Have Love, Will Travel (yep, another song title....getting a trend here...)

Yet another tick off the list. Honeymoon flights are booked. We are being a bit crazy and going to just "freestyle" when we get there and see where the wind takes us! After months of "planning", it will be nice to be unplanned! Really looking forward to it! I think once the manic craziness of wedding is done and dusted, we'll be so up for the break.

This Year (a great song by the Mountain Goats!)

As the clock ticked over last night, I turned to Andy and said "We're gonna get married this year!" All of a sudden, with just over 3 months to go, I am feeling more like I should be consumed by wedding things. I sat down next to Andy with a pile of bridal mags and a pen and paper today so we could discuss invitations. Despite him being more interested in Wii archery, I think we actually got somewhere and have agreed on a bit of a format for our wedding invites. Now it is down to setting aside an entire weekend sometime between here and mid Feb to actually construct and send out said invites!
Also on our list of "to do's", is table decorations, bridesmaid jewellery (another trip out with Susie!) and sitting down with Mark, our minister/celebrant to discuss the ceremony. I have heard of brides having 'post-nuptial depression' after the big day, because they have devoted every waking moment to planning every detail of the day, once the wedding is over, they find themselves at a lose end! If worst comes to worst, I will just channel all of my planning energy into putting together a 30th birthday party...yep, turn 30 this year too!!!

Let's hear it for the boy!

Late on Friday, we were awoken by a phone call from Spain. Judy, sister-in-law to be and bridesmaid extraordinaire was calling to tell us that her and Andrew, her boyfriend of about 18 months, were engaged. The 4 of us, Andrew, Judy, Andy and I all chatted excitedly for a little while before ringing off (global roaming, you know how it is).

I was talking to a friend today who knows Andrew and I had asked if she'd heard the news. Her response was "Oh, she's engaged, she must be so happy, do you think she'll set a date in 2010?" (ok, that isn't an exact transcript, but something to that effect!).

It got me thinking, the wedding has been made so much the domain of the bride! I suppose once upon a time, the bride was simply the 'transaction', but the pendulum has now swung the complete opposite direction and men are simply an accessory of the arrangement! I know it is a social norm and all, but I get frustrated trying to explain to people that our wedding (ours!) is not "my day" its not "all about the bride", it is about both of us. Sure, I am the one keeping the blog, I am usually the one that books in days to go and check stuff out, but there again, that is a role that I tend to take in my relationships (friendships, family and my partnership with Andy), I'm a bit of an organiser.

Every decision I have made about the wedding has not been made independently, I have run everything by Andy. Heck, he's even seen the dress (but I am hiding it from him now)! And it is fair to say that there have been things that I have wanted that he's put his foot down and said no to and vice versa.

We really don't want people to come to our wedding and see a massive 'show by Annie', we want it to be a joint effort that shows both of our influences complimenting each other and celebrating who we are as individuals and as a couple.

Get your Groomzilla on boys! Take some control (I said SOME) and make it a joint effort, because it is not all about the bride, last time I checked, weddings (and even more so, marriages!) require two equally yielding parties!

Not something we'll be considering

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2754092/A-couple-plan-to-pay-for-their-wedding-using-money-made-from-starring-in-porn-films.html

But I commend their creativity!

5 Months!

Time is ticking away! Just five months to go. We went cake shopping a couple of weeks back and have decided to go with "How Sweet it is" (and now you'll have that song in your head for the rest of the day!) who are going to give us a good deal. Our hot tip for wedding planning of any description, when you are making a big purchase, offer cash! Everyone knows that retailers mark up for weddings, but all business owners like the cold hard stuff, so if you possibly can, I highly recommend it. It's going to mean the difference between a backpacker hostel and a nice hotel on our honeymoon!

We're starting to get down to the little details now, music, decorations, flowers and things like that. I spent some time on the weekend playing in a bead shop, picking up some bits and pieces to make some jewellery for my bridesmaids. Still in the experimental stages at the moment, but I am having fun with it!

We attended the wedding of our good friends Amy & Iliya yesterday. They had a beautiful outdoor ceremony (the weather was extremely kind) followed by a reception at the Somerton Surf Lifesaving Club, which was perfect. It was great to share the celebration with them and be inspired by their creative touches!

No doubt as the time draws nearer, my blog posts will go one way or the other, crazy regular or non-existent, depending on how manic things get!!!

Picking up speed - the 6 month mark!

Yesterday (17th October) marked 6 months until our wedding day. We have both started to realise that we need to start getting some concrete plans in place! I had selected my dress, however I was waiting to reap some rewards from my regular gym attendance and better eating habits before I actually made the purchase.
Back to the bridal shop I went, trusty stylist (aka my sister-in-law, Susie) in toe. I had with me, a great wad of cash (pay less, pay cash!) and the hope that I would be able to order it in a smaller size that I had initially thought. I slipped into the dress (they only have the dress in one size at the boutique) and to my great delight, the lady was able to do up all the buttons without me suffocating! Woot! I have now ordered and paid for the dress in full and look forward to it coming in at the end of January. I highly recommend Asha's Bridal on Waterloo (Glenelg, SA). I have had excellent service there, they have a good range and they are not "sizeist" as I have found some are! Check them out at http://ashasbridal.com.au/

The boys also had a win yesterday, selecting suits to hire. Whilst having a leisurely brunch with Susie (post frock purchase), I got a picture message on my mobile of 4 very dapper chaps.
Now it is down to accessories and finer details, jewellery and shoes for the ladies and ties for the boys.

It's all starting to take shape and I'm starting to feel really excited!

Guest list

WHY DO WE KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?