Weddings...

[sejintenej]

I'll be expected to attempt the whole fabulous mother of the bride thing. There is not a hat in creation that has ever suited my face - oh bogger it - Other Mother has bagged wearing a "fascinator".

Had to go to SWMBO's nephew's wedding in August 2000 (yes - the date does matter) in Zug; definitely Protestant Calvinist and every other "ist".

Groom's family on one side done up to the nines with hats far too OTT fore Ascot (u no wot oi mean) with the Swissies on the other side - yes, they had washed but certainly not dressed up.
The Minister spoke excellent English (he had had a parish in Cardiff!) and started off the service by noting that the English ladies were evidently dressed up to celebrate the Queen Mother's nintieth (or whatever it was on that day) birthday!

From there on the jokes started to get funny and we were rolling around. The Swiss (including the groom's mother who was born in S Africa) could not understand what it was all about!

(I should add that my elder son (at 6' 4") was also wearing a "Blues Brothers" hat the whole time - to hide the effects of radiation)

[Angela Woodford]

The opportunity to have all your favourite people, all your favourite music, all your favourite food, dress up and look halfway respectable... the trouble is, I don't actually want to be married at the end of it. Himself would willingly marry me (am I the only person who's actually laughed (by mistake) at a marriage proposal? Oops )

Oh Jo!



Thanks... that's really made me giggle dementedly whilst also cooking... brilliant!

Munch

[cj]

Sigh..... I'd love to have a wedding (though I'd be a nervous wreck worrying that everything would go to plan). The opportunity to have all your favourite people, all your favourite music, all your favourite food, dress up and look halfway respectable... the trouble is, I don't actually want to be married at the end of it. Himself would willingly marry me (am I the only person who's actually laughed (by mistake) at a marriage proposal? Oops )

Perhaps we should have a non-wedding if we're still together in 2010 - that will be 10 years together.

Just have a massive party instead, and you don't have to say that's it's a 10 years together do. It's just nice being with all your people.

I refused to get uptight about our arrangements and we only had 7 months to get on with things. A lot had to be done by remote control as we didn't get married in our home parish (vicar very much against remarriage in church, even though hubby and I were half the choir, on the PCC and he was church warden at the time - but that's another traumatic and slightly bitter story!!). I do remember the hairdresser my cousin booked in Stratford-u-Avon being frantic that she couldn't have a run through before the day. As long as it was securely up, I really couldn't have cared less! And we picked a caterer whose prices were good and who would give us crumble and custard and jelly. I don't think guests see the little details, they are much too busy talking and getting drunk, and it's all over so quick it seems a shame to expel energy on things that you have little control over ie. other people!

[icomefromalanddownunder]

With two weeks and one day to go until my daughter's wedding, my Sis (in Sussex) and Bro (in Adelaide) have decided that I cannot possibly chop enough cabbage to make coleslaw for up to 200 people, and that they will contribute dollars to purchasing pre-made salads.

In between attempting to write a paper that has to be in France by next Thursday (I will be in Victoria from Tuesday to Thursday, and my Supervisors, who need to read and approve what I write, probably won't read my email, never mind respond, before Monday) I tried to explain to siblings that it isn't just about cost - I don't like the taste of premade salads.

Just received pointed email from Bridetobe, telling us all to get over it, and to ensure that there is plenty of chocolate for the fountain.

The fact that she is spending today de-pooing the paddock where the reception will be held is making me feel a little (actually, lots) better.

Picking up dress tomorrow. Wonder what dramas will unfold. Jess has lost weight? Jess has gained weight? Jess has lost weight around the boobs and stacked it on around the hips? (Well, she is my daughter).

I will not be wearing a hat or a fascinator. (Munch, is Kath & Kim screened in UK? If so, suggest you watch the episode where the gals attend the Melbourne Cup and Kim notices a piece of puked-up carrot caught in Kath's fascinator. Should put MILtobe into perspective). Sis wants to book me a hair appointment for the morning of the big day. I have an appointment booked for Monday for a cut and colour. I absolutely do not want to be froufroued on the day - I want to look like me, however unattractive that may be. Why is it that hairdressers promise to just blow you dry without any fiddle faddles, but then just can't help themselves, pulling out roller brushes of various sizes, flicking bits here, curling bits there????????????? Besides which, I will probably get the job of leading Guy (horse) around for photographs, and he is adept at putting people back into their boxes. With no hat for him to remove from my head and chuck away, he would be very likely to take a mouthfull of water from the trough and then gently and elegantly dribble it out over my coiffeured (????) head.

Gosh, I feel so much better now

Trent (fellow student) has just proofread my paper, bless him. He's not a scientist, so usually understands about as much of what I write as I do of his marketing blurbs, but he thinks I've done a great job. Will wallow in his praise until I hear back from Supervisors, and then return to the real world.

Happy Friday One and All.

xx

[englishangel]

Yes we do get Kath & Kim, though not sure if it's on one of the main channels so those without cable/satellite may not have a clue what you are on about.

I think they are

[blondie95]

I have seen Kath and Kin and i know which episode you mean...very amusing

I am taking the fiance to the ceremony and reception venues at the weekend so he can see them...but i am set on havibng them so not really much scope for debate!

I seem to have decided on smaller things such as favours, and centre pieces rather than the larger things. I have found a theme for the wedding which according to bridal mags is very important-Butterfly's. They are pretty and can be done to fit the colour scheme...burnt orange,champagne and choclate

[Great Plum]

You sound like Mrs Plum Amy, she was much more concerned about what the tables would look like rather than how we would actually get to the wedding etc...

We were very lucky that we had Amanda Walsh doing our flowers - if you haven't got that bit sorted, you should get in touch with her...

[englishangel]

We had butterflies on our wedding cake. I had only just graduated, hubby had another year, three younger sibs coming along behind so not a lot of money. Mum found a lovely design in (I think) Good Housekeeping and we spent all one weekend making and decorating very deilicate royal icing butterflies which we put in the airing cupboard to dry and harden.

When they were dry and hard Mum put a mixing bowl of bread dough on top of them, butterfly crumbs anyone?

so we made a second lot which went a lot more quickly after the practice.

[jhopgood]

Having read through this, I am getting seriously worried about my younger son, who has informed us that he is getting married on May 3rd.
His brother got married 6 years ago in Tarendo, North Sweden, where they arranged it to take place in July, so that they could take advantage of the midnight sun, (his wife is from Tarendo). From memory they took ages planning and putting out lists etc, booked hotels and arranged the meal, all well in advance. Over 100 people, only about 15 of whom seemed to come from Tarendo, but it all worked out very well.
Younger son's fiancée is from Guadeloupe in the Caribbean, and they intend to get married in White City, where they live, and have a small reception there for UK family, Spanish and French friends who don't want to or cannot afford the trip to Guadalupe for the main reception the following week.
His brother has booked flights from Sweden, we are about to do the same from Spain, and all he has done is book their flights to Guadeloupe, bought his suit and her dress.
With all this planning going on by everyone else, I wonder why he is so relaxed about things?

[englishangel]

His wife-to-be is probably tearing her hair out OR they are really NOT going to make a big fuss, there is no need for it.

[blondie95]

there is no need for it.

true...however I am only planning on doing this once and i have been dreaming about it since i was old enough to understand what it was

[englishangel]

I said NEED, completely different to what you wish for, and on your day your dreams and wishes should come true.

[blondie95]

i do agree with you about the NEED as really logically speaking there isnt...what matters is the ceremony itself where you declare your love.

on a by i mentioned to the fiance today there is to be no obeying from me in the vows

[sejintenej]

For what it is worth, an idea from my daughter's wedding which you could consider,

We couldn't have all the guests at the sit down lunch (4.30pm!) so a considerable number were arriving from about 7pm for the shindig which finished somewhere about 1am.

Although there was to be a light buffet late in the evening, we arranged for a choice of curry or chili-con-carne with rice to be available for the "non-eaters" when they arrived. Not only did it go down well with them but the caterer who had never heard of the idea is now suggesting it to all his customers.
It cost us almost nothing, was simple for the catering staff (three large pots behind the counter) and got finished when people went back for more.

[cj]

The food is quite an important aspect of the whole day - make sure there is plenty, enough for seconds and those staying late to have munchies, especially if you're dancing. For me, the overriding feeling of the day itself (apart from relief that it happened!) was seeing all the special people in our lives, and the fact that they were there just for us. That was great.