Wedding Plans

Wedding Plans

This wedding planning thing is working out to be harder than I first expected. While my weight loss seems to be under control, nothing else is. I have managed to convince myself at some point that I have AGES to worry about things, which I do. BUT I have also chosen the most popular month of the year in Sydney to get married. So this means while I have ages to plan, bookings should be made in advance.

In the future at some stage I would LOVE to be a wedding planner. I have always loved the idea of it and delved as deeply as I thought courteously possible into the weddings of friends and relatives. It’s just paying for it is a little scary!

I know that I could do this cheaply. Jason would be more than happy to have a BBQ in the backyard and then surprise everyone by saying hey this is a wedding! Great for someone who wants low key. But I am being selfish this time.

I have missed out on the fanfare that normally goes on in my life for my WHOLE life. I have never had a big celebration in my life. No deb ball, no formal, no sweet 16^th, no 18^th, no 21^st etc. This is the one thing I want to celebrate in style and I feel I deserve that big day.

I remember clearly looking in bridal shop windows with my Mum since I was a tiny child admiring the beading and lace work and the huge ball gown style wedding dresses in the window. We would discuss what we liked and what we didn’t and what we would do for my wedding when the time came. Some things have changed over the years but the dream is still there.

There are certain things I have always dreamed of and on those I refuse to compromise. I was at a wedding recently and there was a woman who spent most of the wedding and the reception crying her eyes out. I was there as her friends gathered to find out what was wrong and she said. “I wish my wedding was like this one, we had to cut corners and I regret all of it, I hate looking back at it knowing my one chance is gone.”

I don’t want to be that woman.

Jason is going to be of no help in this department because he doesn’t get it at all. As I said BBQ in the backyard. My Mum gets it though because she said if she were to do her wedding again she would do it differently, but unfortunately my parents are not in a position to help me, and nor should they really, have to I’ll be 30 by the time we marry. My bridesmaids have been so damn supportive! (I love you girls!) Even my M-I-L and I are getting on heaps better. She took me to a friend of hers wedding last weekend it was gorgeous.

So what’s been organised / decided already?

Not much! Haha.

Ceremony – I have spoken to the good people at National Parks about my dream ceremony location. Jason took me here once when we first met. I think not long after we started dating and I decided this was where we would get married. I have never waivered on that fact and while it hasn’t been booked yet (National Parks want me to wait until next year to book) We are sure the ceremony will be taking place at West Head which is the Northern Most Tip of the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. It is a stunning cliff top lookout set amongst gorgeous bushland and looks out over Pittwater and Broken Bay, over Lion Island and Palm Beach.

I’ll try to attach a photo later which shows one aspect but I have recently bought myself a park pass and I may visit soon with Jason to take some proper photos of the area myself as nothing online does this place justice. It was recently used by Home and Away for the wedding of Belle and Aden so if you saw that you have a good idea of what we’re doing.

(Update header photo is of West Head)

Reception – Only this week I have a date pencilled in at a stunning venue on circular quay. It honestly can’t get much better than Quay Restaurant. I am pleasantly surprised that the pricing is less than the function centres I have looked at and I have heard first hand experience from a friend who went to a wedding there and said it was the best venue she has ever been in. I have chosen it mainly for the view. Quay has a 260° view of the Harbour Bridge sweeping across to uninterrupted view of the Opera House. I love this city and I am looking forward to showing it off, especially as all of my family will be coming from interstate.

I am going in to see it all set up for a wedding next weekend which I am looking forward to. I hope I can drag Jase along with me and he falls in love with it as much as I have.

Date – Jason and I will be married on March 5^th 2011. It’s a Saturday. I have chosen March as it is a stunning month in Sydney. The smallest chance of rain which is important for an outdoor wedding and the first weekend in March is a public holiday in Victoria which is where most of my family and interstate friends will be travelling from so it makes it easier for them to attend.

Photographer and Videographer – I’m torn on this one but it is the next thing I would like to have booked in as I think the rest can start to work it’s way out around these key things. These are the important ones to have booked.

Guest List – Will be smaller than I would like. I would love everyone I know to be there to celebrate with us, but, if I want more than a BBQ, it’s just not doable. I am worried about tackling the children issue. It isn’t possible to have the children of our guests at the reception. I think it’s going to be a tricky one. I would love to hear from you if you also had an adults only reception or if you are a parent and have had this experience before and when you have what was exceptionally well handled and what wasn’t? Pointers would be great here! I’m hoping most people will be excited about a night without their kids, and those coming from interstate, excited about an adults only weekend which is a rare treat for any parent.

Attendants – Jason has 4 Groomsmen and myself 4 Bridesmaids. He hasn’t decided who’s doing what on the day but the team consists of his high school best friend David, Conrad, Nick and Rob. Supporting me has been / will be Matron of Honour - Lauren (Loz), Simone (Simmo, also happens to be Rob’s wife), Carissa (Will be Nick’s wife as they get married in October) and Angie. These people all hold such special places in our lives and I am so excited to be spending our day with them.

I promise to update with more when I have it.