Budget Bride -Week1

Hello my lovelies!

I am so sorry! I have been such a bad blogger this week and neglected the blog a bit. To be honest I've been on such a high this week and only had one thing on my mind. MY WEDDING. Yes I'm getting married!!! After three years we have FINALLY set a date for June next year. I never really understood the whole bridezilla thing or the whole weddings are stressful thing, but I've had my first taster this week and the stress cloud is already showing an appearance! There is just so much to think about you don't know where to start first. The bridezilla head hasn't shown itself yet, note I say yet as you never know, its just so easy to get carried away!

I am not going to sit here and say I'm having a big fancy occasion because I'm not. Sure it would be lovely to have the castle, marque, white doves, fire works and lavish party with posh food and champagne all night long. That's every little girls dream. It was mine until I met Tom and realised the real meaning for marriage. Anyway my do is going to be a tad smaller, a registry office ceremony and some kind of pub/function room reception. It may not be lavish but its just as much stress and just as much work, though its nice stress and work I like doing! I thought I would track my journey through the blog, it may relate to other brides out there!

Through week 1 of wedding planning I have learnt that the first thing you should do apart from the obvious ceremony booking and notice to marry booking is getting the guest list together. You need to have a good Idea of numbers because that's the first thing people ask when you enquire about ANYWHERE. I'm actually going to rewind and say you will prob need to know numbers before booking the ceremony too because them rooms come in many size varieties!

What I found more challenging in week one

Getting Tom to tell his dad - Ok so this may seem little in hindsight but when its not. I have many family members that are excited and want to go public on social media but I felt strongly that no close family members should find out that way. I had told all I needed to and so did Tom... to a certain degree. He really dragged his heels when telling his dad and no there was no reason for it other than he is simply just a man. And a very laid back at that. Tom can be so laid back that he is going backwards at times. I was on at him for a good couple of days to tell his dad before he actually listened, this played my "bride anxiety" (yes I am inventing something) up bad.

Reception Venue - Ah gosh its not easy when your on a budget and EVERY venue wants to charge through the roof! No I am not after something for nothing but I would like there to be a good amount of options out there for us budget brides!

Notice Of Marriage -  Well this is a massive pain in the bum for me! I need to save up the £70 to give notice of marriage, I know a joke of a charge! This is the most stressful thing because I know it NEEDS to be done its going to take me 4 weeks to save to book and will probably the longest 4 weeks of my life.

Things I found easy in week 1

Ceremony venue - I found this quite quick, I had a pick of registry offices but I found this gem of an old manorish house and HAD to book! it was quick and easy with just a £46 deposit:)

Telling friends and family - I haven't gone wild on social media yet but I let it out to friends and family in a heartbeat as I just couldn't contain my excitement! They also know how long I've waited for this and how much it means to us.

Planning and organising - Thanks to my sister making me fab planning folder I have thrown myself into jotting things down and organising. It makes life so much easier!!

Picking Bridesmaids and Page Boys - Very important for a bride!  I picked them easily, I'm having my two girls Ava and Bella then Katie my lovely sister in law and Elisa my sister (And baby Jayde my niece) if my sisters okay with it . My page boys are gonna be my two gorgy nephews Alfie and Ronnie.

I think I have earned a nice glass of wine and to put my feet up! I'm gonna go and watch x factor now but I look forward to keeping you all updated with my planning next week :)

Thanks for reading :)

until next time

LotsOfLove
Beth...xxx

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Preparing For Family Wedding

Once again we are so sorry we haven't posted a blog in weeks. We knew May was going to be a busy month but I don't think we really knew how busy it would be. Now everything is all over and done with and we can finally have a less busy month in June. Last weekend was Beth's Sister Wedding on 23th May but it was all go go on 27th May. I traveled down to Essex on the Thursday (23rd) and Beth, Bella & Ava was there at the Station to get me then we got taxi back to Beth's and soon as I unpacked it was manic. Myself, Beth, Beth's Sister and Mother had a spray tan that evening, then the girls went to bed, Tommy came home, we had dinner and then went to Beth's bedroom to watch TV then we had an early night as Friday was another jammed packed.  

Myself and Bethany enjoying a Costa

So on Friday Tommy was working so it was just myself, Beth and the girls and we went to Lakeside for the day. It was the first time that us girls had a full day to do what we want on a weekday and it was an amazing day. First of all we meet up with Beth's Mother and Sister as her sister needed last min wedding items so Beth went and helped them in Debenhams so myself, Bella and Ava walked around and done some shopping. Once Beth sister was all sorted myself, Beth and the girls went off to do our own shopping then we went and had lunch then to the Disney store as I promised Ava then obviously we went to Primark as who can't do a Primark shop. Poor Ava wasn't well and kept having to go to the loo and Beth guessed she has a Water infection which it did turn out to be but as Ava doesn't has nappies or pulls up we kept having to run to the toilet bless her so in the end I ran to superdrug to get some pull ups so she didn't have to keep running to the toilets. Then we went to Eden to have our nails done, Bella was fast asleep in her pram and Ava was still in pain and we had a "accident" in the salon but once she was fine I gave Ava my phone to watch Surprise eggs on YouTube and she sat next to me. I had an Shellac which didn't take long so once I was ready to took Bella to change her nappy and Ava for a wee (even though she had on a pull up lol) and Beth had full set of Acrylics so she was abit longer. Once we was all done we went to Costa then went to wait for a taxi to get home. We didn't get home til 5ish so it was a long day. Once again it was all go go soon as the girls went to bed. That evening myself, Beth, her mum and sister had a pre wedding pamper drink night. I done Beth's, Her sister and mother toenails and Beth sister nails and Beth washed my hair and put in sleep in rollers. We actually went to bed at a reasonably time as we knew the next day was going to bed busy as. 

Ava Lily ready to go shopping with her new handbag

Mummy & Daughter Selfie in Lakeside

Friday night//pre wedding girls night

23th May The Wedding..Jesus this was one hell of an hectic day. Bethany done 2 Bridesmaids, 2 flower girls and the Bride hair including herself and I done The bride, two Bridesmaid and my make up, so we was in the kitchen. It was like Beth and I little salon going on we had it all organised then as the morning went on the house was getting busy and more full up with family members which I have no idea how I didn't have a panic attack but being around Beth calms me down. We literally had 10 mins for myself, the Bridesmaids, The Bride and Parents of the Bride to all get dressed in one bedroom it was so hectic. The day was a lovely day and the party after was good. I didn't really drink much as my back wasn't feeling too good but in all we all had an amazing time. The day after was hectic as well to be honest but a good hectic if that makes sense. I came home on the Monday pretty early so that Tommy, Beth and the girls can have a family day out alone as they didn't really see each other much over the weekend. 

Bella & Mummy getting ready for the wedding

Aunty & Niece Selfie

So now things are less busy we can both hopefully start blogging often. My laptop is still broken but luckily have access to My mother's Computer but it is in the office downstairs and most of the time my back kills when I sit here so its not often I come on the computer. But when I do I try and write a few posts so I am prepared.

Here's a picture of Myself, Beth, Tommy and the girls.

I shall see if Beth will do a post about Wedding hair ect seeing as she is a hairdresser and it was her first wedding to do hair. I thought she done amazing and handled the stress well. Hopefully try and get some more wedding post up like our outfits ect. Hope you all are well and have an amazing June.

Love Katie x