I haven't really spoken much about our wedding plans on here yet, mostly because there were no plans until I got a job and we could figure out boring things like budgets. But the past few weeks have seen us racing full steam ahead with wedding ideas, lists and plans.
For one thing, we finally set the date - November 20th 2010. Yup that's right, only a few months away and that time, I'm sure, will go very quickly...
We do not want a big wedding - we're not really the 'big wedding' kind of people and our modest (read:teeny tiny) budget doesn't allow for it either. Our initial plan was to have the wedding in Sydney, however, that plan went straight out the window when we started researching venues - everything is so expensive! We wanted a lovely historic place to hold the ceremony and reception, but even the places without any historic relevance were expensive and wanted a minimum 75 guests (ours will only be around 40).
We were starting to feel a bit low about the whole wedding thing and our piddly little budget when David mentioned he had emailed a beautiful historic venue in Dunedin. When they got back to us with pricing, we decided that going back to New Zealand was what we were going to do.
We spread our venue search as far north as Christchurch, looking at vineyards and other lovely venues. David even found the CUTEST little berry farm just outside of Christchurch that we very seriously thought about using (I squealed when David showed me the website). However, we decided that staying in Dunedin was easiest for us in terms of having family there. We've chosen a historical garden and homestead just around the corner from where we lived last year - it's also well and truly within budget, which I still can't believe!!
So now the work begins - its going to be very much a DIY wedding which I'm really looking forward too. David is designing the invites, I'll be doing the flower arrangements and am going to have a go at making my own bird cage veil and we'll both be making the wedding cake.
Oh, and I've already got the most important thing - my dress, of which you are seeing small snippets of throughout this post. Its a beautiful full skirted 50's gown that I found at my local vintage store. I initially put it back and decided that I wasn't going to buy a dress until I had a job. But I kept thinking about my beautiful dress and a few weeks later went back, tried it on and bought it.
The bow, I'm sure, is not original and looks a bit tatty so I'm going to replace it. I also need to fix a tiny seam where the zip is coming away, and do a small amount of hand sewing to fix a little hole in the lace by the zipper. Otherwise, it's in amazing condition, with attached tulle petticoat and all!
XX
Jen
27 comments:
Oh Jen, that seems like the perfect wedding for you - and I'm so glad you indulged my wish to live vicariously through your wedding planning. I can't wait to see you look absolutely divine in your vintage wedding dress!
Green Wedding Shoes.... :) (don't think it's blogger anymore but should be easy to find) I fell in love with this blog & I'm already married, lol! So many ideas. Though it sounds like you've already got it under control. Enjoy your planning. Looking forward to seeing more related posts. :) LOoooooVE your dress by the way. :)
Oh, congratulations on picking a date! I'm sure you will have the prettiest little wedding. If you're going to make a birdcage veil, I have a pattern (from the early 60s) for 4 different ones I can photocopy and mail to you.
Oh fun! That is so exciting!!! You are going to have so much fun. The DIY way is really grand. My husband and I did this as well.
You're getting married two days before I celebrate my 2nd anniversary! ;) hehe! I adore your dress--it reminds me so much of the one I originally bought to wear (but it ended up dry rotting by the time I got engaged). SO pretty!
I hear you about feeling a bit low in regards to wedding planning and budgets! I had to really scrape and DIY mine to death in order to come in at a number I felt was acceptable for a wedding, plus keep it small (which was tough, as we both have large extended families). I think we had between 60 and 75 people (including the bride and groom ;), which was tiny by most standards. I think the ones that you pour your heart, soul and talents into are always the most beautiful, in my opinion. They're far more personal and meaningful than conventional, out-of-the-box type weddings! :) I can't wait to read/see what you come up with--it's going to be fantastic! :)
♥ Casey
blog | elegantmusings.com
Jen that dress is sooo pretty. I just got my wedding dress the other day and my hubby and I have also been steaming ahead with wedding plans this week. Our wedding will be a teeny affair with just the two of us so we're planning to head of to Fiji to get married in paradise! x
I can't wait to hear more about your wedding plans! It sounds absolutely beautiful and your dress is gorgeous.
Such a lovely dress!
That dress looks gorgeous. And I'm with casey, the kind of diy wedding where your loved ones all pitch in and your forced to really consider what's important to you as a couple is far more personal and beautiful than any fancy wedding with all the trimmings could ever be. (plus frankly, even if you had the kind of money to spend on one of those weddings, wouldn't you rather invest it in your future marriage than just one dat, however important?)
That dress is lovely, Jen...wow. I have a beautiful 70s lace dress I found at an estate sale a while back that I am saving for my wedding to alter into something fun.
Also, I have to tell you, all I can think about whenever I hear Dunedin is Eowyn from Lord of the Rings gasping that Aragaron was one of the Dunedin. He's on my list of most gallant men ever. And that makes me smile.
I am making wedding cakes for a friend for this July 3rd, and the best trick that I've learned is try everything once beforehand, and that baking all the cakes the weekend before and freezing them (triple wrapped in plastic wrap, then once in foil, as per Martha Stewart)---that's really the way to go. Then, the day of, pass off the task to one of your friends or family (that already has made these cakes with you, or that you trust) and just don't worry about it. It's a fairly good system.
Your dress looks beautiful from the peek of it you've given! Your wedding plans sound fantastic--simple, quiet, heartfelt... that's how weddings should be!
How exciting! The dress looks lovely, and I can't wait to see more of it and you in it!
Congratulations on setting a date! The dress looks beautiful! I can't wait to see the whole thing! I was married May 15 (yes this year! And seeing as how I gave birth to our son in November left me little to no time to plan. Not to mention dress hunting. I went with traditional from David's Bridal & had to be resized for EVERY fitting. :( No fun! But we DIY-ed everything, excluding the cake. But it looks beautiful! Can't wait to hear more details!
Oh my,that dress is gorgeous! Your wedding sounds perfect...way more fun to create most things yourself!
Oh wow, it sounds like it will be lovely, weddings can be such a financial strain but it sounds like you're getting everything you want within your budget.
The dress looks lovely too :)
Aww, that dress looks beautiful, and your wedding sounds like it's going to be just lovely. :)
DIY weddings are the most fun! Ask friends and family to pitch in. Mine loved that. With loved ones helping we had hair, photography, and all the food for free. Potlucking is the way to go.
The dress is gorgeous! I can't wait to see it on you!
Sounds like its gonna be such a cute wedding! That dress looks gorgeous :) Its great that your coming back to NZ for the wedding too I think it would be more special that way :)
Goodness gracious! The dress!! the dress!!! beautiful!! It is understandable if you don't talk much about the wedding, but it is also fascinating too!
Thanks so much for visiting my blog. Congratulations on your forthcoming wedding - hope the planning all goes well.
such a lovely dress!
I can't wait to see your wedding pictures!
best wishes.
xx
Ooooh I want to see more of that dress! It looks darling and so you!
Your dress looks really beautiful! I love all lace dresses. I think you'll have the loveliest wedding, your plans sound great. :-)
What you described is exactly what I would want as well - small, intimate, and unique. I wish you all the best!! Remember to enjoy the process :)
Oh, hooray! You're going to be an absolute dream in that little confection!
The snippets looks gorgeous!
Your dress looks amazing!
Good lucjk with everything!
Sal xXx
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