On becoming a wife: 2pm - 7:30pm

Tom opened the bottle of Rose Champagne and spilt it all over the bottom of the car! (Sorry Auntie Barbara and Uncle David)  I was busy smiling at everyone!.  I gave Tom’s mum and Ellie a big kiss and we were off.  It was strange driving away from the church married, I still felt in a bit of a daze and a little bit sick too, I think it was all the emotion coming out of me, plus drinking bubbly whilst in the backseat!  Me and Tom chatted briefly about the ceremony but not really in too much detail, we were just both quite reflective.

We arrived at South Farm to another glass of Champagne and went and had some photos.  Its funny looking back as I was just really keen to get back to the party but the photos are the one thing that you look back on and so needed to be done.  We’ve got some great shots and it was nice to spend a bit of time kissing and being held by my new husband!  We finished doing some shots and then spent a little bit of time mingling with our guests.  It was really lovely to see everyone so happy and smiley.  I also found some bits quite strange as no one really wants to talk to you!  I think they think that I’m the bride so there must be other more important guests that I have to see – which wasn’t true!  I did get to speak to most people though, everyone was really complementory about the service, I got to taste all of the canapes which I'd been concerned about and I remember Ellie clinging on to me and coming round with me which was really sweet. 

We then did some set shots which was probably the most stressful part of the day!  It was worth it though as the shots are amazing.  It was really windy though and finding everyone and getting everyone ready and in the right shot was tricky but we managed it!  The main group shot we had was amazing – I’m biased but it’s easily the best wedding group shot I’ve ever seen.  It was taken from the top window of one of the bedrooms and everyone is smiling, throwing confetti, laughing and just having a really wicked time.  I love it, I think it captures the day perfectly.

Me and Tom then went to the bridal suite and had about 15 minutes to ourselves; we had a glass of Champagne and just chatted briefly about the day so far.  I remember looking at him and thinking ‘you’re my husband!’ It was a wonderful feeling.

And then we made our way into the barn for the receiving line.  We decided to have just the two of us on the receiving line, welcoming our guests as they made their way into the barn.  We had our musician Peter Strakos on the guitar as we did it and it just created a really lovely and welcoming atmosphere.  I felt very special and honoured as all our guests entered in and we gave them a hug and had a few seconds to chat to each of them.  Iain introduced us into the barn as Mr and Mrs Elliott and we took our seats for dinner.

I remember Mum getting really emotional at this stage, I think that the day at just hit her, she was feeling tired and the beauty of the barn and sitting at the top table made her upset.  She said that she’d miss me which was silly considering that I’ve seen her more since I’ve been with Tom than ever before!  I guess that’s mums for you, it must feel very special to see your daughter get married!

Anyway, back to the barn and the amazing food.  It all looked so lush and we had loads of really nice comments about it.  Here is our menu

South Farm Organic Hog Roast

Served with

Your choice of Plum sauce, traditional gravy & apple sauce

Crusty Rolls and butter

Medley of winter warming vegetables

Warm three bean salad

Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil Salad

DESSERT

Sticky toffee Pudding with Macadamia sauce

It was such a shame but I just didn’t feel hungry….. I really wanted to eat some of the lovely food but I couldn’t eat much at all.  People say that you don’t really eat much because you’re busy chatting to people etc, but we’d planned it so that we had time to eat and I didn’t have any appetite at all!  I’d like to go back now and have loads of it and stuff my face just to see what it all tasted like.  Thankfully we’d had the tasting day in November and I’d got to taste a lot of the food already.  I managed to drink the wine though and had a fair amount of the pudding so not too bad.

Then came the speeches, one part I was really looking forward to.  Dad was up first and his speech was really emotional, granted there were not any stories at all about me growing up and generally the speech wasn’t really funny but more touching, but I liked it.  I liked that he recognised that it was hard for me when mum was ill.  I loved how he got emotional about me and he sounded far more genuine than I’ve ever heard him before which I really liked.  I asked for emotion and I got it.  Mum couldn’t stop crying, Tom had one arm round mum and the other around me!

Next up was Tom and his speech was amazing.  He said some adorable things about my parents and his, his mum and dad were looking on so proud, and Ellie said that Tom’s words about her was her favourite bit of the whole day so he must have said something right!  When Tom turned to me, he said things to me that no-one has ever said before and I was so proud to be his wife and so in completely in love with him at that moment that I didn’t want it to end.  I just melted.

Iain’s speech was really lovely, he could have gone down the route of saying all the naughty and funny and stupid things that Tom has done in his life (of which there are quite a few) but he didn’t.  He said some really nice things about Tom and about me and us as a couple and had organised a few really funny things for us, including lots of Jagermeister goodies and some signed memorabilia from the Everton football team.  It was a really thoughtful speech and we thought he did a great job!

It was time to move back into The Dairy Farm for a quite cup of coffee before the party really began!

Happy Friday everyone!

Helen xx

On becoming a wife: 1pm - 2pm

As soon as I got to the top of the Aisle I felt absolutely fine, not nervous or frightened or scared but an overwhelming sense of excitement and joy washed over me.  I looked at Tom and just smiled such a big smile.  This was my moment and I’ve never felt so happy in my whole life.  I remember getting to the bottom of the aisle, Karen whispering 'WOW' and just saying ‘hi’ to Tom who didn’t/couldn’t even speak! He has now told me that actually he couldn’t actually breath whilst I was coming down to him and I guess that he had a bit more time for the nerves to build up, waiting in the church and seeing everyone arriving and waiting for me just would have been awful, I’m glad that I was the one that everyone did the waiting for.

Iain said two things to Tom whilst I was on my way down the aisle, one was ‘breathe!’ which probably was good advice and the other was something like ‘how the hell did you manage to get that’  I thought that was such a nice thing to say, in a typical Iain way.  Once we’d turned and were facing away from the congregation, Tom said to me that I looked amazing and smelt good too! – We were then quite nervous I think.

The service went by in a bit of a blur, here are the bits that I remember, I remember sitting on our thrones and feeling very surreal, I remember looking over at Ellie trying to read the words to the hymns.  I remember asking Victoria or Rachael for a tissue and then not knowing how to blow my nose and look glamorous or where to put the tissue!

The readings stick in my memory as they were just so lovely.  Kim’s was very thoughtful, she’d clearly practised it a lot and just very beautiful, Karen’s was just so right.  We’d picked the reading as a lot of the words touched a cord with us and we both got quite emotional, especially when Karen’s voice cracked towards the end.

Maybe...it is true that we don't know what we have got until we lose it, but it is also true that we don't know what we have been missing until it arrives

Maybe...the best kind of love is the kind you where you can sit on a sofa together never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had

Maybe...you should hope for enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy.

Maybe...the happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their Way.

Maybe once in a lifetime you find someone who not only touches your heart but also your soul, someone who loves you for who you are and not what you could be.

Maybe Love is not about finding the perfect person; it's about learning to see an imperfect person perfectly. When you do what you can, Love will do what you can't

And then the vows….

I think that we’d been lulled into a false sense of security, I’d done the hard bit of walking down the aisle and now it was just a case of getting married right?  Wrong…. We were called up to stand in front of Reverend Ally (who was just the loveliest vicar!) and it hit me, this was it.  I even remember us both taking a sharp intake of breath and me saying something like ‘oh crap’ under my breath.  It drew a little chuckle from Ann I think.

This was the most amazing and yet surreal part of the day.  I heard the words coming from the vicar but it really was like she wasn’t there and we just heard her in our heads, and me and Tom were just talking to each other.   Hearing Tom say his vows to me was so special and just meant everything to me.  When it came to my turn, a little voice came in my head that say – ‘ok you have to speak now!’ my brain forgot how to speak – or it felt like that anyway.  But the words did come out and I’ve never meant anything more in my life.  I could tell that my voice sounded different but I held it together and didn’t cry or get too emotional so was pleased about that.  The one line that really got to me, which I knew it would was ‘all that I am I give to you and all that I have I share with you’ It’s the most beautiful line in the whole service and was very special  I loved saying my wedding vows to Tom and I hope I never forget how I was feeling at that moment.

So we got married!!

Then the service took on a much lighter feel.  Joe played his three songs perfectly.  We signed the register and I had a big hug from Katy!  When the song words were handed out for our sing-a-long song it was hilarious; you could hear a ripple of uncertainty running through the church, as people were confused and then got it - We were doing a sing-a-long to Elton John’s Your Song.  Tom’s university friends were cracking up at the back of the church and it was such a lovely moment – we’d put our own touch on the service and really made it ours.  Everyone sang so loudly and me and Vic and Joe even did the Moulin Rouge high bit at the end – comedy!  It was inspired and I’m so glad we decided to do it – apparently even Ally the vicar was belting it out too!

So we’d done it!  We walked back up the aisle with just massive grins on our faces and I felt just the most wonderful feeling in the world.  We heard the bells ringing for us and we had a bit of a confetti aisle for us as we got into the car and I just felt on top of the world!!!!!

Our carriage awaited us, along with a bottle of Ritz Rose Champagne and we headed off for the next bit of our day; the reception at South Farm.

Love

Helen Elliott

xxx

On becoming a wife: 6am - 1pm

I opened my present from R – a gorgeous pair of peach knickers with ‘Mrs Elliott’ across the bottom – I’d actually forgotten to bring my blue undies so this was perfect.  I got two beautiful cards and words from my sisters and I cherished that time with them.

We all showered and then headed off (in the pouring rain L - although I didn’t care at all!) to the hairdressers.  They were all waiting for us and we started getting our hair washed and styled to perfection.  

We sat in the massage chairs whilst our hair was washed.  I think everyone felt pampered and happy with my choice of hairdressers.  We were given tea’s coffee’s and bubbly, as well as a choice of pastries and fruit – felt like a lovely start to the day.  I could feel myself beginning to get pretty nervous and I still had that kind of bubble feel – like everything was happening around me and this was it – my day had finally arrived!

I was so happy with my hair, it looked so amazing when they were finished, the look was real beginning to take shape now, the flowers arrived whilst we were there and John brought the two bridesmaids flowers to us, they were gorgeous and looked so pretty in R +V’s hair. 

It was still raining when we left the hairdressers, I spoke to Katy on the phone and started to feel quite emotional when she said ‘see you at the church'  When we got back to the cottage, Sam had arrived to do mine and Mum’s make up. She started on mum and R+V got started on theirs too.  This gave me 30 mins or so to have a little bit of toast and then Rockie gave me a present   from Tom;  a stunningly beautiful pair of diamond earrings – I didn't have any to wear on the day and they were just perfect, subtle and sparkly – they matched my dress and he gave me a lovely little note with them too – making me feel so happy and lucky and yet really quite nervous at the same time.

It was then time for my make up – Joey took some shots of me having it done, the excitement and nerves were really kicking in then but there was lots going on around me which kept me distracted.  We had some tunes on and Sam got to work.  During the make up I saw Katy and Sarah pull up to the cottage as they were staying next door – I jumped out my seat and we had a couple of minutes saying hi and OMG’s to each other – another surreal moment!   My make up looked amazing once we had finished, I had tweaked it a bit since my trial and asked for a bit more pinks and softer colours and I think it looked a lot softer and prettier so I was really pleased – things were starting to come together.

Before I knew it – it was time to get into my dress. I’d lost a little more weight since I tried it on but it still fitted really well and I looked like a bride.  R+V busied themselves helping me look my best, packed up their stuff, had a few photographs and then left me and Dad alone together.  The time I had with Dad I will cherish forever.  We had a very special moment together and I could not have asked for a better man to support me in the last few minutes before I got married.  Thank you Dad.

Tom’s cousin Stuart drove me and Dad to the church, it was still raining lightly but I honestly couldn’t have cared less.  We started the drive to the church.  Still slightly early, until we hit the Offord Level Crossing, where we were held up for two trains to pass.  This made the nerves grow and grow and I can’t decide if it was a good or bad thing!  Whilst we were waiting, Adele’s 'To make you feel my love' came on the radio and it was beautiful to sit there, in my gorgeous dress, holding dad’s hand and just contemplating what I was about to do.

We arrived at the church and as we pulled up it was like a hive of activity started outside, I could see R+V getting out of the car in front of us, The videographer and Photographer spring into action and run towards me, but mostly I remember Ellie, standing resolutely at the top of the walkway waiting for me.  Jim had told me that she’d not moved from that spot since she arrived and she was shaking like a leaf when I got to her – both of us in the same boat it would seem.  I remember Gary our videographer saying hello and Richard was there to help us into the church with an umbrella.

This was it – my moment.  I had a few minutes with me and Ellie, she told me that she was really scared and I just told her that I was too and she just had to do it.  Then I heard the organist start up and the music began to play – Ellie was off down the aisle, hurray she had done it.  I gave my sisters a hug and they left too.  Me and my dad began our journey to Tom.

On becoming a wife: The lead up.

I am sat writing this blog entry in our beautiful 'room' in the Zeavola resort on Phi Phi island during a tropical thunderstorm.  My new husband is sat next to me and I could not feel more relaxed, happy or content.  I thought it was a nice time to start my memories.  So here is part one of my story on becoming a wife; Mrs Elliott.

I left work with a wonderful Champagne reception complete with truffle popcorn; it was all a bit strange, almost as if I was leaving for good!  But in a good way and it was such a thoughtful and lovely send off.  Left at 5:30 with my suitcase and caught the 18:10 train from Kings Cross to St Neots.  Tony picked me up and we arrived at Tom’s house.  Kaz, Ellie and Max were there and were pleased to see me.  Finally I’d finished work and there was an extra space in my head to focus on the next few days.

We had a quiet evening really, I waited for Tom to arrive home from a busy day, he arrived around 10:30 and we went to bed.  I didn’t sleep amazingly well but I was getting used to that.  I woke with Tom at 6:30 – he had a packed day of meetings up north and my day was a full one too

I had my full leg and other bits waxed at 9am – the girl that did my treatments had only gotten married the year before so we talked weddings etc.  It was lush to finally have smooth legs after growing them out like a yeti since January!  I left there and headed home to wait for Rockie’s arrival. Bless her, she had driven the 2 hour drive by herself and I was really proud of her.  We had some lunch and then set to work with the flowers and napkins.  Ann had kindly bought the flowers for us from the wholesaler and they were perfect.  So we had Kaz (and kind of Max...) in the kitchen baking our cupcakes, Ann off doing the flowers in the church and me and Rockie in the conservatory cutting and arranging the flowers and folding the napkins!  We did have a little break around 5pm to take Ellie and Max in the hot tub – perhaps not the relaxing experience that Rockie would have expected but it was a real giggle and I think that the kids warmed a bit to Rockie which could only have helped on the day.

It’s hard to describe how I was feeling at this stage, it felt like I was in a little bubble, I didn’t feel too bad at all at this point and I remember going for my tan at 7pm and feeling a little subdued, that I should be feeling more nervous, excited or anything really.  I felt quite numb to it all.  Maybe that was my body and minds way of coping with it!

Tom, Rachie and I went for a few drinks at The George and The Vine after my tan and we then headed home to bed, me and R were in one room and Tom slept with Max in the other. 

We woke early to drive to St Ives nail bar.  Still feeling quite numb and separated from it a bit – I was getting married the following day after all.  I had really nice pedicure and the manicure did look lovely but took forever!  In hindsight I would have done this a little in advance as our rehearsal was at 1pm and we only just made it, that extra little bit of stress meant that I wasn’t as chilled as I’d have hoped for the rehearsal, meeting mum, dad, Vic, Joe, Freddy, Iain and Tom at the church and I think from then onwards it started to become much much more real for me!!

I was so pleased that we’d decided to decorate the venue itself but be prepared for it to be way more stressful than and not quite as exciting as it sounds, it looked gorgeous at the end of it all and we left feeling pretty pleased with ourselves – albeit a little bit highly strung and exhausted!

I therefore expected arriving back to our cottage to be another fairly stressful activity, but as I arrived home it was an oasis of calm.  Mum and Vic had bought me a Yankee candle called Wedding Day and it just felt very special.  I poured myself a large, much needed glass of wine and started to relax.  We opened our present from Victoria and Joe, which was a beautiful framed image of Amos Bay – where Tom proposed to me (see entry one in this blog!)  I thought it was the most thoughtful gift they could have given us – Vic even had to email a blogger from the bay to find out the coordinates as it’s such a remote spot!

Joey drove Tom home and then it was just us – the Amos family.  I had a really relaxing evening.  We bathed Freddy and I cleaned his teeth and washed his hair which was wonderful.  Joey had already sorted out our Chinese order to save any Dad interference, and it was a veritable feast when it arrived. Having only had one sandwich all day, I ate a fair amount, my favourite being my duck pancakes – I’d always had that on my list as something that I would eat the night before!

I gave Vic and Rockie their presents and a little note that I had written them.    She gave me this bracelet, which is one that my dad had given her early on in their relationship – it holds special memories for her, even has a little dent in it where she and dad fell off a motorbike on their first holiday together.  She had told me to give it back to her when I was truly happy, so I thought it an apt time to give it back.  I certainly didn’t need it anymore.  Cue tears all round but it was a very emotionally charged evening.

Half a bottle of wine down and I was tired and ready for sleep (hmmm.... was that a realistic hope?)  I went to my room, with my gorgeous wedding dress hanging up – MY wedding dress – wow!!  I laid everything out that I would need for the next day and got into bed.  I actually fell asleep pretty quickly but the cottage was really hot – seriously like Jamaica or something! So I woke up again around 1:30am and I don’t think I got back to sleep until around 4:30ish.... not actually too bad really, it could have been a whole lot worse.  I got a text from Vic around 6am to ask if I was awake, she came in bed with me for a bit, Rockie joined her and so did Freddy.  The Amos sisters sat on the bed and waited to see what would face them on my special wedding day!  

Love 

Helen Elliott 

xx         

Signing Off

I'm probably not going to get time to write another one before the wedding so this is me, Miss Helen Carissa Amos signing off........

 

I've absolutely loved writing this blog and think that it will be a really lovely memory for me to keep in years to come.  I've found a company that will turn it into a book for me which will be brilliant.

 

There will be one last post though - although my journey from Amos to Elliott will have ended technically by then, but the wedding is my finale and I couldn't not document that for me and you all to read.

 

So it's not goodbye but au revoir and I will see you on the other side!

 

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKK!

 

Love and Big Kisses

 

Miss Helen Amos

 

xxx

 

ooooooooeeeeeeehhhhhhhhwwwwwwwwww!!

The above is kind of how I'm feeling today, on my last day in the office as Miss Amos. 

I arrived this morning to a wonderful desk full of little champagne bottles, a big poster saying Good Luck Helen and Tom and messages in the reception, lift etc..  I was quite emotional actually and it was a lovely touch from the girls at work.

I'm still trying hard to figure out how I'm feeling.  Tired would now be added to the list as I'm not sleeping as much as I'd like and waking up pretty early with a head full of stuff to think about.  I think once today is over, I can fully concentrate on the days ahead and my head will be a little clearer and I can concentrate on just the one thing!

We've spend our last night in our bed together as singles and said goodbye to Mayfield this morning.  I'm getting the train up to Buckden tonight with a full day of beauty treatments and organising with Rocky tomorrow.  I can't wait for Rocky to get to me so that the fun can really begin and it will be lovely to have her with me for support.

Mrs E to b!

xxx

Inside Helen's brain

I'm going to try to explain how I'm feeling one week away from my wedding, I jump from one emotion to another.  It's taking just one little thought for me to have tears prick in my eyes or for me to have to swallow back tears - so I thought I'd take a moment to write this all down so that I don't forget just how surreal, strange and simply amazing these last few days are. 

 

I think it's because you don't have anything you can compare the day too.  It's not like a birthday or Christmas where you know roughly what the gist of the day will be (Presents, balloons, cake, turkey, mulled wine, games, family traditions etc..) It's a complete mystery of unknowns, which is making me feel a mixture of totally excitement, sheer terror, nerves, slightly stressed at times (although that's getting less and less) happiness, joy, humbled with everyone's plans for our day, and overwhelmed. 

 

Excitement, Happiness and Joy for the actual day, seeing Tom waiting for me at the end of the aisle, becoming Mrs Elliott.  I can't wait to see Family and Friends that I've not seen for ages, smiling at me when I walk down that aisle, and then for me to give them a massive married hug!  I also can't wait to spend some time with my mum, dad, nephew, sisters and brother in laws (yeah I put John in that camp!) before the big day and just be with them and no one else, whilst I contemplate on the big event.

 

I'm looking forward to hearing our vicar say those seven words which means that me and Tom are joined together forever!

 

Sheer Terror for the enormity of what I'm about to do; something that I've dreamed and thought about since I was about five years old.  This is it! - It's going to happen and that is sometimes a bit too huge for me to get my head around.  Everyone that I care about will be there and be watching as I say my vows - at times that frightens the life out of me.

 

Humbled as I see everyone around me prepare for our special day, as Kim goes clothes shopping and sends me a picture of each dress in turn to check that I like it, as Katy boards a flight home to the UK, as Ann goes swimming to look amazing, as Karen does Ellie's hair so that I can check if I like it, as Rocky and Vic both get up at an early hour to see my dress and check they know how to do it up for me and get it ready for the evening - the list goes on and each person's plans brings me that much closer to the day, its so humbling to see everyone make so much of an effort for little old me and it brings a lump to my throat.

 

Overwhelmed for all of the above reasons.  Me and Tom had a lovely day last Saturday for Valentine's day and our two year anniversary and we sat in The Oatlands Chaser with our Champagne and just reflected on just how massive this felt to both of us.  Many people often say that buying a house is much bigger and more of a commitment than getting married but it doesn't feel like that to us - it feels like the biggest and most important thing that we will ever do - and indeed it will be.

 

With all this going on, you can imagine how difficult it is to try and keep some kind of normality running with work and normal life - virtually impossible!

 

Anyway that's all I wanted to write about.

 

Miss Helen Amos

 

xxx

 

 

We're famous! (Well not really but kind of!!)

See I told you it was a cracker of a hen weekend!


http://www.rockmywedding.co.uk/a-brighton-rocks-best-girls-affair/


One tiny small week to go now!

Helen Amos
got to get as much use of of Amos as possible....:-(

xxxx

My Brilliant, Bouncy, Bestest Ever Brighton Hen Weekend!

My highly anticipated Hen Do started with Victoria telling me to meet her at 8:45 at Clapham Junction station.  After a mad dash to buy another pair of tights, I met her at Platform 13 and she gave me a intriguing brown box tied with a pink and white striped ribbon.  Inside told me that I was going to Brighton!! - YAY!!!

So I was off to Brighton and couldn't have been more excited.  I love Brighton! I love the sea air, the freedom of the people there, Fish and Chips on the beach and the vibe and feel of the place.  We met Mia and Sam and boarded the 9:08 train.  The train journey went really quickly and before I knew it we had arrived!  We met Kim at Brighton station and lept in a taxi to an unknown location. 

We pulled up at an apartment and Rachie and Mum were waiting for me inside.  It was a gorgeous house which was decorated especially for me with a Brighton theme - I couldn't contain myself and we all had tears in our eyes as I looked around.

I was immediately given a nice glass of Champagne (my first since New Year's Eve and it tasted amazing!) and we had a nice chat until Sarah arrived and we ate some of the delicious goodies that Rachie had made for us - it was so nice to eat some treats as I've been really strict with myself in order to look my best for my big day.  Our placenames had a little fish game on them which was something that I'd always wanted to get every Christmas - another thoughtful touch!  Everything tasted yummy and I knew the day was going well.  I was told what we were doing for the day.  We had a lovely lady coming for a wine tasting lesson, then onto a Japanese restaurant in Brighton, moving onto Lucky Voice and from then the choice was ours! - WOW!!! I couldn't wait!

I was then given some presents - including a beautiful keep sake box from Victoria which went through some things for the perfect marriage - it was stunningly beautiful and again I felt quite emotional.  Mum then gave me a beautiful photo album and brought our Rosie - one of my childhood dolls - hilarious!  I was then given another surprise which was a Mr and Mrs quiz from Tom - he'd been asked to give his answers to Vic but instead decided to record his answers - 'Live from France'  it was typical Tom but totally adorable and I didn't disgrace myself too much.  I was also given a gorgeous book from Mia, written from a child's perspective about getting married, which was really lovely, Claire got me some gorgeous smellies in a beautiful bag.

It was then time for the wine tasting.  A lady came and set up lots of different wines and a selection of cheeses for us and we worked our way through them.  We sampled two Rose sparklings and had to guess the Champagne, we also had a blind taste test and had to guess the wines.  I think she educated us all.  It was a really thoughtful activity for Rachael and Victoria to choose as they know that this is my thing and it didn't disappoint.  At the end she put a blue blob on our tongues of something, which enabled her to tell if anyone were super-tasters - the result was that no-one was, which is probably why i'll try and eat anything, why I like brussel sprouts and which may indicate that Tom is more of a taster than me. 

After the wine tasting we all started to get ready to go out.  I got quite dressed up in a lovely silver dress and curled my hair - I need not have, as once I got downstairs - everyone dressed me up!  Sarah got out a box of goodies including tiarra, wand - I got a flashing garter from Sam and two sashes.  Later on Kaz gave me another garter and a delightful willy whistle! 

We went outside to wait for the taxi and another highlight of my weekend arrived outside - A HUMMER!  Seriously the most brilliantly tacky thing ever, complete with bubbly, lazer lights and it was just amazing, I couldn't stop laughing in my hummer, singing bump and grind!

We picked up Ann, Karen and Tracy and drove around for a little bit in my hummer until we all got a bit car sick and got dropped off at the restaurant - moshi moshi.  I love Japanese so it was such a treat that they had picked this place for me.  I was thrilled to be there with everyone - especially as there were lots of girls that had never had that style of food before - my mum even used Chopsticks bless her.  I probably didn't really eat or drink that much as I was too busy chatting away and having fun.  I had the tasting platter which had so much food on it! Some nice Sake and some mint tea.   Me and Rocky also had one of the sushi's from the conveyor belt Kaz had bought lots of L sticks and funny sparkley table jewels which was a lovely touch too. 

After dinner Claire and my mum went home and the rest of us went to Lucky Voice - a Karaoke booth where you can choose your own songs and sing them - Again its one of the most fun things to do and highlights including a lot of old school hits from my childhood - complete with the PJ and Duncan dance moves to Lets Get Ready to Rumble!  Me and Vic had an emotional moment signing our favourite Celine Dion song ever!  (Tell him for those of you that wish to remember!)  A probably quite embarrasing moment where me and Rachael did 'Let's talk about Sex!!!' We also played Mia's first dance song - Suddenly which was really sweet.  We sang some classics from Bon Jovi, Take That, Spice Girls and loads more.

I had a moment towards the end of the evening where everyone was singing A Million Love Songs where I just looked round the room and thought - WOW! this is it Helen - you're doing this and it feels just out of this world!

This was really where the evening finished as drinking for 12 hours is going to make us all a little bit tired!  We were totally exhausted so had a last drink in Elliots Bar - nice touch!! and then headed home.

I would like to thank my sisters for an amazing and totally wonderful Hen Weekend - they know me so well and I'm absolutely bowled over by the effort, thought, preparation and style that went into the day.  A massive thank you also to all my friends that came, you are the best friends ever and I cannot wait to celebrate my wedding with you all!

Love a suitably Hen-ed out Helen

xxxx

Happy February

Just wanted to say that I get married this month!

That's all

My amazing and wonderful Hen Night report to follow shortly  - just waiting for pictures!!

Helen xxx

Just got the call....

My stunningly beautiful - favourite item of clothing of ALL time  - has just arrived at Mamfii bridal!!!!!

Let's hope that it's still as I remembered, I have my first fitting next Saturday.

x x x

A quick update

We're now less than one month to go and I keep saying this but our wedding and our marriage is becoming more and more real with every passing day.  4 weeks on Saturday barely seems believable!

This is just a quick post as there has not really been any major updates in the last week.  I spent a very enjoyable afternoon on Saturday with Rachael making confetti cones, ribbons around the jam jars and generally having a natter about all things wedding.

Tom had his stag do, complete with a very drunk father (mine not his!) Hopefully he'll have got this out of this system before the wedding! 

I've been busy with the final planning documents for South Farm, Videography and Photographers and ensuring that we're going to be organised on the big day.

This weekend is MY HEN WEEKEND!!  I'm so excited about it.  I can't wait to see what Rachael and Victoria have in store for me and I'm really looking forward to spending some time with 11 of my closest friends and family - It's going to be wicked!

I'll be back with a full report (well the stuff that I can mention!) on Monday (or maybe Tuesday depending on how long my hangover lasts!)

Love

the very soon to be Mrs Elliott

x x x

Trials

I can't really post any pictures on this blog entry as this past weekend has been all about trials for my look on the big day.

I traveled up to Buckden on Friday evening and went straight to a gorgeous little beauty salon called Equilibrium for my fake tan trial - i've had other tans before but never a spray one and it was rather funny standing there in a pair of paper knickers getting into all sorts of funny positions.  The girl that's doing all my beauty treatments is really sweet and i'm sure we'll have a good giggle through all the beauty procedures leading up to the wedding.  The tan looks really good, it's five days later and still lasting so far.  I've got to be careful with my thumbs and hands next time but other than that, it was a sucess.

The weekend was really lovely with Ann and Tony, we're all a lot more relaxed and less stressed about everything now, so it was good just to enjoy their company and chat through lots of different things, it's really coming down to logistics and finer details now so we've got to be organised.  I was really good this weekend and refrained from anything un-healthy and still no alcohol!  (it was worth it though when I stepped on the scales on Monday morning, finally the weight is coming off!)

Saturday was an early start to the hairdressers, this was another thing I was a little aprehensive over, not knowing if the hairdressers were any good.  I just had to pick one at random really.  I was very plesently surprised.  She was so nice, everything she trialled on me looked good and I had even had trouble deciding on which style to go with.  We chatted about all sorts and got on really well.  On the morning of the wedding we even get a selection of fruit, bubbles and pastries so can't be bad!  I can't tell you what hairstyle i've finally gone for - I guess you'll all see that on the day!

In the afternoon Tom's old schoolfriend Sam came over for my make up trial.  Sam has done really well in her career and is now a make up artist to the stars.  I felt very special whilst getting my make up done and was extremely pleased with the results - I can't talk much about it but even Tony (Tom's dad) said that I looked beautiful so that made me smile!  Mum is also having her make up done on the day so it will be something nice we can have done together.

Then finally on Sunday morning, we travelled to see Fay and her mum Kim to chat through flowers.  They reassured us when they took control of the conversation and wrote down everything that we'd requested, gave us advise on what will and wont work and nothing seemed to phase them.  We're keeping the flowers quite classic as it's what we both seemed to gravitate to and I really can't wait to see them on the day.  Its a funny thing really because it's the one thing that you don't really have much idea of before the morning of the wedding - you just have to trust someone to understand your ideas.  Fingers crossed it will all be fine - and if it's not then I don't think I'll be too bothered.

We've finalised all the bits now for South Farm, We're in the process of doing the rest of the stationary and tableplan.  Tom's stag is on Saturday and mine the following (YAY!!) We now need to begin to think about finalising the finer details with the videographer/photographer and DJ, Tom's got to get shoes, We've still got a few gifts to buy, we're now thinking about lots of cheese!! and hopefully my dress is coming in next week (YAY, YAY, YAY!!!!)

Both Tom and I are starting to get a little bit nervous now, in a really good way but still that little wash of anxiety in your tummy happens every now and then and at the funniest things.  With only 5 weeks to go it's probably the most normal thing to happen and actually I'm beginning to enjoy the little feelings as its telling me that it's real and happening SOON!

Love Helen (Mrs E to be)

xxx

P.s Writing Mrs E to be reminded me of a bit of a moment I had at work last week, when during a meeting, the lady had to write down in her notes 'nb will be Mrs Helen Elliott from March onwards' - a very strange moment but I am now starting to 'become' that person (that might not make sense to anyone but me - but I know what I mean!!)

xxx

It's a marriage as well as a wedding

It's the most fantastic feeling when others around you start thinking about your wedding and making plans around it.  I think now that Christmas is over and it's 2011, people are now starting to plan.

 

We've had all of our RSVP's back now and lots of our friends and families have booked their hotels and are now thinking about outfits, accessories and plans for the day.

 

It's Tom's stag next weekend and my hen the following and it's then that we've really entered into the wedding as the celebrations will have begun.  I simply can't wait to see what my sisters have got planned and in store for me, many of my friends have just stopped talking to me about it, in case they let the cat out of the bag.  I know that it will be an incredibly special weekend and that a lot of time and effort has gone into the planning and for that I am incredibly humbled and thankful!  - BRING IT ON!!

 

I'm not one of those girls that gets stressed about their other half's going out and will certainly not be worried about his Stag do (the official one in London or the unofficial one in France)  I trust him implicitly, he's a big boy, knows what he's doing and I just want him to have a blast, get hideously drunk, enjoy himself and spend time with his family and friends.  Although I will say this:  Tom - there will be no sympathy on Sunday and anything you can do - I can and WILL do better!!!

 

In the last few weeks we've done a bit more organising, received our guest book last night which looks beautiful.  We've booked our rehearsal, which will be 1pm on Friday 25th Feb.  I've booked in for a very expensive eyebrow shape. (I'm currently growing out my stupid hairy eyebrows so will just have to bear it for another six weeks!)  We've made some progress on the table plan, flowers and planning documents and we're on schedule for those to be finished in time.  Tom's now bought his shirt and just has shoes to buy.  We've got all the elements of our favours and just have to make them and we've also got almost everything ready for our table centres too. 

 

I have about 7 or 8 things I'm waiting on delivery for - we're getting to know our postman and Royal Mail delivery office really well!

 

Last weekend was really special as it was Freddy's naming day and first birthday and we had a lovely day at Foxhill's where the ceremony and party was held.  Mum and Dad came to stay and we also went to hear our penultimate set of banns being read at St Peter's in Hersham. Rachael and John came too and it was another nice moment for us, not as emotional as in St Mary's but still special all the same.  Sunday afternoon saw us and about 20, 5 year olds attend Max's football party.  It was hilarious watching them all chase after the ball!  So a really busy weekend.

 

The nice but serious bit

I now want to, and need to spend more focus on Tom and our marriage. It's easy to get swept up in the organisation and I have been getting overly stressed about everything being right and perfect.  It sounds silly but it's important to me to have some time to reflect, enjoy and ponder, on the fact that we're getting married, and at the end of the wedding day, we'll love each other to death and will be together forever and this is what counts; not the matching napkins or the tableplan or even the fancy dress and honeymoon, it's the fact that we'll be Mr and Mrs Elliott and this means the world to me.  I'll make sure that I do everything in my power to ensure that the day runs as smooth as possible but on the actual day, I honestly won't care if something goes wrong or is not quite as i'd planned.  The most important thing is that me and Tom show the world that we are in love and prove to everyone who loves us just how much we mean to each other.

 

and on that note I will say ttfn!

 

Helen xx

New Year.....

Where to start!?

 

I think in my head I'd been thinking - the wedding is next year, after Christmas, got to get through Christmas and New Year first.... and it felt like such a long countdown to my Christmas holiday - that I didn't realise that as soon as the 27th came around, that there was eight weeks until our wedding!!  When the clocks chimed midnight on Friday 31st December, it was a magical and, if I'm honest, pretty scary moment, as it meant that I'm getting married THIS YEAR, and not just this year but NEXT MONTH!!

 

Christmas and New Year were lots of fun, quite different this year as we held Christmas Day at our house and spend New Year's Eve with a Chinese and bottle of wine, it was so nice just to have 10 days off work, I didn't have to be anywhere or do anything in particular so it was really lovely and relaxing. 

 

During the holidays we've done lots and lots, I'm really pleased with us both!  We've sorted out our play lists for the reception drinks and during coffee, for those of you that know Tom and Me's musical taste's then you'll know that it could be quite an interesting mix!  I had lots of fun doing these play lists, it's nice to go through old music collections, lots of songs brought back lovely memories for us both.

 

We also finalised the table plans and whose sitting where.  This was not as bad as some bridal chat would have you believe.  There were a couple of ways we could go with this plan; sit families together and group my side with my side and Tom's with Tom's - or mix it up a little so Aunties and Uncles and friends mix together.  I won't tell you what we've gone for, but I do hope that you'll all be sat at fun tables and enjoy whoever you are sat with - and if you don't?  Well it's only a couple of hours and then you never have to talk to them again!

 

Other things we've completed - I've booked all my beauty treatments, arranged to see the florist, collected Tom's ring, had our travel jabs, kept track of all the RSVP's (thank you everyone!!)  we've sorted out a couple of gifts for people, ordered bits for the table centres, completed our guest book which looks AMAZING - very excited about this!  We've bought all of the wines and bubbly for the reception, and, probably most importantly, paid for the reception!

 

Another very important thing that me and Tom have begun is a proper hard-core health and beauty routine.  We've been exercising every other day since 27th December, had a really great run outdoors (yes outdoors!) around where we live and we're eating a lot less and a lot healthier.  I've given up alcohol until my Hen do on 29th January and we've bought some nice day and night face creams so that our skin will be peachy soft!  In one way it seems crazy that it takes a wedding day to really kick start us both (although being truthful we've actually done really well in 2010 for being healthy) I'm adamant that I'm not going to stop after the wedding and once I'm married.  Although I am going to completely stuff my face with food and drink on honeymoon!

 

So, we have just over seven weeks to go and 50 days!  Things we have left to do:  Final stationary and print, finalising numbers, table plan and names, coordinating the table centres and what we'll need to take to the various bits of the day, final planning documents to South Farm, co-ordinating times and details with all the suppliers..... and then it's really really the final countdown.

 

The next few weeks are very busy.  We have my gorgeous Nephew's naming ceremony on Saturday which I'm really looking forward to, it will be a very special day as it's his birthday too - seriously where did that year go!  We also have Max's football party on Sunday afternoon, which will be fun, although I've told Ellie that we don't have to play with the smelly boys!  Mum and Dad are also coming with us to St Peter's in Hersham to hear our penultimate banns being read and then our church quota just leaves one more service for us to attend!

 

The following week we're going back to Buckden to meet the florist, I'm having my hair trial and my make up trial and testing my fake tan!

 

Happy 2011!

 

Helen xxx

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Hearing our banns being read on Sunday 19th December in St Mary's Buckden was a really special moment for me and Tom.  It was very strange and surreal, weird and wonderful to hear our names being read out and for them to say a little prayer for us as we prepare for marriage.  I'm not too sure how but it took the 'realness' to another level again.

It's now just over two months until the wedding and it really is coming up quickly.  Things have really quietened down now until January, when the final planning will start.

We had a lovely weekend with our mums and dads and mums and dads - to be!  Despite being the snowiest day of the year (and maybe the coldest too!) Mum and Dad drove up to stay with Tom's mum and dad, they came up to see South Farm, visit some of mum's family, spend some time with Tom's mum and dad and then to hear our banns on the Sunday.

I'm sure that mum and dad loved South Farm, it feels very familiar and homely to me and Tom now and it was good to show them round so that they know where they are on the wedding day and can help direct people if they need help.  A wedding was taking place that afternoon so we got to see it set up again for another wedding which is always useful.  Here are some pictures of our gorgeous venue in the snow!

In the evening, Ann had cooked us all a delicious roast pork dinner, and we'd taken up the weddings wines for everyone to try as well.  It was quite a nice moment for me to see our families eating together and we chatted about lots of different things - wedding and non wedding related.

On Sunday we all headed out in the snow to St Mary's - it looks stunningly beautiful in the snow and everyone was so welcoming to us being the visitors.  I got to light the advent candles and our banns were so special.  Mum was crying and I felt very emotional hearing them.  Goodness knows what we're going to be like on the actual day! 

So now my thoughts turn to Christmas and the New Year.  We've got mum and dad coming to ours on Christmas Eve and then Victoria and family coming over in the afternoon.  We'll all go to Rachael's on Boxing Day.  I really can't wait to have a bit of a break, spend some time relaxing and enjoying my families company.

There are a few bits that we're planning to do over the break, we've got to sort out the music for the reception and coffee drinks, go through our engagement photo shoot to decide which images we'd like to use.  Finally we have to pay South Farm - so a very merry Christmas from them!!

January sees us enter into the final stages of planning and I can't wait!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas - Here's to the most fabulous 2011!

Mrs Elliott to Be!

xxxxxx

Ho Ho Ho!

It's been a fairly quiet couple of weeks wedding wise for us as we're kind of now in that limbo stage between the big things all being booked and we're not quite ready to do the detailed sections as we're waiting for things like numbers.

It looks like we're going to be able to have a nice non-wedding related Christmas which is what I'd hoped for, mum and dad are coming to our house and we're cooking for the first time on Christmas day.  It's the first year that Tom is not going to be with his family this year and it's going to be quite strange with just mum, dad and us two - but we're starting our own traditions as we're going to be a new family of two next year, so it will be really nice to do it this way this year.

Wedding wise - we're just sorting out final payments which is very scary but will be nice to get it out of the way.  We're also really enjoying all the RSVP's coming in - it's so exciting to hear that people are looking forward to coming!  Other things that we've got to sort out before the end of the year is men's suits, finalise all the wedding wine and Champagne (which we've VERY much enjoyed doing and almost there with!)  We're also going to spend some time over Christmas sorting out music, table plans and guest book.

We've also set up a little gift list for those of you that might want to contribute instead of giving us money.

Click below

Helen and Tom's Gift List - 30527

In other news, my passport arrived on the weekend and it was quite a surreal, yet special moment for me - despite the most hideous picture (may give Tom second thoughts it's that bad!!) seeing my new name in print and all official was just another thing that makes this lovely journey even more real for me and Mrs Helen Carissa Elliott is getting closer and closer.

Come January it will be all go again I think as we'll then be starting to come onto our supplier's radars and we can get the fiddlly bits finalised.

Under 11 weeks to go now, we'll soon be on the 10 week countdown!

Love

Mrs Elliott to be

xx

Just back from the Post Office...

Invitations - Done!

Please come everyone...

xxx

Kissing and Tasting

We had a gorgeous wedding filled Saturday which started with an early Macdonalds breakfast (note to self: This will not help you looked toned and beautiful in your wedding dress!) and then drove, in the absolutely freeeezing weather to Hampton Court Palace for our Engagement photo shoot with our Best Main: Iain and his photograph buddy Greg.

 

Iain is an extremely good photographer, he has all the kit and has done lots of photographic work for a variety of different clients.  He'd never done this before and him and Greg are looking into doing weddings professionally so we were more than happy to be guinea pigs.

 

We chose Hampton Court Palace as it's a beautiful location and it's also somewhere we went to fairly early on in our relationship with Mum and Dad.  Tom's mum and dad used to bring him there lots as a child and I'm really interested in Kings and Queens of England - so it was the perfect location for us. 

 

I'll give you photos later but suffice to say that it was so much fun!  We took several changes of clothing and just messed around.  I was quite nervous at first as it's a strange feeling to have a camera pointing at you the whole time and kissing and hugging in front of it - but it didn't take too long to relax and start to enjoy the experience (kissing and hugging Tom for hours isn't too much of a chore actually!)

 

Iain and Greg did a GREAT job - we've had a sneak peak at some of the photos and they are amazing, I'm really happy with them and it will be so lovely to keep them for the future.

 

In the evening Iain and Jenny and our neighbours Rob and Heather came over for a wedding wine tasting evening.  At our tasting night, we bought a selection of their reds and bubbly so that we can decide on what to drink for the meal, reception and toasting drinks.  We'd also bought a selection from various supermarkets so that we could decide if we wanted to pay corkage and bring in our own choices.

 

The results were really surprising and we've now decided on our bubbly selection - the reds need a little bit more trialing but I don't think that will be too difficult for us at all!   I think we're almost there with the whites too so that's another tick on my list.

 

Helen xx

 

 

Three months and counting!

Friday 19th November in the afternoon was spend with a large mug of tea and Lettie - one of the South Farm wedding planners and we went through all the little details about our big day - from the napkin choice to canapes to arrival times to disco details.  It was a really excellent opportunity for me and Tom to visualise our day, think about how things will work in terms of timings and feel reassured that we're on the right track and really getting there in terms of our plans.  We had one of our last sneak peaks inside the barn which is still so beautiful and then headed back to Ann and Tony's in the seriously foggy weather.

 

We left feeling really confident, happy that the South Farm team know what they are doing and on the day, we can leave all the worrying to them (and prob a bit for Iain too!)   We then had a bit of a break from Wedding Planning for the rest of the weekend and spent some lovely time together watching Harry Potter at the movies, enjoying some cheese and wine with Ann and Tony's wine club (A rock and rock finish at 2am!) and Chinese take away with a film on the Saturday night.   Here is me at Harry Potter with a VERY large tub of popcorn and drink!

 

I think that the planning meeting has put me into a bit of a detail frenzy as now I'm really thinking about the finer details like what to take on the day, what needs to be done the days before in the run up, what info we need to give to our bridesmaids and groomsmen and just thinking about the whole day as a whole, rather than each little bit in isolation, I'm really enjoying this bit as it makes me hugely excited to think what we'll be doing in the hours and days beforehand.

 

Invites going out before the end of November and I THINK that Tom's booked the honeymoon today - yay, yay, yay!

 

Other bits to now start thinking about are, table centres and decorations, other stationary items, My new 'Mrs Elliott' Passport (loving my new signature!)  timetables for the day and then a lot can be left until January - when we really get to the nitty gritty!

 

Love

 

Mrs Elliott to be

xx