Some of The Finer Details

I loved planning our big day.  At times it was very stressful but all in all I loved every minute of the planning.  I've always been a planner and I don't suppose there will ever be a bigger event in my life, than my own wedding, it is something every girl dreams of.  I wasn't really sure what to expect from it all but it was amazing.

The dress shopping was the bit I had been dreading all along but once we had started I actually really enjoyed it.  Even after I had picked my dress I felt tempted to carry on looking at others just because I had enjoyed it all so much.  Maybe it's because I didn't really have any expectations of it, that it just seemed so much better than I had anticipated but I shan't complain.  

I loved it.

I had originally intended on getting a vintage style dress.  Something pretty and lacy, a tea dress kind of length (I didn't want a train), possibly a dress with sleeves but definitely something that would cover my chest (as I get this awful rash when I get nervous or emotional).  In fact the dress that I had my heart set on was this one.

Image sourced from Google images.

But the truth is, I tried them on and they just didn't look right.  I don't know what it was, but they didn't suit me.  I was gutted.  Well until I found the style that did suit me and then I found THE dress.  I was stuck between 2 dresses to begin with but this one won us all over.

We were really lucky with the bridesmaid dresses.  They sort of picked us really.  Originally Marie had tried it on for the style of dress not the colour, but as soon as we see it on, we knew it was the one.  Both my dress and the girls dresses were designed by the same designer, and they really complimented each other.

I don't really know how we decided on the venues, it just sort of happened.  We had looked at a few different ones but settled on Hylands House for our ceremony.  The building and park is now owned by Chelmsford City Council, however the last private owner of the house had a lot of involvement with Trumans Brewery.  Now of course with James being a brewer this had some meaning to him.  I've always loved Hylands.  I used to go to the park with my parents to collect conkers in the Autumn.  Growing up it has always been a place to go to get away from things.  Now it has even more meaning.

As we were trying to keep the price as low as possible we decided to hold our reception in a hall.  We looked at halls close to the ceremony venue and settled on Longmeads House Community Centre in Writtle.  It's a Victorian manor house with some beautiful features.  However over years of neglect, seeing the hall empty required a lot of imagination to visualise what we were looking to achieve, but I'm happy that we managed it.

I'll leave the decoration and the smaller details till another post.  Sorry, I did warn you yesterday that there may be a few wedding posts.

~ Gem x 

Our Country Wedding Day

I seriously cannot believe that I am writing about my very own wedding, it just seems so crazy.  Already in my head I can sense a fair few wedding related posts coming up.  I'll try and break it down into sections as opposed to throwing it all into one long blog post.
I know all you really want to see are photos.

It was the most perfect and magical day.  

I loved every second of it.  

The day was everything I had imagined it to be and more.    

The weather was glorious, we couldn't have asked for better, especially as the days leading up to the wedding had turned really cold, wet and windy.

A lot of the elements of the day we had put together ourselves.  

A lot of favours were called in and the help from our friends and family was invaluable, we couldn't have done it without them.  

All of the planning and the stressing though was worth it and looking back I wouldn't have changed a thing.

It all felt so personal and that was exactly what we were looking for, so I am more than pleased that we managed to capture that.

It felt like such a laid back and relaxed day, everything seemed to flow really well and everyone had a great time (or so they tell us).

    I'm just sad that it is all over now.

I'd give anything to be able to live it all over again.

But instead I will just have to relive it all through beautifully captured photos and of course the happy memories.

~ Gem x 

A Country Bridal Shower

Initially I had intended on planning my own bridal shower, but if I'm being honest with you, I spent more time stressing about what everyone else would want to do rather than what I wanted to do.  It was here that my good friend Marie and my lovely Mum stepped in and took over.  

They did an amazing job.  I couldn't have done it any better myself. The whole day was just lovely and the little touches were just right, it was all very me.

We started off with afternoon tea in a gorgeous local tea room in the village called The Secret Garden.  I have been a few times before but have never before had exclusive use of the private function room.  I felt very special.

We ate well, talked lots and even played a few games.  

Once we had all finished we headed off to another local business in the village to take part in another of my favourite activities.  Pottery painting.

It was so nice seeing my friends and family (some who have never met before) getting along with each other and enjoying the afternoon as much as I was.  

I know it isn't everyone's cup of tea (excuse the pun) but I honestly couldn't of thought of anything else I would have wanted to of done.  And I have to say, I loved the country references hehee.

Gem x x x

Hen's in Bath

I've been away longer than I'd planned, but I have a good excuse this time.  I've been busy getting married.  Yes you are now reading the blog of a newly married woman (now I never imagined hearing myself saying that)  I will be sharing with you our special day but thought I'd take you back to my hen celebrations first.  No need for censoring these posts though ladies, it's not really my kind of scene, sorry to disappoint.

I knew I was going away for a weekend with my Mum, but that was all I knew, I had no idea where I was going, I had been given a list of what to pack but had been told that there may well be some red herrings in there so it didn't really give me any clues.  You can imagine my surprise when not only my mum turned up to collect me but also my best friend Marie and my brother's girlfriend Rebecca.  I'd been given the option of a clue, but I figured they had kept it quiet this long so I'd wait until we arrived at our destination.  It just goes to show how well they all know me, We ended up in Bath, somewhere I have always wanted to go.

We checked into out hotel and headed straight to the thermal spa where we were all booked in for a treatment and an afternoon in the spa.  It was lovely and very relaxing.  We had a good gossip in the steam rooms and pools before heading off to our treatments, it was lush.  The evening ended in a gorgeous restaurant  followed by an early night, Very rock 'n' roll haha.

The next day was a proper touristy day sightseeing around Bath.  We started the day off at the Roman Baths.  Such an incredible place, some things in this world never ceases to amaze me.

After the baths we stopped for breakfast and then took a leisurely stroll up the the Circus and the Royal Crescent.

Such beautiful architecture.

Mind you I'm not sure I'd fancy living there, I reckon I'd get a bit fed up with all the tourists milling about the place.

The weekend was finished off nicely with a high tea back at our hotel.

Such a lovely weekend with some lovely ladies.  I was spoilt rotten.

~ Gem x