Pretty flowers all in a row...

I have selected Helen at The Willow Garden to do my flowers. The shop is like a fairy wonder land! I love going in and looking in awe at all of the beautiful creations and pretty nooks and crannies. Just walking in I knew Helen was the florist for me, the shop screams shabby chic vintage country garden...perfect!

http://www.thewillowgarden.com/

I really want my flowers to be loose and natural looking, nothing too structured or 'matchy'. Tightly packed pink roses or long structured lilies, though lovely for other people are just not me. I asked for a mixture of peaches, creams, pinks and greens...Helen suggested my bouquet have the herb Rosemary in as it represents remembrance, I love this idea because it will represent my Nanna...see, I told you she was perfect! My final flower mood board looks like this :0)

I can't wait to see them on the day!

Doilie Days - My Etsy Finds

Thinking about my venue decor I created a treasury on Etsy this morning of all things doilie that I would love to include! Check it out, there are some beautiful things for sale on there, see my favourites below...or go to http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTAwMDk0MzR8MjY5MDAyNjEzNA/doilie-days

The devil's in the detail...

I love the laid back country vibe of our venue and to decorate want to keep it quite informal as well as tapping into the vintage theme. I've been collecting cut glass vases in all shapes and sizes and crochet lace doilies from charity shops and jumble sales for months now, which will be arranged on the tables with single stems and teeny tiny bunches...I can't wait to see it all together on the day!

Location, location, location...

I've been thinking, I only have 4 months left to go and plenty of fine tuning to complete, but lot's of the big things have already been sorted, so I'm going to make my next few posts about the things I've already decided, a sort of retrospective of my wedding planning. And where best to start but the venue? We've chosen the gorgeous Turnpike Inn nestled on top of Rishworth Moor and directly opposite the Boothwood Reservoir, it's everything I could have dreamed of...a cosy country pub, traditional yet contemporary decor, a laid back atmosphere, stunning Yorkshire views and comes with Amy the most helpful coordinator ever...yay!

Here are some pics I took on my Holga camera, enjoy :0)

http://www.turnpikeinn.com/

You will find him next to me...

Last night Gary took me to see Emeli Sande at Leeds O2 Academy...she was amazing! I can honestly say I have never heard anyone sing so beautifully live, her voice was just perfect. I love all of her songs, but the song that really got me into her was 'Next to Me'....if you haven't heard it, check it out here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nwdjQmc_N8&ob=av2e . The first time I heard it straight away it made me think of Gary (I know, pass the bucket) so I am hoping to feature it in the wedding somewhere.

Really gorgeous lyrics:

When the money's spent and all my friends have vanished

and I can't seem to find no help or love for free

I know there's no need for me to panic

cause I'll find him, I'll find him next to me

Smile for the birdie...

What prompted me to start my blog this week? We had our engagement shoot in Blackpool on Monday!

Last week, we had full sunshine to the point I was sat outside in my shorts and rubbing in suncream, but come Monday it was bitterly cold! Ah well...our photographer Andrew Scott Clarke still got some fantastic shots...here is one he sent us as a sample. I've had a mess with it in a vintage photo app 'Vintage Scene' ... what do you think? Is the original perfect as it is?

Or is the vintage one more 'us'?

128 days to go...

So..this is my first ever blog post!

Last year I watched the film 'Julie & Julia' in which 'Julie' blogs about her quest to cook all of Julia Childs recipes...I fancied having a go but couldn't get my head around what I would talk about. That is, until I got engaged.

I've been dreaming of my wedding for approximately 29 years (I'll be 32 in May) and now, I have just 4 months until the big day arrives. Up until now I have loved planning every aspect of the day; trying endless dresses on (and buying two along the way), visiting gorgeous venues and picking pretty flowers...I am sure that now I am on the 'homestrech' it's going to get more exciting, maybe stressful, maybe tearful...but I'll love it all the same...

If anyone reads this, I hope you enjoy my big day journey with me, or maybe my blog will just become a nice diary I can one day show my children (fingers crossed). Either way, let's wait and see!