Is a year ahead too soon for pre-wedding nerves? July 25, 2008

I'm hoping I won't look this stressed on the fateful day

Fook. Just typed the date into a document and realised it’s the 25th July. The reason I’m freaked?

Well, a year today, I’ll be pooping myself and downing some alcohol ahead of getting hitched to the LOML (Love of My Life – aaaah). I’ll most likely be having a little pep talk with myself, convincing myself that I won’t trip over my veil, go ass over tit, or cry so much my mascara streaks down me cheeks. I’ll be looking to my BMs to gee me up and there will probably be some cringeworthy high-five / group hug moments just before we enter the church. I’ll be hoping and praying the weather is hot (our reception marquee is due to be sited on a gorgeous field…also a flood plain) but not so hot that I get heat rash and faint. Gah! Makes my palms sweat, just writing this.

LOML on the other hand, this time next year, will most likely have finished a nice game of golf, had a leisurely shower then stopped off at the pub for a quick game of snooker and a Guiness before the big event.

This is the church where I shall be wed

Weird to think this time next year we’ll nearly be Mr and Mrs. I’m tres excited about gaining a hubbie, but I’m quite sad to let my surname go – it’s good and unusual. My new name is going to make me sound like I’m a Victorian workhouse mistress from a Dickens book!!

In a tizz, over the tent April 2, 2008

Feeling a bit scaredy this morning, we just got through the marquee final costs and, well, it’s lots.  I wouldn’t get much change from £7,500 – put it that way.  Yowzers!!  So, I’m now going to rationalise it in the form of a list, to get rid of my panic:

1. This is how much marquees cost. Get over it.

2. Having a marquee means we can bring in our own caterers and booze, which is cheaper than having in-house/hotel people.

3. We can keep partying as long as we like – a marquee doesn’t have a closing time!

4. It means we can have our do overlooking some lush countryside, and people can camp in the field.

5. There are no venues that can accommodate our 200 guests, plus 100 evening guests (apart from those with marquees).

OK. Am feeling a bit better now.  The boy doesn’t have these panicky moments but simply accepts it’s going to cost lots and offsets this against the fact it’s going to be the most fantastico day! 

Right, with all that blah out the way I can now look forward to a weekend of bridezilla heaven.  We’re off to friends’ in Wiltshire along with another set of smug-marrieds-to-be, which means there’s three brides-to-be en masse! Huzzah! Can’t wait to talk hymns, flowers, bridesmaids, shoes, invites and so on. I think the boys will revert to watching sport, playing sport and drinking beer. Each to their own!

The bridal tidal wave continues January 15, 2008

What is going on? Another mate has also got properly engaged recently so that makes a total of 5 of my close friends getting  married now.  This means there’s 6 of us turning into bridezillas and as you know, being competitive, I am determined to be the beastliest of us all! (And probably single again as a result?)

Have I started a trend then?  Is 2008 an auspicious year for engagements? Or, more realistically, am I just ‘at the age’ where all my mates are either married, getting married or sprogging? Hmm, the last one seems most likely, boo it. 

However, all this bridalness surrounding me is I’m sure going to be a positive thing.  I have 5 people I can now call on for wedding summit conversations, moans about the g2b (groom to be, of course), and honest advice on whether a bright purple eyeshadow really does set off my eye colour (no, it doesn’t – thanks, evil Mac Sales Lady).  If any of them can also advise how I could have calmed my Mother’s near hysteria when I mentioned we want a free bar, that would be an added bonus (it’s bound to happen again, when I tell her that our first dance is probably gonna be Groove is in the Heart).

But moving on from MotB (Mother of the Bride) loonyness (sp?), the bridesmaidness garb has  taken a leap forward recently as my cousin Julieann, who’s currently in Project Catwalk (she’s the nice, normal person), has offered her pro advice and skills to help me fit out my five lovely ladies.  What a superstar! Now, just got to decide on colour/shape/uniformity/sleeves/shoes/style/embellishment that I (and my bmaids) want, and we’re sorted on that front, huzzah!

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!

The bling’s the thing October 17, 2007

Last night, I just could not get to sleep. It wasn’t worry that kept me awake, or the usual ‘to do’ list I run through in my mind, not even the pounding rain.  No, it was the fact that beloved happened to mention, in passing, just before he snoozed off, that the jewellers had rang him that day about my engagement ring.  That was all the info I could get out of him before he was in full sleep mode.  Conversely, all signs of sleepiness were banished from me as my mind whirred into action – ‘is there a problem?’, ‘is it in the shop now?’, ‘is it what I wanted?’ – questions were racing through my mind for a good, say, 2 hours, whilst he happily slumbered.

It’s not that I’m a bridezilla (yet).  It’s just, I’m an engaged lady, without the bling. It’s sad and annoying and it’s nearly a month now since he popped the question.  Suddenly, how my nails look is important to me and I am very conscious of a lack of weight on my left hand. Surely the rock should be in situ by now!!

Having said that, I’m mightily glad he didn’t attempt to purchase said ring himself.  I can imagine the disaster that would unfold as I tried to love or even tolerate his choice.  He’s bad enough just going shopping for it – his interest lies purely in the science of the ring – the clarity, source, carat etc, and of course the value for money factor. Whereas my insights go as far as “that one’s prettiful!” 

The fact is, I don’t really accessorise enough in my life.  I’m not a prolific necklace wearer or bracelet displayer.  This ring is gonna be the thing! Therefore I do feel justified in my impatience, altho slightly ridiculous that I have had a disturbed nights sleep over it.  After all, it’s only 2 days, 17 hours and 3 minutes before I charge into that jewellers!!

But I do hope my sleeping habits change…goodness knows how I’ll be as wedding planning gets into full swing – I’ll have to get a fridge of red bull under my desk…