7 months to go

Yesterday being the 26th February marked seven months until the wedding. I decided it was time to take stock and think about everything that we had already organised and what we still needed to arrange.

We have sorted:

Venue

Flowers

Dress

Photographer

Gentlemen's outfits

Transport

Honeymoon

Cake

Entertainment

Dance floor

Bridesmaids outfits

Hair and make up

Save the dates

Still outstanding:

Church details including flowers and the reading of the banns

Travel insurance

Pre wedding night accommodation

Schedule for the day

Stationery including the invitations, order of service

Readings and reader (for my side)

James' guest list

On the whole I'm really pleased at how much we've managed to arrange in the last two months. 

Yesterday was also a momentous day because it secured my professional future. I got an offer to train as a GP which means that James and I can now start house hunting - because wedding planning just isn't enough to be getting on with! 

How to walk in high heels

This is an art that I'm yet to master - I used to be able to do it with aplomb but since I went to university my footwear has erred on the practical side and is typically flat or wedge heeled.

I always knew that my wedding shoes were not going to be flat. However I didn't know what they were going to be like and I've become increasingly anxious in the last few weeks as more and more shops have failed to have any appropriate shoes in my size. 

I have big feet. I am a size 8. Despite the fact that more and more women have larger feet the shops still stock an inadequate supply or limited range. 

I had been undecided whether to go for statement wedding shoes or the more traditional cream bridal shoes. Ultimately I tried a selection at varying shops. Mostly they were too small. That is until yesterday when I struck shoe gold. 

I happened upon the Cotswold frock shop in stow on the wold. I had a day off from work and mum, Sam and I went to see the venue again and to do a bit of shopping. As we walked into the town a mother of the bride dress caught mums eye. Although she has her outfit already we decided to explore further. The shop, whose adverts is seen in my bridal magazines, turned out to be a one stop wedding shop. 

At the back were wedding dresses. Front right houses the mother of the bride range and front left had the bridesmaid dresses. The rest of the shop was populated with accessories. I was in heaven. I couldn't see any shoes. So I asked. 

I described what I wanted - a heeled shoe in a size eight that was less sandal and more shoe. My wish list also included a lack of bling. The lady went away and emerged with three pairs. The first I instantly discounted as being too pointed. The next two were promising. Ultimately I tried on all three and naturally I chose the first pair. They were by far the most comfortable. They are heeled and have a closed toe. Beyond that you'll have to wait and see. 

Hair and Make-up

The arrival of the latest batch of wedding magazines sent me into a slight meltdown. The reason for this... Yes they had suddenly impressed upon me the utter urgency of booking my hair and make-up artist. Unfortunately at the time I was in Scotland without access to my diary or my online banking for paying any necessary deposits. Thus I fretted for a few days and made sorting my beauty regime for the morning of the wedding the top of my to do list.

Seemingly this was with good reason as I was distressed to find that the first stylist I approached was already booked for the Friday 7 months hence when we will be getting married. Thankfully she supplied me with a recommendation of who else to approach and it was second time lucky.

Heidi Vince had an impressive website and is available on the day of the wedding. Thus all my problems were solved. Sadly it is only the start of hers though as the list of people requiring her attention has already grown to 7. Not only will I be having my hair and make-up done but she will be attending to the needs of my three bridesmaids, the flower girl, and both my Mum and James'.

I can't wait to book in for my trial!

Valentines day

This year is the only valentines day that I'll be engaged. I know traditionally it's the chap who spoils the girl on valentines day and thus far James has lived up to all expectations - it was on our first valentines day together that he told me he loved me. However, this year by design rather than by accident I managed to arrange to be off work and as such I've had the opportunity to spoil James.

It all started on Thursday night when I cooked him dinner and stocked the fridge with his favourite ales. I also got in some yum yums for his breakfast on valentines day. 

Valentines started with the usual alarm - albeit slightly later than usual as I didn't need to go to work. I heated up a coffee for James and gave him 3 yum yums. I then offered him a lift in to work. On my way back I went to the supermarket to pick up ingredients for the dinner I was going to be cooking. I asked James to pick a cook book and from that I chose the recipe. 

After a reasonably productive day, during which I put down the deposit on the honeymoon - albeit without being able to provide valid passport details for either of us- I went to collect James from work. When he finally emerged over an hour late we had a lovely evening together. He received a very oversized book on Bond and we watched both the documentary and the film of Madagascar... I wonder why? 

Flower girl

Today the Cotswold frock shop yielded a potential dress for my cousin's six-year-old daughter, Darcey, to wear for her role as a flower girl. While my older bridesmaids will be wearing purple I envisaged Darcey in an ivory dress with a purple sash.

What I found was slightly different. It was ivory as I'd expected and does have purple detail but not as a sash. I'm hoping to take Darcey to try it on sometime in June as I was advised to get her to try on the dress about 3 months before.

Save the date

The save the dates are here! It's official - our wedding date is... Friday 26th September 2014. The guest list for the day (at least my half!) is confirmed and the cards were sent this morning...

Not just wet but windy!

As our access road is blocked by flood waters for the second time this year it seems appropriate that our budget appears to be completely blown.

As things stand we are over budget by 1%. Unfortunately this is only our confirmed expenses and doesn't include the fact that only a portion of our honeymoon is covered, I currently have neither a hair stylist nor shoes and we don't have wedding rings. And that's just scratching the surface. Favours aren't included and I only have the dresses for half my bridesmaids. 

At this point I'm sure any one with any sense would be looking to see how they could cut costs. But since when have I been sensible? Instead I'm simply working out how to increase my budget. Last month alone I paid for about £400 worth of wedding related expenses from my personal account rather than charging it to the budget. I can see that becoming a recurring theme in the forthcoming months. 

I'm sure my late grandmother would approve (honest!) that I intend to use the final part of her legacy to me to further augment the budget. After all she was perpetually asking me if I had a boyfriend yet - when she wasn't prodding me and telling me I was fat that is! 

The thought of cutting corners has crossed my mind and I genuinely want the wedding to be full of handmade personal touches. The problem is that I am too easily seduced. There is nothing that I have seen thus far and no supplier that I have met that hasn't had me utterly charmed and convinced that it's worth paying a premium for quality. 

James and I intend to do this only once. I hope everybody who enters into a marriage does so with that attitude but I realise a lot do not stand the test of time. I think James and I will. We share the same aspirations and make each other laugh. We enjoy the same hobbies and relish each other's company. Thus fast we've weathered prolonged separation, a move out of the capital and multiple job changes for us both. That was not meant to be a sanctimonious essay, merely to exaggerate the fact that this wedding for me really will be 'til death do us part. As such I want to look back on it and know it really was everything we wanted. This doesn't all come down to money but sadly a lot of our ideas come at a price. And that is just a price that I'm ultimately willing to pay.

Fools and their money...

Flowers

Today was the first meeting with the florist, or one of the potential florists. Based upon this meeting we haven't decided whether to go ahead with meeting another florist later in the week. As ever we were very impressed. 

The first impressions were favourable. Not only is Nicole a friend of one of my bridesmaids but her website shows a beautiful array of feminine floral arrangements. When we arrived at her picturesque cottage the first thing that struck us was the gorgeous cocker spaniel, Oz, whose presence enhanced the meeting. 

Nicole had a comprehensive list of questions which included not only names of attendants but their heights and dress sizes! Who knew these things had to be taken into consideration? Over the course of a happy hour and a half we discussed the bouquets, buttonholes, church flowers, table arrangements, table plans and thank-you baskets. She instantly grasped our ideas and came up with creative suggestions to enhance them. We came away with some fabulous specimens of roses and now have a much clearer vision of the atmosphere we hope to create. I am excited!

Cruelty to the engaged

Last week the diet was overlooked in order to enjoy the cake tasting and the leftover cupcakes. I haven't checked the damage yet on the scales but I envisage a few pounds were gained.

This week the diet is resuming with a vengeance. I have found this particularly tortuous today as the desk at work is currently housing a tin of quality streets with all my favourite cremes in there. Damn diet! 

Gentleman's attire

This weekend saw a flurry of activity where the man's outfits were concerned. Naturally I have left this aspect firmly in James' domain. However he has consulted my opinion on a number of occasions - normally to be met by a blank stare and a swift request for clarification.

We have thus far visited Austen Reed and James has looked at various places online. However this weekend as I was purchasing bridesmaids shawls in debenhams we walked past the formal hire section and I picked up their brochure. This has proven to be of great interest and we have an appointment booked for the forthcoming weekend to confirm our order. 

James' grooms party will outnumber my own bridal one. He is to have a best man, a longstanding friend from university, four adult ushers and a child usher. The adult ushers are friends from his time at university and his time in London. My cousin, Fraser, and godson, Zachary, will complete his party. 

But back to the outfits. Needless to say James will be wearing a kilt, as will his best man and two of the ushers. The other two ushers have chosen not to wear kilts and I've actively persuaded my dad not to. My reasoning is that as with everything to do with the wedding I want people to feel comfortable and I don't think dad would be. To my knowledge his knees have never seen daylight and I'd hate to be the one to shock them! 

When it comes to the men wearing kilts it's fairly straightforward to accessorise them as they'll be wearing a similar style to James. The debate then arose over whether those in suits should be wearing prince Charlie or prince Edward jackets or whether to wear lounge suits. It has ultimately been decided that they will wear tails and pinstriped trousers and that by hiring from debenhams each gent will be able to go to his local branch for measuring and collection. 

When it comes to the kilts we're actively not coordinating them. James' tartan is the Robertson which is red based. Of the groom's party I think he will be the only one who has a predominantly red tartan and will thus stand out. Those with their own kilts will be encouraged to wear them and only one will need hiring. 

The coordinating factor will be the neckwear as all the men will be wearing the same cravats - and tying them themselves. I quite wish I could be a fly on the wall for that but I will instead have to rely on my trusty photographer for the scoop!

The perfect fit

This weekend I had my engagement ring resized. Although it was purchased long before we got engaged I didn't see it until James put it on my finger just over a month ago. Sadly when he did it was just a teeny bit big. This didn't stop me wearing it - I don't think anything could! However, it did mean that for the past few weeks I've been wearing another ring in front of it to anchor it on. Not only in my mind did this detract from my lovely engagement ring but it also meant it looked like I was married instead of enjoying the blissful state of engagement. 

Therefore on Saturday I took the ring in to a jeweller near my parents and to my amazement they said they would be able to get the ring back to me in just a few hours. As there never seemed to be a good time to be without it for longer than that I readily accepted. I was able to pick it up that afternoon and it now fits perfectly and looks stunning. I am thrilled. We have also arranged to go back in a few weeks to pick our wedding bands - James having been told that he will be wearing one as he'd failed to express his own preference. 

The story behind my engagement ring is this:

For as long as I can remember I have always known what I wanted as an engagement ring. Without a doubt it was to be platinum with a plain band and a 0.61 carat princess cut diamond. I've always preferred silver to gold and had expensive tastes - hence my choice of metal. The size of the diamond was based on the fact that my mum's engagement ring is 0.6 carats and this I needed to go one better without being showy and having a knuckle duster. The shape was simply preference. 

Those eagle eyed amongst you will not that the picture does not correspond with the description. This is because just over a year ago in harrods (naturally!) I fell in love with the debeers promise ring. Thankfully at the time a friend was a jeweller and had this copy commissioned for me. It is white gold with a central 0.5 carat diamond. The band on either side is half plain and the other half adorned with 10 small diamonds. I love it almost as much as I love James, the small bonus is that I get to take it every where with me and I certainly wear it with pride. James has rather meanly commented that he never knew it was possible to enter so many situations left hand first! C'est la vie! 

The first of the fittings

No, not of my dress, but today the first of my bridesmaids tried on her dress. Tabitha, who at almost 12 is the youngest of my 'big' bridesmaids has decided on the same dress that the other two are wearing and today she came over to try it on. The dress is purple to go with the colour scheme and on tabitha it comes to just below the knee. The lace up back means that there's plenty of room for growth but it also meant me on the floor for about half an hour getting more and more frustrated as I tried to do it up. The end result was lovely and tabitha seemed really pleased both with the dress and the colour. We're going to add some straps to it with the excess material to give a little extra support but there's plenty of time for that.

Today I started thinking about accessories. Armed with swatches of ribbon that match the dress and a swatch of my own dress which arrived this week Mum and I hit Winchester and in debenhams stumbled across some purple shawls. They're a near perfect match and as the wedding is September it may be cold so there is a need to think about practicalities. I tried on a fur stole which just made me look like an ostrich so instead I've another idea up my sleeve. 

We also accessorised the mother of the bride outfit. To match her lovely Hobbs dress and jacket mum has now acquired some shoes and a bag. Thankfully no hat though. 

Sadly the trip for my shoes has been postponed so I still have no idea what I'll have on my feet!