Champagne and crumpets, my November wedding blog *We did it! Photos included*

[emyandpotato]

I don't really need to do this because I already have a wedding board on Pinterest to obsess over, but quite frankly I love any excuse to obsess over wedding details right now!

My wedding is on the 6th November 2013. We actually got married at a registry office on the 17th October of this year. It was a very casual ceremony with only two witnesses, and we all wore casual clothes and then went to Nandos afterwards (keeping it classy). Our wedding in November will be our real celebration. The wedding itself will be relatively cheaply done compared to the average wedding, but I am hoping that it will be unique and personal and spectacular. Both me and OH are designers at heart, and when we met at university two years ago we were both studying design courses. I quit my course in favour of a teaching degree as I was pregnant unexpectedly and wanted a career with more security than I would have with a job in the fashion and art world. My OH carried on and is now a graphic designer, and as he gets to design full time I have completely taken over the wedding planning and it is designed and hand made to within an inch of it's life

We have no real theme or colour scheme, only things that we love. Hopefully, there will be a lot of quirk, but it will still be classy and beautiful.

This is our venue: www.northcadburycourt.com

I chose it because it is self catering, which saves us so much money and allows the creativity with food and drink that I wanted. We are also getting it incredibly cheaply (for less than £3k) because we have chosen a midweek winter wedding. The venue has 21 rooms, which are all breathtaking, and we are charging guests £100 for a double room for two nights, and four meals, bringing the cost down to about £1k for the venue alone, leaving food, furniture hire, and little extras.

My dress is Kristene by Claire Pettibone (https://babyandbump.momtastic.com/b...e-pettibone-kristene-update-got-my-dress.html) which I bought second hand for a fraction of the price.

As we are already married, we are asking BIL to be the registrar at the ceremony, as of course it doesn't need to be legal. This will be very casual and personal to us. My little sister, who trained as a singer, is going to sing in Italian before and after the ceremony.

We are not having a wedding car as see no need. We are also not having a DJ or band as we can't afford it. Instead we are putting out our own vinyl player and collection of records, and inviting guests to chose their own music and keep the party going themselves. We also cannot afford a professional photographer, but I am hoping to get in touch with the local university and ask if any photography students are interested in return for a small fee and reference. If not we will rely on friends and family!

 

[Lauren25]

I have been waiting for you to do one of these!
Your venue is beautiful! I love it!
Can't wait to hear everything else

 

[emyandpotato]

Thanks lovely!

A few details I have planned:

- There is a large open fireplace in the ballroom. I am going to put little vintage ottomans and rugs around it, and have trays of crumpets and marshmallows, along with vintage toasting forks for people to toast their own snacks.
- I am getting a victorian dark metal bath tub and placing it in front of one of the huge georgian windows in the ballroom and filling it with ice and bottles of white wine. There isn't a fridge large enough and no bar so I had to be a bit creative here. We will also have smaller coolers dotted around the reception with single glasses of wine, as well as beer and cider.
- For our seating plan, I have bought a very large rusty metal tray and am painting it like a chess board (except with more squares) and placing chess pieces on the board in the same order as they sit in the room itself (we are having two long tables). The chess pieces are all vintage and mismatched as I sourced them second hand, and I have used a saw to cut a slit in the top to hold a place card.
- We are not having bridesmaids or ushers as I don't like the idea for some reason?! Don't know why. Everyone we have invited is special to us, as we are having only 40 guests. We are trying to involve everyone as much as possible in the day to make it personal to us.

I will post a bit more later, tea time!

ETA: A link to my wedding pinterest, with EVERYTHING on it https://pinterest.com/ketchupsandwich/w-e-d/

 

[CatStorey]

Amazing!! I can't wait to read more!!

Your ideas are fantastic. And your venue.......amazing!

I had a similar idea about photographers. I wasn't going to have one at all and just have my family take pictures.
Then I decided I did want someone and as we have the Winchester School of Art here we have plenty of budding artists and photographers. I thought I could see if anyone was willing to do it for us to use as part of their course/portfolio for the future.

Then I realised all the students would still be away on Xmas leave and maybe no one would turn up on the day. I was really panicking about it!
So I have found a fantastic local girl who is a graduate from the Art School. She is a budding photographer and has done a couple of weddings but mostly works with babies and children (a good selling point for me!). So have gone with her for a very reduced fee.

 

[aly888]

So glad you have started a journal I love your ideas. Your day sounds like its going to be so relaxed and fun!! I'm following you on pinterest now too

 

[emyandpotato]

Okay so you guys have seen my dress, this is the rest of my outfit!

These are my shoes. Actually not vintage (sob) but they look it, and are much nicer IRL. I have added these shoe clips from the 1930's to them to make them more personal and add a vintage touch.

https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/JK492__04514_zoom.jpeg

https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/il_fullxfull365802995_j1km.jpeg

My accessories are all mismatched but still 'go' when they are all together with my dress. I like it this way, I feel like it adds some quirkiness to the dress and shows my personality. Plus it will be a late afternoon and evening wedding in November mostly lit by candle light so I think the antiqued jewellery will work really well.

This is my necklace. It was handmade and is actually two eucalyptus pods dipped in gold, I love that! Anyway I have lengthened the chain so it sits about an inch lower than on the photograph, which goes really well with the shape of my dress.

https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/il_fullxfull332597122.jpeg

My earrings and bracelet are both vintage. They are absolutely tiny IRL, not nearly as chunky as in the photos.

https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/il_fullxfull371453263_hy0p.jpeg

https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/il_fullxfull380255648_sd61.jpeg

My hair is quite difficult to explain, I am having a bit of a mix between both of these styles. Sorry, I know that's hard to picture! I love the wispiness of the second style, it is very me, but obviously I want to keep it elegant for my wedding day.

https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/back-to-back.jpeg

https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/explore-stories-the-latest-before-i-do-hair-makeup-before-i-do-how-to.jpeg

I am also having one of these two sets of hair accessories. I can't decide!

https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/il_fullxfull383223525_hoql.jpeg

https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/il_fullxfull268209061.jpeg

I am also considering having a few sprigs of dried lavender or some other dried flower in my hair, not 100% sure though.

Also having my wellingtons on standby incase I want to go out in to the grounds (it is November!) and am either going to bring a warm shawl or thick knitted cardigan for the evening when everything is more casual. I am not one for fur stoles or posh shrugs. Oh and these are my wedding socks, because it is not comfortable sitting by the fire toasting marshmallows in heels Winter socks is actually insisted upon in our dress code...

https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/CASHMEREFAIRISLESOCK.jpeg

So that's it for how I'll be dressed. I know it is definitely not everyone's style but it is so very me and I think it suits the style of our day.

 

[aly888]

I love it!! Where are the shoe clips from? I'm looking for some similar o yours or my wedding day
Your jewellry is all gorgeous too. I think I could quite happily clone your day and just put me and my OH and our guests in it and be very happy

 

[emyandpotato]

Thank you! They are from Etsy, all of my jewellery and hair accessories are actually xD It's brilliant for cheap vintage finds.

Haha you say that but I am planning for it to be quite weird and wonderful. I know it isn't everyone's thing as I have read a billion wedding magazines and not seem anything similar in any of them. Worries me a bit that it will be a disaster but hopefully it works and everyone loves it!

 

[CatStorey]

Everything is stunning! Just running out the door so will write more later.

But just wanted to say........I need those shoes my life.........they are gorgeous!!

 

[emyandpotato]

Sorry I know I am spamming the board here but it's fun to actually be able to tell people my wedding plans!

Favours:

We have our venue from Tuesday lunch time til Thursday evening and most guests are staying over. Our wedding will be the Wednesday afternoon. We have invited guests for tea and pizza on the Tuesday night, a very casual thing, with everyone likely tired from travelling and so we will all just be sat in the living room sharing some pizza and drinking warm drinks. In the rooms of the guests staying, and handed out on arrival to the guests not staying (these guests are still invited for pizza and tea the evening before the wedding), I have put a wedding box. It will basically be like this, but I am going to attach a fork to each box on the exterior. Inside the box will be a slice of cake, some biscuits (because they will be tired and hungry from travelling), a handwritten note to each of our 50 guests saying what they mean to us and thanking them for coming, information about the venue and area, and timetable of the wedding day. Oh and the confetti! I think I am going to do the dried lavender idea and just put a sprig in each box with a note about it being to throw at the end of the ceremony. It will be presented like this:
https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/ScreenShot2012-11-17at173443.png

The box will be based on this:
https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/34947721477.jpeg

Children will have a similar box, except without a fork (there will be a cupcake instead of cake), and with an animal like this, complete with moving body parts, on the lid of the box.

https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/imgres.jpeg

Inside the children's box there will be a flag to wave during the ceremony, a small pot of 'magic dust' (glitter), a cupcake, bubbles, and a special invitation to the playroom (yes there is a play room ). There will also be a helium balloon attached to each box with a velvet ribbon. We are only having about four children attending, all around 2 years old.

For our place settings (which we debated not doing, but I want guests to meet new people and I think a table plan makes this work) we are using shells with the names painted inside like this:

https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/backyard-maine-wedding-from-cuppa-photography.jpeg

We are inviting guests to keep these as a momento so they act as a favour, but as the real favours we are giving each guest something individual to wear (paper hat, bowler hat, headdress, mask...). Each will be unique and classy, not comical. Some examples:

https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/16054831612.jpeg
https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/13918718405-1.jpeg
https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/20334655939.jpeg

They will either be placed on the plate or on the back of chairs, depending on how they look better.

 

[CatStorey]

Omg...............everything about your wedding is just amazing!

I love that you have your venue for a few days and its all yours. I'm picturing in my head everyone all relaxed, snuggly in their big socks......chatting....laughing.....getting to know one another. Its going to be such a magical few days!

Its kind of what I was trying to achieve. I really wanted everyone to stay in the same venue as the wedding meal but just couldn't afford it. So having the house is the next best thing.

All your ideas are lovely and so different. I have a feeling people will be talking about your wedding for a long long time

 

[emyandpotato]

Thank you lovely We couldn't have afforded it usually, it was amazing luck to find the venue that we did and that they are so willing to compromise on price. I just can't believe it most of the time!

Yet another update (feel free to roll your eyes!):

https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/17381148533526857_CXhrOVoz.jpeg

Photo above is by Tim Walker, who's work I absolutely covet. Anyway, taking inspiration from this photograph I am going to set up a miniature cinema in my venue. There is a room used for conferences that is plain white but is panelled similarly to the room in the photo. It has two large georgian windows and a fireplace but otherwise is completely plain. I am going to take one of the boats used in the ceremony room, fill it with cushions, put cushions and rugs on the floor, add a few vintage sofas (luckily my venue already has these!) and rent a projector and use it to play my favourite quirky films, projected on to the wall, throughout the night xD The only light in the room, apart from the film screen, will be from the fireplace. I am also going to put out some biscuits, a bowl of seasonal berries, and a bowl of walnuts and a nutcracker, for sophisticated snacking. The 'cinema' will be open from about twenty minutes after the buffet begins, and people will be free to just wander in and out as they please.

These arrived today too! I am a child at heart and adore balloons. I think these are amazing, especially the trim. They are a whole metre wide! I have four in all, not sure where I will put them exactly but they'll look cool anywhere I'm sure. https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/17381148532402717_WgHQL75W.jpeg

 

[emyandpotato]

Rory's outfit for the wedding:

He's having mismatched heritage tweed clothes, a blue shirt, quirky tie, and a handkerchief in his top pocket. Hopefully a quirky scarf too if I can persuade him. He will be two when we have our wedding.

OH is wearing something very similar, except that he won't wear a scarf and wants an owl feather in pocket rather than a handkerchief. None of the men are wearing buttonholes, I plain don't like them.

https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/-1.jpeg
https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/ScreenShot2012-11-18at154205.png
https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/7040103113_1_1_3.jpeg
https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/5644760730_1_1_3.jpeg
https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/5644762706_1_1_3.jpeg
https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/7545766406_1_1_3.jpeg

All of Rory's clothes, except the trousers, are by Zara, and everything is stuff that he can wear again.

 

[KittieB]

Wow your wedding is going to be gorgeous! I love the theme and everything!

 

[emyandpotato]

Thank you

Another little titbit:

This is our guest book https://www.etsy.com/transaction/100196309

Okay not conventional I know, but the idea is that every guest circles the word that they think best describes the wedding and signs their name. Simple and original Plus I adore writing and am a book addict so it's a bit of a gesture towards that.

We are also having a section with low stools/cushions/low tables with a shisha pipe on it (flavoured smoke, it's totally legal). I bought a vintage shisha thingy on Etsy and I'm planning to make a replica to this box and use it to put the different flavours in for people to help themselves. Complete with instructions on the lid for those unsure. Will likely also use this design to put jams/sauces in on the tables as I just adore it.

https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/bd0459cc-8958-45c4-b120-330bd8a8856a.jpeg

https://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/tomcantgetitup/il_fullxfull375452235_98g3.jpeg

 

[aly888]

LOVE your guest book!!!!! Ah mah gawd, I would literally be willing to pay you to plan my wedding. It's gonna be amazing and what a great idea with the shisha. Too many of my family would be against it (they disapprove of smoking in general) for us to have anything like that at our wedding though

 

[CatStorey]

Awk.......I love the outfits! Rory is going to look fab. So cute!

I tried to persuade my oh to wear a tweed suit but he was having non of it

Your guest book idea and shisha are brilliant. I second the above poster - I would so pay you plan my day. Ever thought about a career change into wedding planning.....lol........

 

[Lauren25]

All of your Ideas are out of this world, the are all amazing and all go together so well!
You should deffo be a wedding planner, you'd be fab at it!

 

[emyandpotato]

Thank you so much! Haha I'd love to be a wedding planner but it's apparently no fun in the slightest. Will just have to stick with teaching and stock up on ideas for when Rory gets married. I am gonna be the most annoying future MIL ever

 

[emyandpotato]

Just found this on Pinterest and I love it! Really want to do it now but can't figure out how. Anyone know how to do a confetti drop at a wedding? Our venue has really high ceilings which may cause issues.

https://pinterest.com/pin/17381148533563322/