We're getting married!

I thought I'd start the New Year off with some fun, happy news. Even though the title pretty much gives it away, Ben and I are (finally) getting married this year! We've been together for eight years now and have been engaged for four so marriage has always been on the cards but for us there was never any rush, but now the time just feels right and it was definitely a mutual decision, I didn't have to threaten him in any way (for once.) I'll tell you how we came to the decision, before our trip to New York Ben had mentioned that he'd like to get married there just the two of us. This was the plan for about two weeks and I would have been so happy with that choice for both Ben and myself but the truth is a lot of people think a lot of us who would be so happy for us but also so sad not to be a part of our day my Mum and Nan at the top of that list. So he gave me the go ahead for a traditional wedding and we got to planning! 

Thankfully, I'm an only child (Mum's only child) which is has worked in my favour always, especially come birthdays and Christmas and just for general daughter-appreciation which I can never get enough of. Although it's not so great when it comes to things like weddings. I don't feel pressured in the slightest (maybe a little bit) because there's been nobody before me to set the bar for me. I'm my own setter of standards and I'm not going to lie, I'm a mess! Like some kind of foolish rebel, that's most definitely the best way to describe it. It just means that I've been the only one my Mum saw graduate and I'm the only child she'll see walk down the isle so not only am I planning this wedding, I'm really wanting to make it as special for her and my Nanny as it is for me and Ben.

I've had to attend wedding shows, sit in and watch girlie wedding films, you know the whole shebang. Not that I mind, it's lovely seeing my Mum happy. I'm just not one of those screechy, let's shout 'Oh my god I'm getting married' every three seconds kind of brides-to-be. I'm more of a Lord Voldermort kind of wedding girl. You know, the kind that acts all cool, wears black everywhere, doesn't break into a sweat at the sight of a ruffle but will shout 'Avada Kedavra' in your face with absolute intent to kill if you dare attempt to purchase the last discount Swarovski tiara I've been hovering around right in front of my eyes.You know, the psycho-kind. You've never in your life seen anything like it. I'm actually so thankful right now that I am not etching this blog post into a cell wall. I'm all kinds of crazy but absolutely over-the-moon. I find I'm having to admit this more often than I'd like as people ask me, their eyes filled with excitement 'Is this what you've been dreaming of all you life?' Or other silly, cliche statements like, 'This is every little girls dream!' I kind of want to say,  firstly I've never been little even as a 6 year old child, I was quite the size of a fully grown adult and secondly what is this? The 1950's?! No friend (I say friend because they aren't my friend it's a woman who's all up in my personal space in the Magazine isle in WH Smith, while I browse through wedding magazines on my lunch break), it wasn't my dream! Honestly, when I was a little girl I dreamt about being older so I could eat all of the chips and donuts one could possibly manage (which explains why I'm struggling to fit into the style of dress I want.) I dreamt of having a fabulous job, with a German Shepherd and at least three boyfriends. I actually blame 90's TV for the last one. I couldn't choose between AC Slater (Saved by the Bell), Dean Cain (Superman) and Richard Gere. I know I sound so miserable, I'm not. I'm so happy but you all must understand this is something I've only wanted since getting with Ben. He's changed me. I'm a changed woman! I guess I didn't think there was anybody crazy enough to want to be with a three-timing, former baby prostitute (thanks Pretty Woman!)

So yeah, I've been indulging in all of the fancy, girliness that comes with wedding planning. It was lovely attending the National Wedding show with my Mum. We had the best time! It was really nice to see her so involved and I feel like she's happy she's done her job right but she's mostly happy because now this brown, bundle of insanity is somebody else's problem! 

I highly recommend attending wedding shows, I mean you don't have to do a gazillion but one or two definitely. For the experience, the fun of it all and just to get an idea of what there is to offer. I had absolutely everything planned and since making the choice, I knew what style dress I wanted, how my venue would look, where the venue would be everything. But the minute I stepped into that wedding show I realised that maybe some ideas wouldn't work as I'd hoped and just that there are more options out there. It's good because unlike trawling the net you can see everything in front of you, there are people there to talk to directly and although it gets a little busy there's all kinds of things to look at,  feel and try on. I definitely recommend front row seats at the catwalk show too! Amazing! So make sure you check the timetable, grab yourself a glass of bubbly and get yourself seats on the front row.

What I did was took information pack from all of the exhibitors, even if I wasn't particularly interested in what they had to offer. I came home and sorted everything into categories and stuck them inside my folder, my very big, pink folder. I might be a wedding Nazi but I am still a girl darn it! This made it easy for me as whatever I wanted to look up I knew exactly where to go in my folder, making notes on each if I'd been in contact and got quotes or arranged to visit also eliminating the useless stuff as I went along. 

So where I'm at now, approximately two months after attending the wedding show and nine months before our big day. I have my dress, chosen, venues booked, bridesmaids sorted and flowers picked just to list a few. I'm a super-organised person so this behaviour is normal. In my experience so far I would say that if you're more of a laid-back person I wouldn't worry too much about not having everything done just yet. Just the main priorities like venues and such and make sure you ask whoever you want to be your Maid of honor, because if yours is anything like mine you won't really need to worry about a thing! What I plan on doing next is another trying on of dresses including the one I have chosen just to make sure. I'll be attending church every other Sunday (massively important for me and my family). Ben will be looking for anywhere he fancies for a honeymoon and I'll be attending my last Wedding Show next weekend just for a bit of fun with my bridesmaids. Killing-curse at the ready, just in case some over excited bride-to-be beats me to a bargain.

Are you getting married this year? Have you been to any wedding shows? Have any advice?

Until next time my pretties

Lots of love Beanie xoxo