Wedding Planning... so far

The fiance and I got engaged Sept 14th, and after a weeks break got straight into the wedding planning as we are getting married May 8th 2015... giving us only 7 or so months to plan!

Thankfully we had found the reception venue pre engagement, so I just went a head and confirmed that... then we viewed 3 venues for the ceremony, once that was decided we booked the registrar.

We have also confirmed the big items: marquee hire / toilets / photographer / catering and gave notice of marriage.

H2B & Bestman are in charge of finding beer kegs to hire & bar, PA system and suits.

Bridesmaid and myself are doing the DIY element, which turns out eBay and Amazon are amazing for.

As we are having a wedfest I've been buying bunting, face paint, glow sticks, glitter, temporary tattoos... 

And tomorrow I have my first wedding dress shopping appointment at House Of Vintage in Shoreditch London.

So much still to do and sadly its all the bitty stuff that needs to wait until closer the date!

http://hopfest15.blogspot.co.uk/ #HopFest15 our wedding website :-)

Engagement Sexism?

So we've been engaged now for just over 3 weeks and its been lovely, lots of cards, gifts and happy messages from Friends, Family and Work Colleagues.

I get the pleasure of working with Danny my H2B, and something I noticed was a little sexism between the celebratory comments,

We or I received lots of congratulations... he on the other hand received well done, or comments relating to earning potential.

So size of the ring doesn't just matter to girls, it matters to men in the most primal way.  He how can afford the biggest, obviously is the best!  Before now I always felt pressure that it was just a girl wanting a big sparkly diamond.

Our Engagement

We're engaged!  My boyfriend of two year proposed the day after our 2 year anniversary (Sunday 14th Sept)... The day before he had asked my father for permission at a family birthday party, apparently they had quite a moment :-)

How did it happen?  Well I kind of ruined it for him a little.  Sunday morning we were lazing about on the couch and Danny asked where the cats were?  I assumed outside doing cat stuff.

Shortly after he got up and let Mark Francis back in, so both cats were with me in the lounge.
Getting up I thought Danny was in the bathroom and tried to sneak into the bedroom with an anniversary card I was yet to give him.  On entering the bedroom Danny was stood in the door way and questioned 'what are you doing'?  Confused I asked what he was doing!

He then turned to face me and asked me to marry him.  I said yes.  We hugged.

Turned out he had a whole plan with the cats involved... but I had gotten up to soon and walked in on him preparing his proposal! Ha, typical me,

Antique brilliant cut 1.83 carat / 0.10 on the side platinum band.

From Maria Krailing @ http://www.tyrrellblois.com/

We didn't announce our engagement for a few days, using the above pics from our Scotland trip.

Engagement Ring shopping... yay or nay?

So do you think it is appropriate to take your boyfriend to look at engagement rings before he's even proposed... maybe months before he does?

When you are with the right person, and you plan to spend the rest of your lives together these conversations do come up, the prospect of marriage, children, houses etc. maybe way before you are ready to take those seteps... but with the knowledge that one day you will be proposed to (finger crossed nothing goes wrong) is it not okay to give them an idea of what kind of ring you would be happy to have on your finger for the rest of your lives?

I certainly think so, in fact when I was previously engaged, I had taken my partner to see the ring I had picked out - he hadn't even prosed!

Now I am in another serious relationship, we've been together a year, living together for 3 months, and the conversations of engagements, weddings, babies, houses are all starting to arise...  should I let him know my taste now or does that just make the man feel pressured, not that I am asking for it now now now?

www.etsy.com

Proposal Kittens

So I've decided that the best way to ever be proposed to would be, for me with a kitten in a basket with a diamond tied on with a cute little bow.  Who could say no to that?

I really want a second cat, but I'll wait until after Christmas... maybe if I am lucky I'll get a proposal kitten (black and white fluffy with the little bib and booties), blue bow in a basket... :-)

www.andieday.com

lovemeow.com

www.catsparella.com

www.kulfoto.com

The Jewel Expert

Thinking of proposing, looking for an engagement ring, need wedding bands... or just love jewellery??  Check out The Jewel Expert Blog, part of the jewellery consultancy, Tyrrell Blois (you can also follow them on @thejewelexpert)

Tyrrell Blois is a small family run jewellery consultancy, helping create one off designs, usually at a lower cost of an over the counter ring...

One of Tyrrell Blois designs!

http://www.thejewelexpert.com/

http://www.tyrrellblois.com/

Merry Christmas 2012

What a fantastic year 2012 has been, I've had one of the best years... from broken kitten legs, travelling the world, to engagements (not mine) and brilliant friends and family!!

Here's to the adventures of 2013, and all those lucky boys and girls getting engaged, married and or knocked up this holiday season :-)

For those of you in London, England don't forget to visit the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park - gets you ready for Christmas turkey, mulled wine and hairy men climbing down the chimmy late at night... ho ho ho

Happy Engagement Day!

So finally after over 7 years together my brother proposed to his long suffering girlfriend... (23 Sep 12)

How it went down: They were away for the weekend, had spent the day at the zoo... then as Leila sadly went for a shower after expecting the proposal to come during the day Ben showed her a video he'd made - with the proposal included : ))

So very cute, I want to see the video so much - maybe they'll let me add it to the blog?  The ring is vintage, bought earlier in the year... pictures to come in a few weeks.

Just under a carat diamond, with platinum flowers and a thin gold band!!

someecards.com

etsy.com

GET THE LOOK: BMX & Skateboard Themed Wedding

So as I am sure you are aware the Olympic BMXing finals are on at the mo... plus I am kinda 'dating' a guy from home whom I knew as a young BMX kid... this obviously leads me to my below blog post.

Go Team GB!  London 2012 : )

David Cameron, Shanaze Reade

makingthemoment.com

rocknrollbride.com

offbeatbride.com

zazzle.com

blog.craftzine.com

wedding-ideas-on-a-budget.com

inshotproductions.blogspot.com

pinaybrideguide.blogspot.com

greenweddingshoes.com

brendasweddingblog.com

http://dinosaurworldblog.blogspot.co.uk/ - friends blog, with some BMX stuff

Last minute Valentine...

Want a funny way to propose, feeling like she/he's the one and tomorrow is a great time to make that promise and set a wedding date?

Here are a few novel ideas on how to ask that special person to marry you:

suzyqshirts.com

Be the last piece to my puzzle... £420.00 asprey.com

Cookie £25.00 customcookieco.co.uk

Or go for the traditional 'Marry Me' Loveheart? shop.lovehearts.com

Lush bath bomb - limited edition

printster.co.uk

Who's in the mood for love?!

We'll we are now and truly in to February... the month of love!  Any big plans for Valentine's Day... perhaps a proposal?

uptake.com

invitationsbyajalon.com

sissyslogcabin.com

sheknows.com

blog.weddingwire.com

coventrytelegraph.net

heavensports.com

thecupcakeblog.com

I LOVE Nail Art!

You may have noticed that I LOVE nail art... check out a few of this years creations (done all by myself)!  I'd like to Thank Barry M make-up for all their wonderful colours...

Blue & Pink

The Rainbow (me looking very moody)

Red sparkles (for Xmas)

Silver & Gold (Ghetto style)

Tiger print

Dip dye

Multi coloured

Alternative French Manicure

Spots!

Stripy nails

Sparkly tips... I think this would be great in white and silver for a wedding nail! (Might do that for my own)