I think we're sorted, with a year to go!!

[momb]

We know some things get booked up months in advance so thought we'd get on with it.
I'm sure there would be lots of details to whittle about if we were the whittling kind but we aren't so here's the plan: go on, point out what we've forgotten please!
Barn for ceremony and reception.
I'm making my own dress, we're growing the flowers.
Bridesmaids (daughters) who don't normally wear dresses will be in sundresses that we'll buy next year.
We're providing transport from our home town and from local hotels to and from the venue so everyone can have a drink if they want one.
Booked circus workshop and bouncy castle. Bought garden games.
No table centres; have bought mini games cards/dominoes etc as we play these with our friends, and if people want to take them home afterwards they can.
Free bar: just soft drinks, beer, cider and wine, tea and coffee. Plus a round of pimms for after the ceremony for those that want it. Other drinks will be available but not covered by the free bar.
Food will be an ongoing affair: street stall style food and ice cream in the afternoon, ploughmans buffet through the evening. Crisps and sweets available all day.
No table plan, no speeches. No formal photos; just milling and snapping for one hour either side of the ceremony.
Ceildh in the evening. Quiet room and bar for those who don't want to dance.

Still to do: rings. give notice. Anything else? If not I can put the planning away fro six months and get on with more important immediate things :-)

[overmydeadbody]

What's the groom wearing?

[overmydeadbody]

Have you sourced places for the food? Will you be doing it or will you be booking caterers?

Your wedding sounds lovely btw!

[JohFlow]

Are you having any toasts? Is the booze sorted out for that?

[spottymoo]

Cake?

[momb]

Good points well made!
(and thank you OMDB :-) )

No toasts, no speeches. Open bar all day/night.

Oh and Best Man will need to go shopping in the January sales. They both need suits so a reasonable investment here is worthwhile. I'll make ties to match the bridesmaids (unless they are flowery in which case we'll coordinate rather than match!!)

Cake of cheese and simple fruit cake on show and then will be used as part of the evening ploughmans.

[momb]

I have booked a caterer for the street food and an ice cream van for the afternoon.

[LotsaTuddles]

Invitations?

[LotsaTuddles]

All sounds great by the way. Nice and simple. Sounds like you're doing it the way you want it, rather than what everyone else wants

[momb]

Invitations Doh!!!
Thanks :-D

[LotsaTuddles]

you're welcome

[LondonInHighHeeledBoots]

I'd look at backup flowers, the ones we were growing for mine either didn't grow out turned our to be tomatoes (seriously, yes, tomatoes.) but then neither DM or I are great gardeners.

all sounds pretty sorted to me though, get you!

[raisah]

Buy your drinks from a wholesalers like costco as it will the costs down. They do membership for the public now, have a look online for details.

JJWholesalers is open to the public aswell & you don't need to register beforehand. You order& pay online and then collect at the allocated time slot.

[momb]

Thanks London and Raisah
We've done a planning experiment this summer and have a really lovely crop of cornflowers (polkadot mixed colours), ivy and marguerite daisies. The Gyp went over too soon (the hot spell at the end of July) so we'll need to buy a box next august. Otherwise we're quite confident about the flowers.
The alcohol is the only thing that we have to source from the venue, but have negotiated a pre-order cost deal rather than going with the bar prices as we don't want the guests to pay anything. We're providing the soft drinks and have an independent caterer. Your wholesalers sounds great but is alas not in this area. Thanks for the tip.

[momb]

..planting experiment..

[ammature]

Sounds amazing! Weirdly I have tomatoes growing that came from a peony bulb packet? What's that about. I am growing my flowers to have seeds for multiple people. Hardy annuals but I am gonna book a florist for my bouquet as a back up also. Maybe source a grower or wholesale flower supplier to have in your phone book as a back up. Sounds like an ace wedding!