Getting real

As the countdown clock ticks down (150 days to go now) the printing of the invites has started to make everything seem real and very very exciting. The disaster of going to print in the wrong colour was narrowly averted and the invites were ready for collection today. Here's a sneak peak. 

A slight hiccup

Thus far things have gone ridiculously smoothly as far as our wedding planning is concerned so it was inevitable that at some point there would be a hiccup. As I mentioned in a previous post I collected the wedding rings last week. I did this on my own as James spent most of the week in bed sick. For the sake of his ego I will state that he was genuinely really quite poorly - no man flu on this occasions - and he was actually very stoic about it. However this does not alter the material fact which is that when he came to try on his ring this weekend it didn't fit. More specifically it was too big and slid over his knuckle with far too much ease. This may be a factor of his recent illness induced weight loss but the fact remains the ring is too big to be worn. 

Naturally it was left to me to inform the jewellers of this latest development,which I did by phone this morning. They were very apologetic and will make any necessary adjustments free of charge when we get round to taking the ring in at the end of May. Result! 

5 months to go

Time seems to be flying by. In the last month since I posted a countdown a lot of bustling has been occurring.

Firstly on the craft front: I have really upped the ante on the rose front. The past week I have managed to make 100! This has in large part been helped by James being sick and me being off work so having little else to do during the day times. I have also decided to utilise ribbons for the pew ends and have enlisted Mum's help to make bows which will be decorated with rose details.

The invitations are going to print in the next week. We have approved the font, colour and style and to our delight the printers are able to print directly onto the cars we have chosen rather than having to glue inserts into the them.

The final bridesmaid dress has arrived. One needs no alterations but the other two will need minor additions which can be worked on in the next few months.

The video dilemma has been solved. As there are only a few bits that we are interested in having preserved for posterity we have decided to enlist an amateur family member, armed with Dad's camera. Either my uncle of my cousin are set to be asked and I'm hopeful they will agree with the idea.

My leave is also on it's way to being sorted. I've found out that I'll be working in A&E come September and while it's fixed leave the rota coordinator sounded very helpful and has said she will work with me to negotiate any necessary swaps and has succeeded in doing so in similar situations in the past. She told me to be reassured and I have chosen to listen to her as to myther myself silly will not help anyone.

The bridal magazines continue to stack up and the scrap book is bursting at the seams. It goes everywhere with me. I'm still trying to decide in my own mind what hairstyle I'll plump for. It seems that's one front on which I am particularly picky.

I'm still trying to decide on the hymns as it won't be long before the orders of service need to be finalised.

I'm also to understand that the hen do is being arranged. With my chief bridesmaid in Asia my Mum is temporarily in charge of the reins and has contacted those people I've asked to be invited. I know that date, which is 20th July but little else...

No other momentous decisions have been made recently, although we did visit our venue with my inlaws to be and had a rather wonderful afternoon tea there. On the back of that I think I've changed my mind about my pre-wedding night location. As we prepare to complete our house purchase over the next few weeks I am starting to favour staying there and gathering my parents, dog and bridesmaids around me there, while James takes up residence at the hotel where his family will be staying. Who knows what I'll be thinking come this time next week though?!?!

For now the planning continues and roses take up my every relaxing moment.

Wedding websites

With a few hours going spare and an urge to immerse myself in wedding land I set to on a long overdue perusal of wedding websites. 

Here are those that attracted my attention:

Www.notonthehighstreet.com - this website sells anything and everything you can possibly imagine and much that you can't. It's well laid out and I can see the weddings section providing much inspiration. Thus far I've searched wedding post boxes and guest books as well as bridesmaids presents. 

Www.sassiholford.com - a bridal couture website. Yes I'll admit to having some dress wobbles and after lusting after some of her designs in my wedding magazines I couldn't resist taking a peak. Thankfully I came away reassured that I have made the right choice. 

Www.illustries.com - a company that has a slightly different take on the wedding guest book. An interesting idea and one which I'll admit to finding intriguing. 

Www.weddingparty.co.uk - a website that caters for all things bridal, in particular those of the homemade variety.  I have a feeling I might turn here for some assistance with my major craft project. 

Www.partypieces.com - this one was entirely for James' benefit. I can't admit to being bowled over by any originality. 

Www.pinterest.com - I've heard much about this site and can see how many brides swear by it. As a complete novice I think it may take a little getting used to but I can see some definite potential. 

I have of course overused many more over the past few months but for tonight this lot sated me. 

A sneak peak

Today, with James on his sick bed, I went to collect the wedding rings. Mine looks completely minuscule in comparison to James' and is a lovely snug fit. I couldn't resist trying it on both with and without my engagement ring. It looks gorgeous. The inscriptions have come out beautifully, particularly in James' as it's a little bit larger. I made a split second decision to have a double ring box, thinking ahead to the photos. I don't know yet if James would have agreed with that decision. Poor boy. For now though here's a sneak peak... 

Getting crafty

Following on from by mini meltdown at the weekend I decided to immerse myself in creativity. The result was what I believe to be a simple and yet effective design for invitations with a theme that can be carried through the order of service, table name cards, place cards and menus. Best of all it easy to handmake, for a personal touch, and very economical. Result! The ideas were taken down to see my mum yesterday where they received her all important seal of approval given she is to make them all. 

The order of service

With this week set to be devoted predominantly to stationary it seems appropriate that I make a record of the proposed order of service. This is primarily so that I cannot lose it as the scrap of paper that has floated round the house for the past few weeks has been mislaid on numerous occasions. 

It will not have escaped the notice of my more eagle eyed readers that we are to have a church service. Thus there is more to the ceremony than the 'legal bit' as James terms it. 

Our ceremony will proceed thus:

Welcome + Introduction

Hymn

Readings - one biblical and one not (three guesses who's choosing which!) 

Address

The marriage ceremony

The signing of the registers

Prayers (including the Lord's Prayer)

Hymn

Blessing 

Some of the finer details are yet to be decided. The readings have been chosen as has one of the hymns, although I am yet to choose the other. The rest of the music, including the entry and exit music is still to be picked, along with anything played while we sign the registers (using James' Mont Blanc fountain pen of course). 

We have, however decided upon the people who will play pivotal roles during the ceremony. 

Obviously my dad has the role of walking me in and giving me away. James' reading which is in two parts will be split between his dad and his longest standing friend. My reading will be performed by my longest standing friend. This leaves our witnesses. Both of us have asked our mum's to perform this role. 

So there you have it. The plans are laid out and it won't be long before we need to finalise them in order to start the print order. For tomorrow though we will make do with starting the print press rolling for the inside of the invites. At this rate they might reach some of James' guests before their save the dates!