I do - my wedding blog

This post from A Practical Wedding is just great. I hope to feel exactly like this after my wedding.

This week so far has been quite exciting planning-wise. On Sunday my chief bridesmaid phoned to tell me she was sorting my hen night, and had just about everything ready but that she was going to keep the details a secret (if my sister, other bridesmaid can keep quiet!). Secondly, it looks like we have a photographer almost sorted. Luckily it is one of those on the venue's approved list, so we don't have to worry about the awkwardness of having to deal with paying extra commission. We're meeting him next week. And then thirdly, I have some initial ideas from my dress designer. That had to be the most exciting email to ever walk into on a Monday morning! I'm musing over them, but of 9 I have 3 favourites. Pass me the sharpie so I can cross things off the list please...(well nearly, I can write some notes or something!)

I quite like the idea of cookies as a favour (I'm still not sure about favours, they are the one thing I have no ideas about). We were given a box of biscuiteers biscuits when we got engaged, which were so pretty and yummy. So that got us thinking about giving cookies. But, as I love crafting, I thought we could do our own! It is easy to find cookie cutters in any shape you want. But I hadn't seen these before: These are texture plates for cookies. You just ice them with fondant or buttercream icing and once it has hardened, you put the plate on top and roll over it, leaving a lovely textured pattern. So clever and saves all the fiddly decorating business! I'm quite tempted. Images from biscuiteers and cookiecutter.com

I met my dress designer friend-of-a-friend this evening to discuss my ideas and what I was looking for. I thought I was being quite prescriptive by suggesting that it had to have straps, an a line silhouette, some detail at the back - possibly some kind of sash/bow, but she was over the moon that she had this quite clear start point really a blank sheet to take from there. I took along my ideas sheet which I put together to tidy up my image files Click on the image for better detail. The dresses are from: l-r top row Amsale, Johanna Hehir, Mikaella, Johanna Hehir, Alfred Sung, Johanna Hehir row 2 Watters, don't know the next 2!, Martina Liana, Alfred Sung, Amsale, Both the last 2 are from people's wedding pics - sorry row 3 don't know, Johanna Hehir, Amsale, don't know next 2, last one from Amsale You can tell the stage at which I started noting where things were from - apologies, when I get a change I'll source some of the others! I'm expecting some first idea

I love cupcakes - It's no secret I might even try and sneak along to the Hummingbird bakery or Lola's on Saturday while J is at the football We're not having them at the wedding as plans go so far, but I quite liked this place setting idea I saw on the Wedding channel's diy blog Or this one from One charming party (with tutorial) Or maybe we could just have some of Bakerella's cupcake pops

It seems like yesterday everything started coming together... I got in touch with the potential dress designer and are planning to meet up next week. I need to look into pattern cutters and fabric next. I've also realised it doesn't matter if mum doesn't like the dress I do, as that won't be the dress I have in the end. Finally got a reasonable response from a photographer, so planning that meet up too I sent the list of invitees to my BM for my hen night which was quite exciting. I don't know how far on she is with the plans so I'm looking forward to know what's happening - I don't like surprises! I was at Spitalfields market at the weekend, which seems to be the go-to place for wooden printing blocks and letters. I was hoping to find a sundial one for the invites but had no luck this time. Phew!

This is just meant to be a quick catch up of what's been going on this last couple of weeks, just so you know I haven't been sitting back doing nothing (just next to nothing) so it covers a bit of everything. I've been getting in touch with a few photographers - I can tell this is going to be one of the major sticking points of the planning. We don't have a huge budget for the photos as we are not huge photo people. The disappointment of not having the one photographer we really wanted also makes it a bit harder. The other difficulty is the approved list, where we have to start our search (or pay commission to the venue). I've got the contact details for the dress designer friend-of-a-friend, so I can get that going. Which is just as well because my mum decided to come out and tell me that she didn't really like THE DRESS! (don't get me started on that one!) Shopping with my sister today I managed to convince her of the coloured shoes thing. J and mum don&#