, transport etc
• Type a list of any must-take shots and send it to your photographer
• Type up favourite music for the DJ/band to play including your first dance song

 

The day before

 

• Pick up hired dress wear
• Pack over-night stay bags and / or going away bags
• Help decorate the wedding venue
• Arrange for cake to be delivered at the reception venue
• Have a manicure
• Relax and have an early night!

 

On the day

 

• Give yourself plenty of time to get ready
• Have bouquets and button holes delivered or send someone to collect them
• The mother of the bride and bridesmaids leave first, followed by you and your father (or whoever is giving you away)
• Groom and best man arrive at least 15 minutes before the bride
• The best man is in charge of ensuring everyone has transport between the ceremony and the venue
• Speeches traditionally come after the food and before the coffee, but many people are choosing to do them first, the photographer may stay and take some photos and everyone can relax after the speeches.
• Traditionally the bride and groom leave the reception before all other guests

Tiffany Blue Lovebirds with Crowns

"Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction..."

A sweet pair of love birds in your choice of colors. The birds are made with a dowel rod that can be inserted in the cake so that they can perch sweetly on the edge of the tiers and look lovingly into each others eyes. How precious can it get?! Each bird is hand-sculpted out of polymer clay and painted in your choice of colors. The gilded accents on their chest, beak, and wings gives these sweet birds a romantic and luxurious feel that would be the perfect addition to any cake. 


http://www.etsy.com/listing/109389753/tiffany-blue-lovebirds-with-crowns?ref=sr_gallery_13&ga_search_query=love+birds+crowns&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=GB&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=love+birds+crowns

These cuties are made from artist-quality polymer clay and sculpted by hand. They are each approximately 2" high and 3 1/2" long, making them a perfect fit for the top tier of your wedding cake.

Tree slices... represent your life together

Hello beautiful brides to be

I have finally got my tree wood stumps or slices to use at our wedding, as part of our table centrepieces. They are beautiful and the pine smell is gorgeous.



WHAT INSPIRED ME ??

A tree slice REPRESENTS a moment in time where you reflect on where you came from, where you are and where you are going. The rings gently spiral out from the centre and journal every moment in your history together ~ the knots where your relationship became stronger ~the tiny cracks where you learned how to be apart and mend what was weak ~ the imperfections which give your relationship character and life.

"Tree slice cake stands are a beautiful sentiment to represent your life together."

Bridal hairstyle

Its been a while now since my last post. I was browsing through the internet to get ideas on bridal hair and I came along this photo. I love it, its exactly what I was looking for. 

style chosen

hair colour chosen

Wedding flowers

My bridal bouquet

I have decided to hand make my own wedding bouquet.

So here is a photo of it finally finished... yay

close up of brooch

Wedding rings

I hope you are all having as much fun, as I am planning mine. My wedding band has finally arrived and its so sparkly. Its beautiful alongside the engagement ring.

What do you girlie's think? 

So do most of you wear the wedding band on its own or alongside the engagement ring??

Handmade Save the Date cards

A save the date is a notice stating the date of a significant event such as a wedding. It is typically sent to those likely to be interested or affected by the event and states the planned date of the occasion so that recipients who wish to attend know to keep that date free. Whilst some people choose to send a save the date notice, other couples might just advise friends and family verbally.

For weddings, save the dates usually take the form of a card, but can also be a refrigerator magnet, or similar item. They are generally sent out at least six to twelve months before the wedding date, and are usually followed by a formal wedding invitation. While save the date started as a wedding-related custom, it is now used by individuals, businesses, and organisations to announce the date of any formal event, ranging from wedding anniversaries to grand opening ceremonies for office buildings. 

I have finally finished making the Save the Date cards using our engagement photos. They look fabulous!!!

What do you girlie's think?

Handmade wedding invitations

I have finally finished making our wedding invitations.

I am so pleased on how well they have turned out. They are beautiful if I may say so ha ha. They match out theme perfectly with the lace, pearls, ivory and rustic card colour. They took a while to do but I am so excited, in sending them to all our guests next year.

So what do you girlie's think of them? 

Hair Extensions

Veil or no veil??

Hi Ladies

Today my hair extensions arrived, so I couldn't wait to try them on. My hair is very short but hopefully in 10 months time, it should grow a bit longer.

My hair goes up to my shoulders at the moment so when I was putting in my extensions it turned out a little tricky, as I had to blend in my hair very well to look as natural as possible. I tried my wedding dress again for the second time (to see if it still fitted well). I have to say, having my hair long again made me love my wedding dress so much more.

I also tried a veil but I am still unsure on whether I should wear it??? 

What do you girlie's think?? Veil or no veil? 

Our Engagement Photos

We today received our beautiful engagement photos . 

The shoot was so much fun. We loved every second. 

Got my dress and it fits lol

Sneak Peek...

Hi my lovely brides to be...

I have finally got my dress and is safely stored upstairs (away from Dan seeing it of course, lol) ready for the big day. It is so beautiful and I just cant stop looking at it and touching it to make sure its real. My second pair of shoes (main ones) have also arrived... they are so stunning and elegant. Here is a couple of photos just to tease you guys a little... dont want to give too much away yet haha... 

Hope you are all keeping well and that your wedding planning is going great xx

We have the date & booked our venue

We are getting married...Saturday 25 May 2013

We have finally booked our venue for our wedding reception. After the whole nightmare of the previous year in trying to arrange a venue. We discovered this beautiful 19th century Manor House, known as "Dumbleton Hall Hotel" set in 19 acres of private gardens and woodland with a private lake. It has stunning views of the Vale of Evesham and across to the Cotswolds.

It is situated on the border between Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, a mile off the A46, between Evesham and Tewkesbury, 5 miles from Evesham. Within a 20 mile radius are Cheltenham, Stratford upon Avon, Worcester and Tewkesbury. Birmingham airport is within an hour's drive, as the hotel is just 7 miles from junction 9 of the M5.

It is beautiful. We instantly fell in love with it.