Feet up time

Last weekend I had an incredibly fruitful couple of days. My Auntie Ann, my mums youngest sister, came up for the weekend for a jam packed day of wedding fun last Saturday.

First we went to Precious Moments in West Kirby to pick up a sample of our wedding stationary. It looked fantastic. I want to change one of the colours but when we put an order in I will post a picture. They are exactly what we were looking for. Simple, classic and stunning. Well I think they are.

We then popped into the cake shop across the road, Pipedreams, where I showed her the chocolate bomb cake that we had seen. It is so yummy looking. I think a lot of people don't bother eating wedding cake, especially when it is fruit cake. When you see this cake you just want to dive in!

Our next stop was Cherish the Bride wedding dress shop. I had a look along the racks and pulled out another halterneck. This dress is stunning. It is unlike any other dress. I think a lot of them can look the same. Especially the strapless dresses with big skirts. On the Catwalk at Confetti and in pictures you can't see the embellishments on them and every dress looked very similar.

This one has a huge ruffle around the neck and it very fitted to the hips and then goes out. It is so different to what I thought I would wear that I know ive got to have it. Changing the hair style from day to evening changes the over all look of the dress. It looks classy and sophisticated with my hair up and a veil then for the evening if ti is down and swept to one side it looks more sexy! I am going back to try it on again next week. And I can't wait!! Need a third, fourth and fifth opinion!!

Our day then moved onto the Confetti wedding show. I enjoyed going around the stands and watching the catwalk but there wasn't a lot more that I needed. The one thing I wanted to look at, shoes, didn't really feature which was a shame! I almost talked myself into having a chocolate fountain and I really enjoyed tasting them!! I don't think I can justify having one especially as we are having dessert with our meal and then the chocolate bomb cakes.

What we did get that was very welcome was 20% off food and drink at Blue bar on the Albert Dock so we headed over there for a very late lunch! Food was very welcome at this point as it was 3pm! Afterwards I suggested we popped into Monsoon at Liverpool One just to have a look. A lot of their dresses are perfect for bridesmaid dresses. As we walked in an aubergine dress caught my eye in the sale. I walked over and picked it up. It was a dress from their bridal range and it was perfect. There were quite a few but you can never find the sizes you want- or can you? I got all of the right sizes and even got a spare! Each dress was reduced from £155 to £40.50. A brilliant bargain. I ummed and ahhhd about whether I should get them but in one go I could get all dresses for under £200. A lot of the dresses you see in magazines and bridal shops are almost £200 each! By getting the spare one I feel I have covered my back in case anyone needs a dress taking out or straps adding. The only person I didn't get of course was Danielle. As she is 11 the dresses aren't really that suitable for her as they have sweetheart necklines. I think I will put Danielle in white like me but put the sash from the spare dress on it so she ties in with the other bridesmaids.

Auntie Ann also bought me a stunning bag from Monsoon bridal which is covered in pearls and will fit neatly in a suitcase for use on the honeymoon. I also treated myself to three dresses-I couldn't help myself they were all reduced and are long and floaty and romantic-perfect for the honeymoon.

This weekend just gone saw a few more things fall into place. Rich tried on suits and looked gorgeous-I almost cried. He is wearing black penguin tails, black trousers an ivory waistcoat and ivory cravat. The rest of the grooms party will wear an aubergine cravat to match the bridesmaids.

We also bought our wedding rings as the price of platinum had gone down. Both plain, simple bands. I also bought Rich's wedding gift as it was hugely reduced in the sale.

On Sunday my friend Vicky and I went to the Tatton Park wedding show. Like Confetti I enjoyed the day and the catwalk show but I had most of the things I needed sorted and again no one was there with any shoes! I did see a lovely tiara though and will go and look at them again when I have more time. The problem with trying things on at wedding shows is getting poked and pushed by other brides!

I think the shows are really worth going to if you still have a lot to do. They made me realise how much I had under control though which made me feel SO much better!