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