2...

It's nice to not be at work today.

I'm spending the day at home and town, tidying it up, and sorting through things so it should be nice to come home too.

In Laura Ashley this morning, they had a sale on, and I got six rolls of beautiful paper for £4.70 each! Mum and Dad are going to decorate the bedroom for when we return, and it'll be lovely to feel that it's 'our' house, not just mine anymore.

Managed to insure Steve's camera and laptop on the home insurance for Mexico and accidental damage so that's a relief.

And picked up Mexican Peso's whilst out. And bought another headband for my going away outfit and a cool beach bag.

I just felt I wanted a normal day at home before the onslaught of the wedding. Although Steve has invited his whole family round for dinner this evening after the rehearsal!! Oh well.

And that leaves just tomorrow then!

3...

My last day in at work today.

The girls have put lots of posters up around the building, decorated my desk with confetti and streamers and got me a balloon!

We're having a 'buffet' day which is where we all bring some bits of food in, and then have lunch together and graze all afternoon! I'm not a great grazer, and now am feeling rather full.

3 days people. 3 days.

Whether the Weather

There's a little rhyme that goes like this:

Whether the weather be hot
Or whether the weather be not
We'll weather the weather
Whatever the weather
Whether we like it or not!

And having looked at the BBC forecast for Sunday, the rain should stop, and be more sunny that day so hurray! And it may be cold, but I have a sleeved dress so hurray!

Today is my penultimate day at work, and I'm not sure tomorrow will count as we're having a buffet day!! =D Mmmm, buffet, which will mean a day of grazing and nibbling and not doing too much! A nice way to finish work for three weeks though :)

4...

Had a wobble yesterday and began stressing a lot about flowers, as I was worried that simple flowers in a jam jar would look rather naff, and there aren't the wild flowers I wanted available as yet (due to weather) and that nothing would match.

Last night, Mum and Dad found lots of suitable things in Tesco for not too much and we've decorated the jam jars with ribbons and pearls, and they actually look jolly nice and I think I was stressing over nothing. Back to the origional plan after all!

Things aren't going to match at my wedding. I know that, so why the palava yesterday, I don't know. But I feel happier with it all now. And I wanted the mis-match floral look so deep breaths, and stay calm.

I'm getting to the point now of taking a back seat I think and letting Mum and Dad take over. It's hard work trying to organise so many details.

I finished my banners last night by sewing the bible verse and chapter on it in ribbon. We've decided against the vine bit, as on hanging vertically, it didn't sit right, as we'd only seen it laid out on the floor before.

I also duplicated some CD's to play at Church and did another entrance and exit Cd.

Ooh, also, my cousins wife's mum is seriously ill, and they won't be making it on Sunday after all which is a real shame so we've asked some extra youngsters from Church to fill in as they won't be offended at the last minute nature of it!! And two have said yes so far, one can't, and we're waiting on a fourth response.

If Music Be The Food of Love.... (b)

And then in the evening, after the speeches, we've devised a list of songs that people may choose to dance to, or sit and chat to. As it's not a dancing sort of do, we don't know how it'll be. We just hope they're not bored, but enjoy the relaxing atmosphere.

We've gone for some first dances as requested via our website:

1 - Come What May - Ewan McGregor
2 - Annie's Song - John Denver
3 - Rule the World - Take That
4 - Endless Love - Lionel Ritchie
5 - Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton

and my personal favourites are:

6 - Happy Together - The Turtles
7 - You and Me song - The Wannadies
8 - Lucky - Jason Mraz

Then into fun stuff!

9 - Your Love Keeps Lifting Me - Jackie Wilson
10 - Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Andy Williams
11 - I Only Want to be with You - Dusty
12 - You Never Can Tell
13 - Love Me Do - The Beatles
14 - I Say A Little Prayer -
15 - Sweet Caroline - The Glee Guys (!)
16 - Son of a Preacher Man - Dusty (again)
17 - Baggy Trousers - Madness
18 - Footloose - Kenny Loggins
19 - Crashed the Wedding - Busted
20 - Video Killed the Radio Star - Presidents of USA
21 - See My Baby Jive - Wizzard
22 - Crazy - Madonna
23 - Brown Eyed Girl -
24 - Wake Me UP - Wham
25 - Don't Stop Me Now - Queen
26 - A Little Respect - Erasure
27 - Sweet About Me - Gabriella Cilmi
28 - About You Now - Sugababes
29 - I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas
30 - Don't Upset the Rhythm - The Nosiettes
31 - Girls - Sugababes
32 - Back to Black - Amy Winehouse
33 - Remedy -
34 - Grace Kelly - Mika
35 - Ruby - Kaiser Chiefs
36 - Take Me Out - Franz Ferdinand
37 - One Way or Another - Blondie
38 - Shine - Take That
39 - Are You Ready for Love - Elton John
40 - Black and Gold -
41 - You Can't Stop the Beat - Hairspray
42 - So What - Pink
43 - Chelsea Dagger - The Fratellis
44 - Hips Don't Lie - Shakira
45 - I Don't Feel Like Dancing - Scissor Sisters
46 - Nothings Gonna Stop Us Now - Starship
47 - Hey Ya - Outkast
48 - Fight For This Love - Cheryl Cole
49 - Don't Stop Believing - Glee
50 - The Promise - Girls' Aloud
51 - Don't Stop Moving - S Club 7
52 - Human
53 - Valerie - Amy Winehouse
54 - Warwick Avenue - duffy
55 - White Wedding - Billy Idol
56 - Rock DJ - Robbie Williams
57 - I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney
58 - Waiting for a Star to Fall
59 - I Want To Break Free - Queen
60 - It's Getting Better - Mama Cass
61 - You Stole The Sun - MSP
62 - If I Has $1,000,000 - Bare Naked Ladies
63 - All The Young Dudes - Mott the Hoople
64 - Hey there Delilah - Plain White T's
65 - She's the One
66 - In These Arms - Bon Jovi
67 - Calleth You Cometh I
68 - You Raise Me Up - Westlife
69 - Bed Of Roses - Bon Jovi
70 - My First, My Last My Everything - Barry White

And that is the soundtrack of my wedding! And I carefully put everything in a wonderful order, but then found on transferring it to my USB, it all jumbled up!!! So goodness knows what order things'll be in now. Not letting it worrying me.

If Music Be The Food of Love.... (a)

I've been playing with songs and sorting stuff out to play at various points in the day! It's been lovely.

What we're going to do is play some backing music in Church as folk come in, and we'll then stop the music for the Worship Band to play a song so it looks like this:

Church

1 - You're my Best Friend - Queen
2 - I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
3 - Walking Barefoot - Ash
4 - Falling for the first time - Bare Naked Ladies
5 - Wouldn't It Be Nice - Beach Boys
6 - When I Fall In Love - The Carpenters
7 - You and Me Song - The Wannadies
8 - Let It Be - John Denver
9 - Kiss Me - Sixpence None the Richer
10 - Can You feel the Love Tonight - Elton John
11 - Bella Luna - Jason Mraz
12 - I Only Want To Be With You - Dusty
13 - We've Only Just Begun - The Carpenters
14 - All You Need Is Love - The Beatles
15 - Sunshine On My Shoulders - John Denver
16 - You'l Be In My Heart - Phil Collins
17 - Follow You Down - The Gin Blossoms
18 - Grow Old with Me - Mary Carpenter
19 - Moon River - Frank Sinatra
20 - Your Song - Elton John
21 - You Are The Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder
22 - My Girl - The Temptations
23 - How Sweet It Is - James Brown

Then the band will play and sing 'Over The Mountains and the Sea' by Martin Smith!

Then the CD will play Manic Street Preachers 'Umbrella' and Steve has edited it so that there's one verse, then chorus, then bridge and no guitar solo - it's 2 minutes and 10 seconds and then I'm at the alter with him. Gosh!

To Veil Or Not To Veil

When I first thought of what my wedding outfit would be, and discovered the bridcage veil, I was pretty sold on it. I thought they were beautiful, different, and funky.

So I bought this:



I figured I'd be able to have the hairdresser fit my headband into the do, and then just pop this over the top for the Church and remove it for the reception. Anyway, during the hair trial, we couldn't seem to quite get it to go right, it looked a bit 'off' every time, so I came home without it on.

However, having played with it myself at home, I got it looking just how I thought it would! I was pretty chuffed with the look and it reassured me that it would be ok on the day.

So when on Sunday I was trying my dress on to show my sister, she wanted to see the veil. And she didn't like it. She'd never seen or heard of a birdcage, and even before she spoke, her face spoke volumes!! Admittedly, I wasn't made up and my hair was a bit bleurgh, but I still want to do it. It will be a decision made on the morning I'm sure, but I'm not ruling it out.









Look how stylish and pretty these all are! That could be me too? *hopeful* I just don't know whether it'd because I've bought a French ivory netting rather than a white Russian netting, but it doesn't show up well against my pinkness and blonde hair.

Another thing for 'on the day'.

5...

With just five remaining days until the wedding I'm feeling a little on edge.

The weather is predicting heavy rain on Friday and Saturday. It doesn't go up to Sunday as yet (the bbc one) but metcheck was saying sleet for Sunday. That I can't believe, it's MAY, not March!!!!

But a great pile of rain will make the gardens soggy regardless of nice weather or not. So grrr to the weather. I am seriously considering taking my welly boots for some photos if it is that wet. And I didn't get any umbrellas either, so there may be a mad umbrella buy by the weekend too.

And with the bad weather, the lilac trees haven't flowered, and we're now wondering whether to scrap the jam jar table centres (as there aren't enough wild spring flowers to do it properly) and we're now thinking of other things, such as the below pictures:







Nothing like leaving things until the last minute!!

Pictures of Progress

My wooden Mr & Mrs, yet to be painted! Or not. Hmm. Losing motivation now with only days to go!



My butterflies - having second thoughts about these now! May try and string them up and cut conversation stems off instead, or not use them at all. We'll see.



My basket of tags for the message tree and my poem in a frame which Sarah bought me eons ago. But just happens to match perfectly!



The thank you cards I made to match my stationary but in a slightly different way. I sat and wrote them out too. I knew just what I wanted to say to folk, so they'll be coming to the reception too with their gift bags.



The bedroom that I have taken over at Mum and Dad's (not for sleeping in, just wedding stuff!)



The finished dickie bows avec elastic!



The army of table names all done to the most perfect of edges and measuring using a fine art guillotine! No scissor risks for us!!

6...

Today is the last Monday at work as a Biggin!

It feels very strange knowing this is my last week in! And I'm not even working on Friday!

I've ordered flowers for our Mum's to be delivered on Friday 30th April, two lovely bunches from Next, in a lilac pail, called 'amethyst' something or other, which is good.

And other than that, I think that's it for now!

Just wish I could shake off this jittery tummy feeling!!! =D

Creating the Table Plan

Today I faced a big piece of A1 mounting board.

And this was the result:



It was fun laying out the first drafts of what will be my table plan.

And although I thought there wouldn't be any discussions on who'd feel more important being closer to the top table, it was discussed most intently!! Apparently, (or so my parents feel) the closer you are to the top table, the more important you are.

To be honest, I tend to get put near the back at most weddings I'm at, (unless it's my sisters of course!!) so I don't really think people would mind too much, but my aunts and uncles (on both sides) will apprently be offended if put in the middle row, rather than the front row.

Well there isn't enough room on the front row! We're having five tables, and I wanted my sister and boys on one, and Steve's brothers and Louise on another and then grandparents, which means two Cranston/Thompson tables and Dad says Aunty Joan should be on the first row which means Biggin cousins, whereas Mum wants Riley family on the first row too, which means six tables there, and less visability according to Dad.

I don't know, it's all one debate after another! Can't wait to see it all finished and pretty though!

7...

Ok then, it's all happening in one week today!

I'm up at a crazy early time most mornings now, today was 6.30 and considering it's a Sunday you may wonder why and why I have a compulsion to blog about it! I just think this will be something I can look back on to remember how I felt before the day and I've pretty much put everything in here wedding wise. I'll make it accessible to all after the day, and won't mind others reading it, but I thought it was nice to keep it private in the run up. More like a secret for me to keep that way.

Ok, the practise run yesterday afternoon. It was good, and certainly worth it. We discovered that I couldn't make it to the front in time walking in from the point we'd thought of. Mum goes first with the boys holding their cushions, and that was fine. Then it was origionally going to be Sarah on her own, and Amy 30 seconds later, but it's now changed so those two are going together (I think they're quite glad about that)and me and Dad walking from the Tower room at the start of the bridge (You can run into my arms) which means I turn the corner and get the bit where Steve will see me at the wail part he likes! Dad keeps calling it a scream but it's not that bad, it's just a high note then at the 'When the Sun Shines' I'll set off on the other bit of aisle! And Dad really wants to process in the shuffely mayor sort of way which I'm finding quite slow! I know all brides say take it slow and enjoy it, but whether I will or not is another question!

Anyway, on with the post. I was still busy last night and didn't get to bed early at all! I made two little dickie bows for the boys - again another job I'd been putting off thinking it'd be a fath, but it wasn't. I always seem to forget how much I enjoy sewing! Here's a little peek for you:



They're made with some spare bits of the sash I ordered for my dress in the same fabric as my bridesmaids dresses so they match perfectly. I ordered them silver to start with but they were two pale, then lilac which did say boys dickie boys but arrived to be huge, and would look far too comedy large under their little chins! So we decided on the home made route again to get the colour spot on!

I just have to take the elastic off the silver ones to add to these instead but couldn't last night due to afore mentioned boys sleeping in that room!

And then Dad managed to cut out all the table names in perfect symmetry, and the purple bits to go in my frames, so now I am going to sit and glue them together and pop them in the frames so that they're all done.

Then this afternoon, I shall maybe have a go at the table plan and see if we can sort out which table will go where, next to whom and do some playing with my A1 mounting card! I do hope it all fits in the frame! Oh, and the menu's are going to be glued today as well.

And we will see whether Chris has made it back or not and is at Church today! Which means we have two ministers! We've said they can share it between them as Matt has already thought about his address.

And I'm sure I'll think of other things to add here later on!

Ring Cushions

Having had a productive morning, I sewed two ring cushions for Theo and Isaac to carry with fake rings on! I don't trust the real ones to a pair of 23 month old boys! Hopefully the best man, Nick will do better!!


We are off to our church this afternoon to practise the timing to our entrance song and getting the boys used to the building and the music! At least Dad thinks that will help for next weekend.

NEXT WEEKEND! Can't believe it's time for typing those words already!

Men's Mints

This morning I have sorted all the men's favours out.

A while ago I bought from China 100 ivory organza little bags for about £3 and free postage which was a complete bargain.

Yesterday I bought mint imperials and today I have popped five in each bag (the number represents something in Italian tradition like health, wealth, love, fertility and something else I think but hey!) and they look very cute and I'm very pleased with them.

8...

Eight days to go, till I'm getting married...(if you sing this to the tune of One Man Went To Mow, it fits quite nicely, and is what's going round my head every morning on waking! I don't know if this is a good or bad thing really!)

Anywho... I'm having mild panics on a regular basis now on minor details such as a bag! Do I need one? I've bought my bridesmaids beautiful satin clutches, but never thought about myself there (finally, a tick against the non-selfish side!!) and although I won't be walking down the aisle with one, I've seen other brides with one during the day. I asked Steve and guess what he said? He said I didn't need one!! Hmm. Even if he is right, it's not for the right reason! Hee hee!

Sarah is coming to visit today and we're going to do the place names. Dad has said he does not like Terminator 2 as a table name, so I'll change that one! It was merely a thought after all!

We're going to decide on bunting too, for once and for all!!

Table Changes...

Ok, to suit Steve, there are the new table names:

1. Lord of the Rings - FOTR
2. Stardust - my sisters
3. Jurassic Park - his brothers/cousins
4. Gladiator - His cousins
5. Chocolat - Church folk
6. Love Actually - My Leeds family
7. Sleepless in Seattle - His grandparents
8. Amelie - Some of my Biggin family
9. Robin Hood - Biggin family
10. Enchanted - Biggin family
11. Big Fish - Biggin family
12. Shakespeare in Love - My uni friends
13. Terminator 2 - his friends
14. Moulin Rouge - My work friends

I think a wedding table called Terminator 2 is beyond anything I've ever heard of before, but hey ho. That's Steve for you! I just hope folk know whose taste these films belong to!

Maybe I won't use Terminator 2 after all. It's a bit ridiculous. Maybe Pan's Labyrinth would keep him happy :)

9...

Nine days to go.

Last night I began laying out what I thought was a lovely table plan. I'd got the idea from one I'd seen online, where the tables were named after films (of a romantic nature) and they'd printed out little pictures of the couples in the films looking romantic and put their lists of names over them. It looked good, it really did.

So I found pictures too and printed them all out the same size and they did look brilliant. I began laying them out in a bit of an order, and then Steve popped round.

We had a quick meeting with Matt, our step-in marryer, which went well btw, and he headed off, and Steve saw the table plan and suddenly, everything was changed.

He secretly likes ALL the films I've chosen, he just doesn't want others to know he secretly likes them. Which to me seems pretentious to want pompous films that we've not even enjoyed together, whereas these are all family friendly, entertaining flicks that we both have enjoyed.

Tch. He doesn't half make me cross at times, and bringing this on me 10 days before the wedding.

But, I don't want to come across as selfish, this is our wedding day, and if I can do anything to make him actually like it, then I will. So I'm overhauling all the table names and starting again from scratch. I won't use pictures as I think I'll go for a neater, more classy set out, and hopefully Steve will like it.

He did ring me up before sleep sounding a bit hang dog and sheepish saying that he really did appreciate me looking at the names again and he promises me a wonderful wedding day. Which was sweet.

I just worry that my mum thinks we're squabbling, which granted, from time to time we do, but last night was more playful banter, and Steve testing the waters to see how far he'd get. Which was quite far really!

Weather Watch

I have a new obsession to check daily now! The weather in Stafford (sunny every day bar Sunday this week when they're forecasting rain!) and in Mexico, which is sunny every day and reaching the 30 degrees now!!!

Praying for a sunny day on the 2nd May!

10...

Ten days to go.

That's not a lot at all by many standards.

Dad collected his suit today. Apparently you have to put down a bond of £200. He just passed his credit card details over so they don't actually take any money at all if the suit is returned in good condition and doesn't go missing.

I wonder if Steve would be willing to do the same. Well, he has to else he won't get his suit!

Dad also popped into the Registrars Office to say hello (as you do) and check that the vows Steve and I are saying will be legal. I think we're ok there though! Apparently some act of 1949 insists you say 'thee' which I find outdated and have put 'you' which Steve agrees with, and the Stafford office aren't going to quibble over that at all.

Ten days. Eek.

The Planes Are Flying Again!!

Good news, the planes are flying again as of last night so Chris may be back to marry us.

I've lost about 4 lb (so say the scales) so that has cheered me! If I can stay under 10 stones I'll feel trimmer in my dress.

Steve has taken to teasing me about table plans and the songs we've chosen which although amuses him, get's me fraught (his only intention I know) so we quarrel a lot but always make friends before bed!! Anyways, the worship songs may yet be changed depending on Steve's mood.

I've got to get his hip flask engraved this weekend, I think I'm going to have 'To My Gorgeous Groom' on one side, and 'See you at Church, Love Kate xx' on the other. If they'll do that! And then put apple sourz in it for him!!

More gifts have gone from the gift list, all the china bar a couple of serving dishes, but no one has touched the towels! Not sure why, but I would like them! Hmm. And they were the most traditional element on there! Sarah was right, people do want to stay away from what they deem to be boring. At least all the saucepans are bought! I can't wait to raid my cupboards and be rid of the old stuff. Have a proper clean out and sort out and tidy. It'll be fab!

And that's it for today - 11 days to go!!

Checking Appointments

Ooh, I've just booked in for a manicure and pedicure which is exciting as I've never had a pedicure before, and they've also confirmed my hair appointment on the day and the hairdresser, Jenny, will be coming for 9.30am!!

Yay!!

I loved my hair a lot, so was a bit worried in case she forgot where she was going, and was thinking of getting Sarah to do something with it just in case!

Phew!

Finished Favours

All done!

So chuffed, although my fingers are sore!!

They look really sweet, and I really hope people appreciate the home made touch!! And they smell gorgeous!

Just got to do the men's bags now once I've bought the mints.

13 days!!

Pre-Wedding Photos Are Up!

Chris has put some of his pictures up on his website of our photo session last week.

Here's the link

His photos are great, I just wish I were a better model! I'm feeling quite short, fat and ugly today. I do like some of them but I really don't like my hair this long, I can't wait to have it cut of and I'm going to have to throw those cropped jeans away. They make me look stunted.

And my nose?! And chin?! The one of me far away is my favourite!!

Lavender Bags R Us

I am on such a roll!

This afternoon, I've sat and stuffed 35 of my lavender favour bags! I can't believe how quickly I've got through them! I've been putting this task off all week thinking it'd be tedious, but I've really enjoyed it! They look and smell amazing! The only thing is, I didn't know how much lavender to buy, so got a kilo which was only £9 and I've used about one tenth of it!!

I've got a huge bag left over! I'll think of ways to use it though I hope!

I only have another 20 to make later, although think I'll do about 5 spares, just in case too.

Missing a Minister

Our Church Leader, who has been on holiday to Australia for three weeks with his family, is stuck on Hong Kong, and unable to fly back to the UK until the 5th May!

A volcano underneath a glacier in Iceland has erupted and sent ash up into the sky about 5 miles above the earth! This has then been blown all over northern Europe meaning all planes are grounded and flights have been cancelled all over.

This has affected millions of people! Britons are stuck all over the world and numerous holidays have been cancelled this weekend. My heart goes out to all the newlyweds unable to go on their long awaited honeymoons.

My parents were due to fly back from Ireland yesterday, but they've managed to get foot ferry passenger tickets on a ferry to Scotland this afternoon and will then hire a car to drive home from there.

Amy's friend who's got married in Mexico was unable to fly home on Friday and has been holed up in a 5 star hotel in Cancun! She's now flying to Spain today and will be put up in a hotel there until they can get back to the UK, either ferry or chunnel.

I'm just hoping and praying that we can still get to Mexico. If not, plan B is to drive to Cornwall and find a caravan or cottage for a week.

We'll still be married, we've asked Matt to step in as we want someone from our Church who knows us to do the deed, rather than Uncle John, or even my Dad!! (Although I'm sure he'd like the job!!, I'd find it weird!!)

Who knew volcanic ash could cause such travel chaos?!

Crafty Night

Tonight, Amy came over to see me (whilst house sitting) and we sat and made the message tree tags.

I broke Dad's guillotine :( as I was trying to chop the thick card, so had to resort to scissors, and cut twelve rectangles out of one A4 sheet, trimmed one end into a triangle, and then used my corner cutter to round of the edges, a hole punch to put a hole in the end, and then Amy stuck a little butterfly on the corner, and threaded a ribbon through and I found a basket in Mum's drawer which I lined with some favour fabric, and tied some lace ribbon onto the edges.


It all looks most pretty indeed. And if I could find my USB cable, I could download my pictures to show, but I can't!

I also finished my butterflies with conversations, and they look lovely. I've made 45 which means there can be 3 per table, and I just need the BBQ skewers now to finish them off and some scotch tape.

Flutterbys

Well, tonight I started on my 'How Do You Do' conversation decoration things, and cut out 45 butteflies from pearlescant card, and purple floral paper to make the insides. I thought they'd look pretty in the centrepieces anyhow.

I didn't get very far with it though!

Tomorrow, I'm going to cut out luggage tags and punch a hole in one end, and tie ribbon onto it, and use my corner cutter to round off the edges. At least that's the plan!

So, tags and butterflies.

And at the weekend, lavender bags!! Sewing, sewing, sewing!!

Place Name Making

I sat this evening and made all the place names for folk coming to our reception.

Mum had printed and chopped and folded them all, but when I came to them, I saw she'd printed them in black! Not purple! So I decided to start again and print them in the purple and cut and chopped and folded again. I hope she doesn't mind.



Then I cut out many many little butterflies with my punch and stuck two on the top table place names, and one on all the others. Then I also added a pink crystal to the top table butterflies, and an extra one on mine and Steve's, a little pink one in the 'o' of Cranston!!



So that's another job all done.

Ooh, also, I laid out the kiddies goodie bags and put all the bits in them. I think they look good, but I also think I don't have enough things to go round! I need more crayons! Too many kids! I'm also going to get some mini haribo sweet bags to pop in.

More on the endless wedding shopping list!

20 Days

20 Days.


Until I get married.


Oh my.

Wrist Corsages

As I've decided on wrist corsages for my sisters to wear, I popped into Primark whilst in London (never thought I'd get out either, mad) and got three pearl bracelet sets which were £1 each for a bundle so Sharon can either sew the flower onto the bundle, or one, or a few but there are so many options!

£1! Bargain!!

Ooh, and forgot to mention (I think) that on Friday I went to see her with Steve and we chose the flowers. Although, I was a bit confused and may have said yes to orchids for the wrist corsage rather than roses. I'll have to check with her as I don't think I really want an orchid. Not when everything else is roses!!

Flowers will include: roses, freesias, veronics, wax flower and I think there may have been another but can't remember. And we've said we only have £150 to spend which will hopefully not be a huge issue.

Pic'n'mix Day :)

Today was a day of assortments with plenty going on.

As you know last night I headed to Stone with my girl work chums and on returning at midnight (before the clock struck 12!) there was Nick, Louise and Richard having arrived for Steve's stag do on the Saturday. Steve was meant to have sorted the beds out, (negative) so I hastily pulled out air beds, zed beds and duvets and feeling pooped, headed off leaving the boys to their toys. (literally toys, big kids the lot of them).

Anyway, Saturday morning dawned and the boys all headed out with other boys to go go-karting at Stoke for Steve's stag (and he was so excited!) and that left me and Lou to wander into town on the sunniest and warmest of mornings we've seen in a long while.

After a Starbucks, we perused the charity shops and Lou managed to get a large number of china floral cups at crazy barginous prices to go towards her floral mismatch china for her wedding in September. She then caught the train back to Loughbourgh, and I headed home to pack for my weekend in London.

But first........

The pre-wedding photo shoot!

I have to admit, I was worried about this. Steve was having to be taken away from his stag do for photographs with me at Littywood, and every single element of this is something he'd hate, so I really thought he would be terrible and I'd have to coerce him to cooperate. But he actually pulled out all the stops and went along with everything and was polite and chatty and I think I love him a little bit more for it!! He's made me not worry about wedding day photographs anyhow :)

Chris and Keily were on their way to the Lake District for a holiday so it was only a short sojurn in Stafford and it'll mean we get to see them in a couple of weeks but hopefully before the day and I'll be able to put them here for a record too.

After one hour with a few different poses and places, we headed back and I went to London, and Steve carried on with his stag do which then went to Quasar, Nishads, Wetherspoons and The Met Bar where they met a trampy local woman who flashed them and photos will now follow...




Just so I have a record and can remind Steve of it whenever he's naughty!! I had to laugh though, he looked so discomfited!!

And that, was Saturday.

23 Days To Go

And it's my second hen do tonight!

The girls from work and I are heading out to Stone to go to Granvilles where they do lovely food, and have a live band doing lots of covers which is fun!!

This is their website: here

And their menu is: here

I think I'll be having risotto with garlic bread, but no pudding, maybe a cup of tea instead!! I've not been feeling 100% recently! I think my anxiety is coming out a little bit now!! I'm trying not to put weight on as I have no more fittings, but I'm also worried I'll lost too much and look like my dress is too big. Maybe I should try it on again!! ;-)

After this weekend when I head to London till Monday, I shall be moving into Mum and Dad's for the week to dog sit. I can't wait. I shall sit everynight and feel productive and finish things and look at the things I have to make sure everything is planned! It's the five p's!!

Perfect Planning Prevents Pathetic Performance!!

I guess this is why I'm anxious, I'm trying to think of everything and plan everything so I know it's all going to work. I just don't want to be ill in the meantime!!

How Do You Do......

Just been perusing the wedding ideas forum as one does, and through a link on a post to an Etsy site, there were some beautiful things and novel ideas.

It was a vintagey shopping page, with lots of Victorian based things, with pearl buttons and lace, but one thing that caught my eye, was this conversation starter!!

Now, I know my guests are pretty much at tables with folks they know, so chat won’t likely be lacking, but I just thought it would be another little touch that I could make myself, using left over bits of paper and it would just be another homemade bit.

So what I’m thinking is, using eight questions, and sticking them to a butterfly, which will in turn be stuck to a wooden skewer and sit in the jam jar flowers on the table.



What is the last dream you can remember having?
What can you see out of your bedroom window?
What do you hope to be remembered for?
What’s your favourite way to spend a sunny afternoon?
Who would be your ideal dinner party guests?
What was your most recent trip of more than 50 miles?
If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
What’s your favourite film and why?

Maybe it won’t happen, but I think it’d be a lovely touch if it did!

I’m lining up more things to do next week, whilst Mum and Dad are away!!

24 Days to Go

I feel a little as though I've been running a marathon for seven months, and the finishing line is now in sight. I'm pacing myself but just beginning to pick up speed to sprint to the finish.

I have 15 days of work left (not counting weekends)!!

I have two hen meals to go (one tonight - Guides and one tomorrow night - Work chums).

I have Mexico injections booked for next Tuesday (and they're free hooray! but ouch!)

Mum had cut out and folded all the place names and all I have to do DIY now is:

Add butterflies to them

Finish the table names

Help make the Order of Services (maybe source a basket to pop them in?)

Design and make the Table Plan

Stuff the favour bags and sew the ladies, and pop sweets in the mens.

Make the menus but Sarah will be helping with that

Sew the bunting.

And that I think my friends is that!

Keep up the pace, keep looking forward, keep going!!

Honeymoon Issues

So today in the office we were chatting and it emerged neither Steve nor myself have sorted our injections yet.

Eeek.

On t'internet, we're meant to have a Hep A and a Typhoid jab 8 weeks before we go.

We go in less than 4 weeks.

So I'm booked in on the 13th April for mine, and Steve is not going. He doesn't think they're necessary. And to top it all off, I've found he's not registered at any Doctor's practice in Stafford. Right. Fine. He thinks he'll be fine, let him be fine, but woe betide him getting ill, and then expecting sympathy. He won't find any from me. I wonder if he's just scared of needles?

Bridezilla Moment

Well, yesterday I had what I'll consider to be my first bridezilla moment. I never thought it'd happen, and that I'd be a cool bean all the way through, but with only 26 days to go, and not really sure what I was getting stressed about, I got a bit tense and emotional.

And how silly did I feel? Everything that could be organised is, and people are being helpful but Mum was commenting on the table plan, and I just felt cross. I was stressing about money, but we still have some budget left, and I'm worried Steve will hate it, and I won't be able to enjoy it, but I knew that'd be the case all along.

*sigh* I just want it to be a lovely day and not that I'm wishing my life away, I just wish it could be sorted and done with almost. I've been planning and thinking about it for so long, I just want it to be here so I can marry my Steve, and feel myself again! He's commented that he thinks I'm all 'wedding this', and 'wedding that' which I really didn't think was true! We hardly ever even discuss anything wedding related!!

Project Day Bank Holiday

How nice to have another day off! This weekend has been lovely.

This morning I got up, and Steve and I went to Dunelm, where I bought two sheets in the sale, one with lavender spots, and one with lavender flowers for under £10 out of which i can cut triangles for bunting.

We then popped into Hobbycraft (at which Steve moaned and was therefore told he hadn't had to come, but he'd insisted, so he had to nice) and I got a few more sheets of paper, and a big A1 mounting board to stick the table plan onto.

Then it was quickly over to B&Q for a piece of dowelling to put at the bottom of the banners which turned out to be a broom handle which was too fat (may return if I can locate receipt) and Dad has some copper pipe which is thinner (and fits) and also heavier (to help the hang).

Anyway, carrying on, the afternoon was spent at Mum and Dad's glueing the letters to the banners on the floor in the conservatory and leaving them there to dry. The job was a good'un!! Dad also sawed the cafe rods down to size and found two other ends to go on them. He's got a plan in mind for hanging them! I like that they're both pleased with the banners too!

Then another mild panic at all the stationary left to do and Mum got on with printing stuff out and I felt better!! Ooh, and I printed my message tree poem out to go in a lavender butterfly frame I already have and it looks lovely!!

Next Project - Bunting Day!!

How to make bunting

Download our bunting template and turn scraps of fabric into pretty decorations

You will need:
Fabric and thread
13mm-wide bias binding tape
Pinking shears

1) Draw a triangle on some cardboard and cut it out to use as a template; or print and cut out our downloadable bunting template.

2) Pin the template to your fabric and cut around it using pinking shears to avoid fraying. Repeat until you have enough flags.

3) Evenly space the flags along the bias binding tape, folding
the shortest edge over, and pin in place.

4) Sew on the flags with a straight stitch, leaving at least 40cm of tape free from flags at each end for hanging.

Sarah is coming home for a weekend on the 23rd (only one week to go then!) and we're going to sew bunting. I reckon I'll need at least 60 metres which will be a challenge, but I reckon it's doable! Now we've got the trusty sewing machine up and running again! Just need to find some lovely fabric and binding stuff now.

Be Jewelled

Thinking about what to wear on the day, and here's a pic of my bracelet and earrings I'll probably wear:The only potential issue is that my ex-boyfriend gave me the bracelet. Steve doesn't appear to care, and it's the nicest piece of jewellery that I own! It's white gold, with crystals all along in a ribbon effect. I love it a lot, and it's special (not in that he gave it me, just that I really like it!) And I think it'll go well!


The earrings I bought 6 years ago to wear for Sarah's wedding as a bridesmaid, but I think they'll do perfectly!!


Just the necklace to go now. I had dropped many hints to Steve about one I'd found and fallen in love with: link is here but I don't think he's bought it, and now it's gone up 25% in price to what it was when I found it. It would have been perfect though. Goodness knows what I'll wear at the moment. Hmm, ponder ponder.

How I Made My Banner - Day One

ONE MONTH TODAY!! The wedding is in ONE MONTH!!

After lunch I sat and cut out all my letters. To give even more history, I'd had the thought of what I wanted a few weeks ago, so had drawn my plan, found my Bible verse, typed it up, put it into a nice font, printed it out, then blown it up bigger onto A3 paper. This had then sat waiting for an opportune moment to work on it.

Good Friday = bank holiday = opportune moment. (I did attend a Good Friday service, play the hymns on the piano, then go into town for a walk of witness, sing Amazing Grace in another church before lunch btw. Wasn't ignoring holy aspect of day at all)!!

Anyhow, after lunch I sat and cut out all the letters from the paper.

Then I used the paper and cut out all the letters out of black felt. I love how they look so clear against Mum's table cloth!! They pop!!

I then cut the purple butterflies out of felt that will help decorate it. I used three shades, my lavender as the base, a darker for wing detail, and then plum for the little hearts on the bottom of the wings! I'll be using ribbon for antennae and black to make the bodies. But no googly eyes!!

Then I took my fabric (it was only curtain lining but I preferred the colour)

and hemmed round it with tacking stitches.

Here's my stuff all laid out, with the trusty sewing machine in the corner! It's very frustrating to get the bobbin sorted and threaded, but once you get going, it's so quick! Here on the right is my tacking stitch!

Then I cut out green hearts which will be my leaves on the vines around the words.

You can see my butterflies now have bodies as well, and I still need to sew the ribbon!

Then I sat at the sewing machine and properly hemmed the banners. Admittedly, the machine sometimes ran away with me, and the hems aren't the straightest in the world, but when they're hanging on the wall, high up, who's going to notice?! Apart from Mum and me that is!! =D

By now, it was getting on a bit, but I was keen to get an idea as to how they'd look, and show my parents who really didn't get what I was trying to do yet, so I laid them all out on the lounge carpet to demonstrate!

And they were really impressed! So then Dad got in on it, and started making suggestions and comments, and I was very chuffed that they liked them so much!! Dad noted one banner was slightly longer than the other, so I've tucked them both under to make a space for a piece of dowling to sit to help it hang straight and down, so that's sorted that (very quick on the old sewing machine) and we decided rather than make a dowling pocket at the top to do tab tops, so I made those (on the machine) and sewed them across, four on each. I'll get a photo of that another time I guess! Then suddenly it was 10.00pm and I was tired, so I put it away for a bit, and may have another on Monday.

Aah, Monday, day of sticking! We decided that hand sewing would be rather annoying, so we're going to glue each bit on. Hope that's ok, but Dad did do a trial with leftover bits, and it looked ok. And I have to add that the verses are from Ruth 1:16.

I felt that today was soooo productive, it was brilliant to see what was a random idea, come to fruition!