All 35 Wedding and Reception invites complete. Just the inserts to do now and a lady Susie.A on Ukscrappers kindly sent me some sample paper to see if they'd work with my invites and they were perfect. The paper is Irediscent Sparkly White 100 gsm A4 20 sheets per a pack. I have sent my mum on a mission to pick some up for me.

The bridesmaid outfits have been found in Debenhams and both my Best Friend and Sister in Law have tried them on and love them and sorting out ordering them. The Dress is Midnight taffeta ball gown

Found a lady who has quoted 150 pounds for the same cake I wanted and so in the process of organising a meet up and she also knows of someone who does flowers and is going to speak to them see if they can help out. So my fingers are crossed, Because I have to say all though I have ideas I'm unsure how they will turn out, whether my ideas will look right etc, I need some reassureance and ideas on how to make the place look the best it can be.

Managed to make two Invites so far. The embossed flowers arrived to day :) and I cut and embossed all the butterflys yesterday. But im not all that organised as I now need more Royal Blue card which my friend has picked up today so just waiting for her to come up with it. And I got to get 350 adhesive stones all the same size. they are apparently 2mm. And get the inserts done.

Here's my invite.

It's amazing how much changing of ideas has taken place since I first started planning.

Invites

As time was running out I decided to put a post on Ukscrappers forum the other day, as I was having no luck coming up with any ideas as I had been so set on Pocket invites. And there were some good ideas and finally decided after seeing this card by a scrapper called Scoobiesue. I love it and going to change the red to blue and possibly have silver though personally I don't think Its needed as I can use silver rhinestones.

I bought the Cuttlebug Combo butterfly die and tested it out usinging my BigShot and they turned out stunning. Another lady on the forum called Tanya has kindly offered to cut emboss the flower part of the card as she has the die and hopefully I should have them some time in the week.

I had bought some bits to have a go at making my invites before I saw the above card but think after coming up with a design they are better suited for thankyou invites. Though haveing the butterfly die has given me other ideas lol. So we shall see.

These were the stamps I bought

and I bought some wedding invitation peel offs and evening invitation peel offs silver adhesive stones indigo ink it up Denim heat embossing powderand a pack of Anita's A6 50 quality white cards and envelopes

Flowers - got an appointment with Shirley Snells Florist in Salisbury tomorrow to have a talk about Flowers. I haven't as of yet heard from the other lady.

Cake -

Been trying to get some quotes regarding the Cake now I have a design. Lisa Knotley was charging 375 pounds and a 20 pound delivery fee. Which is a bit to much for our budget which is a shame as her cakes are devine. I had a quote from www.cakelady.co.uk which my middle son's nursery teacher recommended us and she quoted 180 pounds but we would have to supply the square mirror pillar and have to pay a 50 pound deposit. My folks would be able to pick it up if we do decide to go with her, along with the flowers if we go for a Salisbury Florest.

Here are the cake details -

Square Butterfly Cake

9" & 7" Rich Chocolate cake with a layer of chocolate fudge filling

5" Carrot Cake with a layer of cinnamon butter cream Each Cake covered with a layer of white fondant icing.

Cake boards covered with a layer of white fondant, the board edged with ribbon.

Bottom two tiers stacked on top of one another, the top tier seperated using a square mirrored pillar

Cakes finnished with handcrafted sugar butterflys in different shapes & sizes colours :1/5th of butterflys to be "solid" Royal Blue, 1/5th silver, 1/5th white and edge piped Royal Blue, 1/5th blue piped with silver, 1/5th white and dusted with silver shimmer

Top Tier decorated with butterflys on silver wires. A small arrangement of butterflys on wires to be placed on the tope ledge of bottom tier.

Bridesmaid Outfits - Were going to have a look in Southampton on Sunday 5th April. I have asked my Sister in Law Vicky to be Bridesmaid too :)

Make up - Trial is booked for the 4th July 2009

Hair - Vicky is going to make an appointment with the salon at the Coppleridge as there's only us two.

Where to start..........The dress I bought for my neice is to big so were going to keep as its a pretty dress anyway and she will grow in to it and also in hope she will have a growth spurt before the wedding.

My Maid of Honour is on holiday at the time of our wedding but hoping to come down for the day and still be my maid of honour so im really hopeing she makes it.


CAKE -
We went to see Lisa Knotley on Saturday with my SIL Vicky and we discussed the cake and put a design together. I'm really excited to see the end result. Her cakes are divine and I was even given a chocolate cake to take home. I'm haveing a 3 tier cake, two bottom tiers chocolate and the top tier carrot cake. square so its easier for cutting and a butterfly topper on top and butterflys on wires on the 2nd tier in one of the corners and then butterflys dotted round the cake. Need to do a Colour Swatch for Lisa so she knows the colours.


INVITES -
I don't think I will find pocket fold invites any cheaper than I originally found but the costs of the wedding are starting to mount up so I'm now thinking maybe just getting some plain white square cards and using a stamp and some blue and silver inks to create my invites and for the day invites add inserts with the rest of the details I wanted to add and a ribbon to hold the inserts in.

I found a stamp I adore but not haveing any luck finding it to buy.

I came out with this design below using a paint programme forgetting with a stamp I wouldn't be able to mirror an image which is a shame as both me and Dave love the design I came up with.

I emailed BoBunny to see if they could help and this is what they came up with

Going to give my self till the end of this weekend to make up my mind what I'm going to do.

FLOWERS -

Had a think about flowers and keep swaying more towards artificial, I like the idea having them to keep after the wedding. I had come across a lady online who I love her work but with the distance and not being able to talk face to face I feel rather nervous.

Vicky's sister in law gave us a name of a florest who I have spoken to today and when she has got mothers day and a wedding shes doing out of the way she will call to arrange a time and day to talk through the ideas I like and see what we can come up with. She does both artificial and fresh so I think she will do well on advising me a way forward. Feeling rather relieved now.

Heres the link to the lady I found online who I love her work http://www.flowergem4u.co.uk/index.htm and heres the pics I like of what she can do -

Here's a table decoration for the registrar table, I would like silver butterflys and blue bling.

All the below we would want Royal blue satin ribbon and silver organza ribbon and silver bling.
There's two Bouquets we like - Top one we prefer

I like the shape of this one too.

Dave love the way the bow and ribbon is on this bouquet and wanted it to be on either of the above bouquets we like.

She does Wands and I thought something like this for my Maid of Honour with Royal Blue satin ribbon and silver organza ribbon. And the same for the Butterfly wand which I think my Neice who is bridesmaid will love.

RINGS -

Well we went in to town the same day we sorted the cake and came acros some rings we liked better than the ones we were thinking of getting before, So they are all paid for and ready to collect. Heres the link to my wedding ring - http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/detail/R/6367674/ and heres some pictures - first one is Dave's ring, I really like it, much better than the other one he originally chose. The rest of the picture are of mine.

My wedding ring on its own -

And here are a couple of pics of my wedding ring and engagement ring on my finger, unfortunantly it didn't fit at the time so Could only perch it as far as it would go lol.

Well the wedding is coming along and I thought it was about time I put a post up to say whats sorted and still to be done. If I have missed anything please feel free to leave me a message.

The Wedding So Far:

Wedding Date Booked for 15th August 2009 at 3pm.
Colours and theme etc – Blue, Silver and White, butterflies and Calla Lilies

Venue – The Coppleridge Inn, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 9HW
Tel. 01747 851 980. http://www.coppleridge.com/ Deposit Paid, Date Booked. Booked a meeting with Andy for 11am 22nd February to discuss menu and get an idea of total cost etc.

Registrar – Provisionally booked for 3pm. Giving Notice on Wednesday 4th March at 10am at the Blandford Office.

Dress – Ordered from Cupids Corner Bridal Design, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4QX. Tel. 01747 825 525, Design Ella 5159. www.cupidscorner-bridalwear.com Deposit paid.

Got Tiara and Necklace and Ear Rings

Make up – Sarah @ Mimosa Beauty Treatments 22 High Street, Wincanton, Somerset. Tel 07719 539 033 or 01963 33120 www.sarahatmimosa.com provisionally Booked (On the day make up would be done at 12.30pm approx) Just need to book consiltation for the pre wedding make up to discuss what I would like.

Cake – Lisa Notley Wedding Cakes Townsend Farm, Pulham, Dorset, DT2 7DX.
Tel. 01300 345 139 http://www.cakebylisanotley.co.uk/ . Got a picture of how I'd like the cake and it's different from originally planned. I want it two tiered with blue butterflys iced and butterflys on wires comeing out the top. Were thinking of a chocolate layer and carrot cake layer now and then thinking of haveing cupcakes around the bottom layer with the names of my boys, my bridesmaid and the rest of the bridal party.

Booked appointment for 10.30am Saturday 7th March

Heres a photo I got the idea from but I want butterflys not hearts.

Rings – Horrocks & Webb Fine Jewellers, 35b Salisbury Street, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 7PX. Tel. 01258 452 618 After seeing them at the local wedding fair I have decided I want to have a Consultation with them and see what they can do to help as I don't want to spend loads but want something personal and different not just a plain band.

Flowers – Di Goodinge, Crowlands, Foots Hill, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 0BW
Tel. 01747 858 250 had a Consultation and had a letter confirming ideas and costs but need to confirm with her we want her.

Childcare for at the wedding - And whilst getting ready for Oscar and Connor Kelly (Oscars nursery teacher) and her boyfriend have said they’d do the childcare for us so just to inform them closer to the time of details

Photographer – My MIL Carol has spoken to her friends husband Malcome and he said he can’t see a problem he will need to have a meeting with me and Dave though to work out what we want etc. Need to book a meeting

Outfits -

• Have bought a dress and Cardigan from Baby Gap in Salisbury for my niece kiera so just hoping it fits. Shes going to be my bridesmaid.




• My MIL Carol is ordering some nice trousers and waistcoats for Todd to see how it looks
• Dave still needs to find a suit, The rest of the men are wearing their own which is the plan

Ring Pillow - My mum is planning to make

Invites - I ordered some samples from here http://www.pureinvitation.co.uk/design-your-own/ I have decided to make DL Pocket Fold Invites for Wedding, Reception and Evening guests and Flat cards for Evening Only guests. And I'm probably going to print myself.

The inserts for the pocket are going to made by using some nice card but I will cut to size to cut down costs.

DL Pocketfold shopping list to make one, obvously times it by the amount of guests

Board Colour:
Pearlised Turquoise (£1.00)
Layer Card:
Pearlised Silver (£0.15)
Insert Colour:
Pearlised White (£0.15)
Wording type:
Print your own wording (£0.00)
Proofs:
None @ £0.00
Ribbon Colour:
Royal Blue Satin (£0.16)
Ribbon Size:
23mm
Envelope Colour:
Pearlised Turquoise (£0.36)
Double sided sticky tape:
1 rolls @ £2.00
(Tape is required, remove excess quantities from your basket if you're ordering various samples. 1 roll is enough for approx 70 invites)

Flat Card shopping list to make 1 obvously times it by the amount of guests needed for

Board Colour:
Pearlised Turquoise (£0.21)
Insert Colour:
Pearlised White (£0.15)
Wording type:
Print your own wording (£0.00)
Proofs:
None @ £0.00
Ribbon Colour:
Royal Blue Satin (£0.14)
Ribbon Size:
23mm
Envelope Colour:
Pearlised Turquoise (£0.40)

Going to put my samples together hopefully over this week and then I will post photos. Also finalise invite costs and see what MIL says.

Favours – Silver almonds placed in the wine glasses with a butterfly topper with the guests name on.

Hair – love the hair style below – Need to get some quotes and see if it will work for my hair. Was thinking of the Hairdressers on site of the Copplerige as being the easiest method as I will be there getting make up and dressed anyway. So need to speak to the lady who owns the salon

DJ - Daves collegue does DJing at partys so were just waiting on a quote.

Been a while. Well I just been to try on my chosen wedding dress and get the approval from my folks and its now ordered and the deposit is paid. Tried on the Jewellery set my Mother in law bought me for xmas and that worked really well and chose the sparkley beaded Tiara out of the two my SIL Vicky bought me. Going to go with Vicky and a few of her friends on Good Friday shopping for undergarments and then theres shoes to look out for to. And I need to sort out who or where to get my hair done up by. I have chosen the hair do up style I want So its all come together nicely.

Still lots to do but my outfit side of the wedding being sorted is a load off my mind.

wow only about 7 months left till the big day. Think my Jewellery situation is sorted. My MIL bought me a necklace and ear ring set. sorry the photo isn't great.

The only prob is I think I will have to get my Right Ear pierced again as I seem to have real difficulties to get ear rings in it for some strange reason. My Left ear is fine though.

Hopefully will be in our new house by the end of January, beginning of February and then it will be a case of knuckling down with the wedding. I got to go over everything and see what else needs to be done.