General Chat Thread (PLEASE READ POST #1)

Gatica · 23-08-2016 10:24AM

That sounds about same as the timing we had. Ours worked out like clockwork that way, but that's unusual. You can try to aim for that but from other people's weddings, I can say that speeches and therefore dinner run way overtime, so starting first dance on time is really rare.

GingerLily · 23-08-2016 10:31AM

I should have said 5.15 dinner bell 5.30 speeches - is an hour not long enough? I thought that'd be loads of time, I guess its something to be aware of.

pooch90 · 23-08-2016 11:21AM

If you are allocating an hour for speeches before the meal, I'd be prepared for some restless, hungry and pissed off guests tbh....

SarahMollie · 23-08-2016 11:32AM

pooch90 wrote: »

If you are allocating an hour for speeches before the meal, I'd be prepared for some restless, hungry and pissed off guests tbh....

Yeah from the weddings I've been at this year the shortest was 14 minutes, and the longest was 1hr 12 minutes..... I know which I preferred!

GingerLily · 23-08-2016 11:39AM

pooch90 wrote: »

If you are allocating an hour for speeches before the meal, I'd be prepared for some restless, hungry and pissed off guests tbh....

There will be canap sat 4 and dinner at 6.30 (under this time plan), if I moved the speeches back and pushed dinner up to 5.30 I think that would be too early no?

GingerLily · 23-08-2016 11:40AM

Meant to add, I expect the speeches to be more in the 45 minute mark!

GingerLily · 23-08-2016 12:02PM

I'm trying to estimate how long the day should take roughly from ceremony to first dance, the order of when the speeches are doesn't really matter so long as there's enough time, so it's better to overestimate the speeches!

pooch90 · 23-08-2016 12:06PM

It all depends on how your wedding is working, you say you have no hotel-is it a marquee somewhere? Is it outside caterers, are there meal options that need to be taken from guests etc? Do your guests have far to travel? Can they get something substantial to eat nearby etc?

A lot of questions but all relevant.

IE if you have guests travelling over an hour, they may not have had breakfast or lunch (I know we rarely get a chance to eat before heading to a wedding-dropping off kids etc) by the time the ceremony is over we are starving. canapes wouldn't ease real hunger and then you get called for the meal-hurray we are getting fed. Oh the speeches are first-an hour later and you're hangry. Then you've got the people who haven't eaten but have been laying into the bar since end of ceremony.

An idea I liked was to slot speeches in during the meal-most hotels won't allow it but if you have caterers they may be more open to it.

An earlier dinner would never be a bad thing IMO, it gives the food a chance to settle before the band kicks off. I know the idea of having the speeches first is for the nerves of the speakers but you'll have X amount of guests to consider too. The speakers will be nervous in the lead up to it regardless.

If your main concern is the photographer-2 to 10pm should cover most of it. Do you not plan on having any photos of the prep in the morning though? Could you add extra hours to alleviate stress?

GingerLily · 23-08-2016 12:19PM

Yes its a marquee wedding. I'm not too bothered about where the speeches slot in right now, so I'd prefer not to lectures on speeches before dinner, lol!!
Oh and everyone should be down the night before the wedding and within a 10 minute drive, but I'll find out of anyone's coming straight to the venue and have a few sandwiches and refreshments ready for them.

The photographer will be there for an hour before the ceremony, I don't want too many getting ready photos, from what I've seen on wedding blogs they seem to take up half of the pictures taken for some weddings, which seems a bit much

fima · 23-08-2016 10:12PM

Went and viewed a venue today, I really like it, its close to home and they are available on the date we want (10 months from now) .... only issue is if I book it then I will actually have to start wedding planning and the thought of it gives me anxiety. Also, I want a small intimate ceremony and party after, OH wants the full day.

I never planned on getting married, never felt it was something I wanted/needed and now suddenly I'm looking at 170 guests

stinkle · 23-08-2016 11:49PM

Could you do a small ceremony in advance, just the two of you,, with witnesses? And either party alone or short non-legally binding ceremony plus party on the "big" day?

Out of 170 many won't be able to make it either, especially if you have lots abroad. We had 150 invited, only had space for 120 max (nail biting time!) and it was just over 100 on the day itself.

pooch90 · 26-08-2016 09:40AM

We were the same, invited 150, got 100 exactly. Was a lovely number without all the random relations etc.

Faith · 26-08-2016 05:57PM

It's nice to see that others had a significant decline rate! We invited ~160 and about 115 came. A lot of it was people coming alone, without a +1 - either because they were single, or their partner had a prior engagement. It was also in August, so a busy wedding weekend!

pooch90 · 26-08-2016 06:51PM

We were August bank holiday Faith so very busy time and, like you, lots of people flying solo because OH was minding the kids.

fima · 27-08-2016 01:09PM

stinkle wrote: »

Could you do a small ceremony in advance, just the two of you,, with witnesses? And either party alone or short non-legally binding ceremony plus party on the "big" day?

Out of 170 many won't be able to make it either, especially if you have lots abroad. We had 150 invited, only had space for 120 max (nail biting time!) and it was just over 100 on the day itself.

It's been narrowed down to 150 now although we still have 2 lists. The first has 37 people on it, the second 150. I want the first one and he wants the second.

I'm quite shy and would feel very anxious all day being the host to that many people. We need to decide by next week as we are booking the venue .... are there any other shy/nervous brides or grooms out there? How did ye cope on the day and with all the organising and stress beforehand?

27-08-2016 01:37PM

fima wrote: »

It's been narrowed down to 150 now although we still have 2 lists. The first has 37 people on it, the second 150. I want the first one and he wants the second.

I'm quite shy and would feel very anxious all day being the host to that many people. We need to decide by next week as we are booking the venue .... are there any other shy/nervous brides or grooms out there? How did ye cope on the day and with all the organising and stress beforehand?

I coped by having only 9 at the wedding - including the priest! Himself, myself, both sets of parents and a mutual friend and her partner, who stood with us as our witnesses.

Milly33 · 27-08-2016 07:58PM

All with you Fima!! It is very hard to meet in the middle but keep trying.. I would have been kinda similair to you, I would say i am shy but I hate all the attention on me and the fuss...We had 110 at ours and that was loads.... Maybe ye could meet in the middle

GingerLily · 05-09-2016 10:21AM

Did anyone do their own makeup for their wedding? I'm considering it!

Addle · 05-09-2016 10:21AM

GingerLily wrote: »

Did anyone do their own makeup for their wedding? I'm considering it!

Kate Middleton apparently did!

GingerLily · 05-09-2016 10:26AM

Anyone less regal? Lol

Milly33 · 05-09-2016 11:07AM

I did... As I just did not feel right after having it done with the Make Up lady... Had the airbrush makeup done and while it was this nicest out of them you see the pours little planets in your face.. The other i thought i just looked dirty..

The plan was to have a few rehersls days before the wedding of doing the makeup.. While my sis managed to do this and twas great by the time the week of the wedding came around i just didnt have time..Still went and done it myself but a little more practice would have done the job..Mind I didnt look dirty (maybe a little sick but I was).. I treated myself to some nice products and it was great.

Toots · 05-09-2016 11:07AM

I did my own and so did my bridesmaids. I'd had my makeup done by makeup artists before and every time I ended up with something I wasn't 100% happy with. I was more relaxed on the day doing it myself and it lasted until I went to bed.

GingerLily · 05-09-2016 12:04PM

I'll only want very glowy makeup, which I can do myself I think, and I've seen a lot of bridal makeup that's too heavy for my wedding. I'll also be out in thr stix so it'll be hard to find someone, hmmmm. I think I might try and look, but ultimately I know if I practice I can probably nail down one makeup look.

I might do the Brown Thomas makeover
/voucher thing for my 30th anyway so could try and get them to do something similar to what I'll want then!

mcgiggles · 06-09-2016 09:25AM

GingerLily wrote: »

I'll only want very glowy makeup, which I can do myself I think, and I've seen a lot of bridal makeup that's too heavy for my wedding. I'll also be out in thr stix so it'll be hard to find someone, hmmmm. I think I might try and look, but ultimately I know if I practice I can probably nail down one makeup look.

I might do the Brown Thomas makeover
/voucher thing for my 30th anyway so could try and get them to do something similar to what I'll want then!

Youtube is my saviour! Find a look you like on youtube and practice

you know your own face best! you know what makeup suits you!

GingerLily · 06-09-2016 11:47AM

I'm more worried about the kind of makeup I'll need for flash photographery etc. I've started a thread on the beauty forum for advice on products!

I'll probably look up Audrey Hepburn style tutorials on YouTube later!!

Toots · 06-09-2016 11:50AM

Get a foundation that doesn't have SPF in it, SPF will reflect the flash in the photography. I used a bobbi brown one AFAIR.

GingerLily · 06-09-2016 11:52AM

I do that and there's still issues, maybe it's my powder, Mac MSFN?

mcgiggles · 06-09-2016 11:52AM

Toots wrote: »

Get a foundation that doesn't have SPF in it, SPF will reflect the flash in the photography. I used a bobbi brown one AFAIR.

Was gona say the same! My friend is a makeup artist (so I'm sorted for the wedding lol) and she told me that before, be careful with the powder you use aswell as some of them have spf aswell which reflects the flash!

autumnbelle · 07-09-2016 12:48PM

Advice needed please! Getting married next September. We are having a bbq the next day- the venue has offered us their gardens or the pub beside the hotel that they also own. The bbq will be on the sunday so I am thinking of having it about 3? Which venue would you opt for- the gardens are beautiful but at the back of a large function room. Id say about 50 will be at it. The bar I dont really know what it is like ( I guess I need to go into it on a Sunday!) but the co ordinator said if it rains the bar can still have the bbq as they have a cover. Im pushing more towards having it in the hotels gardens as it would be probably nicer if the weather is good.
Also has anyone any templates for wording of invites for if you are doing an event like that the next day?

Milly33 · 09-09-2016 11:21AM

I would go with the bar, you can still walk into the gardens is the day is nice

General Chat Thread (PLEASE READ POST #1)

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