Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:44:18 GMT <![CDATA[Ceri and Dave's Wedding Blog]]> Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:44:18 GMT Hello World,

Nice to see you all again :)  So some time has passed some dresses have been tried on (still not convinced I have found "the One" but we will keep looking) but other wedding preparation has been completed.

Those who know me well will know I have never had my ears peirced claiming "God gave me enough holes to deal with".  However, when Dave and I went on holiday this summer I found myself drawn to a pair of pearl earrings and I bought them.  I don't know what happened to me but I have a strong feeling I had to wear earings when I got married and it had to be these ones I saw in an antiquce shop in Dunster!  So anyway that was 2months ago and I have been putting off havng them done.  But I promised Dave that on Saturday we would go and I would be brave.  
So off to Claires Accesories in Fareham we went. And before you all start, try finding somewhere that will peirce your ears who isn't Claire's or a full on tatoo parlour.  Anyway for those who have never had it done, it doesn't really hurt, a short sharp pain and its gone.  The pain come after, it is now day3 with earings and I have this nagging dull ache in my ears.  They are all good, clean etc but they obviosuly object to having a metal bar through them.  I also have the smallest ears in the known universe so each time I bash my ears the back of the earrings bash into my head!!  But at least I have had them done and I can wear my earings.

In other news, my ring went to be resized.  Dave did a very good job at designing my ring but just got a the sizing a tad wrong. However it was too big rather than too small which is definatly the favoured way round.  It went off the to Jewellers in Titchfield last weekend and I got it back yesterday.  I had forgotten how sparkly it was!  and it is so much more comfortable now it is the right size.  So with my sparkly earrings (couldn't face plain old round studs for 6 weeks) and my sparkly ring I am all set for the engagement party this Saturday and Wedding dress shopping with the masses on Sunday :)

 

]]> <![CDATA[Piercings and Shiny things]]> Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:03:37 GMT For anyone who has lost their invite here are the plans.  Its being held at my ma and da's house.  If you don't know where that is contact me or Dave. 


Feel free to arrive anytime after 1pm till late it is open house so come when you are ready. 
There will be BBQ food for the afternoon and probably a curry in the evening.

It is a Hawaiian Luoa theme so feel free to dress up


On Sunday they boys will be tidying up and putting tents away etc, the girls will be wedding dress shopping :)

 

 

]]> <![CDATA[Engagement Party]]> Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:03:37 GMT So we have had some time off wedding planning but we really went for it this weekend!  Massive thanks to Mary (Dave's mum) for spending so much time with us this weekend and offering so much advice.  So what did we do?

On Saturday we spent the morning look at flowers and have come up with a short list for the button holes and bouquets.  Saw some really random looking flowers "Celosia" is  a very very odd thing, I would recommend looking it up some point just to see what it looks like.  Unfortunatly Mary's favourite florist is on hos summer holidays but we looked in a couple of different places and have go a good idea of what we want.

We then went to a wedding dress shop in the centre of Bristol (without Dave obviously) and tried on some more dresses.  Yes there are still dresses in the known universe that I haven't tried!  Three dresses were good, but didn't quite hit the mark.  However it did confirm some ideas I had about what I want.  Mary and I then went into Berketex brides in Bristol.  We don't have one in Southampton so I wanted to see what they had to offer.  As it was they didn't have anything I was interested in, a good selection, but not for me.

We then went and had a look at bridesmaids dresses but got some more ideas for the little ones.

And so, all this looking at flowers, dresses and buying a wedding magazine, I was all wedding'd out.  So we had a nice dinner and then very tired I went off to bed.  And so I woke up at 3am and couldn't think about anything else other than my wedding dress.  The issue being that one I had tried on during the day, was similar to one I tried on in Southampton weeks ago.  And all I wanted to do was get back to Southampton and try this dress on again, as I couldn't quite rememeber  if the one in Southampton was what I thought it was, and worrying that I wouldn't find a dress I liked and oh I don't know what.  But similarly there is not a lot you can do about all these worries when you are in Bristol at 3am and you need to be in Southampton at 10am.  So we got up and I called the shop to make an appointment at 10am, fully booked, if I could get to the shop in the next 10mins they could fit me in!!!  2 hrs from Bristol to Soton!

So we came home and I went straight to the shop anyway on the basis I could look at the dress at least.  They were fully booked for trying dresses on, but I looked at it on the hanger and and begged and they let me try it on, and I think, I think, I might have found "The Dress".  So much happier we are now home and I am very excited :)

Love to all

Cx

 

]]> <![CDATA[A weekend of wedding stuff and a sleepless night]]> Sun, 10 Aug 2008 08:14:58 GMT Hello everyone,

So its one year today till the big day and things haven't been easy the last few weeks but hopefully things are on the turn!

Jan's funeral was yesterday and although obviously hard, I find that it give a position to start again from.  A lovely service and sooooo many people turned out to see the old girl off.  Lots of laughs and a good bash back at the white house for a lady who was dearly loved by so many.  May she rest in peace and hopefully one day I will fill her in on all the goss :)

So back to the wedding plans, I went up to Basingstoke yesterday to try some more dresses on.  None really cut the mustard but I am definatly getting a clearer picture of what I like and what style I want to go for.  Most brides seem to say they tried on a dress and they knew it was the one. I don't think that is going to happen to me, its never been a way I make decisions, so I think it will be a process of elimination and probably come down to a choice of two or three.

Dave and I are celebrating our 10year aniversary today and I have flowers on my desk.  Bless the man, in the 6 years since we left uni I have never had flowers at work and today is that day.  I knew there was a reason I said yes!  

Dave and I still need to sort out a photographer and I need someone to do hair and make-up but we are on holiday for a week next week so we are just going to enjoy that and think about weddings on our return.

Love to all.

C

]]> <![CDATA[1 year today]]> Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:23:16 GMT Hello Everyone,

It is with a very heavy heart that I write this entry, but I feel it has a bearing on the wedding and something which I have been thinking alot about so deserves to be recorded here.

Yesterday a very dear friend of mine Jan Wilkins died.  Many of you reading this blog had met Jan at one gathering or another and she had been fighting cancer for over 3 years, yes 3 whole years.  What started out as breast cancer turned into other cancers unforuntaley ending yesterday when Jan lost the fight.

Jan was an amazing lady and one of my dearest friends.  She was a real sieze the day, don't sweat the small stuff person.  When Dave and I last saw her (only 2 weeks ago) she was in good spirits and although obviously tired looked heathly.  She was telling me I must not get too dramatic about the wedding and that there is more to life than the covers on chairs and waitors with gloves (a long story).  I will remember Jan for many things, the most important of which was her view that you should always have something to look forward to.  Whether it is a holiday, a party, anything, but always have something to look forward to.  It is something I have followed for probably 5 years now and it is definatly a good idea in life.

I will miss Jan terribly and will especially miss her on our big day.  Weddings and in fact any large event have a habbit of reminding you of the people who are "missing out".  Dave and I have a number of people who we wish were able to attend the big day.  To name a few Ted Evans, Arthur Petch, Rose and Ed Todd, Aunt Bess, Nanny Parsons, Grandad Renowden and probably many more. It always feels like these people have been cheated out of a day they should have seen and have missed something which they had a right too.

However, and I know Jan would agree with this sentiment, the important thing on a day such as a wedding is to remember those who cannot attend but leave these other feelings at home.  Jan and all the others will be sorely missed and we will rememebr them and think of them.   But far more important, is to remember them with a smile (and in Jan's case a drink of something bubbly) not a tear. 

 

Jan's story is told on her husband H's blog at www.my.telegraph.co.uk/aitch  I would recommend reading it, but it is not for the feint hearted.  The message with all of this is breast cancer is a killer, but it is also easily detected and in many cases is treatable.  So in the words of my other good friend H, ladies - keep checking those tits. :)

 

Love and Hugs

C

]]> <![CDATA[A good friend leaves us]]> Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:18:44 GMT Something which recieves a lot of mileage in Wedding related press is whether or not in the modern world, a woman should change her name when she becomes married.  

This is something which for many years, even before Dave and I ever got together, I said I would never do.  I am an Evans, I have always been an Evans and its MY NAME.  

There are benefits to having such a comman surname.  There is a certain amount of anonimity, there are lots of Evans's in the world and probably quite a few Ceri Evans's, both male and female.

It gives me an immediate national identity, I have a very Welsh first and second name.  Although as we have discovered I have two welsh Great Great Grandparents and that is as close as it gets.  

It is near the start of the alphabet without being first.  In any kind of situation which is alphabetised you are near the beginning without having to go first, always useful when you are not sure of your ground.  But similarly useful when you might not want to be first, but you don't want to be last either. 

Another consideration is I have always been an Evans, everyone knows me as an Evans and if I change my name will people still be able to find me?

On the flip side, I am getting married and that is a big change, a change in my name reflects that change and the difference to my life marriage may bring.  I effectivly stop being my parents problem and become part of the Parsons family.  

The Parsons name is strong and has no immediate nationality or identity.  It has an associattion to the church,  which could be useful in some situations and brings an air of trustworthiness.

Dave is a Parsnip and I am going to be his wife and I have a lot of pride associated with that and therefore see taking his name as an extension of that. 

And there is all the hassle of having to change my name on every document, bank account, company file there is about me.  

So what can I say, I am undecided, but at least I have a year to think about it:)

]]> <![CDATA[A word about becoming a Parsons]]> Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:53:38 GMT Hello all,
I am aware it has been too long since my last blog post and I will try and do better from now on.

After having a little time off Wedding Planning I am now back into it in full swing.  Two weeks ago I met my very good friend and chief bridesmaid Vicky in Newport, SWales to do some dress shopping.  Now I know it sounds odd to be living in Southampton and shopping for dresses in S.Wales but for some reason they have an abundance of wedding dress shops and one of them is particularly helpful (It is where Vicky bought her wedding dress).  I tried 6 dresses on and liked two of them enough to take the details and saw a number of other possibilities.

Big thanks to Vicky for all her help and support, having gone dress shopping for a numebr of other people, I didn't realise how stressful it is and she was great.
And so this weekend the dress search came to Southampton.  I went to "Cloud Nine" in Locks Heath and tried on what I thought was "the dress" an it is lovely, but not amazing.  However another one in this shop was very nice and is made by a company called Ellis Bridal.  Very spooky as for anyone who doesn't know my grandad's name was Ellis!

And then to Brides of Southampton.  I have been in this shop as a spectator a number of times, but it is very different for the bride to be.  And sooooo tiring! You wouldn't believe how tired I was after 2hrs of trying on dresses.  However of about 10 dresses I tried on I liked 6 and have now found them all on the internet so have pictures to look at and contemplate.  

So the basic story is all is well.  Dress search is coming along, going to go to CHicester as I am told there are a number of nice shops there and have a look and aim to make a deicison before the end of September.
As for other items, Dave and I still need to sit down and start looking at photographers and I contacted a hair and make-up lady but she is booked for nect year already!!  So I will have to keep looking on that.  

Hopefully invitations to our engagement party and Save the Date cards have been recieved by the relevant people.  We have not sent Save the Date cards to everyone, just to those who we thought would need ot book it in the diary and possibly book accomodation.  

So things are going well and progress is being made.

P.SThe worst thing now is the thought that at some point I am going to have to decide on a dress and for anyone who doesn't know I am rubbish at this sort of decision.AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH :)

]]> <![CDATA[Progress is being made]]> Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:37:26 GMT Hi everyone,

Just thought I would post an update on progress.  Thankfully everything is starting to calm down now!

We have sent the booking form off to the car people so that is booked, it is the one discussed in the post further down a while droptop RIley. We haven't actually seen it in the flesh but are taking my parents recommendation that it was lovely.

I started looking into flowers last weekend and am drawing a bit of a blank, incase you don't know the colour scheme for the wedding is Aubergine and Silver.  The only Augbergins flowers I have found are Cala Lillys.  If anyone has any ideas/thoughts please could you leave a comment. 

I also went to a wedding dress shop with my Ma last weekend and we have got a fairly good grasp on what the little bridesmaids will be wearing.  I have seen a dress I really like but refused to try it on yet :)

So Dave and I are taking some time out now.  The main things are booked and we have got plently of time to sort the others.  Its now all about wieghtloss and thinking about what we want!

Love to all

C

]]> <![CDATA[Paperwork]]> Fri, 23 May 2008 11:49:41 GMT Hello all,
so here's the bad news, you have all got to get up early on the 4th July next year, as we are getting married at 11am.  But the good news, we are having the reception at Chilworth Manor hotel and it's all booked!!!!

The last couple of weeks have been fraght to say the least.  Dave and I both liked the Botleigh Grange Hotel but they have been really rubbish about getting back to us and producing the paperwork post their branding change.  This then lead to questions being raised in both our minds about the standard of service we would recieve once we had made a booking.  The other questions raised were what would the new owners of the hotel do in terms of refurbishment of the hotel.  By the look of their website a number of their hotels are under refrubishment and the last thing we would need for the wedding is the hotel being refurbished.  

So after a long chat with my cousin (Thank you Jenny) I was verving towards the Chilworth.  Once chatted with Dave he also agreed that the Chilworth might be the one to go for and when we re-ran the figures we found that Chilworth has a significant cost saving and actually alot more choice than the Botleigh in terms of menu and wine list.  

So we returned from a trip away and booked an appointment to see the Chilworth again this Saturday with Rick and Mary (Dave's parents).  I was ready to book on arrival, Dave as ever wanted to look, see, review one more time.

However a spanner of the works was raised when we said we had booked the church for a 12:30pm wedding and would therefore be arriving at 13:30 or so from the church.  This clashes with the other wedding party which they already have confirmed for that day.  So we would either have to change the time to earlier or later in the day.
We had booked the earliest slot possible at the church and the later slot would mean there was no way of having a wedding breakfast and an evening party.  (and "breakfast" would be at about 6pm!!!!)

So we looked round the Chilworth anyway and liked what we saw (a whole conversation about chair covers insused we'll come back to that another day) and left feeling very scared that we weren't going to be able to either have the wedding at the venue where we wanted or on the day we wanted.  

So we went to church on Sunday but left the church administrator to her Sunday alone, and spoke to her today about the possibility of moving the wedding to 11am. Thankfully she spoke to the Rector and they have agreed to marry us at 11am.  

So once again we are shown that Dave and I are the luckiest people on earth and we get to get married on the day we want, in the church we want, with the reception at the hotel we want.  Someone must like us :)

]]> <![CDATA[Good news always follows bad]]> Mon, 12 May 2008 07:16:45 GMT This is just a quick update to say the wedding and the reception venue are now booked and the deposit has been paid!  Yes ladies and gents, we are really doing this!!!!!!
More information to follow.. I am actually at work at the moment and have got to go to a meeting :)

 

]]> <![CDATA[NEWSFLASH - THE WEDDING AND THE VENUE ARE BOOKED]]> Mon, 12 May 2008 12:54:41 GMT