Musing on music May 2, 2008

Just been reading this article about wedding ceremony music. The author is perhaps right that the entrance music isn’t heeded as much ‘cos everyone’s looking at the Bride’s hair/dress/makeup (is she crying already?!).  However, being a b2b, I definitely now notice every single aspect of someone’s special day, from the music, to the place settings, to the hair. Sorry, but I am obsessed!

The wedding we went to the other weekend had the Pachabel Canon in D as their entry tune, which I loved.  Even better, they walked out to the Test Match Special tune - both being involved in Cricket, this was a great touch and made everyone laugh.

Nothing really springs to mind when thinking of our wedding choons, I did get a free wedding music CD in the last edition of a magazine, so I’ll have to have a look at this.  The Boy was keen on incorporating ska wherever possible, and I bet he’ll suggest something from the Wurzels too. I am NOT having ‘I am a cider drinker’ sung at my our wedding!!!

Wedding expo prep February 21, 2008

A gaggle of us B2Bs are off to the National Wedding Show tomorrow.

Here’s my essential preparation:

1. Flat shoes for power walking around the expo

2. Big empty rucksack to fill with freebies

3. Sharp elbows to bosh other B2Bs out the way of the free stuff I want

4. Camera to take pics of good ideas

5. Wedding notebook and co-ordinating metallic pens for scribbling ideas down

Can’t wait!

No…no…and thrice, no January 23, 2008

Yesterday was the official day off to sort out wedding stuff day. Boy and me were ready to go at 9am for our first caterer (3 caterers, 3 marquee people to meet) and I felt smug with my compartmentalised wedding file, decorative notepad and colour co-ordinated metallic pens.

Within a few minutes of our first meeting tho, I realised that – despite my Monica-from-Friends attitude – I hadn’t thought about lots of things.  As the day progressed, I realised I had much, much more to consider than what hairdo to have and how long my speech should last (yes, I am doing a speech. Microphone, Me and Drink – it’s gonna happen!). 

So here’s what I said ‘No’ to yesterday:

  - Have you considered security for the marquee?

 - You say you’d like ivory, sage green and a touch of pink. Do you know if you want dusky pink, baby pink, cerise or pale pink?

 - Linings for the marquee. Do you know if you want colour co-ordinated pelmets?

 - Do you have refrigeration for wine?

 - Have you sorted out ice?

 - Do you know if you want wooden flooring, carpet, or event flooring?

 - What kinds of meat do you want on the carvery, do you know?

 - Have you considered the type of napkin you’d like – colour, linen, high quality disposable?

Do I still think I am Hyper-Organised-Sorted-Bridezilla?

No.

Another b2b joins the mix… January 3, 2008

Just heard that another friend of mine had the question popped over New Year and is now a bride to be (b2b)!!  It’s soooo exciting when you hear of another fellow bridezilla joining the gang – there’s now four of us with impending nuptials and we’re busily arranging trips to wedding shows and swapping tips on our fave websites.

Oooh it makes me all misty eyed when I hear of another engagement, I guess it takes me back to when the boy asked me to marry him….

There we were on a surfing trip to north devon and that morning I was in my wet suit as usual (possibly the worst ever clothing known to woman), with grey skin from a hangover and bedraggled hair.  Despite this, he popped the question and as soon as I’d got over the shock and mumbled an acceptance we got totally wiped out by a massive wave! 

Anyway, back to reality for a mo – here’s my fave wedding website. The forums section is brill although I was horrified to discover that some b2bs have set up their own wedding websites with all the info, biographies, pics, how they met, the wedding party details etc.  It’s all a bit too much like swimming round in your own glee for me.  Anyway, I was intrigued, so spent all of 2 mins uploading some stuff to a dummy website for me and the boy and clicked to see the results.  Yep, just as naff as the other wedding websites I’d seen – so quickly and ashamedly took it off air, and resumed browsing forum entries about burnt orange colour themes, feather bouquets and bridal shoes.

Confessions of a magpie November 28, 2007

As I’ve stated before, I’m not really a jewellery person, but I have come to be obsessed by the twinkly engagement ring adorning my left hand.  I’ve already booked in for a manicure (not sure how long nice nails will last with rugby habit) and am now dead set on wearing gloves in this parky weather.

The best lighting in our house for maximum sparkliness seems to be the halogen bulbs in the upstairs bathroom.  Consequently, I now visit that bathroom rather than the downstairs loo and brush my teeth for longer whilst holding and twizzling my left hand.

Most telling is my commute to work.  I have taken to switching on the interior light of the car, just so my ring sparkles and I can glance over at it, sighing contentedly, every so often.  This probably isn’t best for my driving concentration levels, or indeed road safety.  But it is very prettiful!

All’s well in wedding la-la land November 26, 2007

Saturday morning we received word at LAST that the bling was in, so raced into town in the car, power walked to the jewellers and finally I got my mitts on it, huzzah! Five weeks of waiting for the diamonds was over, and I am now waving ‘hi’ to people with my left hand, back to front, so as to dazzle them with sparkliness.  It’s quite surreal to be wearing an engagement ring – how very grown up of me…

Best Friend (BF) was also on hand this weekend for a good old chinwag about all things wedding-y and managed to put things in perspective, so I am slightly less hysterical about the task that lies ahead.  I’m also going to lunch in the new year with 2 other friends who are b2b (Brides To Be) so that we can pour out our bridezilla-ness to each other, thereby ensuring we don’t lose friends or indeed the groom because of our obsessive perfectionist natures.

BF also helped identify jobs for the boy:

1. Look into wedding bands – NOTE: they must not be ska bands or indie tribute groups

2. Sort out camper van honeymoon destinations – NOTE: laybys will not do

3. Look into menswear suppliers – NOTE: top hats are ok, canes and pocket watches on a chain are a step too far.

Needless to say, I shall be taking an active interest in his progress on these three fronts, of course…

A remedy for NFA (I hope) November 20, 2007

My chums are getting married in May next year and are so scarily sorted it’s freakin me out!  They got engaged just after us but in a matter of weeks have got the church, reception, catering etc etc all done and dusted.  I, in contrast, smugly started a ‘wedding file’ soon after getting the question popped (purchasing special metallic pens for all my scribing) but to date have only written the guest list in there.

So why no further action (NFA)?  I think it’s because once I did the guest list (which came to 220 for the main do, incidentally), I got utterly freaked out about a) organising a bash for so many people b) the cost of the bash and c) the amount of stuff to do.  So, the answer?  Why, as all sensible people would, I closed the book and have been happily cooing ”Ah the wedding plans? Plenty of time for that!” whenever people ask how it’s going.

What is a bridezilla in the making to do in this instance then? Well, like most girls would, I’ve turned to the best friend for help.  We’re off for coffee and cake this weekend to mull over everything that’s involved and come up with a plan of attack, and a list of jobs for beloved to do (he’s rubbish without direction).  Luckily she’s married so has first hand experience of what needs doing; and hopefully a bunch of ideas on how to sedate Mother (who blurts out ‘ideas for the wedding’ involuntarily whenever I see her) .  If I’m still freaked out after coffee, cake and counselling, there may be need for urgent action – gin and tonic.