This week has been hectic to say the least. I got back to Cardiff on monday after moving all my stuff to Simon's flat on Saturday and have been doing weddingy stuff for the last week!
I have never organised so much craft in my life!
Here we are, the day before my wedding day. It hasn't really hit me yet that it is tomorrow. My dress is downstairs, my bag is packed up, we are just about to leave for the rehearsal, everyone is on their way to Cardiff, and loads of people keep messaging me asking various questions! It's finally here. After all this planning, tomorrow I will be married to the best man in the world.. Wow!!!
I just wanted to sign off by saying a massive thankyou. Thanks to all my faithful readers of this blog. For the support over the last few months, and for journeying with me! It has been quite an adventure and an honour to be able to share it with you.
I hope you have all been able to get to know me better and to have a little insight into why Simon & are choosing to commit to each other tomorrow.
So here's to the end of our engagement, and the beginning of our marriage! Thanks you guys - it's been a blast!
Friday, 28 February 2014
Thursday, 13 February 2014
A Hen Party
This is LONG overdue, but I thought you might like to hear about my hen party that happened about 4 weeks ago.
I had the hen in Cardiff and the whole thing was organised by Mel my best friend. There was a group of around 9 of us who came along including two of my friends who live up north and travelled all this was especially to see me!!! We all met up at Cardiff Central and then we received our 'challenges'...
Mel split us up into teams and we had a list of challenges to complete - all of which were hilarious!!! We had great fun wondering round Cardiff asking strangers to carry me over thresholds, walk me down aisles, and give me wedding/marriage advice. We also had to find as many people called Simon as possible, as many called Richard as possible (my Dad's name), and something old, new, borrowed and blue amoungst other challenges.
After a long afternoon of challenges, we went to Bella Italia for food and wine and to count up the scores. Also, I didn't know but each team had another challenge which was to get me as many free gifts as possible! So I had LOADS of makeup and purfume samples as a little prize! After dinner, some of the girls came back to my house and we had a sleepover. It was just so much fun, and great to see friends. The next time I see most of them will be at the wedding which is crazy! Not long now!
Here is all of us at the station
Challenge - Find a man called 'Simon' and get him to assume the position of the Groom in the wedding Ceremony..
Challenge - Find a man to carry Joanna over a threshold of your choosing
Challenge - Something 'borrowed'
Challenge - Something 'old'
Me and two of my lovely bridesmaids :)
I had the hen in Cardiff and the whole thing was organised by Mel my best friend. There was a group of around 9 of us who came along including two of my friends who live up north and travelled all this was especially to see me!!! We all met up at Cardiff Central and then we received our 'challenges'...
Mel split us up into teams and we had a list of challenges to complete - all of which were hilarious!!! We had great fun wondering round Cardiff asking strangers to carry me over thresholds, walk me down aisles, and give me wedding/marriage advice. We also had to find as many people called Simon as possible, as many called Richard as possible (my Dad's name), and something old, new, borrowed and blue amoungst other challenges.
After a long afternoon of challenges, we went to Bella Italia for food and wine and to count up the scores. Also, I didn't know but each team had another challenge which was to get me as many free gifts as possible! So I had LOADS of makeup and purfume samples as a little prize! After dinner, some of the girls came back to my house and we had a sleepover. It was just so much fun, and great to see friends. The next time I see most of them will be at the wedding which is crazy! Not long now!
Here is all of us at the station
Challenge - Find a man called 'Simon' and get him to assume the position of the Groom in the wedding Ceremony..
Challenge - Find a man to carry Joanna over a threshold of your choosing
Challenge - Something 'borrowed'
Challenge - Something 'old'
Me and two of my lovely bridesmaids :)
Saturday, 4 January 2014
8 weeks to go...
Hello my faithful readers! You may have noticed that I haven't got round to posting anything for a while... this is because I have been too busy planning a wedding to post about planning a wedding. However, after the mad rush of christmas and new year, we have finally arrived in 2014 and this time in 8 weeks time I will be tucking into a hog roast with my new husband!
So, here is a quick update - Simon remains busy with work and I start my new job on monday. We have both been so busy the last few months!
A good few weeks ago we decided to make our own invitations. I like arty things and thought it would be easy and fun to do... and yes the first few were quite fun! We had an entire evening printing, dismantaling the printer, rebuilding it, running to the shops for extra supplies, sticking, folding and by the end of it we had only completed 20 invitations! Just last week we finished all the invitations and I have decided that I no longer like 'fun arts and crafts.' The invites look awesome though!
We also got Simon's suit fitted. He has chosen a really great suit and is going to look super handsome and smart! I got to try on my beautiful dress. This was very very exciting! I had almost forgotten what it had looked like, as I ordered it months and months ago. I went to the shop with my mum to try it on, and it looked just wonderful! So excited to wear it on the day!
Finally, today I had my makeup trial. One of my oldest friends, Brian, his mum is a makeup artist at Estee Lauder and set me up with one of her colleagues to get my makeup done. It was so nice and relaxing to have someone spoil me, and the makeup looked great too! I don't want to ever wash it off!
Neither me or Simon can quite believe how fast time has started to go. 8 weeks really isn't long to go and we have lots left to do, but our parents are willing to help out with jobs that need to be done, so here's hoping it will all come together! Here's to 2014 and all the new adventures to be had!
So, here is a quick update - Simon remains busy with work and I start my new job on monday. We have both been so busy the last few months!
A good few weeks ago we decided to make our own invitations. I like arty things and thought it would be easy and fun to do... and yes the first few were quite fun! We had an entire evening printing, dismantaling the printer, rebuilding it, running to the shops for extra supplies, sticking, folding and by the end of it we had only completed 20 invitations! Just last week we finished all the invitations and I have decided that I no longer like 'fun arts and crafts.' The invites look awesome though!
We also got Simon's suit fitted. He has chosen a really great suit and is going to look super handsome and smart! I got to try on my beautiful dress. This was very very exciting! I had almost forgotten what it had looked like, as I ordered it months and months ago. I went to the shop with my mum to try it on, and it looked just wonderful! So excited to wear it on the day!
Finally, today I had my makeup trial. One of my oldest friends, Brian, his mum is a makeup artist at Estee Lauder and set me up with one of her colleagues to get my makeup done. It was so nice and relaxing to have someone spoil me, and the makeup looked great too! I don't want to ever wash it off!
Neither me or Simon can quite believe how fast time has started to go. 8 weeks really isn't long to go and we have lots left to do, but our parents are willing to help out with jobs that need to be done, so here's hoping it will all come together! Here's to 2014 and all the new adventures to be had!
Tuesday, 5 November 2013
A weekend away
This weekend Simon and I went away! We went to a place called the Emmaus Centre (or Em-mouse if you are Simon) for a marriage preperation course called Engaged Encounter. It was really good!
We arrived with our friends Cathie and Aidan who are also getting married in March and sat down to a lovely dinner with the other 12 or so couples that were also at the weekend. The weekend was quite intense but it was just so lovely to get away from all the stresses of life and spend time and energy focussing on eachother and our future together. There were about 12 topics covered in the weekend, so it was pretty full on! The course was lead by three couples - not super couples who have everything right but just normal people - and covered a huge range of topics. At the end of each session we had some questions to answer. The men would go off to their rooms and the women would stay in the meeting room to write their own answers to the questions in a notebook and then we would meet up in our rooms in private to swap books and discuss our answers! It was fascinating seeing what eachother wrote! Some topics had us pushed for time as we had so much to chat about, whereas others we had plenty of time to spare.
On Saturday afternoon we had a walk together after lunch before the afternoon and evening sessions. The views from the centre were so lovely - fields of horses and rolling hills. Very scenic! On the saturday evening we had a time all together just chatting with drinks and snacks and comfy chairs which was nice, however I was super tired so I went to go to bed at around half 10. Simon came to say goodnight, but we ended up just chatting for about 2 hours about all sorts of stuff! It was really good fun, but I was definitely tired the next day!
What a view!
Simon getting to know to locals
On Sunday we had more sessions, and a big roast dinner for lunch. Afterwards there was a short service before we got packed up and headed home! Coming back, we felt like we had been away for weeks! On the weekend, Simon realised that our wedding is under 4 months away and we haven't really planned that much, so we did a bit of brainstorming on Sunday evening. Things are about to get busy! After Christmas it'll be planning central for us!
For anyone who is engaged I would definitely recommend this weekend! It was great to get away and chat about topics that are important but hadn't crossed our minds before! The main highlight for me was just chilling out with Simon to be honest. The amazing thing is, the weekend was free as the charity works by having your weekend paid for in advance by donations! So yes, if you are engaged, book it! You won't regret it.
http://www.engagedencounter.org.uk/
We arrived with our friends Cathie and Aidan who are also getting married in March and sat down to a lovely dinner with the other 12 or so couples that were also at the weekend. The weekend was quite intense but it was just so lovely to get away from all the stresses of life and spend time and energy focussing on eachother and our future together. There were about 12 topics covered in the weekend, so it was pretty full on! The course was lead by three couples - not super couples who have everything right but just normal people - and covered a huge range of topics. At the end of each session we had some questions to answer. The men would go off to their rooms and the women would stay in the meeting room to write their own answers to the questions in a notebook and then we would meet up in our rooms in private to swap books and discuss our answers! It was fascinating seeing what eachother wrote! Some topics had us pushed for time as we had so much to chat about, whereas others we had plenty of time to spare.
On Saturday afternoon we had a walk together after lunch before the afternoon and evening sessions. The views from the centre were so lovely - fields of horses and rolling hills. Very scenic! On the saturday evening we had a time all together just chatting with drinks and snacks and comfy chairs which was nice, however I was super tired so I went to go to bed at around half 10. Simon came to say goodnight, but we ended up just chatting for about 2 hours about all sorts of stuff! It was really good fun, but I was definitely tired the next day!
On Sunday we had more sessions, and a big roast dinner for lunch. Afterwards there was a short service before we got packed up and headed home! Coming back, we felt like we had been away for weeks! On the weekend, Simon realised that our wedding is under 4 months away and we haven't really planned that much, so we did a bit of brainstorming on Sunday evening. Things are about to get busy! After Christmas it'll be planning central for us!
For anyone who is engaged I would definitely recommend this weekend! It was great to get away and chat about topics that are important but hadn't crossed our minds before! The main highlight for me was just chilling out with Simon to be honest. The amazing thing is, the weekend was free as the charity works by having your weekend paid for in advance by donations! So yes, if you are engaged, book it! You won't regret it.
http://www.engagedencounter.org.uk/
Monday, 21 October 2013
Lots of new developments
So it has been a while since I wrote one of these posts! Some people have been asking what's been going on, so I thought I would update you all.
I don't remember if I told you or not, but both me and Simon have moved! I am living with some friends in Surrey, and he is living in a flat in Twickenham. Currently Simon is super super busy with his new job and me.. well I am super busy looking for jobs! So far I have a job working one day a week at a music shop - things are looking up!
We have put wedding planning on hold for ages because we have the main things booked, so weren't really too stressed about it. However, I realised the other day that we still have quite a few things left to do, so Simon came over and we got takeaway and did some googling and emailing. We have pretty much decided on a cake, and are still thinking about cars and flowers etc. Also we are getting very close to a final edit of the guestlist - the thing that has proved to be the most problematic!!! I have also made 55 out of 90 placecards. However, these aren't just any old placecards.... they are AWESOME. But a secret so I can't tell you any more than that.
In other news, we booked our photographer!!! This was something I really wanted to invest in, because photos will be kept for life, whereas no one will really remember the cake/flowers/seating plan. Check out his website! - http://www.timbishop.co.uk/
On the first weekend on November, Simon and I are going away for the weekend to Kent for a marriage preparation course with my friend and her fiance. I am looking forward to getting away from it all and having time with Simon to invest in us. It is hard to just chill out or even just to see each other because he is SO busy at the moment and in many ways our lives are currently polar opposite! However, things are slowly coming together wedding-wise. Not too long to go now!
I don't remember if I told you or not, but both me and Simon have moved! I am living with some friends in Surrey, and he is living in a flat in Twickenham. Currently Simon is super super busy with his new job and me.. well I am super busy looking for jobs! So far I have a job working one day a week at a music shop - things are looking up!
We have put wedding planning on hold for ages because we have the main things booked, so weren't really too stressed about it. However, I realised the other day that we still have quite a few things left to do, so Simon came over and we got takeaway and did some googling and emailing. We have pretty much decided on a cake, and are still thinking about cars and flowers etc. Also we are getting very close to a final edit of the guestlist - the thing that has proved to be the most problematic!!! I have also made 55 out of 90 placecards. However, these aren't just any old placecards.... they are AWESOME. But a secret so I can't tell you any more than that.
In other news, we booked our photographer!!! This was something I really wanted to invest in, because photos will be kept for life, whereas no one will really remember the cake/flowers/seating plan. Check out his website! - http://www.timbishop.co.uk/
On the first weekend on November, Simon and I are going away for the weekend to Kent for a marriage preparation course with my friend and her fiance. I am looking forward to getting away from it all and having time with Simon to invest in us. It is hard to just chill out or even just to see each other because he is SO busy at the moment and in many ways our lives are currently polar opposite! However, things are slowly coming together wedding-wise. Not too long to go now!
Friday, 13 September 2013
The Engagement Party
On saturday we all travelled to my grandad's house in Swindon for a family celebration! Despite it being over a year since me and Simon got together, our families have never actually met, so we thought it would be a good idea to have a little engagement party to introduce the families and to have some fun too. Also, Mel, Luke and Tom (the maid of honour and best men) came down for the occasion.
We all had a really great afternoon and our families got on well which was so great! We also decided to have 'opposite' speeches which proved to be a lot of fun and gave other people to say something who won't get a speech at the wedding. So instead of the groom, best man and father of the bride doing speeches, we had the bride (me), the maid of honour and the father of the groom saying a few words. It was so lovely to hear from people how they see us as a couple.
In the afternoon we went for a walk around the village where my dad grew up and where I have many happy childhood memories. It meant a lot for me that I could share this place with Simon. It is a special place for me.
After a long long day, I went back to Simon's flat with Luke to drop off a few things before going back home and having a good long sleep :)
We all had a really great afternoon and our families got on well which was so great! We also decided to have 'opposite' speeches which proved to be a lot of fun and gave other people to say something who won't get a speech at the wedding. So instead of the groom, best man and father of the bride doing speeches, we had the bride (me), the maid of honour and the father of the groom saying a few words. It was so lovely to hear from people how they see us as a couple.
In the afternoon we went for a walk around the village where my dad grew up and where I have many happy childhood memories. It meant a lot for me that I could share this place with Simon. It is a special place for me.
After a long long day, I went back to Simon's flat with Luke to drop off a few things before going back home and having a good long sleep :)
Wednesday, 4 September 2013
Reunited at last - plan plan plan!
Gosh it has been ages since I last posted! So much has happened. I have been to Romania for two weeks and also volunteered at a festival called Momentum for a week before moving house. My life has barely stopped and as I sit here writing this latest update I am quite pleased that I currently have nothing to do.
Yesterday I FINALLY got to see Simon after over two months apart! We met up at Twickenham station and had a super big hug. So good to see eachother and I am so pleased that hopefully we won't be apart for so long ever again. Some updates here - we have both moved house and are now within a 25 minute train ride of eachother! So life is going pretty well the moment.
Anyway, after meeting up, we got the train into London to book our honeymoon!!! After various issues with booking the correct room (no, not a twin room.. no, not for 7 nights, for 10 please!) we finally put a deposit on the holiday of our dreams - ten nights in Cape Verde next to the beach with all the food and swimming pools anyone could possibly want! We both did a little happy dance after leaving the holiday shop.
After this, we had some lunch and a little stroll before heading off to Hatton Garden for rings. I would highly reccommend this place! It was incredible! Hatton Garden is a street with over 70 independent jewellery shops on it, and loads of them make custom made rings. Apparently it is the biggest jewellery quarter in Europe, so we decided that if we didn't find something we wanted there, we would never find it!
We had a great time trying on rings, window shopping and making deals and bargains when we had decided on what we actually wanted. In the end we managed to get a really good deal on our rings. We each got to design our own wedding band. We chose the metal, the weight, width, depth, style and even some diamonds ;) - who knew these things were so complicated!
After a busy day making purchases of a lifetime, we headed back to Twickenham for dinner out using some of the money we saved from getting a deal on the rings before Simon drove me home.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime sort of day. I will remember this day forever.
Yesterday I FINALLY got to see Simon after over two months apart! We met up at Twickenham station and had a super big hug. So good to see eachother and I am so pleased that hopefully we won't be apart for so long ever again. Some updates here - we have both moved house and are now within a 25 minute train ride of eachother! So life is going pretty well the moment.
Anyway, after meeting up, we got the train into London to book our honeymoon!!! After various issues with booking the correct room (no, not a twin room.. no, not for 7 nights, for 10 please!) we finally put a deposit on the holiday of our dreams - ten nights in Cape Verde next to the beach with all the food and swimming pools anyone could possibly want! We both did a little happy dance after leaving the holiday shop.
 |
| The hotel! |
We had a great time trying on rings, window shopping and making deals and bargains when we had decided on what we actually wanted. In the end we managed to get a really good deal on our rings. We each got to design our own wedding band. We chose the metal, the weight, width, depth, style and even some diamonds ;) - who knew these things were so complicated!
 |
| Hatton Garden |
 |
| Here's the shop that got our money! |
After a busy day making purchases of a lifetime, we headed back to Twickenham for dinner out using some of the money we saved from getting a deal on the rings before Simon drove me home.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime sort of day. I will remember this day forever.
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