[chrysostom]

Why use Etsy? They're hugely overpriced! (ahem, use Zoot)

[Nicola_Red]

Perhaps I shall. I hadn't really thought that far ahead yet, I'm still just getting ideas together.

ETA: can anyone explain to me the point of 'save the date' cards? Isn't the invitation the thing that tells you to save the date?

[Bonanzoid]

Bloody hell, I should start a wedding band. We played for free when we did one, but then again it was our guitarist's sister's wedding. £800 though? I could knock out a few clichéd tracks on the drums for that.

[Nicola_Red]

Oh God, the wedding industry is a cash cow. It's the same with a lot of mobile DJs though - the one my parents hired for their ruby wedding party pretty much just turned up with a laptop and a couple of compilation CDs and a set of those crappy coloured flashing lights, Peter Kay-style, and then sat gassing to his mate for the entire evening. I told my brother that we should totally get into that business.

[Topher]

ETA: can anyone explain to me the point of 'save the date' cards? Isn't the invitation the thing that tells you to save the date?

We had them because our proper invitations weren't ready when we really needed to notify people when the wedding was (we were indecisive with the invitations... sorry Zoot!)

[chrysostom]

The invitation just has the date - not the church venue or the reception venue, nor details about the wedding.

You can set the date well in advance, but the specifics will need to be done nearer the time (some venues/churches are booked quite close to the event in some cases).

It's essentially to ensure all the people you want to come have it saved in their diaries, especially if you're choosing a popular date (August bank holiday weekend etc.)

[DevilsDuck]

Our save the dates were pencils with our names and the date on it

[chrysostom]

That's great! (Although did people lose them?!)

[Boboff]

Did you have any constipated Maths Teachers on the guest list?

[neilt0]

Did you have any constipated Maths Teachers on the guest list?

I forgot how that joke went, but I was eventually able to work it out.

[Nicola_Red]

The invitation just has the date - not the church venue or the reception venue, nor details about the wedding.

You can set the date well in advance, but the specifics will need to be done nearer the time (some venues/churches are booked quite close to the event in some cases).

It's essentially to ensure all the people you want to come have it saved in their diaries, especially if you're choosing a popular date (August bank holiday weekend etc.)

You mean the save the date card just has the date on it, and the full-on invitation has all the details? I do realise I probably sound thick here, but I've only been to four weddings in my life (more than one funeral though sadly), and for two of those I was a kid so my parents made all the arrangements. I don't remember getting a save the date card for either of the two I was an adult for. If all goes according to our preliminary plans, it isn't gonna be a public holiday or anything like that. I think I'm framing it in my mind as a party rather than a wedding reception, which is why so many aspects of it confuse me. (Also apologies for dominating this thread!)

[Chris]

Start a wedding thread?

We are all invited, right?

[Nicola_Red]

I could start a thread...I was worried it'd be all like LOOK AT ME EVERYONE I'M GETTING MARRIED I'M SO SPECIAL, y'know? But then it is really helpful to throw ideas around with people who aren't directly involved.

[The Deadly]

A wedding fully deserves its own thread. It's an important thing.

[The Deadly]

Plus it gives you a great opportunity to merge some of the comments from this thread into that one. It would probably make the top 8 merges.

[Nicola_Red]

That is true. You know how I love a good merge.

[DevilsDuck]

That's great! (Although did people lose them?!)

Yep, but nearly everyone turned up

Did you have any constipated Maths Teachers on the guest list?

My dad's an accountant!

[chrysostom]

I could start a thread...I was worried it'd be all like LOOK AT ME EVERYONE I'M GETTING MARRIED I'M SO SPECIAL, y'know? But then it is really helpful to throw ideas around with people who aren't directly involved.

I love that if this was another member you would be going crazy and denouncing marriage glad you've come around!

But you are getting married, and in your world you should be special. Embrace it, it may only happen once!

[Nicola_Red]

'May' only?! Nice that you have such faith in me and I've never denounced marriage! I've even been engaged once before, many a year ago. I will admit I was becoming increasingly bitter and cynical as I got older, assuming it was never gonna happen for me - then Mr Red changed everything.

[Misfit]

Regards lazy DJs.

I get paid 100 quid a gig, I once did one with a band who played from the end of the meal until the buffet during which the couple had a cd to play, then the band played again until 11. I finished at 12, 100 quid for an hours work...easy. If you do book a DJ, ask what he uses and for a picture of his setup. Our basic setup includes

-lighting rig (usually about ten lights)
- mixers and speakers
-microphone
- laptops and back up CDs.

That's a very basic setup. If he has any less than that and charges less than 100 quid I'd avoid them.

[DevilsDuck]

then Mr Red changed everything.

Eurgh! It's too early for this soppyness

[Nicola_Red]

Yeah, I apologise for being sappy. I'm like that a lot of the time lately. I do try to rein it in cos I realise it's annoying.

Anyway. In his first and so far only idea, Mr Red has decided that he wants a charity poker tournament at the reception. I am really opposed to this and I can't quite figure out why. Bearing in mind I've harboured dreams for many years of getting married in the gambling capital of the world, I was suddenly like THERE WILL BE NO GAMBLING AT MY WEDDING RECEPTION K.

[chrysostom]

Poker leads to arguments. Even Charity poker.

Although a Casino themed wedding would be awesome. Great themed excuse for *, suits/dresses and all sorts...

OH MY WORD YOU SHOULD TOTALLY GO ON DONT TELL THE BRIDE.

[Nicola_Red]

The thing is, this is the only idea he's had so far and I shot it down straightaway He put it on facebook and all his friends seem to love it (including my brother!) - only one person bothered to say "as long as the bride's okay with it..."

[The Deadly]

Poker isn't exactly the most sociable of games plus it can be quite daunting to learn how to play it if you're a first time player.