So we have been overloaded with work and this website has not been updated in a long time. Many things have happened since the last post so I’ll just try to summarise it here.

- Bouquets: We bought and received mine and the bridesmaids bouquets. They are silk with the colour scheme I chose (red and white). They look lovely and they were quite cheap as well. And we can keep them for a long time. So adding this to the centre pieces for which we have the material already, the flowers: all done!

- Bridesmaids dresses and jewellery: They have all arrived and the dresses are lovely I also bought the jewellery already, again within the budget, and it looks fantastic. Jemma tried it all on yesterday and she looked stunning

We went to Derby this last weekend to take care of a few things and so I could have a girls night out with Russ’s family. It was really nice! I knew some of them and other met them at the restaurant and they are lovely. The best part is that two of Russ’s cousins (Dana and Kate) are getting married at around the same time we are.

So this weekend:

- Registrar: We delivered all the documentation in hand so it’s all set. All we need is a meeting with them closer to the date to discuss vows and other ceremony stuff.

- Dress: I finally ordered it. And I’ve decided for ‘The One’. I realised that no matter how many dresses I tried, I always had that one in my mind and I would regret not having it.

- Photographers: We spent the weekend meeting photographers so we could choose one that was both affordable and we felt comfortable with. It was exhausting! Some of them were good but too expensive, other were truly horrible . In the end we went for a woman we really felt comfortable with. She’s young, nice, her style is what we like and she is cheap! We are just waiting for the contract to be sent. We’ll write something more about it once things are set.

- Chair covers: Dana told us about a wedding exhibition so we all went there to look for bit that we are still missing like chair covers. We saw a lot of stuff, including a fashion show (none of the dresses really impressed me). One of the companies for chair covers was almost within what we were expecting but then Dana told us about another one even more affordable Thanks!!!

So in the end it was a very fun weekend and it was great to have Russ’s family involved. It was also very tiring… But I glad to say that we have almost everything sorted out! And there’s still months to go! Really enjoying it!

It has been a nightmare to find a bridesmaid dress that I like. If there was actually one I like it would be the wrong colour, or too expensive. I’ve been through every shop available, online, all of them. Finally I found one! Well within budget, the right colour, the perfect shape. Only it was by catalogue so no idea if it was really what it seemed to be or if the fabric was nice enough.

Well Sophie ordered one to try, we went visit this weekend, and… !!!!!!!!!!!!! It is even better than I thought! The shape and colour are perfect and the fabric is much better than the very expensive ones I saw. So today I ordered the other two and we will see if the sizes are good. If not we can always send them back. So happy! And so jealous! I have to buy one for myself!

So got what I wanted: a beautiful dress that they can wear again, comfortable and within budget. That and the jewellery will be my gifts to the bridesmaids Still searching but have a pretty good idea about what I will get. The shoes, I’ll leave it up to them. Having very sensitive feet I know how much comfort is important so they can choose whatever they like. Make up and hair, well they can talk to each other and see if they want to have them the same or not.

It was a fantastic weekend. I had some appointments to try on wedding dresses and Sophie, Sue (Russ’s mum) and I had so much fun! The conclusion was that The One is still The One! Tried it on again and the feeling was the same. The others don’t even compare.

We then carried on, all of us girls, to town to search for shoes and accessories (while the boys went shopping for groceries and baked some nice pastries). Didn’t find the shoes but found my jewellery :D. It is gorgeous and so cheap as well, special price. I even got two sets to have a choice on the day all below budget. It was a great weekend and we girls had a lot of fun. Should do it again soon!

So on an English wedding, the bride is supposed to have bridesmaids to help her with everything necessary. So instead of a godmother and godfather as in Portugal, I could choose several bridesmaids.

Unlike Russ, who set up a romantic scene to ask Johnno to be his best man, I just informed them selected few:’By the way you are going to be my bridesmaid, just thought I should inform you.’ No chance for a ‘No’

So they are (in alphabetic order):

Jemma: Although we’ve only met 2 years ago, she has been my best friend in this country, someone reliable, and my shoulder to cry on and my company for the crazy girly moments. She is even more organised than me

Sophie: Russ’s sister. Unfortunately I don’t know Sophie as much as the previous but I hope that can change. She was 16 when I met her and she immediately impressed me with her maturity, intelligence and,most of all, kindness. As she grows and I get to know her better, she keeps surprising me as she is turning into a fantastic young woman. And she is funny too. I say that she has Russ’s sense of humor but she is actually funny

Vanda: What can I say about Vanda? I’ve known her for more than a decade and we’ve been through so much from university to holidays, to so many moments together. She has been there for my bad and also for my good times. For all occasion she is a friend I cherish beyond words. I just wish she was here with me

I don’t think I could ask for better bridesmaids then these 3 young ladies. And I know I can count on them just as they can count on me (L)