Wedding Stories & Ideas Galore!

[LorriQ 0]

I love this wedding thread. It's a year and a half since we got married but I still get excited about other people planning their day.

We got married in the UK - in the Lake District. In fact the only reason we did the CR1 visa instead of the K1 was so that I could get married in the UK with all my friends and family there.

The wedding was in the garden of a hotel over looking Windermere lake and we had a boat trip on the lake after the ceremony. I'd bought umbrellas for every guest in case of rain but people ended up using them as sunshades as it was so hot. (it had rained hard every day for the seven days leading up to the day, I'd been tearing my hair out!)

We had a 'theme' cake much to my mother's annoyance but skiing was something that brought us together in the first place so I had this cake made as a surprise for my husband. The woman that made it based the little figures on us - that's his hideous red and black checked jacket he wears to ski - which everyone at the wedding recognised and laughed at.

Love your cake!

I was in the Lake District last June/July on holiday! Absolutely beautiful, I feel in love with it up there! What a wonderful spot to marry in!

[LorriQ 0]

Just got good news!

My brother will make our rings! Stealing the design from another artist - but am tickled!

That is so cool! So is he a jewelry maker in general? Artist? I hope you'll post pics!!!!

Yes, I lucked out with a jeweler for a brother! And will do come March!

[Laura+Tom 2]

Got my wedding dress pattern! AND more or less sorted the photographer, for free!!

WOW! We just looked at photographers - and daaaammnnn they are spendy!! I'm really bummed because I wanted professional pics done. I just don't know how we're gonna afford it. We'd have the money - but I want to put his AOS cost aside right away. That is one thing that is going to get done immediately

The prices are shocking for photography, we got lucky as Tom's old housemates in the UK are professional photographers and have always said they would do our wedding as a gift. No more was mentioned about it then this week she let me know that she is doing a wedding in the US for a friend mid oct. It's perfect timing really even if it means shifting our wedding a couple of weeks back (were originally planning for mid-end september). A least by doing the other wedding too they will be making a bit of money.

[Terri and Seb 0]

I called the mansion we'd planned to elope at the other day to see about their availability. I thought that surely there wouldn't be an issue finding a room for us plus the elopement ceremony- we plan to wed during my spring break and since it will just be us, we're extremely flexible. That would give us 8 days to pick from.

Ugh. But, of course something had to fall apart, and the mansion is only open on the weekends until April. And all weekends in March are booked up. I even drove three hours to meet with the wedding coordinator and she never mentioned that to me, it must be a new policy.

Sooooooo, here comes the fun spontaneous part of the wedding process I guess! Sebastian plans on flying through JFK anyhow to try and get a temporary work authorization, so I may just meet him up there and elope at City Hall in NYC! There's something quite fun and quirky about the idea, although I'm still mourning the loss of my mansion wedding.

We're thinking of having the City Hall legal stuff in the morning, wear chic clothes and all, then we'll go back to the hotel and change into our formal wedding attire and say our own vows somewhere intimate and scenic. Maybe Central Park.

Wedding stress never ends!

[KAT&Allie 0]

Got my wedding dress pattern! AND more or less sorted the photographer, for free!!

WOW! We just looked at photographers - and daaaammnnn they are spendy!! I'm really bummed because I wanted professional pics done. I just don't know how we're gonna afford it. We'd have the money - but I want to put his AOS cost aside right away. That is one thing that is going to get done immediately

The prices are shocking for photography, we got lucky as Tom's old housemates in the UK are professional photographers and have always said they would do our wedding as a gift. No more was mentioned about it then this week she let me know that she is doing a wedding in the US for a friend mid oct. It's perfect timing really even if it means shifting our wedding a couple of weeks back (were originally planning for mid-end september). A least by doing the other wedding too they will be making a bit of money.

We got lucky here as well (just wish we could be as lucky with our NOA2 ). Got a photographer and the bend for free (his friends) and his cousin is a member of a yacht club so she can book their club house and the grounds for $30 ! We thought that was a fantastic deal, especially considering the location. I've only seen it over the Google Earth... looks good, at least the grounds .

[ArubaDolphin 0]

Well I got two wedding celebrations and party

either great i got to or double the headache.

First Civil wedding had a western theme

and Church wedding had a Dolphin theme

Both on the island of Aruba

http://johnandgeorgina.weddingannouncer.co...ext-898199.html

http://johnandgeorgina.weddingannouncer.co...xt-1348534.html

[ophelia783 0]

Ooooh, thanks for all the helpful hints about baby's breath, ladies! I'm very glad to hear it doesn't smell like urine . Do you have any pics of your bouquet jundp? It sounds absolutely gorgeous. And thanks for the pics, milo75. I'll have to look into them!

Have you guys thought about vows or readings yet? We're working on our vows, but have definitely decided to read "Every Day you Play" by Pablo Neruda. It really exemplifies the fever of love as well as the sad, distraught feelings of being apart. (Yeah, I'm really into poetry). Since we're eloping, we'll break it up into parts and read it to each other. It's one of my favorite poems!

We used two readings, which were read by my best friends - "Love," by Roy Croft and "Resignation," by Nikki Giovanni.

Love

I love you,

Not only for what you are,

But for what I am When I am with you.

I love you,

Not only for what You have made of yourself,

But for what You are making of me.

I love you For the part of me That you bring out;

I love you For putting your hand Into my heaped-up heart And passing over

All the foolish, weak things That you can't help Dimly seeing there,

And for drawing out Into the light All the beautiful belongings

That no one else had looked Quite far enough to find.

I love you because you Are helping me to make Of the lumber of my life

Not a tavern But a temple; Out of the works Of my every day

Not a reproach, But a song.

I love you

Because you have done More than any creed Could have done

To make me good And more than any fate

Could have done To make me happy.

You have done it

Without a touch, Without a word, Without a sign.

You have done it By being yourself.

Resignation

I love you

because the Earth turns round the sun

because the North wind blows North

Sometimes

because the Pope is Catholic

and most Rabbis Jewish

because winters flow into springs

& the air clears after a storm

because only my love for you

despite the charms of gravity

keeps me from falling off the Earth

into another dimension

I love you

because it is the natural order of things.

[ophelia783 0]

Has anyone had any luck with Davids Bridal?

Here is the situation...there is no Davids Bridal in Canada, they will not ship to Canada, you cannot order online a dress if you do not have a US billing address. There are two gowns that I am looking at, one available online and one in the store. My future mother in law said she could help me out in both situations if needed as Davids Bridal is not too far from where she lives. Anyways, I have tried on different styles in other stores and the one I liked the best was the style that is the $499 gown available in stores only. I would get it without the train though. The stores here are ridiculous with markup, its hard to find a dress here under $1000, let alone under $500!!! I went to a consignment store and couldn't find anything decent for under $600!!! Oh how I wish there was a Davids Bridal in Canuckville!! I am not very busty on top and my torso is long so I am wondering if maybe the $99 gown with the ruched bust, might be better. I am getting panicky about spending an extra $400 dollars though!!

I am headed to the US in a few weeks...pending they let me through the POE, and there will be a DB in the area I am visiting with my fiance, pending we have time as I am helping him relocate maybe I can get him to take me to DB!!

If I do get the one that is available in stores I wonder if I would be able to call and order it over the phone? Then when it comes in, my future MIL go to pick it up? Next thing I am worried about is if she were to send it to me, would they charge customs fees, duty or taxes?

Any thoughts? Please HELP!!

Here is a link to both:

http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridal_gowns_d...oup=210#reviews

http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridal_gowns_d...oup=255#reviews

Beautiful dresses!

I bought my dress from DB; I ordered it in Nov 07, and was told it'd be in March 08. Hubs was going to pick it up (with it completely covered) for me, but it ended up coming in early, in Dec 07, so I picked it up myself in January the next time I was in town. Mine cost $350, and was worth every penny.

If you have any questions at all, PM me.

[Shannon ♥ Nick 0]

What's everyone doing with their hair for the wedding?

Mine is shoulder length and I'm going to have it up in some way - still undecided. Anyone have dos in mind? Pics to share?

[minnew 4]

Has anyone had any luck with Davids Bridal?

Here is the situation...there is no Davids Bridal in Canada, they will not ship to Canada, you cannot order online a dress if you do not have a US billing address. There are two gowns that I am looking at, one available online and one in the store. My future mother in law said she could help me out in both situations if needed as Davids Bridal is not too far from where she lives. Anyways, I have tried on different styles in other stores and the one I liked the best was the style that is the $499 gown available in stores only. I would get it without the train though. The stores here are ridiculous with markup, its hard to find a dress here under $1000, let alone under $500!!! I went to a consignment store and couldn't find anything decent for under $600!!! Oh how I wish there was a Davids Bridal in Canuckville!! I am not very busty on top and my torso is long so I am wondering if maybe the $99 gown with the ruched bust, might be better. I am getting panicky about spending an extra $400 dollars though!!

I am headed to the US in a few weeks...pending they let me through the POE, and there will be a DB in the area I am visiting with my fiance, pending we have time as I am helping him relocate maybe I can get him to take me to DB!!

If I do get the one that is available in stores I wonder if I would be able to call and order it over the phone? Then when it comes in, my future MIL go to pick it up? Next thing I am worried about is if she were to send it to me, would they charge customs fees, duty or taxes?

Any thoughts? Please HELP!!

Here is a link to both:

http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridal_gowns_d...oup=210#reviews

http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridal_gowns_d...oup=255#reviews

Beautiful dresses!

I bought my dress from DB; I ordered it in Nov 07, and was told it'd be in March 08. Hubs was going to pick it up (with it completely covered) for me, but it ended up coming in early, in Dec 07, so I picked it up myself in January the next time I was in town. Mine cost $350, and was worth every penny.

If you have any questions at all, PM me.

Thank you! Your dress is gorgeous as well! I haven't asked my fiance if he would be willing to do that for me, he told me he doesn't want to see or hear about my dress so that may be my answer right there. I am planning (hopefully) to make another trip down in April so maybe that might work, only if they have the dress in by then and I can take it back in my car.

I am still stuck as well if I want to wear my hair up, half up half down or completely down, my hair is long so it would look good all 3 ways but I don't want it in the way or constantly having to rearrange it for pictures.

[Laura+Tom 2]

What's everyone doing with their hair for the wedding?

Mine is shoulder length and I'm going to have it up in some way - still undecided. Anyone have dos in mind? Pics to share?

No idea, am currently waiting to see how long it grows. At the moment it's just above my shoulders and I can't tie it up. Am going for a birdcage veil though.

[TimandJoyce 1]

Being how Tim's and my wedding is still quite a few months away...

However, it will be big!! Not my idea though, he just knows LOTS of people!! And this is his first marriage, ( he's turning 50 in April). So quite a lot of folks want to celebrate with him!! Oh well, I need to let him enjoy it.

We'll be married in his hometown, and at his church, so no problem booking that!! I've 3 bridesmaids picked out, and am looking for a pattern so that they can make the dresses as they all live in various places. One is Tim's sister, so she lives in SC. Another from California, and the other from Alberta, Canada!! So, this is going to be interesting....

My dress is a 1950's retro, and fits my personality and style! My hair is quite long, yet it will be up with curls cascading down my back and baby's breath through out. Not sure of the bouquet yet...depending on when we get married, I'll see about what flowers are in season. I'd like to hold maybe about 3 long stemmed types. The girls are wearing purple, and I'm going to wear lavender. This is actually my 3rd marriage ( yes...that is not a typo) so I'm thinking white is out. I also don't wish to walk to the "wedding march" so I'm looking online for love songs, and found a couple I really like!! ( if Tim goes for it, there is one that would be great if we sung it as I walked down the aisle!) I've a 22 year old son, and will make sure he's there, as I would like for him to give me away.

Tim's been looking at reception halls, finding prices, etc., so we'll have to have a few on hold until we know the date. And he wants a professional photographer!! Guess I should let him know about the AOS charge, eh? He just may be changing his mind.....We will also have a stretch limousine for the bridal party. His very good friend rents them out...and is donating a car and driver for the wedding!! Not overly sure of the honeymoon plans yet. We probably will go to Myrtle Beach for the first night, as it's a couple hours away, and then I'd just like to take 2 or 3 weeks to travel the eastern states. Might as well, can't leave the country for bit!! I think it would be fun to go up north and travel. Make a loop and come back to SC. We could see quite a bit in that time frame.

I haven't had a chance to see too many of the pic's you posted, but I will for sure later on. Just in a bit of a hurry now, but saw this thread and had to post!! What a great idea. Makes it more real to be able to share our plans, because right now, I find it extremely hard to plan for my wedding when I live 2500 miles away, and have no idea when I'm getting married!!

Not sure how to post a picture of my wedding dress, so I wouldn't mind a helpful hint! Thanks!!

[Hannah+Vito 0]

http://www.weddingmapper.com/

this is a useful site if you want an online map of where your wedding is gunna be for out of town guests which we all most likely will have lol.

and you can drop markers for things like reception ceremony site and attractions and airports ect. we are using it.

[Koakland 0]

I think that I'll start hanging out in this thread instead of just cruising around it. I'm not having a big wedding until 2010 but of course I'm having a civil ceremony when my SO gets here. I didn't really think much about it until today when 4 different people asked me all these questions about my wedding. So i started talking about it with my friend - she has a lots of experience planning weddings and she asked me so many questions, so many details. Now I'm a little stressed out. I thought I'd just go to city hall, say my vows and move on to the honeymoon but now I see that there is so much involved even if I'm not having anything big. I def need your help. pls, pls. I think that I want a small intimate civil ceremony at city hall, followed by an intimate dinner at a restaurant or at a family member's house. But Im not sure. Really I want something nice and intimate. Small but meaningful. My fiance doesn't want to do anything huge because none of this friends or family will be here for the wedding. They will be for the 2010 wedding. So I guess at civil ceremony there's more to it than "I do"??? Like there are special readings etc??? I need to go back in this thread and read everything that has been said. I'm scared help!

[Shannon ♥ Nick 0]

I think that I'll start hanging out in this thread instead of just cruising around it. I'm not having a big wedding until 2010 but of course I'm having a civil ceremony when my SO gets here. I didn't really think much about it until today when 4 different people asked me all these questions about my wedding. So i started talking about it with my friend - she has a lots of experience planning weddings and she asked me so many questions, so many details. Now I'm a little stressed out. I thought I'd just go to city hall, say my vows and move on to the honeymoon but now I see that there is so much involved even if I'm not having anything big. I def need your help. pls, pls. I think that I want a small intimate civil ceremony at city hall, followed by an intimate dinner at a restaurant or at a family member's house. But Im not sure. Really I want something nice and intimate. Small but meaningful. My fiance doesn't want to do anything huge because none of this friends or family will be here for the wedding. They will be for the 2010 wedding. So I guess at civil ceremony there's more to it than "I do"??? Like there are special readings etc??? I need to go back in this thread and read everything that has been said. I'm scared help!

Awww hun!

I felt the same way... it almost seemed like the smaller we thought we were going - the more was left up to us and the 'more' it became.

We're going to do a small ceremony here at our home in Florida.. do all the decorating ourselves and really only bring in the rev. that is going to marry us. We have his parents coming as well as a friend of his from the UK and then from my side it will just be my mom and two friends (the couple who will be the Godparents to Ryan.. we've planned his baptism the weekend after the wedding so all can attend).

I wanted a professional photographer, but WOW. Spendy. Sort of a toss up, I know in my heart that this is it and Nick is my forever, and I want gobs of pics from our wedding to be able to look back on - yet at this point in time with AOS pending, new baby etc...I really don't want to spend the money on it.

We're doing the food ourselves and I'm going to do the wedding cake. I just want to have a happy relaxed time with our family and friends and spend lots of time looking at Nick... in person... in the flesh.. and NOT ON SKYPE!!

I have a wedding dress - and he'll have his tux... but beyond that I don't think we're doing having much else that's too money consuming.

We're going to have a sand ceremony included in our wedding to include the kids and really signify us becoming a family that day - not just mom and dad getting married. It's important to us that they feel as included as we are.

What ideas do you have?

I loved the foam flowers link that was posted (sorry OP I forgot who posted that!)

I think it would be fantastic to be able to keep your flowers forever

How are you both holding up with the impending interview?! I know it was hard for me to realize that it was finally here, finally TODAY! My mind got so much in the groove of waiting (thanks wholly to USCIS) that it was surreal to think that it was actually happening!

When is he coming to the states? He needs to give a 3 month notice, right?