Week 4 - Does a wedding create an industry or an industry create a wedding?

I look through the multiple magazines that I can't stop myself from buying and the list of things that goes into a wedding continues to grow. Unlike my budget. From those glossy magazines, down to the last wedding favour the industry surrounding your special day can't stop growing.

I'm booked in to visit 'The National Wedding Show' next month and I already know exactly what it's going to be like. A large room crammed with stalls and samples showing their finery and wears. Does this type of pressure stress a bride to be out or does it just add to the experience ?

For me, it adds to the experience! Sure when your reading magazines and on every page there are pairs of shoes for £2,000 and wedding cakes for £1,500 it gets insane. Who can afford these things, unless you're successful middle aged business woman or getting someone else to pay for it. I guess everyone has those core parts that they are happy to splurge on. For me it's a reception venue and a band.

The industry itself though is intriguing and only explored deeply by those who are probably far too excited to assess things logically. Yes, I know i'm one of those women. Are couples being ripped off though for the perfect wedding? I love reading the wedding blogs and the case studies in the mags, and it's fantastic that people have themes and go against the ideal to cut costs, but for me I kind of want the common idea. Maybe not the meringue dress but definitely a beautiful venue, church wedding, nice dress, good photography so I guess I am the reason there is an industry.

A lot of the weddings you read about are unique and my wedding will also be unique but this is where I get my ideas from. I could have a country fete themed wedding cut costs and get married in a field, but I don't want too!

So prices soar and by the end of it you could have put a deposit on a house for the amount that's spent. However, this is one of the biggest days of a person's life. Choosing to spend the rest of your life with the person you love and being able to remember that day in it's glory when you're both elderly and looking back at some exquisite photographs (because you had a damn good photographer). That's the reason you do it and that's the reason I will enjoy every second.

So I welcome the dresses, suits, flowers, cakes, wedding bands, venues, transport, honeymoons, entertainment, catering, hair styling, makeup, decorations and everything else and without this vast industry I would never be able to find the perfect things for us for our price.

Week 3 - The choice of venue.

Today has been a really great day for me. The snow is falling, and has been
for the last few days, meaning the engagement party has been cancelled. Though
i have been devastated by this i am more daunted at the fact i'm going to have
to try and organise everyone all over again. It has come with it's perks though,
me and Luke have been able to spend some quality time together which has been
quite rare to come by and after playing host most of the week to a friend. It's
so nice to feel snowed in (hardly but we can pretend) and away from the world.

I have been entertaining myself today with the Wedding Magazine and scissors.
I am now the proud owner of two editions of this magazine and despite reading cover
to cover about wedding dresses, other peoples weddings and design ideas i can't
have a pile the size of me by the date of the wedding. Therefore i had to take the sharp
bladed demons, which cut my finger along the way and take to torturing those glossy pages
that put so much joy onto new brides faces.

The good that came from this was a bunch of pictures which are ideas worthy
of our wedding. From the significant pile on the left marked 'dresses' i believe
that shall be a small distress when it comes to finding it.

As mentioned this week we played host to my friend Laura, who had come to
stay as she was taking exams nearby. I now have my second reader ! I must say
the relief to have my bridal party sorted is nothing short of a miracle. However,
with a guest here things got put on a back burner in terms of ideas and progress.

I know, Rome wasn't built in a day and this wedding certainly won't be for some
time.

Some small progress was made though and rather significant, we have the first venue
viewing booked. February is always a ridiculously busy month for us as Luke's
birthday falls on valentines day, so most weekends were out for us, and those
we could do my mother couldn't. The idea of inviting the mothers to come along with us
to view the venues is more so we don't forget anything. I can be the type of
person who's imagination and excitement runs away with them.

The date we have arranged is the beginning, the day before me and Mum go to the National
Wedding show. We are visiting Orton Hall in the morning and hope to view another venue
in the afternoon.

To take a look at Orton Hall please visit - http://www.abacushotels.co.uk/orton-hall-hotel-and-spa/weddings-and-functions/wedding-packages.shtml

So with the help of the mothers and a clear idea in mind, who knows, at this rate
we might have a date and it booked by April. :)

Week 2 - The Bridesmaids are here.

The second week is over and with that a load off my mind.

This week i have noticed the distinct difference between a girl getting married and a boy getting married. The theme that seems to have run through this week has been not to rush things. With the rush of the engagement slightly calming down i found myself wanting to frantically cling on to it. If i had been allowed i would have probably attempted to plan my entire wedding this week. Instead i decided to tell my bridesmaids.

Last week choosing my bridesmaids was preventing me from sleeping, who to choose when there are so many best friends from different parts of my life but logically one can only have so many bridesmaids - more importantly who can afford too many. Different groups of friends, different personalities. For a new bride this is a nightmare.

Bridesmaid number 1. A done deal, my sister the best friend. She is always the one i can turn to, the one i trust and the one i want to be standing next to me on the day.

Maid of Honour - Miss Lucy - Out of all the bridesmaids she is the most similar to myself. Even the thoughts i have had myself she has said out loud. I can rely on her and she is a true gem.

Bridesmaid number 2. Miss Kirsty - My oldest friend, unlike Lucy, Kirsty is my opposite. With every dress I like - she doesn't, but it makes us unique and I love her to piece, there was never a doubt in mind.

Bridesmaid number 3. Miss Paz - A university friend and someone who i can honestly rely on. The reason i love Paz is simple, it's her laugh. When she does i do and she really cares.

Bridesmaid number 4. Miss Kay - My little shocker. My first university friend, my old housemate and someone who has the most remarkable stories you simply have to keep around for fun. I am thrilled she said yes. Always a shoulder there.

I am thrilled with my ladies. However, as mentioned so many to choose. I want them all involved i have asked Miss Kerry and Mrs Laura to do me the honour of reading in the ceremony. With Miss Nia singing at the reception.

Today we all went for lunch and it was lovely to simple relax, have fun and enjoy it. It's a huge relief and weight off my mind.

Also as an update this week i have tickets to attend the National Wedding show !!! Me and Mum are going at the beginning of March to get ideas, try some bits out and hopefully start to get pictures forming in my mind.

On the venue hunt i have a total of 7 possibilities so dates to visit them will need to be booked in soon.
What i have noticed is that i almost have too many facts for this blog to be creative with. Maybe after the rush of things this can start to get more imaginative. You wait until you hear about the advice cards idea.

It's begun!

We have just entered 2013, the world didn't end and my world feels like its just beginning.

 Almost a week ago it was New Years Eve and my gorgeous boyfriend of 7 years proposed to me.

 Now as any girl can imagine it's at that moment when your heart feels like it immediately stops beating for a few seconds (like your frozen). Only for it to start up again and to catch up it starts to flutter really fast. This is how I felt when I got engaged.

 So now I have a wedding to plan, and like others I am girl with not much money but I want to have the wedding of my dreams. Most of all I want to remember the wedding of my dreams so I will document a weekly blog of what’s going on, how it's happening, up until I have been married.

 Better start with the proposal.

 Me and Luke hate New Years Eve (or we did) so instead of the usual fretting of what to do, we decided to get away, Barcelona was our perfect idea. Unfortunately not all events work out that way and after my old car needed replacing and a new car needed to be purchased we decided to go with the cheaper option and head to Lincoln for our New Year.

 We both studied at Lincoln and there has always been that special something when you walk along the cobbled streets at the top of 'steep hill'. The castle one side and the cathedral on the other. Why not have a night there, nice meal and drinks in the local pubs. We checked in to the White Hart hotel 2mins away from the Cathedral, it was lovely to step away from the chaos of Christmas and get some quiet time.

 After a lovely walk and the a hot bubble bath we were relaxed enough to head towards the Thai No1 and enjoy a beautiful meal together. The meal was fantastic and after we decided to headed towards the pubs. Luke however fancied a walk (He had over eaten). Cobbled streets and high heels didn't really go down too well but it had stopped raining. We passed a street musician playing the Beatles 'Let it be' and headed towards the cathedral, this is our favourite spot (we graduated there). People were sitting on a bench and there was a gorgeous Christmas tree twinkling away - with our Cathedral lit up behind it.

 Then it happened... He began saying words to me that I can no longer remember, as I’m sure you will all know you're to busy thinking Oh my God this is it!!!

When he got on one knee a sense of terror and joy complimented with shock are incredible. Of course I said YES ! The music was playing and the people applauded, it was perfect.

We saw the New Year in as a newly engaged couple. In the past week family have been seen, friends have been spoken to and of course it's been updated on Facebook. With over 150 'likes' and many comments we are thrilled that so many people wish us well.

 I have bought my first wedding magazine, met and told my Maid of Honour and have purchased a wedding planner for all my cut outs and ideas. This is it, I’m getting married and I’m going to make it the best experience. I love my fiancé and he is the world to me. He is my life.

 This is going to be fun!