To TTC or not to TTC, that is the question... as Hamlet sort of said about something else entirely

It's all in the boning and the fabric - cheaper one's are cheaper for a reason (this is not meant to sound snobby, by the way, I realise that £1000's for a dress is close to madness and not everyone can do it - this is written as don't want to offend any other possible readers!) If I had had to shop for mine I think I would have been the same - thinking sod it, and paying over budget. I love the Jenny Packham one's so mine was loosely based on that kind of style. It doesn't show in the pics, but mine was actually beaded in 1000's (my poor mother!) lightly coloured beads and swarovski crystals so it kind of shimmered. Just the fabric and beading for mine cost £500 so I dread to think what it would have cost if I had commissioned someone to make it!

Big white frocks are perfect for church weddings. I can see why you went for it!

I was most bereft after it was all over, and we didn't really have any big plans for after either to distract us. The wedding weekend was almost better on the Friday when we all got there and spent hours doing up the fort, and the Sunday where we spent it chilling out eating wedding cake (which was cheese!) than the day itself. Not that I didn't enjoy the day, but it was very hard to both have a conversation with anyone and switch off. I have likened it to hosting a party - that can be stressful - but then imagining that the people have travelled from all over the country (wedding was in Cornwall, convenient to noone) and have an age range of 15 to 86.

Yes, it is a kitten. I have 100's of pics of me with various animals of varying degree's of scabbiness around the world. A similar pic of me and a baby? You know, I am not sure at this precise moment but if you ask me in two hours I may well have changed my mind!

My mental image of HP is definately brunette. And wearing lab goggles.

And possibly pushing a pram...

Thanks Confused. You do get what you pay for. This one was actually the cheapest dress in the shop (but it was a caroline castigliano shop!) and the only one with slevees (gosh, they were difficult to come by) and I wouldn't have even gone in there if it wasn't for the fact that my best mate had just ordered hers from there, so I felt like I knew the shop assistants! You're right, when I tried on the 500ish quid dress, they just felt so shoddy in comparison. In the end I figured that if you were going to spend 100s on a dress for one day, then you may a well spend a few more 100s and get a dress that felt fantastic.

And I always knew we'd have a big church wedding, cos I have a huge (very close) family and the church that I went to when we got married (have moved since then) was a big C of E church, so a big white frock was always a valid option. Just didn't expect to get one so big.

Your wedding sounds fab. I love the idea of having a wedding weekend. I felt a bit bereft after all the wedding planning finished, but we were in the process of buying our new house at the same time, so I had plenty of other planning to do.

Is that a kitten you are cuddling in the bottom picture? Imagine a similar smiley happy picture with a DC in place of the kitten?

Yes, HP, YOU!

Oh yes, yessy, yes!

Tell me about your wedding, YTD

Am uploading more as we 'speak.' I need to get some off the other machine I think as I am grasping at straws a bit now. I'll end up getting carried away ('this is my Grandma, this is my house, this is my mum aged 4 etc.)

I think the image I have of HP is similar to what she described but possibly less dark. It's the scientist bit that did it!

Seriously girls, BFP? Moi?

Lol at Honeypetal the young Bardot.

confused - keep rambling - you have an attentive audience.

I think an amesty is probably a good idea. I don't want pictures that are obviously me being available. Might make me less inclined to comment on some threads! (Not that these are very representative, my wedding day look is not one I use often!).

Quick post as am just about to get ready to go out (meal round friends).

Loving all your pics!!!

I will try and get on the lap top tomorrow morning. Hmmm. Might be tricky as DH looks after all the digital piccies as he is a bit of a amateur photographer, so will have to hunt some out.

Regards my appearance, well, I'm impossibly glamerous, some say I remind them of a young Bardot.....sorry, I can't keep that going with a straight face. I'm the opposite of that, dark haired and studious looking. I'll chuck a piccie up tomorrow.

YTD - MY GOD, THAT DRESS! I think it comes across better in the more recent pics than it did in the first two. I didn't fancy a big dress myself (think they are better suited to church weddings and ours was in a fort) but think they can look stunning - but do think you get what you pay for too. A cheaper version of that style wouldn't have had half the wow effect that yours has. Beautiful!

Am now wondering what other pics to put up. As it's (I think) for our eyes only, I find some of me and DH in Cambodia - there's a limit to the one's I have on this machine you see.

I second that the first BFP on this thread...

I am stupidly excited about seeing you all. Just had a friend on the phone and was hastening the conversation cos I wanted to see if confused had more piccies up (and you have - love the one of you and DH dancing - you both look so happy).

HP, I too think you just click with a house. i would also strongly counsel against getting one which needs a load of work doing. Seems a good idea at the time but is hard work and does become a bit all consuming. If you find a house you love that doesn't need work then go for that, cos then you can start living in it straight away.

You love the house with the nursery eh?

I still maintain that the first BFP on this thread...

YTD Thanks - will look now! Back in a sec

An amnesty would be good as still not 100% sure they are only visible to you lot. If I could know for sure it wouldn't be a big deal but I don't want to post on another thread and someone I know then looking by chance at my profile. Do let me know when yours are up too - am now in overdrive trying to work out what you'd look like. Stupidly exciting, indeed. Dear me!

Quite small, housewise, is a totally different kettle of fish. After all, you wouldn't want to have to move again relatively soon (even if there were no DC's in the equation, it's amazing how you can fill a house.) Would it be too much of a push re the lovely house? Maybe it is better to see if anything comes up for a bit less so you don't end up with any financial pressure (or potential pressure.)

Am still thinking about weddingy things. I miss all the planning with mine, especially the first few months afterwards. In some ways I'd like to do it all again although it was impossible to relax until at least 10pm on the actual day. We had booked somewhere from the Friday to the Monday so our wedding was actually a long weekend - I preferred it that way as one day would have been over far too quickly. The place was self catering too - although we got caterers in - so it was more like having an amazing self catering cottage to ourselves, and the 20 people who also stayed there.

Anyway, getting sidetracked. Might be better to keep thoughts to myself instead of rambling on.

Keep those photo's coming!!

Have just outed myself some more. A few more piccies should be visible now. I have one availble to all and a few more just for mumsnet mates.

I sympathise re not very good at being centre of attention. The first thing I said when I tried my dress on was "I can't wear this, everyone will look at me"!

I saw 3 piccies, including DD!! It's so weird! I'm stupidly excited!! Have to reduce number of exclamation marks!

It's great to see a 'face'. Once I can get on the lap top I will put a piccie up. We can have an amnesty or something, and remove them by an agreed date/time.

The mankyness of the house didn't put me off as much as it was quite small and also manky. I don't mind doing some cosmetic work, but extensions are out of the question.

Ha! Must be working. Only had one pic on general view, the rest were for MN mates. Will change big one back. Will try and find some more as they're not on full view. Let me know if any of you change profiles or similar so I too can have a good ol' nose... I like putting faces to the'names' but it also seems really weird. Hard to describe how, but weird all the same.

Just seen you confused! You look lovely. All three pics visible. DD's wedding outfit is very cute.

Ooooh! Did you! Did you see any others? I ask as I only made one public (and would rather none are!)

Thanks for the compliment, by the way. I do like that pic, despite silly face. Generally not very photogenic as have roundish face which doesn't work well in pics.

It is weird isn't it, seeing real people. I thought that when I saw YTD - I got quite excited about it, in all honesty. Am obviously easily amused.

With you on keeping the pics to us, but thought that was just what I had chosen. How annoying. DH may be able to sort it but can't ask him for obvious reaosns.

Oooh, sounds good re the houses. I know you are meant to view loads and so on, but I think you just know if it is one you gel with. Would the manky one be good with some decorating etc? Would you want to and be able to spend the time? I ask as it's horrendous while you're doing it, but then fabulous when it's finished and all YOURS.

Nursery, hmmm.... I'm saying nothing too

OMG!!!!!!! I just saw you! This is really weird! You look beautiful!

Same as YTD, profile now visible but no piccies.

If we can figure out a way of keeping the photos to us, I will stick one up!

Right. House. As predicted, the first house was a bit manky but the second house was beautiful. It is right at the top of our budget, so we are thinking about it over the weekend. However, the couple (who were lovely) had a new born baby which I nearly asked if it was included in the asking price. There was ready made nursery, I'm saying nothing. It was all very lovely, very modern, very grown up. Eek!!

Now made one pic visible to all MNers. There are three up though. Tell me what you can see.

Hi! I made them visible for Mumsnet Mates, or at least I thought I did. Er... not sure if I want them properly public, but guess I can remove them if needs be. Hold on...

I'm here! Confused can see your profile but there are no photos. Have you made them available?

HP, are you going to out yourself as well? And have you found a house?

Okay. Not sure what else to try. The instuctions seem pretty simple and as foolproof as these things can be so not sure what else to try. Any other ideas? Try making one yourself - just type nonsense in if you like - and see if it works. If it does, and mine doesn't, I've cocked up. YTD might know (but obviously is elsewhere.)

You found a house then? How was it?