Ok I have some news after a lot of ups and downs of not knowing where we stood we have got the house we wanted and going through the paper work procedure now. Which is fantastic as we have been desperate to own a place of our own and whilst we have needed a loan from a scheme we have finally done it.

The bad news its doubtful we are going to be able to have the wedding we have been planning much to my disappointment, I have been racking my brains and getting rather stressed and upset trying to come up with some idea on how we could afford it. But unfortunantly the wedding fund from my folks has had to be used on fees in order to by the house. And although my MIL has kindly offered to pay towards the wedding I'm uncertain we would have enough.

I'm thinking pushing the date later is going to have to be an option.

The only prob is the venue we were to have our wedding and reception and evening do as it is all in one place asked for a non refundable 250 pounds deposit which we paid. Were under the assumption we wont get this back.

When I spoke to them awhile back and said we were trying to do things on a budget they said why not come in and talk over ideas and they were sure they could sort something out on our budget, we have yet done this and wondering whether it still is worth it and if nothing can be done on what MIL can put towards it then at least we can say we tried.

I mean its doubtful anyone would take the 15th August 09 if we were to cancil now and would rather have the wedding kept as we would. it cant hurt can it to explain our situation.

Also was going to talk to MIL what we have so far and see if she had any ideas on how we could cut costs. Plus we have til August to do a bit of saving as we will hopefully have moved in to our new home by the end of next month.

I would have loved to do my Pocket invites that i had seen and worked out which we worked out would cost 54.60 pounds which i know if i went with another design i could find alot cheaper. though i would like Pocket invites as i feel they would fit well with the rest of the wedding but to cut costs its an option.

Also my mum said there were people we wouldn't ask from our side of the family if we were haveing a registery office wedding instead so wondering whether my mum would be ok with not inviting to the wedding I have planned which would lower costs due to food costs which is another option.

In some way Im hoping for a miracle as I really don't want to cancel. And delaying each day of doing so.

Decided to ring our local Marks and Spencers store today to get a clearer idea of costs on buying a wedding cake from them and they recommend possibly having a two tier cake. The bottom a Large fruit cake which serves 54 portions and costs £38 and then a Medium sponge which serves 24 portions and costs £12. Comes plain Iced so I can add ribbon and our chosen cake topper. The total for the cake only comes to £50.00 and then with the Topper £77.95 But will need to sort out the cost of silver ribbon.

They have a Brochure in store which we can have a look and get more ideas if we want too. Also have heard a lot of good reviews about their cakes being by far the best taste and value for money.

Which brings the Grand Total to £2882.49 excluding ribbon which wont cost that much and the evening buffet.

Grand Total Including evening buffet but excluding cake ribbon comes too £3337.49

Mind you were basing evening do on 65 people who are already invited to the wedding and Reception. There are a few others we could invite to the evening but not sure whether its really needed or not. Something me and Dave need to talk over. Also if we leave having an evening do then we wouldn't need a buffet, DJ or evening invites which would cut costs. But then it would be nice to have one.

Ok I've noticed my blog is getting very scattered lol so decided I'm going to write out what has been worked out so far and costs at guess so far.

• Guest List To wedding and Reception - Total 65 people.
• Invites - I've worked out the invites if I go with Pocket Invites to cost £1.82 each. I need to make 30.
• Notice each £30 so for both me and Dave its £60.00
• Registration Fee for marriage ceromony £305.00
• Marriage Certificate Each £3.50
• The Coppleridge Inn deposit and Civil Wedding Hire Charge £350.00

The Coppleridge Inn deposit £250 is non-refundable.

• Dress - Bonny Style 449 can be bought from The Clothes Horse, 90 Highstreet, Bathford, Bath Tel. 01225852626 Selling Price £559.00. Dress has to be ordered in for try on.
• Flowers - Di Goodinge 01747 858250. Letter dated 14th September has all the Quoted prices on for what I wanted and comes to a total of £116.00 excluding table centre pieces I came up with which are £8.50 each and button holes which are £3.50 each. I estimate we will need 6 button holes which totals up to £137.00. But need to decide on amount of table centre pieces are needed.
• Cake - Marks and Sparks do a 3 tier which serves 144 and each layor a different flavour which costs £199. this may be to much cake really but they do single layors so we could have 2 tier cake and one bit fake which may bring cost down.
• Topper - decided on the butterfly topper from ebay £25.00 P&P £2.95
• Flutes - H.Samual Jewellers special memories crystal champlaign flutes, code 6082610 £39.99
• Menu - Need to talk with The Coppleridge Inn to finalize costs and menu. But from their website their prices range from £18.50 - £29.50 per head. I would have thought for our menu and we would be looking at £19.50 per head which comes too £1267.50
• Evening Buffet - If we have one we would go for the £7.00 per head which includes: Sandwiches with variety of fillings, Mixed Indian Savories with Sweet Chilli Dip, Selection of Puff Pastry Rolls, Pizza and Quiche. Which totals to £455.00

Looking at the above the Grand Total comes too £3458.54

But if we forget the evening Buffet and Evening all together - £3003.54

Still Need to do -

• Drinks - would need to be discussed but we figure bottles of wine for the main meal would be provided by us and guests would buy their own drinks for the rest of the reception.
• Outfits - I'm thinking of letting my MOH choose what she wants to wear as she will be paying for it and I want her to feel comfortable. for my boys and Bridesmaid I was intending on them whereing something smart but can be worn again. Thinking for my boys Jeans smart t-shirt with a sleeveless pull over.
• DJ - need to find out the cost, were hoping our friend can do it.
• Rings - have an appointment to see a designer at H.Samual Southampton to work out design and cost.
• Shoes - going to wait till January Sales
• Photographer - MIL has offered to pay for, need to find out her budget.
• Jewellery - Possibly see if it can be my something borrowed or check Sales
• Garter - Looking, want white lace and royal blue.
• Table Clothes Etc - Need to check with Coppleridge for costings as I can hire from them.
• Hair and Make up - May do myself. or may ask someone in the family.
• Thankyou Presents - have a couple but still need folks, ushers, and Best Man.
• Talk over Menu with The Coppleridge Inn and work out final costings

Decided to have a look at wedding cakes again, ok I know the stye I want and the topper I want but I need someone who makes them. Need some quotes and recommendations. We were going to have a friend of my folks do it but were unable to get hold of her or something. Anyways My mum was saying that a few people have recommended Marks and Spencers. I had a look at their website and to be honest they aren't to badly priced. The cake in the picture is one they do but it comes with out the flowers which is fine with me as I want the butterfly topper we like.

Heres the write up -
From £179.00 - £199.00Serves 144
This sophisticated cake is covered in marzipan and soft icing. Available as a three tiered cake in either chocolate, fruit or all-butter sponge, or as a combination and as a set of six minis. (Flowers not included) Optional - you may choose to stack your Romantic Pearl Three Tier Cake using pillars and dowel rods or polystyrene blocks (not shown). Buy these in store.

If we have one from Marks and Spencers we would probably go with White Assorted Cake
£199.00 Serves 144 which I would have thought would be fine, can freeze the fruit cake for our aniversory and serve the all butter sponge and chocolate to the guests.

Ok there has been some development and I'm not sure if were going to have the wedding I wanted or not or whether where just going to have it at a later date.

Here's the thing we have recently been approved a loan with a houseing scheme and approved a mortgage and also found a house we like and the seller has accepted our offer as long as his offer for a house he wants is accepted. So at the moment we are waiting in limbo to see what is going to happen. As you can imagin it's going to cost a lot what in solicitor fees etc. This is the main reason I haven't been updating here as often. I have been buisy sorting all this out.

My folks are giving us money to go towards either the house or wedding and I was hoping the wedding would only cost half of what my folks are giving us so the rest could go towards a house. but unfortunantly the wedding is beginning to cost more than I thought it would and Then there's the house buisness, we are going to need the total of what we have been given for the house buying fees. despite haveing a little saveings I don't think we will be able to do both.

Anyway until our mind is made up on what we are going to do and we have confirmation the house is ours I'm going to continue with my wedding planning. And also I will probably continue even if we get the house even if wedding plans change.