What have I forgotten?

[MrsWembley]

I'm in the middle of sorting it, MiL (to be) is round for lunch on Sunday and the last time she and I were talking about it, I felt so unprepared!

But she does have that effect on me...

So I want to be prepared. I have a notebook ready and waiting for the list of things I've already thought about and have already done, but I just know that she'll ask about something that I'll have missed. So, have I missed something.

Venue - done, given them timings, etc.
Food - sorted, venue providing specific menu
Cake - friend doing top layer, rest needs ordering from Patisserie Valerie (assuming they don't go bust!)
Dress - on order
Bridesmaids - got, need to sort out dresses
Photographer - being done by a friend - need to discuss actual shots wanted;
Hair - being done by a friend - need to discuss style and price for bridesmaids
Flowers - she said she'd do the tables, but I need to find a florist for the bouquet/buttonholes
Music - I'm putting a playlist together so we can save on a DJ (I hope, this may change...)
Cars - haven't thought about this, but DP mentioned it the other day. I was just going to sort out a taxi Have I mentioned I'm trying to cut costs?

Oh god, this looks far too short a list!

Thanks

I did wonder about an entertainer, but found out that our venue has a small lecture theatre with a screen, so after all the running around the zoo stops, they can sit calmly with a film and chill out!

I can see some of the older guests joining them

Any thoughts about lifts?

And what are your thoughts on favours?

Favours = waste of time and money. Better to spend the money on more food/drink.

I quite like favours personally but wouldn’t spend big bucks on them

Seating plan
Suits
Bridesmaids shoes
For children we put some packs together that were to be opened when the speeches started to keep them occupied
We also got some personalised aprons for the children who were part of the wedding, to save spillages on their nice outfits
Groomsman shoes
Gifts for bridesmaids, groomsman, parents
Thank you gifts if anyone helping you Is at the wedding
A gift and card from you to your groom for the wedding morning
Something old, new, borrowed, blue

We didn't have favours and I can't remember any from weddings I've been too
I didn't have a video I would be worried they'd film something i didnt want to see (guests slagging off dress etc...) or that it would be annoying to the guests - I would be keen to make sure the friend was a really good photographer though- I love my wedding photos and was lucky enough to have a friend who was a part time wedding photographer and only charged me the cost of developing the photos - I've known people use friends and been disappointed with the photos.
Kids entertainment I don't think it's essential as most parents will bring things for the kids to do...if you really think you need something my sister had a load of dressing up stuff (it was for the disco for the adults as well but the kids loved it) or if outside get bubbles, hula hoops (Poundland or similar) i personally think colouring books wont keep them distracted for long and are a non essential

I couldn't rely on friends for lifts- I'd be to worried something would go wrong !!

What sort of thing do Brides and grooms give each other? I'm going to have to have some conversations with my friends tomorrow!

And can I just check, groomsman is best man, yes?

When I've been bridesmaid I've always sorted out my own shoes - is that not normal?

And I know what you mean about being worried what you'd see and hear on a video

mrswembly

Groomsman is another name for an usher (I believe comes from America, but like a lot of things has gradually drifted over)

Bridesmaid shoes often are bought by the bridesmaid themselves as they are told to buy something comfortable or something they will wear again. If they were very specific and maybe something you would wear again then you might buy them for them

Ah, thank-you

And now another thing that DP has mentioned and I'm now questioning myself about - do you personalise the invitations? I thought not, can't remember any coming to me/us that had names anywhere other than the envelope. Or am I mistaken forgetful? He's saying where do we write names? I'm saying, on the envelope!

Yes, always got personalised invitations so you know who has been invited. Envelope only may confuse. Often Christmas cards are only sent to one family member but inside names each person. Our stationary woman has said she will get names on each invite so she can tie them all up ready to go

Hmmm...

So we're getting them off t'internet, no chance of adding individual names, so do we just add a 'To' followed by a space for handwritten names?

Yes. Because otherwise people don't know if their kids (oh's) are invited.

Yes just hand write the names. We have that option

Okay, so on the back (fancy front) there's a

*To
*
followed by a space, then under that there's the

*What day
What time
Where
Etc.
*
Does that work?

Actually, it's not To, thinking about it I've written Dear

.

We're just doing ours on Vista Print and just addressing the envelopes to include all members of the family who are invited.

Aha! We're using them too! Not one of the suggested designs offers a 'To/Dear...' space, which is why I questioned it when DP said about it!

If you google ‘wedding invitation’ and look at images 99% will have names on. We will definitely be having names put on as don’t want any confusion about who is actually invited.

My friend just wrote the names neatly at the top of each invitation when she used vista print.

We've already told everyone who will be invited to the full day, so it's not as complicated for us!

I used VistaPrint and just moved the design down a bit so it said
Together with our families we invite
(Space for names)
To the wedding blah blah blah...

That way we could put all the first names of the family on the invite that are invited.

Just "remembered" this thread!

My shoes were IC too, lovely shoes!

The video...I wish I'd had this as I've since lost my parents, and I wish I could remember my dad's speech...the whole day went by in such a blur, it's the only regret I have

Oh You're making me think twice about the video! I'm happy with DP saying no, but this really is a once in a lifetime party! I'm planning on a half-life party for my 60th, but that'll be a completely different affair.

Glad some of you have come back about the invitations - I've left a space for names (without the 'To/Dear' that I was planning - DP said he didn't like it and he's allowed some input ).