Much as I love the 2011 Brides thread, it seems like about time we had threads for each month too, to help keep us on track.
I'm marrying my darling on April 13 2011, which will be the 10th anniversary of our first date. We've chosen our venue, though we haven't actually booked it yet. We're currently looking for a celebrant and a photographer. Our bridal party was decided long ago - 3 each, plus the same number of flowergirls and pageboys. His mother will make my dress (and BM dresses, maybe with help from me) and I know what I want. Andrew and his boys are wearing kilts - a tribute to the time we spent living in Edinburgh.
Who else is getting married in April 2011, and where are you up to?

Hey i am also to an April 2011 bride. Getting married on the 16th I have booked the church, reception, cars, hair & make up and booking the photographer on tuesday

Welcome. You're doing well - looks like I need to get a move on!

Thank daybreak.... i just like to be super organised!! lol what have u gotten done ??

Hi we are getting hitched 1st April 2011 .. We have ceremony and reception booked , cars my dress and have picked photographer i cant wait

Hi April Fool Bride (do you have a real name I can use? That's a bit unwieldy!)

We paid the deposit on our venue today. Next up - celebrant and photgrapher!

Hi I'm an April 2011 bride-ours is on the 3rd

Welcome Izabelle. How are your plans going?

Hello everyone! I'm Daybreak's almost wedding twin - we're getting married on 12th April 2011 which will be our 11th anniversary!

We've booked our church (we're having a morning wedding! and on a Tuesday!), my FMIL is making our cake, my FSIL will be doing my makeup and I know what I'm getting as my wedding band - just need to get back to the jeweller to have the design drawn up!

Hopefully I'll have more news next week - I've got an appointment with a "floral designer" on Monday, and I'm going scouting for reception venues over the weekend!

My bridal party will consist of 2 bridesmaids - my sister & a close friend, and 2 groomsmen - DFs best friend and another friend as well as our 4 year old (well, he'll be nearly 5 then!) as ring bearer and our 2 (3 by then) year old daughter as flower girl.

Hi everyone,

We are getting married 16th April 2011 in Sydney. So far we have booked ceremony/reception (at the same place), photographer, celebrant and put deposits down for bridesmaids dress and my dress. The next big thing is picking flowers and cake.

Just want to wish all the April 2011 brides a wonderful journey planning your big days from an April 2010 bride xx

April is a gorgeous time of year to be married...... I hope your plans and dreams all turn out exactly as you hoped x

Aw, thanks, Sarah, what a lovely thought!

Hi girls just wanted to share with you how over the moon i am about a wedding Cake you would think i had won a million bucks but i am so excited i have found a fantastic lady to make our cake i got quotes first 1 was 495 with no decorations ,second one was 695 with decorations - i am getting it made for $250 - Hooray .

When HB2 an i first got engaged all i wanted was to elope i was not into the whole "white wedding " but he convinced me to have a small wedding of 50 guest so thats what we are having and i am so glad i am loving every minute of planning our wedding and feel a sense of joy when i Negotiate with prices and get great deals .

So far we have got our wedding bands at a great price , our Photo & Video at an amazing price for amazing work , our MUSTANGS cheap as chips all this . I am so happy right now .

I just got back from 5 days up in Geraldton (where we're planning to have our wedding).. got to scope out potential wedding reception venues.. so far there are only really 2 contenders, with one a definite leader! Just have to get DF to ok it (or come up with me one weekend so he can check it out and then ok it!)

And I met with a floral 'designer' up there who was fabulous (I just hope when I get the quote I don't want to die!) - she had some great ideas and has helped me pick a waterlily theme for the wedding! (Initially by suggesting them as part of the mix of flowers in the bouquets, but then mum suggested them as table centrepieces after the florist showed us some pics of clear cylinder vases with water & submerged orchids.. and then it all came together beautifully!)

And on Monday I have my first two appointments to go bridal dress shopping!! I'm so excited!

But I ate lots of naughty things while I was away and I couldn't get to the gym, so now I'm sad and disappointed with myself and I need to get back into "Lose weight so I can look kick ass in a dress" mode!

Hi all!

My ideal date will also be April 16th. I've only been engaged a little over 2 weeks, so still in the very early stages, but when I discovered that April 16 was in the middle of the school holidays (important being a teacher!) and will be my Mum and Dad's 45th wedding anniversary, it seemed like it was meant to be!

I have the added challenge of trying to organise a Brisbane wedding from Geelong, with one bridesmaid in Sydney and the other in Brisbane, but so far have organised a minister, found a reception venue - but really want to have a look myself before paying a deposit and contacted a photographer.

Looking forward to sharing the journey with fellow April brides!!

LJ

Welcome LJ. School holidays was a deciding factor in my date too! Do you teach primary or secondary?
I've now booked our celebrant, and photographer(s) and found the fabric for the dresses. Just waiting on FMIL to work out exactly how much I need so I can buy it!

Thanks Katie! I teach primary - grade 5's and 6's, so they keep me on my toes! You sound like you are certainly getting yourself organised. I'm not even thinking about my dress yet - am going to wait until closer to the date as I've just started on a major diet and exercise routine! I'm also waiting on my two BM's to decide on their dresses before I start thinking about colour schemes. I have the name of a florist who has come recommended (actually someone I went to high school with) so fingers crossed that will work out, and my dad has a 1938 Buick, plus connections to other owners of old cars, so hopefully organising transport will be easy. It's so rewarding ticking things off the checklist!

I'm off on school camp for the next 3 days. I'm not sure how I'm going to cope, not having access to wedding websites! I've become obsessed since our engagement!

LJ

Well, I've booked my florist and my reception venue and my engagement ring is at the jeweller's so that they can design/make my wedding band!

I've also picked my dress and matching veil, and I'm also getting a flower girl dress made out of the same coloured fabric.

Still looking for ideas for bridesmaids dresses, but there's a wedding expo on this weekend so cross your fingers! (And as it happens, I won $100 worth of vouchers to spend at the expo too, so I hope there's something worth spending my money on.. the biggest issue being that we're not getting married *in* Perth, so that will rule out a lot of vendors.)

I updated my wedding blog with more details, so if anyone's interested you can find it here: http://ziphnzarie.blogspot.com/

Just stalking - I am getting married in 3 weeks!

LJ - you might seriously want to think about your dress really soon. Most dresses that you order off the rack have a lead time of ordering of 6 months - you are 7 months out. I know if you order any of the dresses that need to come from overseas and you are under 6 months they wont do it. I am having my dress made and it has been designed for me. I had my first fitting 12 months before the wedding and between that and my next fitting which wa sin March which was 6 months before I lost 6 kgs...no big deal she just altered my calico and has had to alter the dress each time and my fittings have been two months apart as I keep losing weight. If you are having it made you shouldnt have an issue but just think about the time you have left and the time needed to order dresses. At one stage after i had paid my deposit and had the first measurement fitting i found an amazing maggie sottero dress at the store in Sydney (it was a preview of a 2010 dress that wasnt going to be available till June) and if i wanted it i had to order it that day as it was take 6 months to come in and this was 7 months before my wedding and would have only allowed 3 weeks for fittings etc.....glad i stayed with my original but it was just the most stunning gown and not a typical maggie dress.

Good luck with all your planning.

Thanks leebec! I hadn't really thought about the time it would take to order a dress. I think I will go with getting one made though. A friend who is getting married in January has recommended a dressmaker - word of mouth is how I'm surviving this wedding prep!! I am planning on looking at dresses when my sister and i go BM dress shopping - I know she will tell it like it is when I try dresses on! Appreciate the advice though. Hope the next 3 weeks goes smoothly and your big day is all you dream it be! LJ

I bought my dress fabric on the weekend. Spent almost $1000 but that includes the bridesmaids dresses and it's all pure silk. Lucky I have no dressmaker costs though!
I'm feeling a bit lost on wedding plans at this stage. I don't know what I want for my ring, or where to start looking for flowers and a cake. It doesn't help that I have no time at the moment to do so anyway.

Hi girls,

I recently just got engaged and my partner and i have set out wedding date for 30th April 2011- so we better get cracking on our planning.

We are having a country themed wedding inland on the sunshine coast.

has anyone else got wedding plans for the same day- i would love to chat?

m and m

Congrats m and m!

Sounds like you have some of the main things organised already - date, theme and location! You will be organised in no time!!!

Our date is the 16th and in Brissie. But planning it from Victoria, so have only got as far as the internet will allow me with my planning. Heading up in a couple of weeks to check out a venue, florist, meet with minister and photographer - and find my BM's dresses, so I can finalise a colour scheme and get cracking on the invitations!

Looking forward to sharing the journey!!

LJ

Hi LJ,

Well we are only a few weeks apart in wedding dates, i tossed up that date 16th-however my MOH was worried she was going to be in uni exams and you can't miss them (weddings aren't valid excuse) So we went the week after easter.

must be hard work planning from another state- i am having trouble cause we live 30 minutes from our reception area.

We also are heading overseas in two weeks for a month of holidays so just got the basic plans at the moment then when we get back will focus on all the other details.

Have you sent out your save the Dates- we are planning on doing it soon as we get back- which will be late october, hope that isn't too late?

Have you got your dress?

m and m - in answer to your questions - no and no!!!

I've only pinned down a photographer and minister at this stage so am holding off on the "Save the Date" cards (orginally typed STD cards and had to delete - just didn't look right!!!) until I have a reception venue finalised and have found some accommodation options for our interstate guests. Most people know the date anyway - having a small wedding, we are pretty much in contact with everyone fairly regularly. I'm sure October will give your guests plenty of time.

I'm hoping to get more ideas on my dress when I head up to Brisbane and go shopping with my sister - I'm not close enough to anyone down here to trust their honest opinion!! Once I find a style I like I'll probably get it made locally.

We chose the 16th - (well I chose the 16th and DF had no choice!) as it falls in the middle of the school holidays (important for a teacher!) and will be my mum and dad's wedding anniversary, which will make it kinda special.

I've spent the afternoon emailing minister, florist, make up artist, reception venue and photographer trying to line up appointments for when I'm up in Brisbane - so I feel like I'm making some head way!

So, inland Sunshine Coast - I'm thinking Maleny, Montville area?? If so - very nice! I'm hoping the boat I have my eye on will work out and we can have our reception on the Brisbane River - DF doesn't want dancing, so at least the guests will have something pretty to look at, if there's nothing else to do!!

LJ

Looks like things have been a bit quiet since my last post - I guess that is the nature of weddings - lots of plans put in place early on, then things go quiet for a while until it gets closer to TBD!!!

I'm much more at ease now a few more big ticket items have been checked off my list

- We've had 2 meetings with the minister (including the 165 questions that was our "pre-marriage prep" )
- booked a reception venue
- found accommodation for our out of town guests (and ourselves)
- had a hair trial (with my sister who is a hairdresser)
- designed and printed my save the dates (still need to put most of them together - but that's tomorrow's job while I'm a Bathurst widow!)
- and most importantly ordered my dress!!!

DF and I taste-tested lots of cupcakes while we were up in Brisbane, but were pretty disappointed with what we found - we both agreed the packet mix cupcakes I make are so much nicer - not sure if I want to spend the day before the wedding baking cakes though!

Would love to hear how the other April brides are going with their plans.

LJ

Hi all,

It is nice to hear that your planning is going well LJ. We have also done quite a lot since my last post.

- Bonboniere (vanilla cupcakes with light green icing in a plastic box with a ribbon that matches the bridesmaid's dress) have been ordered
- Flowers
- Cake has been chosen (2 tier cake with sugar arum lilies on top - one layer choc mud, one vanilla pound cake)
- Flowers have been organised (I am having arum lilies and my bridesmaid is having burnt orange calla lilies)
- Centrepieces also sorted
- The bridesmaid's dress arrived last week
- The DJ for our reception has been booked
- We have chosen all the songs for the ceremony
- I have bought my shoes
- I have also bought earrings and a necklace for my bridesmaid
- Our save-the-dates have been sent
- Hairdresser has been booked (we are doing a trial closer to the date)
- We are meeting with the jeweller in 2 weeks to organise our wedding bands

I also managed to survive (barely) a visit from FH's parents. I look forward to hearing how everyone else is going.

Ali

congrats to all you april brides, I'm juuust before you on 20 March

good luck with all your planning

Heyo m and m
I'm getting married on 30th also on the Mid North Coast NSW...
Our theme is Old Hollywood Glamour and so far everything seems to be running smoothly, I hope the same goes for you!

Hi all,

We had our menu tasting yesterday - it was awesome!! The food was spectacular especially dessert .

Entree
Crisp pork belly, crushed peas, mint, apple chutney
Spiced lamb fillet, cherry tomato and fennel salad, eggplant dressing
Main
Pan fried barramundi, potato gnocchi, tomato, feta and basil
Grilled beef fillet, dauphinoise potato, green beans, peppercorn sauce
Dessert
Warm Belgium chocolate fondant, raspberry sorbet
Caramelised apple tarte tatin, hazelnut ice cream, calvados sauce

Cars are booked and invitations are being printed. Look forward to hearing everyone else's updates.

Hi Jasenkris,

YEAH i have found a wedding twin. Sounds like we are having very different weddings with me being country theme and your hollywood galm.

How are you going with your planning? got your dress? and the reception sorted?

I have been pretty slack, haven't done much for a while- betta get going soon. It is coming around so fast and will be wedding day before we know it.

Are you have an afternoon wedding, we are going 3:30pm