Hi girls ,

Im back on line and by the looks of it you have all been pretty busy plenty of reading for me to do so i can catch up with it all.

Will fill you in with everything after i have caught up with you all.

Hope all is well with everyone and wedding plans are coming along ok.

kathyxxx

Carolyn your dress is gorgeous

Welcome back KathyW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yay Kathy! Right on time! 24th you told me, and here you are! hehe.

I am so over work. I need a holiday. Thankfully I have one coming up, but I dont know that it's going to get here soon enough!

Well I just did up my list to do - I have been avoiding doing this. I have 25 major jobs to do, I am not going to list them all because it scares me to think how Im going to get thru them all.

I have just emailed the celebrant, and emailed the cake lady, so 2 jobs almost done. only 23 to go

We are down to only 1 car at the moment again as the other one is in being fixed..again, so I will have to steal it and find some places in Darwin so I can cross off a few more jobs. Somehow I dont think I will find any white enclosed bridal shoes here

I have now crossed 3 things off my list (email celebrant, email cake lady, email reception co-ordinator) but in the process have added another 3 jobs

For white bridal shoes, have a look at www.bridalshoes.com

And there is also an Australian Shop that do mail order, the same web address, with .au on the end!

Oh spank you Laurette I will head there to check out shoes. How do they go with ordering exact sizes because my foot size varies with each brand.

Did Glenn get home safe and sound?

He is... I love him so much

I reckon it was just about the best cuddle I have ever had. I got home and he was asleep, but he woke up coz he heard me come home, so I went and layed on the bed with him and had a cuddle and he told me all about his trip and explained everything that had happened to me (Michelle you know what I am on about), and that was lovely. And then he tipped a glass of water on me and it was all back to normal. The lovey doveyness was over.

Oh well, it was worth it!

Michelle, with the shoes, they are very true I found (I ordered mine from OS) and I ordered a size bigger because I thought that I would have trouble with the width, but they were perfect, except a size too big. So I sent them back and they are now on their way back over here.

I found the shipping to be really quick, it was great.

aww I love reunions. Glad to hear all is well



The mechanic called me - the clutch breaking didnt have anything to do with the crash, so we're up for that now as well. Gotta laugh or you cry.

You will never believe what Glenn said to me on the phone this afternoon.

He wants me to book our honeymoon tongiht, so he rings me up when I am at lunch, and he's working late tonight (until 9.30) and he said 'Now, dont you worry about doing any housework tonight (news for him - I wasnt going to anyway), because I have tomorrow off (he works Sat instead) so I am going to do all the washing (yeah, everything that we've worn since yesterday) and vaccuum and do the floors and all the housework etc (the onlyhousework IS the floors).'

So I said to him, 'Well, that's fine, if you want to volunteer!' and he said...



Wait for it......
















'It's not fair for you to have to do EVERYTHING yourself'


Where was this new and improved Glenn 18 months ago?

Madness I tell you, madness.

Wow Laurette - Whatever you're feeding Glenn...

Can you please publish a recipe book?

That's fantastic. And that's right! It's not fair that you should do everything yourself!

Laurette did you manage to tape record that conversation for future reference?

No I didnt, but I should have, with my new spunky phone.

Chloe, you never got back to me about whether or not you want us to take your car off your hands for a month.

Oh, and Yass is where the big servo is that you would have stopped at. Should you EVER be going past there, you tell me coz I wanna come see. I will PM you my mobile number now. And no, not just for that reason.

Further on the Glenn front, I told his mother what he said, and she laughed at me and said 'he already does more than you, doesnt he?' I think that the incredilous (sp?) look on my face told the story. Silly woman.

I was just down seeing Glenn at work (he manages the supermarket here) and I was getting a few things, and he took me down the cleaning aisle to get some large stand up garden rubbish bags so that when he does the lawns tomorrow, he can put the clippings in that rather than the bin, where they often get stuck if they go in after bin day and sit there for a week (oh eeeeew).

Well, I near fell over.. It's all too much for one day.

There must be some bad news that he has to tell me tomorrow afternoon!

Hahahah Sounds like you've got yourself a husband there Laurette!!! Hope there's no news and that Glenn's just decided to treat you special..for good!

On the car front, that's a lovely thought (actually a friend of mine offered to drive it up to Brisbane for the wedding and drive it back again!) Unfortunately the insurance is a bit tricky as it is a work car and I don't think it can be driven around Australia without me in it.

I am so very annoyed right now, so be prepared!!

Two couples, both on H2B's side within the last few days (one tonight, one a day or so ago) have changed their 'yes' RSVP's to 'NO'!!!!

Both couples said yes practically straight after their invites, and now, with the RSVP deadline being this Friday, they've changed their anwswer!!!

Both couples knew right from the start that they may not be able to come (one financial difficulties, one health issues) but they replied yes anyway!!!

And i've already wasted placecards on one of the couples!!! it's just so goddamn down right rude!!!

GGGGRRRR if you're not sure whether you're able to make it, don't just say 'yes' anyway!!

65/80 RSVP's currently, deadline this Friday, would it shock you to know that half the RSVP's we're waiting on are H2B's family? (the rest are friends we don't have email or phone numbers for)

'scuse me while i go scream into a pillow!!

Beck

Beck, *breathe* and read Michelle's sig - dont sweat the small stuff!

It's OK It's OK, repeat this mantra 10 times and have a sleep!

All will look better in the morning.

Seriously, I can understand how this would be annoying, for sure. It's just people being difficult.

Look on the upside - at least they did let you know before the RSVP date!

Chloe, you do know that I was only joking, dont you!

Laurette - I wasn't sure but just in case (many have asked to take the car while we're away... Seriously asked, not joking asked...)!

SOMEONE TAKE THIS CHOCOLATE AWAY FROM ME NOW!

I have eaten a whole block today (well a whole block minus one row). Doesn't matter that it is one of those 'healthier' ones where there is no added sugar. Its yummy and its bad and if I break out in pimples I will be mighty SH#$TTY.

Help! I need counselling! Addicted to chocolate - Help!!!

Aw crap Beck thats bloody annoying. Stupid guests GRrrrr.

Chloe I hear you on the chocolate thing. I made a batch of chocolate brownies this afternoon and they're nearly all gone. We arent even having dinner tonight how terrible is that

Im listening to wedding songs trying to do a songlist for the dj, getting all soppy @ the love songs

Oh yeah my RSVP date was 2 weeks ago and we still waiting on heaps of people. If they dont contact me or mum pretty soon I will just assume its a no. If they happen to turn up to the ceremony I will thank them for coming and politley tell them to PISS OFF

Neil is playing computer games on his puter next to me deeply absorbed in saving the world in some cyber quest. I just asked him if I could have "shameless" by Garth Brooks as our bridal waltz and he said "Of course we can" He hates country music ( I LOVE my country music)

I think I've just found the best time to ask him all the important questions hehe while he is playing games

it's OK girls, I am eating a rain bow paddlepop for breakfast

You have rainbow paddlepops in your freezer?!?!

I have a new level of respect for you Laurette:) After the wedding, we are going to stock our fridge with chocolate and ice cream and cake and pudding and...

Now where's that other bar of chocolate?....

I know.

I would love to say that after the wedding I am going to go on a blowout, but truth be told, I never went on a diet to make a blow out possible.

Our counselling is booked, I found out its actually compulsary with the army to do some sort of pre marriage counselling. Its 18th Feb - and its an 8 hour day Joy!

hi Girls,

Sorry its been so long...I just assume Mum has been filling you all in! I have been so busy with work, but I need to get on and have a rant right now....

My cake topper arrived yesterday....and its nothing like I thought it would be. I emailed the company (a cake shop in melbourne) and told them I was really disappointed... but I doubt they will do anything. They advertised one that looked really nice like the planet cake ones, but this one doesnt have the same look to it....

Can I ask you all honestly whether you think I should use it? Noone there will have seen the good original one I spotted, the question is whether the flowers etc on the cake will blend it all in enough?

The topper is pictured here....I have taken a camera phone shot of the front, back and a close up of the heads....

Am I being....a BRIDEZILLA? Ask mum, this is the first thing Ive been disappointed about!

Amanda

Some other things to catch you all up on.....

- only 2 RSVPs (mum being one) with a couple of weeks to go. Invites went out about 2 weeks ago.
- we have since been invited to not one, but two other weddings before ours (the two weekends before our wedding)...honestly! One of which is asking for money to cover meals, but no presents, the other has a wishing well...so I don't feel bad about our honeymoon registry at all now...
- honeymoon has been paid, so that is exciting!...except for the $4000 hole in our account....lets hope that honeymoon registry comes through with the goods...
- don't know if mum told you about my bridal shower, it was such a fantastic day and I ended up with loads (like $600 worth) of tupperware! The tupperware lady was also like straight out of the 50's! She was sooo retro!
- We decided to do ceremony only invites for work colleagues and other not so close friends, which seems to have gone ok so far....no one has been offended anyway!

Most things are pretty much done, except
- get dress altered (it has to come IN!)
- make bonbonierre (spelling?) and placecards with my mummy who now only lives 2.5 hours away
- ensure said mother purchases a nice outfit for the wedding
- finish bridesmaids dresses (who are incidentally all over the place, which is making things mighty hard - at least they have their shoes and jewelry now)
- buy paddy's wedding ring
- host cellar tea - RSVP's due in a week or so, only 3 have responded
- make sure groom's suits are ok
- finalise ceremony musicians (need to follow up)
- make order of service books (argh)
- write speech
- finalise order of events for reception and give to MC (Cormack has confirmed mum, good news! we will have an entertaining MC for the night)
- follow up with reception location - we have already picked menus etc
- pick up cake which looked LUSH last I saw
- liaise with DJ and make sure he plays the music we want and doesn't carry on like a DJ wan$%er
- pack for honeymoon (did I mention we LOVE travelling...especially overseas )
- be a total neuro and check everything in the week before the wedding!
- write PhD thesis

There are probably loads more, but thats all I can think of at the moment!

Catch up with you all soon,

Amanda

Hi Amanda good to see you again

Honestly, I think the cake topper is fine. I dont know what they are meant to look like, but I think that one is pretty cute.

Here are some snaps from the Bridal Shower

Amanda

Thanks....the original I guess was just more polished....the less I look at the original the happier I am with this one!

It was just different in quality to the one I ordered....so if anyone wants cake toppers ask me and I'll tell you where you shouldn't buy from!

Amanda

I added the original topper to the pic album so you can see what it should have been like....

I think that it looks fine Amanda! All your guests will love your 'quirky' cake topper!

Thanks so much for keeping us up to date with you! You are much more organised than I am!

Thanks.....

I've added another set of piccies...the Ring Bearer Cushion which Paddy's mum just had embroidered....she just has to sew it up now...

Damn yahoo photos is slow!

Im off now for my complimentary body exfoliation and tan which came with a little beauticians pack I got....woohoo...$130 for tan, exfoliation, special occasion makeup, skin analysis, facial, 1 hr massage, pedicure, manicure, brow wax & tint and lash tint. Bargain or what?!?!?!

Oh...another 2 RSVP's today...both yes though one was from one of Paddy's old dodgy stoner friends who simply emailed and said "I hope an email RSVP is ok"....well no buddy it's not....we spent hours on those invites! The least you could do is send a card! How would you like it if we made your seating arrangement a turned over milk carton in the car park? Far out!

Whoops, get back in your box bridezilla! This forum is BAD. I have somewhere to complain about all those niggly little things that have been building up!

I just booked us dancing lessons too. Yippee I can put a big line through 2 more things.

Wow that is a bargain Amanda! I hope you enjoy the pampering

How exciting!

We are just going to sway a little...theres no way I'd get Paddy to lessons!

We will be swaying too, I guarantee it.

That is such a good price for the beauticians stuff!

We would sway too but I am thinking of this as also a social thing to help us meet new people in Darwin. We are SO uncoordinated with dancing, any help is benificial to us

You will have great fun Michelle, I am sure

Hi Amanda - so great to hear from you! We've heard so much from Kathy - its like putting the final piece of the puzzle together:)

Sounds like you are all organised. The cake topper looks v. groovy. I think it will be fine

Michelle - you will have a ball at your dance classes. I think its the only thing keeping Alex and I sane at the moment, although we haven't finished choreographing the dance and its bloody hard! I think we're going to stuff up on the night...

Well chickie-babes - I'm in Brissie! Gotta love technology (logging in through dial up from my work laptop). About to try on the dress - well whatever mum's managed to complete since Christmas. Fingers crossed it all fits!
(especially after all that stupid chocolate I ate...)

This is the weekend I will become organised! I will!!! I will I will!

hey chloe, i wish i was in qld

Can you post a few pics of your dress in secret we wotn tell your mum. I m sure you will oook amazing

Im sitting here after a few glasses of wine, neil has tomorrow and friday off work which is great. I cant ait for dance classes, it will be nice to meet some people. I have met a few darwin ppl and I *think* i have met some friends already yay

Err..

At this stage the 'dress' is basically corsetry. I'll wait til there's more material before taking any potential pics!

Ooh have a fantastic weekend Michelle! I'm kinda a little sad I can't spend the long weekend with Alex. He RARELY gets a day off and tomorrow he's going to just go driving by himself... Feel like it was a missed opportunity to spend some quality time together. But oh well, my dress is much more important than quality time!!!

Plus, we'll be spending a whole month together soon so I'm sure we'll be suitably sick of eachother then!

Oh Michelle, that is awesome! What fantastic news! Are they other defence forces people?

Chloe! We want pics! Hope that you are having a nice time in QLD and that your mum has air con...

We jsut went to bed but Glenn's annoying me and I wasnt really ready for sleep, so I got back up... now I think that I am ready for bed again.

Michelle, did you get my email?

What does Alex do, Chloe? Where does he go driving to?

Hi Girls,

Wow, it looks like everyone has been really busy this week. I was only in here two days ago (or was it 3 ) and there is already a few pages to catch up on!

Carolyn - I lurvve your dress. It is gorgeous. You must be so happy with it I look forward to seeing more pic's when you work out your digital camera

Laurette, there must've been something you put in Glenn's water You'll have to find out what it is and give him some more! Seriously though, it's lovely that he is trying so hard to help you at the moment. You deserve some help after everything else you've been doing.

Chloe - I can't believe you're changing your dress What fabric are you using now? And what are you going to do with all that silk satin?? I will be checking in eagerly for the next pic updates of your dress BTW, you look gorgeous in the traditional chinese dress.

The cufflinks I am getting from Tiffany's are Metropolis. I have attached a photo (hope it works - never posted an 'image' before). The saleswoman said most Tiffany stores had run out and they have to order them in from New York and because there are so many orders waiting for them, that's what will take the time. They seemed to have stock of most of the other styles - but of course, I picked the one they don't have I am going to engrace his initials on them.



Michelle, glad you got your 'package'. Have you had a chance to alter? BTW, I was LMAO at the comment re; your non-RSVP people if they try to turn up! You go girl!

Welcome back Kathy! And good to see you in here Amanda. You have done heaps and are sounding very organised - far more organised than me I think the cake toppers are fine. They look quite cute! And your beauty pack sounds fantastic!!! What great value.

Well girls, 30 invites down (finished and sealed ), 65 to go. We should hopefully finish them tomorrow. I have been putting them all together and enveloping them and Jase has been doing the wax seal. It works really well because I'm crap at the wax sealing. I keep burning my hands when melting the wax I'll try post pic's tomorrow.

AND.....(insert trumpet fanfare)......my BM dresses have finally come in.....and they're correct!! Halle-bloody-lujah!!! They will need some small alterations closer to the day (hem etc), but they are perfect. 7 months late, but finally here I'm a very happy Jo And to top it off my FG/jnr BM dress also came in (which wasn't due until Feb) I nearly fell over from shock.

Chloe, a friend of mine was recently a BM for a good friend of hers who married a Greek guy who also had that bed tradition (new bed, new sheets and kid's jumping on it), so it must be in a few cultures. I think it's really sweet.

Anyways girls, hope everyone has a lovely day off tomorrow. I may pop in and post some pics of my COMPLETED invites

Jo.

Hi girls (jo waves at screen), you all just popped in here as I was writing my post!

Michelle, I forgot to add in my last post how great it was that you are starting dancing lessons. You will have so much fun! And you've already met people, which is just greater!

j.

Oh Wow Jo, well done! I cant wait to see the pics of the finsihed invites! they will no doubt be awesome.

What fantastic news about the dresses! Good things come to those who wait! And how beautiful are those cuflinks????


Chloe, I know what you mean about the month together... Glenn and I are each having over 6 weeks off work... whoo!

Now I'm jealous and want to goto dance lessons.

Some of the future grooms on this forum go to so much effort.

I need to find one that doesnt care, like Glenn, so that I can comiserate with the bride.

Jo - I LOVE love LOVE those cufflinks!!!

Which store did you order them from? I'm in Brissie so might see (althought doubt it) if they have it here. Do you mind if i ask whether they are sterling silver or white gold? (huge price diff obviously!)

Jo the new fabric is also a silk satin but much stiffer and thicker one. It's also more of a white colour with just a hint of cream. Whereas the previous material was more ivory. I think ivory suits many people but I look better in white. It was bugging me. Also, I bought a gorgeous stunning piece of lace. It's french with billions of beads on it. It was $600/metre (!) and not the really wide lace either, it's kind of three quarters or half the normal width. I got really big discount (like 25%) cos it was the last piece but it was 1 metre so probably just enough for the top bit. Like I said, the bottom will be the same..

Actually, it's looking fantastic - just the corset bodice bit that is, but it's fitting very nicely. Mum's such a star She's making my bridal waltz dress too. and the 2 bridesmaids dresses. and her own dress.

I'm definitely going to have to thank her big time on the night!

OK off to go have coffee with one of my bridesmaids!!!

Chloe, the dress sounds sensational. I cant wait to see it.

I have picked our song for the church... for the signing of the registry...

Darren Hayes - So Beautiful

Whether I'm right or wrong
There's no phrase that hits
Like an ocean needs the sand
Or a dirty old shoe that fits
And if all the world was perfect
I would only ever want to see your scars
You know they can have their universe
We'll be in the dirt designing stars

And darlin' you know
You make me feel so beautiful
Nowhere else in the world I wanna be
You make me feel so beautiful

Whether I'm up or down
There's no crowd to please
I'm like a faith without a clause to believe in it
And if all the world was smiling
I would only ever want to see your frown
You know they can sail away in sunsets
We'll be right here stranded on the ground
Just happy to be found

You make me feel so beautiful
Nowhere else in the world I wanna be
You make me feel so beautiful

I have lost my illusions
I have drowned in your words
I have left my confusion to a cynical world
I am throwing myself at things I don't understand
Discover enlightenment holding your hand

You are..
So Beautiful

aw Laurette what a gorgeous song

Yes all the ppl I have met are defence, my neighbours are navvy, army and air force lol you can only live where I live if youare defence.

Jo love the cufflinks, and whoohoo at getting the BM dresses after all the stuffing around!