preparing for a wedding

[Kevinshouse]

My sister was telling me the other evening that when her husbands niece married a couple of years ago, they had a wedding co-ordinator who eventually fell out with the brides mother (who my sister tells me was driving everyone mad) the bride then had to be the go between with her mother and the wedding co-ordinator.
The wedding did eventually take place, the couple had twin daughters a year later and a boy 10 months after the twins - the bride has now got her hands very full.
Kind regards Susan

[kooky]

My older daughter planned her own wedding too. Again I made the cake. I do not understand these pushy mothers who organise things to suit them .[Not that I've had the chance  ]
If the parents are paying for everything, then of course they should have a say.
My older daughter and her now husband paid for most of their wedding, with a contribution from me, my mother, and her father [we are divorced, but still friends] Her inlaws provided all the wine etc., after a couple of trips to France!
My younger daughter decided to do the same. I must have produced 2 very independent children!
She does ask for some help, but wants everything done to her high standards.
There is no way either of them would have contemplated a wedding planner. Gaille sounds very nice though.
Kooky

[genjen]

There was one day, about three weeks before the day, when my daughter sort of wailed at me, down the phone, "I wish I'd had a planner!"

But in truth, they had very clear ideas and wanted to do it themselves. I helped with ideas and hopefully with a bit of calming when needed. I paid for the dress, my ex- husband paid for the caterers and my partner, who has been a part of daughter's life for over twenty years, paid for the ceilidh band. Everything else, they did themselves - the choice of wines being of paramount importance and therefore involving huge amounts of research.

There was no official photographer, just a request that everyone who had a digital camera should put photos on to a disc and send it to them. They have hundreds to choose from, to create their own album.

I don't know what the total cost was but it will have been nowhere near the current average.

[panda40]

I eloped all the way to Australia to get married and then we phoned the parents afterwards. no stress no hassle suited me fine as I don't like being the center of attention. It cost £50 to get married. As the holiday had already been arrange we just decided to get married and make it our honeymoon. The only person who knew in this country was the solicitor who had to witness my husbands divorce papers. The marriage celebrant made us a cake as a suprise and laid on a buffet for us. Then we went out for a Chinese afterwards. Each to their own.
I love big weddings don't get me wrong, just been to one in August. I just could never see me in that situation. I have never regretted how we got married and the most important people were there me and hubby!!
Regards panda

[kiwihalfpint]

In the last two years I have been to two weddings.   

The first was Hoity Toity with snobbery thrown in ..... because one of the bridal party was vegetarian, all the food was catered along that lines, so no consideration to guests.   There was a wedding gift list, but  they had chosen the expensive items   Even though it was family, it was one event we did not enjoy.

The second wedding was small and was fantastic.    When the brides mother saw what had been chosen for the meal ...... said "No vegetables are down here ..... you have to have some" to which the bride replied "No, I don't eat vegetables, its my wedding, I am paying for it, and tough to vegetables".       

It was a beautiful spread, of salads, chicken and hams with spuds.   The deserts, were meringues and chocolate cake.

They asked for no presents, but asked for gift vouches from a certain store (not an expensive one) for items to go towards furnishing their house.    They got a few presents, but the childs school suitcase they had on the table was overflowing with their requested vouchers.

[genjen]

I eloped all the way to Australia to get married and then we phoned the parents afterwards. no stress no hassle suited me fine as I don't like being the center of attention. It cost £50 to get married. As the holiday had already been arrange we just decided to get married and make it our honeymoon. The only person who knew in this country was the solicitor who had to witness my husbands divorce papers. The marriage celebrant made us a cake as a suprise and laid on a buffet for us. Then we went out for a Chinese afterwards. Each to their own.
I love big weddings don't get me wrong, just been to one in August. I just could never see me in that situation. I have never regretted how we got married and the most important people were there me and hubby!!
Regards panda

That sounds wonderful. When the aforementioned daughter was on holiday in France, last year, I prayed they would come back married!

The whole big wedding thing is a bit of a mystery to me and although it was a wonderful day, I still would never have chosen it for myself. As my not terribly confident offspring said to me at one point, "If I don't have a posh/traditional wedding dress, people will look at me!" What did she think they were going to do - she was the bride!! /

[BevL]

I do like the idea of the cameras (digital or disposable).  There would be every kind of photo - not just the posed ones and everyone would love the spontaneous ones!
Bev

[Gaille]

That sounds wonderful. When the aforementioned daughter was on holiday in France, last year, I prayed they would come back married!

The whole big wedding thing is a bit of a mystery to me and although it was a wonderful day, I still would never have chosen it for myself. As my not terribly confident offspring said to me at one point, "If I don't have a posh/traditional wedding dress, people will look at me!" What did she think they were going to do - she was the bride!! /

LOL my family think its hilarious - I plan weddings but I have aways said if I were to get married, I will NOT be having a big wedding, it will be me, my partner and immediate family only!
LOL and that would be a SMALL wedding, I only hae my parents, brother & sister + theirs 'other halves' and (at the moment), 2 neices & a nephew ........ my boyfriend only has his 2 brothers and their respective other halves - and thats it.

I couldnt bear having a huge fancy wedding with the big dress & top-table etc - I hate fuss and I go red if everyone is looking at me, I hate giving talks or speeches!!

My perfect weddings are the nice simple ones, not too over the top and NO pink!
I did a wedding season a few years ago where every wedding was either pink& white or Gold & Ivory themed - I grew to detest pink lol.

Gaille

[Gaille]

My older daughter planned her own wedding too. Again I made the cake. I do not understand these pushy mothers who organise things to suit them .[Not that I've had the chance  ]
If the parents are paying for everything, then of course they should have a say.
My older daughter and her now husband paid for most of their wedding, with a contribution from me, my mother, and her father [we are divorced, but still friends] Her inlaws provided all the wine etc., after a couple of trips to France!
My younger daughter decided to do the same. I must have produced 2 very independent children!
She does ask for some help, but wants everything done to her high standards.
There is no way either of them would have contemplated a wedding planner. Gaille sounds very nice though.
Kooky

LOL when I book the first appointment with a prospective bride & groom I always suggest that the first meeting should just be with them, and then after that bring parents, siblings, a friend or whoever they like afterwards ........... that way I get an idea of what they want before everyone wades in with ideas, lol and they can pre-warn me if theres a pushy parent or whatever to watch out for.

I once went to see a bride for the first time at her house, I walked in & there were 5 men & boys sat at the kitchen table talking ............. when we were shown into the main room of the house there were at least 20 women & children sat there - and everyone of them had an opinion on what 'had' to be done ......it was total choas with everone talking at once ....... It took me about 5 minutes to actualy figure out who was the bride!

Mum (whos my busines partner) and I have our own system for notes - one writes down what the bride & groom want, the other what anyone else suggests so we keep them straight!

Kooky - what I do is more of a co-ordinator than a planner, I put people in touch with other businesses if its not something I do myself, or I can do the organising for them, I so as little or as much as they want doing.

Gaille