So this day 10 weeks and I will be Mrs McCrilly. I am so excited and am literally counting down the days.
So to update I am completely sorted out and so are my bridesmaids and flowergirls. Colm and I went today and sorted out our rings and the men's suits. We are still coming in just under budget so everything is working out well.
The invites are all out and sent and I have the center pieces chosen and have bought one. I bought one so I could take it home and have a look at it before deciding if I wanted it and bought more. I also have jars bought for the sweet table and everything from the DJ to the photographer is booked.
Paying for it can be quite stressful as every week we seem to have soething to pay for but we will get there and we have still been able to live comfortably while we are paying for this wedding which is the best thing.
Cutting down on everything was a decision we both made together. We are perfectly happy to have this kind of wedding. Honestly as long as we are married at the end of the day I think we would be happy.
So I plan to keep you updated every week for the next 10 weeks to the BIG DAY!!!!
So EXCITED!!!!!!
Saturday 22 June 2013
We Goin' Through Changes..
Okay so since I last updated this blog everything has changed..EVERYTHING!
We have moved the date of the wedding to August 31st THIS YEAR! Yip that's right our wedding is 10 weeks away.
Mental!!
Colm's gran wasn't very well there and to be honest we didn't think she was going to recover. So we decided to move the date forward so she could be there to see him get married. The more we thought about changing the more and more great the idea sounded.
So what else has changed!!
Well we are no longer having a big meal. We are having our wedding as normal and then we are having a small meal (just our immediate family and grandparents) and then we are having a big evening do and a buffet. I know a lot of people will think we are just being cheap but I love this idea. I don't like big flashy weddings anyway and with this it's not going to be a complete struggle for the next two years where we shrimp and save every penny we have to put it towards one day that we will hardly remember.
The same people are going to be invited and it's till a wedding so I'm happy and the fact that it's so soon means I can get excited now and I don't have as long to wait!!
We literally decided to do this totally spare of the moment and only started organizing it all about 5 weeks ago. We agreed on the Friday night to do it and I went the next day and bought my dress, jewellery, veil and shoes all in one day.
Now we have loads of things sorted and are well on our way to being Mr & Mrs.
We have moved the date of the wedding to August 31st THIS YEAR! Yip that's right our wedding is 10 weeks away.
Mental!!
Colm's gran wasn't very well there and to be honest we didn't think she was going to recover. So we decided to move the date forward so she could be there to see him get married. The more we thought about changing the more and more great the idea sounded.
So what else has changed!!
Well we are no longer having a big meal. We are having our wedding as normal and then we are having a small meal (just our immediate family and grandparents) and then we are having a big evening do and a buffet. I know a lot of people will think we are just being cheap but I love this idea. I don't like big flashy weddings anyway and with this it's not going to be a complete struggle for the next two years where we shrimp and save every penny we have to put it towards one day that we will hardly remember.
The same people are going to be invited and it's till a wedding so I'm happy and the fact that it's so soon means I can get excited now and I don't have as long to wait!!
We literally decided to do this totally spare of the moment and only started organizing it all about 5 weeks ago. We agreed on the Friday night to do it and I went the next day and bought my dress, jewellery, veil and shoes all in one day.
Now we have loads of things sorted and are well on our way to being Mr & Mrs.
Tuesday 23 April 2013
Broke bride....
It seems every time we get a little bit of money saved up, something happens and we end up having to spend it.
How are we ever supposed to save up when we never seem to have two pennies to rub together.
I know our wedding is ages away but I want to be very organised and have everything done well in advance so I don't have any last minute worries - besides the bills.
I am supposed to want a traditional wedding. Everyone is. But I'm not traditional. I live with Colm, I have two kids and I'm not married yet. Anyways I do want some traditional things. The dress, the venue, the mass. But my wedding is not going to be really flashy - simply because we can't afford it. I plan to be miss budget bride. If there is a bargain to be had - we shall have it.
I don't want to do without things. This is after all our special day and Colm and I both deserve to have the day of our dreams but really who is going to notice if I buy a dress on sale, or if I make the invitations myself to save some cash.
I already have a few ideas in my head as to how I can achieve this. eBay eBay eBay... I would be lost without eBay. I buy everything from makeup to clothes on eBay so hopefully it will help with our big day. I know what I want and if I spread the costs out it shouldn't be too bad.
Take this for example. It looks so simple and elegant and gorgeous and it actually doesn't look too hard to replicate. I bought a role of lace and some ribbon and I think I could do it. I'm not saying it wouldn't be hard but I have two years to practice - right?
We shall see.....
How are we ever supposed to save up when we never seem to have two pennies to rub together.
I know our wedding is ages away but I want to be very organised and have everything done well in advance so I don't have any last minute worries - besides the bills.
I am supposed to want a traditional wedding. Everyone is. But I'm not traditional. I live with Colm, I have two kids and I'm not married yet. Anyways I do want some traditional things. The dress, the venue, the mass. But my wedding is not going to be really flashy - simply because we can't afford it. I plan to be miss budget bride. If there is a bargain to be had - we shall have it.
I don't want to do without things. This is after all our special day and Colm and I both deserve to have the day of our dreams but really who is going to notice if I buy a dress on sale, or if I make the invitations myself to save some cash.
I already have a few ideas in my head as to how I can achieve this. eBay eBay eBay... I would be lost without eBay. I buy everything from makeup to clothes on eBay so hopefully it will help with our big day. I know what I want and if I spread the costs out it shouldn't be too bad.
Take this for example. It looks so simple and elegant and gorgeous and it actually doesn't look too hard to replicate. I bought a role of lace and some ribbon and I think I could do it. I'm not saying it wouldn't be hard but I have two years to practice - right?
We shall see.....
Monday 8 April 2013
Wedding Fayre excitement!!
So Colm and I went to our first wedding Fayre yesterday. I have been to wedding fares before but once was with my sister and one I was working at so they don't count lol!
The best thing about this wedding Fayre was that it was actually being held at our wedding venue so I was super excited to go and check it out. They had a marquee outside and the building where we would be having our reception filled with exhibitors. It was great to go in and have a nosey around.
Oh and I should mention that I always loved the idea of a marquee wedding - so stylish but with a wedding in February we thought it best to stick with a building that actually has walls as apposedd to material. And boy am I glad we did! Apart from it being twice as much the marquee yesterday was quite cold and it was April. Can you imagine what it would be like in February?
Anyway another great thing is that the banqueting hall where we would be having our meal was all laid out and it was great to get a good look around it without having an employee there waiting to lock up behind you. And I managed to take a few sneaky pictures while I was there to give you an idea of what the hall will look like.
So it was a day well spent. I know a lot of you are probably thinking we are mad to go to wedding fayres when our wedding is like 22 months away but we want to do everything in advance as get estimates etc so we know how much we are spending and can keep and eye on our budget. So we plan to go to as many of these as possible.
There's another one next week and if I can persuade Colm to go to that one as well I shall be there lol.
The best thing about this wedding Fayre was that it was actually being held at our wedding venue so I was super excited to go and check it out. They had a marquee outside and the building where we would be having our reception filled with exhibitors. It was great to go in and have a nosey around.
Oh and I should mention that I always loved the idea of a marquee wedding - so stylish but with a wedding in February we thought it best to stick with a building that actually has walls as apposedd to material. And boy am I glad we did! Apart from it being twice as much the marquee yesterday was quite cold and it was April. Can you imagine what it would be like in February?
Anyway another great thing is that the banqueting hall where we would be having our meal was all laid out and it was great to get a good look around it without having an employee there waiting to lock up behind you. And I managed to take a few sneaky pictures while I was there to give you an idea of what the hall will look like.
So it was a day well spent. I know a lot of you are probably thinking we are mad to go to wedding fayres when our wedding is like 22 months away but we want to do everything in advance as get estimates etc so we know how much we are spending and can keep and eye on our budget. So we plan to go to as many of these as possible.
There's another one next week and if I can persuade Colm to go to that one as well I shall be there lol.
Tuesday 26 March 2013
So many dresses!!
Should it really be this hard to decide what type of dress you want for your wedding day. And while we are on the subject why are there so many types of dresses? And why will no one give to a straight answer on what suits you????
Ok breathe.........As you can guess I have two years left to go before my wedding but I am already stressing out over my dress. I have the oddest shape body ever and even though I plan to loose some weight for my wedding I am not going to completely change my figure for one day! I don't mind my figure at the minute - I'm not skinny but I am not huge either and I want to feel comfortable on my wedding day. But as a result of my odd body shape I think that every dress is going to look stupid on me.
With a wedding in Ireland in February you can guarantee the weather will be awful - like freezing!!! I originally wanted a short dress but I don't think that is very practical. So instead I am looking at other alternatives. The problem is I can't find a shape that I really love.
I have been to a few dress shops but the women are so concerned with getting you to buy a dress I think they don't care what they sell you. What do they care if your dress looks like it could fit the local circus inside it or if you look like a fish? All they want is your money. And everything is soon dear!!! Seriously I am not paying £1000 for a dress I am only going to wear once!!
Colm and I are paying for our wedding ourselves and so we have to budget budget budget. I don't want my one day to end up costing me like £15,000!! I think that is just ridiculous! That's like a deposit for a mortgage!!! No our budget will be reasonable and affordable. I am not getting myself into debt just for one day.
We are setting ourselves a budget and we are bloody sticking to it! Thankfully we have chosen an intimate reception venue and for the meal it can only hold 140. I am not a very confident person and the thought of getting married has terrified me for the past 5 years (ever since Colm asked me). I don't like the idea of everyone looking at me - it makes me even more nervous and I am liable to fall ass over face when walking up the aisle.
I have always wanted a small wedding but I have quite a big family. I know that no matter what there are going to be people disappointed who think they should be invited or people who are angry. That kind of makes me nervous but it's impossible to invite everyone and fa ily come first.
If I had my way it would be our parents, families and a few friends and a big party afterwards but that's not gonna happen. Colm wants a proper wedding. He wont admit it but I know it's true. We have been to so many of our friends weddings and they have always been really enjoyable. Everyone goes and it's the one time we are all together and can have fun! That's what Colm wants. He wants a day where everyone is there to see us. We have done it for all our friends and now it's our turn.
Do you like big weddings or small weddings? xx
Ok breathe.........As you can guess I have two years left to go before my wedding but I am already stressing out over my dress. I have the oddest shape body ever and even though I plan to loose some weight for my wedding I am not going to completely change my figure for one day! I don't mind my figure at the minute - I'm not skinny but I am not huge either and I want to feel comfortable on my wedding day. But as a result of my odd body shape I think that every dress is going to look stupid on me.
With a wedding in Ireland in February you can guarantee the weather will be awful - like freezing!!! I originally wanted a short dress but I don't think that is very practical. So instead I am looking at other alternatives. The problem is I can't find a shape that I really love.
I have been to a few dress shops but the women are so concerned with getting you to buy a dress I think they don't care what they sell you. What do they care if your dress looks like it could fit the local circus inside it or if you look like a fish? All they want is your money. And everything is soon dear!!! Seriously I am not paying £1000 for a dress I am only going to wear once!!
Colm and I are paying for our wedding ourselves and so we have to budget budget budget. I don't want my one day to end up costing me like £15,000!! I think that is just ridiculous! That's like a deposit for a mortgage!!! No our budget will be reasonable and affordable. I am not getting myself into debt just for one day.
We are setting ourselves a budget and we are bloody sticking to it! Thankfully we have chosen an intimate reception venue and for the meal it can only hold 140. I am not a very confident person and the thought of getting married has terrified me for the past 5 years (ever since Colm asked me). I don't like the idea of everyone looking at me - it makes me even more nervous and I am liable to fall ass over face when walking up the aisle.
I have always wanted a small wedding but I have quite a big family. I know that no matter what there are going to be people disappointed who think they should be invited or people who are angry. That kind of makes me nervous but it's impossible to invite everyone and fa ily come first.
If I had my way it would be our parents, families and a few friends and a big party afterwards but that's not gonna happen. Colm wants a proper wedding. He wont admit it but I know it's true. We have been to so many of our friends weddings and they have always been really enjoyable. Everyone goes and it's the one time we are all together and can have fun! That's what Colm wants. He wants a day where everyone is there to see us. We have done it for all our friends and now it's our turn.
Do you like big weddings or small weddings? xx
Wednesday 13 February 2013
This could be it..
I think we have found it.....eeeeeekkkkkkk!!!!
The perfect venue for our wedding. It's not too big and not too small. A beautiful country manor house which is picturesque.
We actually fell in love with this place before we had even seen it. The reviews we had read were great and no one had a bad word to say about the place - not even people we knew. On paper this seemed like the perfect place.
I knew I shouldn't have gotten my hope up but I couldn't help it. The pictures looked amazing. The grounds surrounding the place looked beautiful and it would mean we wouldn't have to spend money on a location for pictures. Bonus!!
So Colm and I arranged to go down and meet with the wedding co-ordinator down there to discuss all the details.
From the moment we drove up I knew this is where I wanted to have my reception!! It was gorgeous!!
The perfect venue for our wedding. It's not too big and not too small. A beautiful country manor house which is picturesque.
We actually fell in love with this place before we had even seen it. The reviews we had read were great and no one had a bad word to say about the place - not even people we knew. On paper this seemed like the perfect place.
I knew I shouldn't have gotten my hope up but I couldn't help it. The pictures looked amazing. The grounds surrounding the place looked beautiful and it would mean we wouldn't have to spend money on a location for pictures. Bonus!!
So Colm and I arranged to go down and meet with the wedding co-ordinator down there to discuss all the details.
From the moment we drove up I knew this is where I wanted to have my reception!! It was gorgeous!!
It doesn't look big but it actually is and we would have our own private building for the rexeption which you can just make out in the left hand corner of the picture. It has 15 rooms - all of which would be booked for our families and there would only be our wedding on the day so we would basically have the place all to ourselves.
The reception hall itself is breath taking!! Very old fashioned with banqueting flags hanging from the ceiling. Beautiful candleadbras are the centre pieces on every table (which are included in the price) and with a mixture of round and square tables the whole room is a picture of elegance.
We were shown around the whole hotel and everything just seemed so quaint and cozy. The place is a true hidden gem. I was so pleased to hear that the photographer that we wanted to hire for the day had his wedding here. you can't get better than that - a photographer has probably seen every wedding venue up and down the country and the fact that he chose the same place as us for his wedding - it has to be amazing.
Did I mention the bridal suite? OMG!!! Gorgeous!! It's an L shaped room all open planned and it looks so elegant.
It's beautiful four poster bed and chaise longues make this room fit for a princess!! And it looks right out onto the wedding reception hall so if I want to head to the room to freshen up before dinner I can see everyone entering the reception.
The place is beautiful and the price is right. what more could a girl ask for. Of course it isn't just my wedding so I wanted to have a good long talk with Colm first. We hadn't really been to many other places to take a look but we had all the brochures and this place seemed to shine above the rest. Thankfully he loves it as much as I did and wanted to book it there and then.
So we have provisionally booked our wedding reception. Colm is home from Huddersfield on Saturday (he has been working there all week) and we will be taking our parents there on Sunday to take a look at it and to pay our deposit and then there's no going back after that.
It all seems so real now. But now the real fun begins - MONEY SAVING!!! Which is a lot harder for us than it probably is for most people but we will do it. After all it is for our dream wedding and we do have two years to do it - eeeekkkkk!!!!
Monday 11 February 2013
Exciting times ahead...
So even though it is two years to our wedding I have so many ideas already about what I want and how I want things to look.
I don't know if it is a little bit old fashioned but I want my wedding to have a theme. Not that I have decided what that theme is yet but I think it will make all the decisions that much easier. Although with my luck probably not.
I don't know if any of you out there are planning a wedding at the moment but I tent to get a lot of advice from absolutely everyone. Usually I don't mind - people are just trying to be helpful. But when people start criticising every idea I have and trying to come up with their own - that's where I draw the line. It's our wedding, me and Colm and at the end of the day as long as we enjoy ourselves I don't care what people think.
Thankfully working in marketing for a wholesale retailer means I make wedding ads all the time and I get to buy every issue and magazines like "The Northern Ireland Wedding Journal" and "Getting Married In Northern Ireland" have become like my bibles.
I actually even cut pictures out of them that I like and stick them into a scrap book.
My wedding is a budget wedding. Colm and I have discussed how much we want to spend on our big day and I refuse to go over that amount. I intend to cut corners everywhere and anywhere I can from the cake to the dress!
So I plan to share everything with you from prices to mistakes I make and all in between and if anyone has any helpful suggestions they would like to share then please feel free.
xxxThanksxxx
I don't know if it is a little bit old fashioned but I want my wedding to have a theme. Not that I have decided what that theme is yet but I think it will make all the decisions that much easier. Although with my luck probably not.
I don't know if any of you out there are planning a wedding at the moment but I tent to get a lot of advice from absolutely everyone. Usually I don't mind - people are just trying to be helpful. But when people start criticising every idea I have and trying to come up with their own - that's where I draw the line. It's our wedding, me and Colm and at the end of the day as long as we enjoy ourselves I don't care what people think.
Thankfully working in marketing for a wholesale retailer means I make wedding ads all the time and I get to buy every issue and magazines like "The Northern Ireland Wedding Journal" and "Getting Married In Northern Ireland" have become like my bibles.
I actually even cut pictures out of them that I like and stick them into a scrap book.
My wedding is a budget wedding. Colm and I have discussed how much we want to spend on our big day and I refuse to go over that amount. I intend to cut corners everywhere and anywhere I can from the cake to the dress!
So I plan to share everything with you from prices to mistakes I make and all in between and if anyone has any helpful suggestions they would like to share then please feel free.
xxxThanksxxx
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