wedding, wedding, wedding....

Oh my so much to do!
First step with the wedding was figuring out what we actually needed to do. So, in my usual fashion, i cracked open excel and started a spreadsheet, well multiple spreadsheets actually!

• guest list - ceremony, day, evening, addresses, hen and stag invites, number of invites, invites we can delivery by hand (save on the stamps!)
• general costs - sundries (blank invitations, decorations, cake ingredients, stamps, flowers for bouquet etc), essentials (dress, rings, photographer etc), big spend (venue, food, drink, dj etc)
• specific venue costs - compare and contrast venues to see which is best value
• to do list - totally epic, currently at 127 items - eeek!!!

So based on the wonderful spreadsheets and some intensive thinking and planning, in the last 3 weeks we made some decisions. Theres some big ones - my cousins have a lavender farm (piccie above) so the dream plan is to have the reception there, but we need to check its all ok with the marquee people. So we're also looking at other venues too, as a back up. And some small decisions too (deep breath!)

• We've decided to not go on honeymoon right away, we're going to go on a minimoon to London instead for a few nights and then go on a couple of short, 1 week holidays instead of a full epic honeymoon, it just suits our lives and likes a bit better. 
• We're asking for money for the honeymoon instead of gifts. 
• I've decided to DIY everything i can; print my own invites, place setting, favours, bouquet, button holes, cake, centrepieces, guest book, confetti, gift letter box - many posts to follow!
• My friend H has kindly offered her photography services as a gift as has my friend J with her makeup skills.
• Lovely BM's friend is doing the catering, a friend of a friend will be the DJ and lovely BM's dad will be our chauffeur on the day in his vintage Mercedes. 
• Ive decided on no bridesmaids (much to the disappointment of my friend L!)
• Lovely BM is having a best man and ushers, but they wont be in matching suits, im going to buy them all matching ties instead. 
• I've bought a dress and shoes (more on that to follow) and we've ordered our rings (love them!)

So a pretty major few weeks really! But still so much more to do, including learning how to make bouquets, cakes, centrepieces etc so look out for posts on those coming soon...