Planning begins

I've put together a quick list of all the bits and pieces I'll need to put in place:

Ceremony – we’re having a humanist ceremony – who to book? Readings, vows, rituals – lighting of candles / handfasting etc.
Dress – hoping to get one for a high street price, really don’t want to spend thousands on something I will wear just once, if Primark did bridal wear I’d be in there!
Invite list – getting it down on paper
Photographer & Videographer – need to research these
Colour – colour scheme for dresses and venue
Invitations – buy ready made or make my own?
Bouquet – traditional flowers, silk flowers or alternative – button bouquet?
Decoration – centrepieces, table names / numbers, place cards
Cake – high street option, have it made, use an alternative cake – stack of cheese?
Entertainment – something unusual or usual DJ?
Music – what to walk down the aisle to? First dance? Reception?
Transport – how to arrive?
Menus – what will we eat
Hair – something simple, but what?
Make up – probably do this myself as I don’t like wearing it heavy – likely to treat myself to some new purchases
Presents for bridal party – something personalised?
Favours – tempted not to have any, but I’ll keep it as the last thing on my list


The Nikah will be a much smaller affair, so for that the main thing to get will be the dress.

If anyone has any advise for any of the above, I'm grateful for any help :)

Lucky Friday 13th

Myself and H2B bought a place together on Friday 13th Novemeber. In the early hours of the morning, before we moved into our new place - a proposal was the last thing I was expecting, but that is when it came!

I choose my own engagement ring, a platinum gold ring with a small princess cut diamond. I'm not a huge jewellery person so I'm delighted with this dainty ring.

Living in the North East of England, I'm orignally from Ireland and my other half is originally from Pakistan, but brought up in Glasgow. We have booked the Sherbrooke Castle Hotel for our ceremony and reception - Easter Sunday 24th April. We will also be having a muslim wedding blessing - Nikah. This means two celebrations, two wedding dresses, two weddings - how lucky is that :)