Awww so its only about 2 weeks to ago & Emma will pop. Quite literally at this rate!

Our very own Electric Wedding’s Emma is about to have a baby!

I am sooo excited. We have no idea if it’s a boy or a girl yet.. this is very frustrating for over-excited mates- Brides-to-be-knocked-up, take note… we want to buy things & need to know what colour.
So instead I am co-throwing Emma a baby shower. On the Royal Wedding Day!

We chose the theme of the Hungry Caterpillar.

Cups, plates, banners, balloons.. you name it- I have it! Oh & I am going to try to make a cake… God help me. I have also agreed to do the same caterpillar cake for my nephew’s Christening on Sunday…

My little nephew- awww so cute… just loves the hungry Caterpillar (well his mum really does!) He was due on Emma’s wedding Day.. but came 3 days later. Its like he knew…

So this little baby gets his/her shower on the Royal Wedding Day- seems quite apt for us!!

xxxx

So, I have been engaged for 14 months now & have done very little about my wedding.
Its not because I don’t want to, its because its so damn hard.

The guest list has been the biggest stumbling block.. at first it was money-related & now, having seen some weddings with upto 130 guests, I am more convinced than ever that a small do is more for us.
So I have a guest list of 50… the family have a mental one of 1000+
Sigh.

On top of this I haven’t booked a venue yet.
I wanted to have it in my parents garden but it’s a lot of work for them & I want to see if I can find a reasonably priced venue to take the pressure of a bit (maybe then they will return the favour over the guest list?? I think not.)
The first venue I saw last year- I LOVED. But it was £5,500 before I even popped a cork. They have gone bust now I heard.. no surprise. Learn something you greedy bunch.
I have recently found a barn over the cliffs which is lovely…
but they are ALREADY booked on my dates
Seriously its like, next June. Gah, pesky over-zealous Brides!

I have one more venue to see this week. It’s a bargain at face value but I haven’t been inside yet. In my experience.. if its too good to be true, I will hate it.

Either way. I will have a venue by the end of this week & that makes us VERY happy!!

What a kafuffle.

So, invitations are in design (more on that soon), cake is in M&S I imagine- ha! And my venue is immanent.
I am filled with a mixed dread & excitement at what is to come!

But first…. I have Emm’a baby shower to atend on Friday!! Yay! Can’t wait!!

xx

Oh what an amazing Bank Holiday weekend!!!!!
How good was the weather?!! I was lavishing myself in the sun & enjoying endless BBQ food, y-u-um.
My weekend kicked off with some Bridesmaid Dress shopping for Carly’s wedding.

So she has 4 very different ladies to dress but one superb idea that I am totally pinching for mine….
She is dressing us all in different dresses but all in the same colour tones. Even better.. the main colour is nude… the shops are bursting with nudes, creams & blushes. We were quids in & which made it a great day.

But we can’t have lace. Lace is for the bride.

We hit Bluewater in the afternoon & found some great dresses. I also bought quite a bit from H&M (totally un-wedding-related). They are looking great this season with some fab vest tops, cardis & summer dresses! We spent most of the day in there debating on what was nice for a wedding. Thanks to the input of all the ladies in the fitting room… very helpful

Carly bought her shoes- oh so lovely. Sorry I can’t share- as a girl is entitled to dazzle the world on her big day without her blogger-mate ruining the surprises!!

Need some help with your big day dresses?? Even if you are looking for something as a guest.. I would totally recommend
Very.co.uk
H&M
Oasis (for accessories)
John Lewis (Shoes, Bags & gifts)

OMG OMG OMG.
I am sooooo bloody excited I can’t contain myself.

I’M GOING TO TOGO!!!!!

Lome to be precise.

I know I know.. its not your standard Bali or Maritius… probably best known for
its National Football Team, specifically, this man.

Adebayor
Not bad huh?!

But it is also where my fiance was born & raised for a few years before his family moved to Paris. From then he split his time between Togo & Paris… After both his parents died he moved to London at the age of 14 to live with his aunt.
A mere 12 years later. He met me

His story about how & where he grew up is utterly facinating but sadly, its not mine to tell.. so for now, I can only tell you how exciting I am to get to meet his friends & family in a land far far away!

I can also confidently tell you I am bricking it.
We found out on Sunday, yes, Sunday just gone that this trip was on the cards & moving quicker than we imagined. So I went into ‘controlled’ panic mode.. WTF am I going to wear??!
Also a slight concern is my love of sun. I am more careful these days than ever before.. but Hello Sun, I love you.
We are going with his Aunt & Cousin- both of whom I am dying to get to know better! So, I will be the only sun worshipper for miles & miles.
I can only hope I can fake having an upset stomach & have to “rest” at the villa for a few days…

But with so much to see & do… ahhh can’t wait!!

C xx

Happy Monday All!

It comes around oh so quickly…

But I have been cheering myself up by looking at Valentine’s Day Gifts! Hint hint.
I’m not even sure why. We don’t ‘do’ Valentine’s Day, anniversaries etc but we do DO our 1st Year Engagement Anniversary!! (7th Feb)
It was agreed that if I was to wait 2 years, sigh, but only 16 months to go now, Yay…. That I would get a celebration of this event, as it was so special & personal to us.
So there’s no need for V-Day blues, I’m having V-day reds!!

Given my man’s romance score is, at best 5/10, I won’t hold my breath. It may seem futile, but one link, one email… stirs his thoughts

Today’s super browse is John Lewis. Its just all so lovely.

Best get on with some work now.

Hey there Brides to Be & Bloggers a-like!

I know right, we have been MIA for fricken ages! What was to be only a 2 week break turned into something much much longer!
But who’s counting right?!
Having had a very eventful end to 2010 & under new circumstances, we needed some time.

We didn’t miss anything though! Wills & Kate hey? Thanks for the extra Bank Holiday!!!

As a result, that is now the day I am now co-hosting one of my dearest friend’s Baby Showers!!!
Can you gues who it is??!!!

That’s right, the beautiful & recent Electric Bride Emma, is soon to be a mum!!!
So, you see, things have changed & quickly! : )

I couldn’t be happier for her & Matt! I wonder if I will have another Page Boy
or Flower Girl.. we’ll find out in May.

So, here I am.

MOH in Corfu in 6 months, flightless & presently dressless
A penniless Bride to be with an Olympic date
And for the second year in a row… ‘Aunty’ Charlotte.

With many plans & weddings in full whiplashing swing, my invite from Wills & Kate lost in the post & a baby shower to shoe-horn in, I’d love to share it all with you!

Please be kind & offer your tips all the way!

Much Love xxx

ha ha ha ha!!!
Its Friday & this Bride to Be is another year older today!!

Historically I like to be away for my birthday! Paris, Malta, Bali, oh Bali… Spoilt, I know.
But this year we are saving for a wedding!!

So I’m going to be sipping bubbles & chatting to my sister about wedding plans later. Yaayyy!!

Have a great weekend all xxxx

So here I am, sat in a ceremony feeling like everyone is glancing at me. A few older people are pointing too!!
They must be wondering who the hell I am.
Well, at this wedding, I am The Stranger.

Its the first time I have been with my patner to a wedding for one of his friends. So far they have all been my friend’s fabulous weddings.
Having now experienced ‘Stranger’ status, I wonder why on earth do people get so upset when their partner, who is unknown-to-the-couple, is NOT invited?? I might have been a bit put out, but I would have understood- especially if I don’t know the couple!
We are not joined at the hip & often go out seperately to all kinds of events. I always considered it “healthy”.

I DO think its completely justified not to invite the partner if you have never met them.

Given that I am brooding over my own guest list, this has been a valuable lesson. No strangers, pleeeease!

Oh God, the Bride & Bridesmaids just kept giving us a puzzled looks. Rob had never even met the Bride before…. No one spoke to us, or offered us a lift to the ceremony. Not even the guys he met on the stag do.
It was just very uncomfortable.

Ok, so why did I agree to go? Why didn’t I just say no? I did think about it.

My 3 reasons…
1. It was an African wedding & I was curious about how to bring this element into our own
2. The African Food. Rob insisted I try it all
3. Rob only really knew the Groom & his brother (and a few he met on the Stag) He wanted me there & I was invited

It doesn’t really justify my price per head?! We did make a generous donation to the gift list… well you do don’t you?! Especially when you know how much a wedding can cost!!
Well, in the end, we didn’t cost them a penny as we didn’t stay for the reception. More on that another day…

So B2Bs.. don’t feel so bad for saying no to strangers… you did it when you were younger & you still have the strength to do it now!

Stay safe : )
Charlotte xx

Happy Sunday everyone!

Last weekend I went to a wedding with a difference… it was an African wedding, in Holland Park.

I am marrying Rob, who is originally from Togo. He was bought up between Lome, Paris & finally London. This wedding for me was a great opportunity to see how we can bring some of Rob’s family’s culture to our wedding.
Something I had no idea how to do, to be perfectly honest!

The Ceremony

The Reception

So how did this work for me? What have I taken from it? Well, ALOT. I can’t give too much away, but we will not be having a Harp but there will be drums & music & it will be absloutely fan-bloody-tastic.

The music & the food.
Two things that are coming to our wedding! And mosy unfortunately..the two things I can’t really ’show’ you!!

So there we go.. it was a great ceremony & very inspirational for me. I am excited to bring all my ideas to life!!
On the flip side.. it was actually the worst reception I have ever been to and I have never heard of an equally bad experience… I will spill the beans very very soon!

Charlotte xx

Happy Thursday everyone!

Its a very special day for our latest Bride, Claire Johnson. Today is her Wedding Eve!!!

Well, she’s all grown up now!
Tomorrow we will see her marry Andrew Poole in Crewe Hall witnessed by all her family & their beautiful son, Aaron. Exciting!!!

We hope you both have an incredible day, I know you will & we are all so excited to be there!!

Much Love,
Charlotte, Rob & Faaamily!

As for me, I should be up & down Tower 42 by midday, then my Husband-to-Be will scoop me up from the floor and into the car heading straight to Crewe to join the family. I think I should have booked a massage in the Spa!