It's a grey Monday and everyone is at work. Funny how some days go off and others are so quiet.

Haven't had a good rundown on some of the hens nights - Mazz did you start your new job today? If not, where are you? Still recovering?

It has been quiet in here..... thank goodness as I have not been in all wekend and it would have taken me ages to catch up!!!

I would like to hear about everyone's hens nights - I finally got the invites for mine out today so that is a relief!

Well, I am here at home AGAIN today - I went back to the Drs and my throat infection hasn't gone away.... he has given super strong antibiotics and till Thursday off work. Sounds great but in reality I am stressing..... I do most of my wedding planning at work so any vendors email me there! Am really hoping I start to feel better soon.....

I know I have another week off work starting next Thurs due to my surgery so I plan to use that time to do our program books.

I can't believe how close we are all getting!! It is feeling amazingly real now (and a bit scary, knowing that I still have stuff left to do!) And I am really cranky as we need to chase up so many RSVPs.... and most of them are H2B's friends.... who of course doesn't want to phone them....??!!

Bring on the honeymoon!! At least I only have a couple of small things left to organise with that.

I'm here. It's cold, windy, grey and I'm sleep deprived with a headache. Work's really slow and dreary today too. Not hugely excited about the wedding things atm because of some non-wedding related family issues.

Hi Girls.....................

Sorry it has taken a while for me to write how I went on my Hens night, but I must admit i had a very bad champagne/ cocktail headache yesterday!! (think I drank a little to much for someone who doen't drink much at all!!) But I must say I had an absolute ball at my hens night!! We started off by having a cocktail party at my parents place - yes we hired one of those cocktail machines 16 litres of the stuff and boy were they good....... played a few games and had dinner there, then a few of us headed out on the town to the pub for a good old dance, and a few more drinks......

I will post a few pictures of the night, and will post a few more tomorrow or the next day (the ones out on the town, once i get them from my friends camera!!)
So here goes.....



And another one....

The group shot!!!!





Me and two of my sisters (who are bridesmaides)

Hey, I think we all have the same sash! Tipsy me...

I am here but about to race off to a night class. Had a busy wedding filled day, though - will update after 9 when I am back home!

V. cute piccie Lissy!! You looked like you had a ball......

ETA: you too Maiko! I think I am biased but I think we November brides will be the most stunning month yet!!

Hi all.

I still don't have photos of my hens, as my friend took them on her camera. Hopefully tonight!

First day of job was today, it was v ery busy but I'm already for tomorrow when the boys return to school. I am only teaching Year 8 and 9.

Lissy - I wore the same badge as you. LOL another hen on my wildboys cruise wore those same antennas you have on. Maiko - you look nice!!

Better go get myself organise for tomorrow. I have to leave home at 5:30 every morning to get to school on time. Blahhhhhh

Hello my girls, I'm back! Sorry I've been absent, have been sooo busy with work and it has been driving me crazy (especially when I wanna focus on the wedding!).

Mazz - congrats missy on getting the job - yay!!! Hope you had a good first day

Wow, everyone's hen's nights pics look absolutely fabulous You girls look hot!! My hen's night is in another two weeks and my fabulous BMs have organised a nite of pole dancing, strip tease and dinner at Victoria Room. I can't wait!

Juless - how's your dress going? I hope you get your new dress soon and I'm sure they will make it just perfect this time around

Carla - OMG I just checked out that weather predictor and it's raining on my day too! I guess I shouldn't get too worried about it coz the accuracy rate might be a bit low aye. I guess we'll have to wait and see. Btw, your girlfriend's baby is sooo cute!

princess-lissy - you got your bubbles at such a good price - they look very pretty

xbuffyx - I'm still working on my OSS so I will post a pic up once they're done.

Puggie - Gorgeous OSS u have made there - I'm so jealous! I really like the tall OSS

I had a wedding on Sat and OMG it was sooo hot in Sydney. They had a outdoor ceremony so luckily we were under a big massive tree. The bride looked stunning! We finished making our menus yesterday and they turned out really well. Will have to post up a pic soon. We are still working on getting all our RSVPs back even though the cut off date has passed and it's soo annoying!

Anyway, have a good arvo girls - will be back later tonite xoxo!

Lissy - u look like u had a ball at ur hens nite and thats great to hear!! mine was pretty cool too - had a blast and it was even better that i expected...and we did wear the same sash!! great minds must think alike girls

Mazz - glad to hear that ur first day at work was good, busy but good which is always a good thing coz it makes the time fly by - goodluck tomorrow with the boys!!!

Pinky - the dress shop has booked me for an all day fitting where its just me & them all day long on the 31st october so it better go alright otherwise im getting attitude!! not miss nice with them

just picked up my unity candles tonight, i love them!


thanks Pinky, she is so cute!

this is what our place cards look like, we did it ourselves & my mum did this one as a joke to h2b.



HE!HE!HE!

Carla - what lovely candles they are They turned out really well Hmmm.. I think I better get started on mine... keke - love your name card

Hiya girls - well a great day organising - we now have a veil sorted and a few suggestions for the menu. Here are a few of the Chef's ideas:

Entree:
- Vichyssoise with green peas and dill cream
- Caesar salad with omelet rolls and garlic croutons
- Turkey, shitake mushroom and cashew galantine on spiced orange salad
- Smoked salmon with caper dill cream in Melba Toast feuillete
- Chickpea Bhajee with pappadam crackers
- Prawn bisque with truffle cream
- BBQ sesame chicken on Asian coleslaw and Wasabi dressing
- Hot lime & chilli marinated stir fried Calamari on rice noodle salad
- Asparagus, lemon & ricotta ravioli in toasted almond cream
- Panzanella salad of proscuitto, avocado & charred green beans
- Chicken and spring vegetable herb broth with stellini
- Duck and pickled mango rice paper rolls with daikon salad
- Baked seafood medley with tomato, anchovy and mozzarella crust
- Petit baked saffron ricotta tart and caponata salad
- Charred artichoke risotto with fried leek and pesto

Main:
- Seared crispy skin Fish of the Day on wild rice cake and tamarind tomato salsa
- Roasted porterhouse of beef on horseradish potato crush & béarnaise sauce
- Sauté macadamia crusted pork medallions with pineapple onion jam and cider jus
- Seared teriyaki chicken breast on Asian greens, oyster sauce & fragrant rice
- Crispy skinned duck breast with apricot almond stuffing and juniper Marsala jus
- Roast cumin scented Tasmanian salmon steak with charred eggplant and lemon myrtle cream
- Baked spinach lentil and coriander lamb rack on coconut sauce
- Sun dried tomato pesto marinated chicken breast on olive polenta bread and capsicum sauce
- Baked falafel crusted poussin on sumac potatoes and pan juices
- Roasted mint caper seasoned fish of the day, lime butter sauce
- Slow cooked eye fillet tournedos on smokey bean cassoulet, espresso jus
- Charred Quail and veal piccata duet with a cream grapes sauce

Desert:
- Raspberry and vanilla bavarois on peach coulis
- Pepper spiced chocolate and hazelnut pudding, with honey Anglaise
- Malted rice custard with plum and toasted coconut
- Baked fig cheesecake and lemon syrup
- Peanut brittle ice-cream with candied pineapple
- Steamed blackberry and poppy seed pudding
- Petit pavlova with mocha parfait and Tia Maria sauce
- Strawberry pannacotta on honeyed strawberry salad
- “Brandy Alexander” custard tart
- Flourless chocolate & pistachio torte, double cream
- Duet of house fruit gelati in chocolate ‘demi tasse’
- Caramelised pear & walnut danish pastry turnover, vanilla ice cream

Not sure what to choose, yet, although we're certainly going to have duck as one of the main menu selections

Organised all of the running times for the night, too. Was happy to do this, as it made things much more 'real'. Next thing is the first fitting next Monday!

Glad to hear you ladies had good hens nights! Sounds like a fun night was had by all.

Better go and have some tea!
Amy

Carla, I love your candles they are beautiful, very romantic!! And your place cards are wonderful as well, love what your mum called your H2B- very funny!!

Puggie, well what alot of nice food you have to decide on, have fun choosing!!

Wow Puggie - I can't believe you have so much choice for your menu! I wouldn't know what to choose and would have a very hard time trying to pick. They all sound delish Are you having a tasting dinner?

Morning! Thanks, pinky baby - we actually have more choice than that - the executive chef gave these as examples of the sort of things we could have, but if we wanted chicken, but liked none of those listed (for instance) then he is happy to tweak the selections, or make another chicken option based on our ideas.

I'm actually not too rapt with the desert selections, so I'm going to sit down with him and determine if there's anything we'd prefer. Once selections are narrowed down, we'll have a tasting!

Now, pinky, we want to see a picture of your menus!

Carla - great to see your candles finished. Another thing to cross off the list!!

Mazz - first week teaching is always hard (as I am sure you know). 5.30am just REALLY sux, though

OK all - I need to go shower before work - will be online again throughout the day.

I'm off to the airport now to pick up my parents!! The wedding juggernaut starts rolling NOW and only stops on 6 November when we leave for our hoenymoon. I'm so excited!b Having lots of overseas guests means it's a bit like a desination wedding for me too as everyone is on hols and really relaxed. Plus I'm not working so get to spend lots of time with them all as they arrive!

YEAH! How exciting, mj2!

mj2 - I know what you mean about the "destination wedding" style, even when the bride and groom are not the ones travelling! I'm originally from NZ, and hence have lots of friends and family coming out. It means there's quite a bit of additional organising.

I can't beleive I'm sub-40 days, now!

My well used hyperventilating paper bag thanks you, seedyem

sorry puggie!

I've been doing the daily count down from 90 days, and there are people at work who have kept up with me, which I find hilarious.

Last week, one of my colleagues said "46 today" and I said "surely you can't be!". He said "you flatter me - I meant your wedding countdown, not my birthday!"

Wow Amy that's an incredible menu. It's excellent that you get so much choice in what you'll be serving.

mj2 - 18 days.. holy crap. That means 24 days for me.

Carla the candles look good.

Pinky post your menus!

I really need to get moving on getting stuff done. I kinda let it slide for awhile but the pressure's on now.

Hehe - was just kidding, seedyem - I am actually OK about things, now - it's all starting to come together

hey ladies, just to say hi.
not much left to do on my to do list.
heard about the hawaii quake yesterday, that was abit scary, but lucky no tsunami, we are going to hawaii for our honeymoon.

Home from work early today....I didn't have a class last period so I left. Luckily I did because traffic on the M5 was shocking!

Have to stay up late tonight and do some uni work, then it's up and out of here at 5:30am again tomorrow.

I'm actually not tired, maybe it will all catch up with me eventually. If the days go as quickly as they are for me now, the wedding will be here before I know it.

Carla - LOL love the placecard for your H2B The candles are beautiful!

Maiko - BREATHE AND RELAX!

Amy - you made me hungry - what a lot of choices!

Seedyem - it will go quickly from now on in

MJ - have fun with your parents!!



OMG my ticker says 25 days!!

how was your first day Mazz?

It was good, will be easy few weeks.

oh that's excellant hun. you a pro already!

I can't believe how much quieter it is in here this week! we must all be busy getting things done! I know i have been! I met with priest on sunday, florist yesterday, dress fitting today (I SO LOVE MY DRESS - i forgot camera though so your gonna have to wait till next fitting in 2 weeks!) Got cake people tomorrow and then i have to knuckle down and help mum and dad get the last few rooms painted asap cos i wanna get a bit of work done in my backyard before wedding too!!! OMG so much to do! I have done up table lists and menu's and printed up and put together thank yous (won't be stuffed to do that after wedding so thought i better do it now!), OOS done - just need to put them together and only got a few placecard/bonbon left!

If i can get everything done this week then i think my last 3 weeks should be pretty stress free! YAY

Just back from a dance lesson - that was good. Now reorganising my place seatings (organised the chart vertical - needs to go horizontal) and getting ready a menu to test on its stand!

Morning morning girls

I will post a pic of my menus as soon as I upload my pics from my camera (can't seem to find the USB cord yesterday).

Wow, all our weddings is certainly creeping up on us, isn't it!! One piece of advice ladies for your wedding day. I went to a wedding last Sat and although there were a few stuff ups, just relax and enjoy your day Don't worry about everything not going to plan, because at that point - there's not much you can do about it. The bride was very stressed and it showed on her face! She looked stressed and worried and that wasn't such a great look for the bride. Not everything is going to go the way you want so I say, don't worry about it and laugh about it when it's over

Oh yeah, I'm really excited today coz I have my dress fitting on at lunch time

Good Morning Lovely Ladies!!

Firstly can i Puggie - what a menu selection, yummo, id be having real problems trying to choose anything off that list, they all sound delicious!!!

Carla - love ur candles, very pretty and i love the placecard ur mum made for H2B!!

sheesh Kylz ur a roll with everything there rnt u!! im gonna get stuck into our placecards and whateva else i can this weekend after my dentist appointment and after putting some life (ie. colour) back into my hair - while H2B is away on his bucks day/nite thing....ill get stacks done im thinking!!

oh oh oh guess what i had a hair trial last nite & after a rather nervous afternoon/nite not knowing how it would all turn out i must say it went rather well and turned out pretty good - if i do say so myself....im just waiting on my sis to send me some piccies she took so as soon as she does that ill share them with u lovelies

anyway enuf babble from me for now - have a great day guys!!

Hope u have another fantastic day on the new job Mazz!

Morning, all

Am here at work and all is well - bit tired and am teaching until 9.30pm tonight

Glad you all liked my menu choices - I got a rather rude PM about them (someone decided to let me know they thought we were 'up ourselves' for having food like that). NOT a Nov Gal, though, and the sort of comment I would expect from the person in question

Anyway - have narrowed down the main courses to:
- Roasted porterhouse of beef on horseradish potato crush & béarnaise sauce
- Crispy skinned duck breast with apricot almond stuffing and juniper Marsala jus

We will pick a vegetarian option, too. Now to decide on entree and desert!

Good luck with your dress fitting today Pinky Baybbee! You make a good point about staying relaxed too - once the day comes you just have to go with the flow!

Puggie R U SERIOUS??? I can't believe someone would have the cheek to do that! I thought this was supposed to be a forum for nice brides! hehe

Juless can't wait to see the pics of your hair trial!

oh my gosh Puggie, why would they say that!!! how insulting, i know that most reception centres have food like that!
what a cow!

WHAT THE?!?!?!?! Puggie thats dispicable!!! how nasty can some ppl be!!! thats just childish if u ask me and quite clearly someone has something stuck up there u know what!

and i like the choices u decided on - yummo......all this food talk is making me hungry now

Hehe - HTB and I just laughed about it. I am happy with the choices, though. I was worried about people not liking duck, but have asked heaps of people and at least 1/2 of people eat it (and quite a few others willing to try it).

Am worried about my dress ATM - it is 2 sizes too small across the chest - there is plenty of room to let the seams out, but the attendant suggested a lace up back might be easier (for the seamstress). No offense to anyone with lace up backed dresses, but it would SO not suit my dress Anyway - have first proper fitting on Monday, and I am tell them I don't care if they have to unpick all 5 seems - I want a zippered back!

Sigh - big assets suck!

Anyone else needing MAJOR work done on their dress?!

oh poor thing puggie, don't worry about it, you make them do that zipper!

i have small assets & the waist was one size too small, but the bust was 2 sizes too big!!! really i didn't think my body looks abnormal, but these dresses make you feel abnormal just because you don't fit into them perfectly!

I am SO glad I am not the only one. Was really getting pretty upset about it for a while, there

Did feel good about one thing, though - Mum is a 14 and has been for YEARS. She bought a bridesmaids dress at the same store on Monday to wear to an evening ball she is going to, and she had to buy a size 20 She's STILL a 14 in all her other clothes, so goes to show how wacked some of these sizes are!

Good Morning Everyone

Firstly Puggie I can not believe you got a comment like that! I LOVE DUCK - Everytime I go out I treat myself and Paul goes steak so I think you have chosen perfectly! Do let us know when you have decided on the other items!

I think when you have your heart set on a dress looking a certain way you should make them put the zip in - But then we always want to look different I have to add assets to mine! But I am sure your dress will be every bit of what you imagined! Hows the MOH dress coming? I just remember the beautiful colour can't wait to see a pic!

Carla - I love the candles did you do them yourself? If so how did you get the writing on there? I am wondering if I can magae to make them yourselves?

Pinky Baybbee - How did you dress fitting go??

Kylie - Man you are one organised chicky! I can't get myself in order let alone the parents! But my dad is going to start painting next week too - The effort parents go to to make our days special!

Juless - So how did you feel about the trial - Love it? Any Pics??? I have mine next weekend!!!

WTF???!!! Puggie I can't believe someone would send you a PM like that...... I just don't get it. Why?? Jealousy and bitterness are very very ugly emotions - it always freaks me out when they come to the surface of someone's personality - but that is just bizarre! They all sounded srcummy to me! Good choice with the duck and beef methinks!



I am worrying about what mine is going to look like on the day, I have already picked it up from the seamstress but think I will try it on at Mum's place sometime next week - it was already being on the verge of being too big for me when I picked it up and unfortunately I have lost weight over the last two weeks with this throat infection. So, although it is a lace up back, I am really really worried that is going to be too big and will look awful unless I try and get it taken in - which very definitely would be a lot of work. Must eat lots of potatoes and steak!

I keep forgetting - I have my hair trial this Saturday! Am pretty excited now but have been so sick recently that I haven't really been thinking of anything related to the wedding - and now its all crept up on me!

Pinky, can we pretty please see a pic of your dress fitting?

And you Jules, of your hair trial??

Everyone is talking about printing out their menus - this is something I assumed the reception place would do??

Mazz, glad to hear your first day was good.

Lets have a quick whip around to see what we have left to do and make sure we are all on track:

- assemble OOS (already printed)
- finish assembling bombon (almost there!)
- chase up RSVPs (grrr.....)
- do seating plan
- write placecards
- Get BM dreses altered (this and next weekend)
- hair trial (this Saturday)
- finalise reception songs on iPod
- book beauty appointments for final week
- dry clean kilt
- pay off rings, pick up and get engraved
- make activity bags for kids

OMG - I think thats it!

Hey Harmonie, no i didn't do the candles myself, they cost $99 to get done in sydney, i wish i knew how to, im sure it wouldn't cost $99 to make!

but the place cards we did ourselves.

My reception place would do it, but I didn't like their menu holders so I am doing our own

we are making our own menus too, just so we can add that personal touch. i don't think my reception does menus, but they are pretty good with organising everything else.

tee hee! Although we have used the same colour schemes, we haven't used the same paper throughout our save the dates, engagement invites, wedding invites and OOS so I guess it won't matter too much!

PS - forgot to add - 1 month today for me, Marissa, and I'm sure there were a couple of others...?

Morning girls

Let's see...

Do programs
Print tags for bonbons (doubling as place cards)
Finalise seating chart, print and frame
Make dress sash
Finish alterations on my tea ceremony outfit
Make spring rolls for freezing
Design and print monogram stickers for Out of Town bags
Finalise music

It's not a huge list, but time consuming. Seeing it in a list really helps me remember what I need to do though, otherwise it's easy to just let it slide.

Amy that's pretty rude of them to comment on your menu. It's kinda funny because if you read past the jargon, what the meal actually is isn't over the top. It's all in the description. Good luck with the dress alterations. Mine was made to measure and they got it pretty right so no alterations for me at all. Plus it's a lace up back, which gives some room for error. There are some creases on the side of the bodice I can't get rid of and will have to live with though.

Our booklet is for the reception so will include the menu in it, along with info about our bridal party, speechy thing from us, in rememberance thing for h2b's father who passed away, gratitute section to acknowledge my best helpers and At Home info with our address and phone numbers.

Looking at these lists you guys have, I am pretty much done. Still need to
- work out a proper proper running list for the day,
- do my flower trial,
- print up menus (as soon as we've 100% decided on what we're having )
- make up instructions for the usher
- make up a map to show the route to walk between the church and the reception venue

Yawn - am in class - SO tired, today!

did someone say dress drama's?!?!?!?!?! im with u here Puggie.....my problem to begin with was similar to Carla's, the waist was too small and the bust was too big (ahhhh lil assets pfft!) AND THEN the stinking hem of the dress was shorter than the rest of it - soooo not happy with that....but im better now, dont cry at the thought of that no more, just ready for my next "all day" fitting on the 31st where they promised me that they'd fix it all up and as a pretty decent sized bridal place im trusting them here......

Harmonie - i was a lil nervous about the hair trial to begin with coz i had no idea if they would get what i wanted kinda thing, but it all worked out great, im very happy with it and yes definately love it - just waiting on my sister to send me some piccies now....she said she cant do it from work today something about the pc so now i have to wait until tonight!!! as soon as they come thru ill be sure to post pics girls

Pinky - how'd ur dress fitting go???

our reception place is doing all our menu's too - were just buying some pretty paper to attach them too to jazz them up a bit thats all.....

hmmm oh lord i havent really thought about this, but i guess this is what we have left:
finish place cards
finish bonbons
seating arrangements
were making our own platters with a bunch of goodies on them for our parents and godparents to give on the nite as a thank u gift
dentist and hair coloured this weekend
oh crap work out music and burn onto cd for band
pick up rings
girls dresses to be altered
mine too while were at it!

ummm i think that may be it - the list is getting shorter and shorter nowadays.....this thing is really real now!!!!!!!! yikes

Juless, I read that hair colour is best in the first 1-2 weeks, so don't get it done it too early.

HI GIRLIES!

I have been MIA for a while. Oh let me tell you my last few days..

WELL...*sigh*...decided to go back to Albury to do final wedding stuff right...so after organising the weekend off work, pushing uni to the side and finding time when Alan can go, we finally hop in the car and decide to head back home....that is until the car dies just as we are about to get on the M5....so off back to our house slowly we go. After an hour of crying and discussion with H2B's parents they decide we are flying home so book us flights which is just so lovely of them especially since they cost over a grand! so off we go to the airport and straight to the bar waiting for our flight We get home..meet our reception lady and organise menu, great all goes well. Go down town and book makeup artist and get a parking ticket in FMIL's car that she lent us while we were home typical... So then go and have my dress fitting.. I'm in love all over again yet I manage to somehow end up crying in my gown out of stress. I am not expecting tears in this gown just yet.. The dress lady who happens to be my childhood best friend calms me and explains to me this happens to all brides as its so hard trying to please everyone and we have to learn to just please ourselves. Mum throws a spanner in the works and suggests I try on a cathedral veil.. I tell her thanks so much for confusing things and she then proceeds to add how much she likes my hair the way I DO it and not how my hairdresser did it and I should have another hair trial... thanks mum but this is not the moment to tell me So all goes well considering I've put on 3 kgs, my dress still needs to be taken in - good sign!

THEN...MC cancels and can't come to wedding due to new work contract commitments. Great. The I call to confirm flights home and lady won't tell me because I didn't pay for them even though they are in my name.. Stupid bitch. Anyway so I call back again and new lady tells me straight away.. I feel like everyone is trying to test my patience. THEN...go to bon bon lady to officially order bon bons.. she tells me shes not doing then anymore but she will do them for me but shes ran out of ribbon and to go to spotlight who also have ran out but can order it in ..sheesh..

So everything is managing to go ahead.. I have just this moment got back from a 2 hour gym session which is just STUPID of me.. but hey.

oh and an assignment that was due tomorrow that I haven't started...is now due next friday so the gods are shining on me but just testing me out a bit!

FMIL and I also had a good weekend as we have a massive fight last time I was home and the first fight we've ever had in 7 years. Its all good now and she tells me how much she loves me and how beautiful I am which is really lovely despite everything that happened.

*SIGH*.. so that has been my last few days..

Now... I'm thinking of canning the hens night plans I had as its so friggin difficult and I have enough on my mind. This is my situation..

I live in Sydney.. MOH is in Albury.. so was going to have hens night in Syd with all my new friends and my bridal party were going to travel from Albury along with the groomsmen as the bucks night was planned for the same night. Now I'm realising how difficult it is to make it happen and how costly it will be so I've decided to just have a night with the girls up here..nothing major..just a nice dinner and cocktails in the city. Alan is canning his races bucks idea and having one back home the week before the wedding instead meaning everyone can make it.

I'm more focused on this wedding and making it all happen and can't deal with the stress of one big hens night etc.

Now..think thats about it for now...

I have to go back and catch up on what you girls have been doing.. I will also list my menu here for you later..its going to be delish!

But right now..I'm hitting the shower..and I'm going to be a sore girl tomorrow let me tell you!

xx

mwahs.