LDP - Down the Aisle

Married life

2009-10-14T20:48:57Z

A lot of people have asked me what it feels like to be married.

The morning after the wedding when people asked 'do you feel any different' the answer was no! I had just got married and was still battling the tummy bug which struck me down just before the wedding so I felt just the same. Plus I was enjoying the fact that it was my birthday. I didn't feel like a 'wife'.

However, in the six days between the wedding and the honeymoon I did start to change. I panicked. I was terrified. Was I still me? Did I have to act differently? Would I be treated differently? I wanted to remain a mademoiselle not become madame.
I admit I did distance myself from Rich a bit too. How did I act with him? this person that had taken the essence of 'me' away?

I don't know for sure when things changed but I know it happened on the honeymoon. All of those thought sorted themselves out in my head and I let them go. I realised I was still me and that was that.

I do feel different, I feel settled and secure. Much happier than I have been for a long time. I'm not on my own anymore I can share my mistakes and all the good things.

In the past month I've learnt things can't be perfect (Rich still leaves socks on the floor and does my head in from time to time), we argue but it doesn't last long. The word 'divorce' normally stops and argument and ends in laughter. I really hope that continues forever!

Honeymoon in the Maldives - Sun, sea, sand and ... tummy trouble

2009-09-29T13:33:59Z

The Maldives are a sensational honeymoon destination.

They form a land dominated by sunsets and sky high temperatures, even in the monsoon season, and odd creatures.

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

We knew we'd made the right choice when the plane first cruised over the Northern Maldivian atolls at 32,000ft.
Minature sunken islands appeared to bob beneath the surface of translucent seas causing half the passengers to lurch across the plane to get their first glimpse. Each spectral shape looked like a giant jellyfish or amorphous ghost.
All 11 hours of travel evaporated in a buzz of excitment as we touched down in Male just yards from the turquoise waters.
The sense of expectation dimmed a bit in the following three-and-a-half-hour wait for a seaplane to Kuredu, part of the Lhaviyani Atoll 80 miles north of the capital.
But once on board the somehow slightly Bondesque air taxi, holiday fever gripped all on board.

The island lived up to its billing. Kuredu is one of the larger resorts in the Maldives but the accommodation nestles among coconut groves on white sand shores making sure the island doesn't look over developed.
Our water villa was stunning and overlooked a narrow coral reef.
Thanks to the blue wristband that comes with the water villas, we were entitled to eat in any of the standard restaurants. A series of Al A Carte restaurants were also on offer but were expensive.
Our main restaurant featured candle-lit tables on the beach making for really romantic meals under a sky so starry it was hard to concentrate on the food.
What was on the plate was worth savouring though. All meals were buffet style but unlike other all includive deals I've been on before, the variety and quality of the fayre was outstanding.
We got a personal waiter called Hamza who stuck with us throughout the two week honeymoon. He had a ricktus grin and a habit of lingering at the table after serving. We didn't know if this was for a tip or to make conversation and so plied him with money (which he seemed awkward in accepting) and engaged him in stilted chat about the weather - a topic he has probably never embarked on with guests before, I would imagine.
All in all the first three days were sensational.
We wrote postcards home boasting of the perfect start to married life.
But disaster struck.
And it struck us in the ass.
A plague of gut rot swept the island. Other people have already complained on Tripadvisor.
Honeymooning couples clutched their tummies and raced to the nearest loo, ignoring the thatched roofing and tasteful traditional exteriors as they dived for the nearest cubicle.
At temperatures of close to 50degC in the sun, the evil intestinal bug kept couples indoors - and not for the usual, generally welcome, reasons associated with a successful honeymoon.
For us, it wiped out about five days and made another three or four quite uncomfortable.
Instead of snorkling on The Wall, or in Caves - areas of superb marine life and turtle heaven - we stuck to places that had a public convience within a short sprint.
After forking out several thousand pound with Thomson and First Choice for the honeymoon of our dreams, it looked a bit like it was literally all going down the toilet.
What was more annoying was the fact that a doctor's consultation cost US$35 each and, according to those who visited him, consisted of him confirming you had a tummy bug and should take Immodium. The shop promptly ran out.
We were angry and massively disappointed. We began to try and work out what the source of the outbreak was. We spotted our housekeeping fella barely used disinfectant. We witnessed barstaff forget to wash their hands properly after using the public loos. We worried about whether the sewage was being pumped out to sea in an area snorkle tours were being conducted. We thought that having buffet food left uncovered might be a bit of an invite to the island's flies. We also heard stories about the said flies gathering around guests as they went about their business in their al fresco villa bathrooms.
But in the end, we have no idea how the bug got such a grip of the island.
And, having splashed the cash, and that of many of our friends and family, we set our jaws, and girded our loins, with true resolve to enjoy the holiday whether we liked it or not.
As a result, the half day trip to the Dream Island, was magical. We were cast adrift on a bleach white sand bank a couple of miles from Kuredu's shore with a picnik hamper and tiny hut for company.
We got into the sorkeling, seeing a plethora of fish of every shape and size. I even had my own moment with a turtle that swam up to see who the klutz was with the inept doggypaddle technique.

Now we're back, the bad bits are already fading while the sunsets and long beach walks are burned into our memories (and in blotchy areas of our skin).

Our wedding day

2009-09-29T13:26:47Z

I know Rich posted a teaser pic and caption on here a few weeks ago but as we are now back in reality (aka work!) I thought the time was right to fill you in on our big day.

The wedding party member Rich alluded to as being struck down with the norovirus was in fact me!
Sod swine flu there can be nothing worse than simultaneously vomiting and diarrhea 24 hrs before your wedding day. Not something I had planned for at all!
We got married on Friday 4th and at 5.30pm on the Wed the sickness started and didn't stop until 5.30am on the Thursday. I was very poorly on the Thursday with a very swollen stomach. I managed to get my nails done and go to the rehearsal without collapsing but only just. I had mentally decided that I was walking down that aisle even if it meant wearing my dressing gown!

I had realised that if Rich can hold my hair back as I'm being sick, have to clean up after me and still want to marry me it was meant to be.

But the bridesmaids, my dad and Carol cheered me up and we spent the evening drinking champagne (well they did) and opening presents. Carol had bought Rich and I hundreds of little presents expertly wrapped and I enjoyed opening them all myself!
The hairdresser, Nicky, came at 8pm to set Danielle and I's hair in curls. There was only one hair net so Danielle ended up parading round with knickers on her head! She loved it and all of the attention she got!

The morning of the wedding I felt much better not 100% but enough to be super excited and eager to get into the dress!
The day really did go past in a blur, most of it was spent having our photo taken. I didn't complain because I knew the pics would be amazing. We picked them up yesterday and they look sensational. The perfect way to remember the day. John, Lorraine and Adam from Studio 900 did an amazing job. I just can't fault them.

The best part of the day for me though was saying the vows. Rich welled up and shed a few tears. It was the only part of the day where I felt it was just us - the point of the wedding. I know 100 people were watching but we were in our own little bubble.

I also loved my dad's speech. He isn't a man who talks about or often lets his feelings known so it was lovely to hear what he really thinks of me. It was really special to me.

Having two best men I had been a little worried that the speeches would go on forever but in fact they lasted 24minutes and 17 seconds combined. How do I know this? because my Uncle Russell ran a book! I spotted him going from table to table and rumbled him, had a bet myself and then announced the winner. I had pledged to give the money had I won to the charity Denise is doing a trek for next year. I pointed this out to my Uncle Dave - the winner- and he gallantly donated the money to charity :)

The best photos from the day were taken when we snook out and dashed to Thursaston Common as the sunset. As you can see the pictures are simply stunning!

There are so many things from that day that keep coming to me. It was truly fantastic. I didn't let the fact that I felt quite poorly ruin it for me - for us.

A honeymoon post will follow but I am very happy being Mrs Samantha Ann Down.

The Big Day - a teaser

2009-09-10T21:42:56Z

There's a lot to say and update but here's a teaser picture taken by my bestman, Ian Morris outside the church.

A blow-by-blow that will take you through the suspected bout of Norovirus that hit a fairly important member of the bridal party hours before the wedding through to a serious dance off between family members and reception guests - not forgetting the moment I almost lost it during the vows - will follow in a little over two weeks...

Right now I've got bags to pack.

BTW comgratulations to Helen and Alison on their baby girls!!

One week to go!

2009-08-28T16:20:10Z

This morning was the first time in ages that I was excited about the wedding. As I got dressed for work I looked at Rich sleeping (lucky sod got a lie in!) and just overwhelmed with love and excitement.

It's about time!

I've pretty much finished work too - we're both in on Sunday - then it's 4 weeks off! Woohoo!!

Quite weird to say bye to everyone for a month but I am very much looking forward to the break.

Our Deputy Head of Content Andy took us out for lunch as he can't make the do. I think he was single handedly trying to destroy my diet ;)

My colleague Alison who is due to have her little girl any day also popped in for our last day and is hoping to come and see the wedding despite being two days from her due date! Now that's commitment! lots of love to her xxxxxxx

Seriously the meal was lovely. I had my first pizza in weeks too which was yummy - although it came without cheese! Probably do me some good!

One week to go and actually I'm calming down. Two people have dropped out but everyone else is on course to come.

Exciting!!!!

The Bridezilla has been released

2009-08-27T14:42:06Z

Yes I am afraid to admit my inner Bridezilla has been released.

Turns out you can't help it.

I've been having mini breakdown after mini breakdown. I just can't cope with this stress.

I had my Liverpool hen party on Saturday which was fantastic! But I drank far, far too much. I felt horrendous on Sunday. Even the thought of having chocolate made me feel sick.

I hadn't recovered on Monday but dragged myself out of bed to do all of the little annoying bits that are left to do.

I also had my final dress fitting at Cherish the Bride. Well it was meant to be my final dress fitting. When I put the dress on the alterations looked better but the dress was tight on my tum. Debbie, the dressmaker, pointed out that I looked bloated, tired and stress (always nice to hear!) and that was having an impact on my dress. It is also that time of the month for me so I look like I'm roughly 5 months pregnant.

The dress is being taken out a bit for comfort probably just in case it doesn't go down :(

I left the dress shop very unhappy and upset. I thought I was going to see my dress complete and look like a goddess. Instead I felt like a fat frump.

So I went to visit my mum's grave and sobbed and sobbed.

On Tuesday, tired and hormonal the Bridezilla emerged. I bit everyone's head off at work, was grumpy and maybe a bit rude. Rich took the full brunt but we made up when he got home and gave me my much needed cuddle.

Yesterday I was a bit better after going to body combat Tuesday night. I had kicked the hell out of the air! But then I had my personal training session. My PT's super slim girlfriend was working out next to us and looked amazing. I realised that while I have lost 1.5 stone I did really want to lose more.
I got to the car and dissolved into tears again. Floods and floods of tears. Rich was at work and tried his best to calm me down.

I think I will feel better when we finish work on Sunday and I can concentrate on the wedding itself and not have to deal with juggling everything else.

There are still bits and bobs to do but it is coming together.

Four Weddings - a frugal bride

2009-08-26T11:23:43Z

I wrote this story in the Liverpool ECHO today. Natalie has completely put me to shame with her £600 wedding.

I don't want to think about how much money I could have saved! I've been lucky enough to get some discounts but not as many as I had hoped.

I also wanted a big white wedding with all of the trimmings.

I'm sorry that Natalie didn't win. She deserve some sort of prize for her achievement! Best of luck to her and her new husband!

A FRUGAL bride decided to defy the wedding industry and set a budget of only £600 for her big day.
When Natalie Canavan, 38, wed her hubby James, 40, in May this year they decided they didn't want to start their married life in debt.
Natalie said: "We are in the middle of a recession and I got a bit sick and tired of ringing up suppliers who added zero's when you mentioned you were having a wedding.
"I'd ring up for a quote of a band for a wedding and then ring them again 10 minutes later and say it was for a party. There was always a vast difference in the price."
"I decided to set myself a budget of just £600 and actually came in under budget with a total of £580.
"It was a lot of hard work and shopping around. There was a lot of research involved."
Natalie and James entered their pub wedding into ITV's Four Weddings for the chance to win a honeymoon worth £5k. Their day was screened on Monday.
Four Weddings see four couple judge each others weddings out of 10. The winner gets a honeymoon.
Natalie's daughter Jessica nine, and the couple's daughter Annie, 2, were bridesmaids.
Natalie from Penny Lane, Wavertree, added: "We hoped we would be able to prove that you can still have a beautiful wedding for a fraction of the cost.
"Unfortunately the other brides didn't believe that you could put together a white wedding for £580.
"They were very suspicious and it did hurt to hear their comments on TV. But we did do it.
"We had a lot of help from people at our local pub. The pub landlady was absolutely fantastic and organised everything from the flowers to the chair covers which she did herself and included in her price.
"Even the band was free as she let me choose one of the regular bands who provided entertainment for the whole pub, not just the wedding party.
"She did everything at cost for us as she knew she would make her money on the bar.
"A student photographer took the photos for free and a gentleman at the pub with a Mercedes drove me around.
"I got me dress for the bargain price of £30 from Ebay and then paid £50 to have it cleaned. Family and friends helped in anyway they could but we never asked for anything.
"I wish we did win as we could have taken the children away but I wouldn't change the day."

Three weeks to go!

2009-08-14T16:30:03Z

THREE weeks today I will be walking down the aisle into what I hope will be wedded bliss. After 18 months of waiting it will finally be our day. It hasn't all been easy going there have been your usual mixture of tears and tantrums but it is with pride that I say the Bridezilla in me has never been released. Mind you with three weeks still to go I have time left. In fact I can feel the tension rising within me as I write and picture the long list of things to do sitting on my kitchen table. These are things that only other brides can relate to, the fiddly little things that seem so inconsequential to everyone else but you. The things that you know won't matter on the day but you will notice if they aren't done. If anyone had told me 18 months ago that I would still have so much to do I might have started planning a little earlier, rather than the blase attitude I had to the whole affair to begin with. Below is a snapshot of my, sorry our, wedding journey.

The Engagement

Clearly every wedding starts with an engagement whether the groom gets down on bended knee or a couple decide together that they wish to tie the knot. A week after I started at the Daily Post and ECHO in December 2007 Richard and I had planned a week away in Paris for Christmas. At the time we were pretty much living in one room together in a shared house and worked together so knew each other's every move. I knew he was going to propose on holiday as he told me to remind him to pack the ring as he knew I had spotted the box hiding behind a picture of my mum in my room. I didn't know when he would pop the question and assumed it would be on Christmas day and so was quite shocked when he got down on one knee on his birthday on the Mon Marte over looking Paris with the Eiffel Tower twinkling away in the background. It was perfect and exactly what I wanted. He even chose a beautiful ring all by himself.

The Dress

The dress is clearly the focal point of the wedding as it determines your theme and colour scheme. For example when I began my search I thought I would go for a champagne coloured gown and thus have a brown, turquoise and gold colour scheme. The dress I have fallen in love with is the complete opposite to what I imagined it would be when I started out. Firstly it is very pale ivory - almost white and is a halterneck. I tried on probably nearly 100 dresses in my search and thought I had found "the one" quite a few times. When I walked into Cherish the Bride in West Kirby on the January 24 with my Auntie Ann I wasn't hopeful of finding a dress. Not because the gowns weren't beautiful but because I had resigned myself to the fact I was probably going to have to settle. The owner of the shop, Kate, has been in the bridal business for over 25 years and she said to me: "you can't like your wedding dress you have to love it." And in love I fell. My dress is unlike any I have seen on a catwalk or in magazines and as it has an unusual neckline. When I first put it on I remember thinking that I either loved it or hated it. When I saw my reflection in the full length mirror I realised it was love. I almost ordered it there and then but we were on our way to the Confetti wedding show so I thought I had best wait. I ended up taking my father with me for a second opinion on Valentine's Day, the look on his face made me realise I had to buy it. The picture isn't my dress!!!

The Bridesmaids

After the Confetti Show my Auntie Ann and I had lunch for a breather. I then decided as we had time and weren't totally exhausted that we should pop into Liverpool ONE. We walked into Monsoon as there was sale on and sitting on the rack were the perfect bridesmaid dresses. As I had pretty much made up my mind early on in the buying the wedding dress process that I wasn't going to get married in champagne I knew I wanted aubergine bridesmaid dresses with a sweetheart neck. And there they were waiting for me with a massive 75% off. I bought five. I was originally having four adult bridesmaids and my little sister Danielle, who is 11, and thought buying a spare dress might come in handy if any alterations were needed. Danielle is wearing an ivory dress to match me. The spare dress was never needed and I was able to ask a very dear friend from school to wear it. I truly believe my mother was watching over me on that day. Before she died she asked me to promise to include her little sister, my Auntie, Ann in my wedding preparations. She has two boys and I think my mother wanted her to experience it in her place. I had a few tears that night.

The Venue

The venue is also a massive decision and one that Richard and I made together. I was brought up on the Wirral and knew I wanted to get married in St Peter's Church in Lower Heswall. It was where I went to Brownies and where my mother's funeral took place. It is also stunning with views over the Dee Estuary. We looked at reception venues across the Wirral and the Hillbark was the last one we visited. As we drove around the sweeping drive and the Tudor building came into view I knew nowhere else could compare and it got better inside. On our first date we walked from the church up to Thursaston Common where the Hillbark is situated which makes our choice that extra bit special

The Photographer

For me good photography is key on a day like your wedding day. In thirty years time we will need to look back on the pictures to help us remember the day. I asked the Hillbark for some recommendations and they sent me a list. I trawled through the website and was drawn to one in particular. Studio 900 based in Prenton. We made an appointment to go and meet John McCulloch and chatted with him. He then asked me if I had a sister called Danielle and if my father was called Stephen. We must have looked so confused. John's wife Lorraine was my sister's childminder and he had figured out the connection from what we had said to him. That made my mind up. Not only did I love his work adn the way he captures the light but I have known Lorraine for nearly five years since my mother died and it will be nice to have a friendly face behind the camera.

The Cake

If you want the perfect chocolate wedding cake there is only one place to go - The Chocolate Cellar in Liverpool ONE.I knew from the beginning that I wanted a chocolate wedding cake and we went to many shops and tried many different cakes. The cake at the Chocolate Cellar tasted divine, the ganache melts effortlessly on the tongue. The owner Bala went over a few ideas with us and I really can't wait to see her creation; four tiers of chocolate cake covered with white chocolate and decorated with strawberries dipped in chocolate - divine.

The Flowers

I have always known what I want from my wedding flowers - simple, classic and no huge displays. After attending my mother's funeral I developed a hate for big displays as they reminded me too much of death. Fishlocks on Castle Street have been very accommodating as I have changed my mind too many times to count. In fact at our wedding we are only having pew ends in the church and a small arrangement on the top tale. The other tables are having a candelabra as a centre piece. However, I have surprised myself at my choice of bouquet which is very similar to the one in the picture. I decided I wanted something a bit more dramatic than a hand tied bouquet of roses but it still looks very elegant. I can't wait to see the finished creation. The flowers are a mix of whites and purples to tie in with the bridesmaid dresses and the aubergine, pink and white colour scheme.

The Honeymoon

Richard and I have lived together for a couple of years now and have decided that as we have everything we need in our home that we would ask for Thomson holiday vouchers to have an amazing honeymoon. We have picked two weeks in the Maldives on Kuredu. The honeymoon may have broken the bank but it is, for us, maybe a once in a lifetime holiday. I can't wait to lie on a sandy beach and do nothing. I like the mantra of "no shoes, no news" that is in place on the Island. It will be bliss - the perfect start to married life.

Taking a breather on the Isles of Scilly

2009-08-05T13:21:12Z

Yesterday was August 4 and marked the one month mark until the big day. I was going to write a post called The Final Countdown but Samantha said she'd already thought of that and would do unmentionable things to me (in a bad way) if I "stole" her headline.
Instead, I'll let you know about a brief trip we took to the Isles of Scilly as a breather before The Final ... run up to the wedding.

(photo on www.classic.co.uk)

Having survived without a break since last September, when we took a rain blighted trip to Cork in Eire, we were in desparate need of a holiday.
This was a four day, three night, trip to the Isles of Scilly 30 miles south of Penzance on the tip of Cornwall.
We flew from Bristol and managed to sit two rows behind Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex on board a Twin Otter propeller plane that held about 10 people.
No one else on the plane looked too bothered and it became clear that the Scillys really are quite posh.
It was also clear they were regulars as when the tiny dot of a runway, that hurtles into the sea on St Mary's, came into view and we plummeted towards it with alarming speed, it was only Samantha and me who looked in the slightest bit concerned.
The landing was, it turned out, fine - unlike my arm which Samantha had shredded in the moments before touchdown in sheer dread.

But on arrival at Tresco's superb Island Hotel we were given a bottle of bubbly and a suite and, with the fear of a spectacular death in the company of royalty fading, the tension of the last few months began to slip away.

The tranquil view out of the bedroom window helped soothe us further.

By breakfast, with the sun soaring above Carribean shallows outside the hotel dining rooms, we were in full holiday mode.

(Agapanthus with Foreman's Island in the background)

The Isles of Scilly are fragments of Cornwall tossed among azure waters normally found in the Mediterranean. The perfect break.

White sandy beaches yards from the hotel were dotted with sandcastles and jellyfish with tempting aquamarine lapping gently at the edges. Ok, when you began to paddle, the illusion shattered as did the frozen bones in your feet. While beautiful, the sea around Tesco and neighbours are icy.

We warmed up in the Flying Boat Hotel at the empty Spa and swimming pool and enjoyed a locally brewed pint at The New Inn. The Scilly Isles are like travelling without moving - slightly exotic but with moorland, pubs and castles in the background.

King Charles' Castle, where we took this self timed shot, and Cromwell's Castle below gave the island a bit of history and allowed us a bit more time pottering around before we headed to the beautiful Hell Bay hotel across the strait on Bryher.

Another soothing night in a tasteful hotel with sublime views out over the bay completed the experience.

We're now back, fit and mad for it. There are just 19 working days left and less than four weeks until the opening bars of Wagner wedding march announce Samantha's arrival at St Peter's Church and we're relaxed and happy.

If our honeymoon is this lovely and if our married life turns out to be this much fun then I can't wait.

The final countdown

2009-08-05T13:01:35Z

So. I was putting something in my diary yesterday when it suddenly dawned on me that the wedding is only a month away - less than in fact.

Rich and I spent the weekend at the Scilly Isles on a much needed getaway. As we are taking a month off for the wedding we haven't had that much time off this year.

But as we got the plane back on Monday I could feel panic starting to rise inside me as I realised that I have very little time left to get everything sorted.

I have started to write a list of every little thing that needs doing and I mean every little thing.

I had forgotten how much I had left under the heading "oh I will do that later" well, it turns out later is now upon me.

I can feel the Bridezilla in me creeping up from time to time and I do feel bad that it is Rich that bears the brunt. But I do always apologise later on!

Having the four day break made me realise how much I want to get away from this country and feel the sun! I can't wait to go to the Maldives for two weeks and just do sweet FA! It is what is keeping me sane now.

Introducing bridesmaid number.....6!

2009-07-30T15:25:38Z

No I haven't miss counted my bridesmaids. I have just added another! Those of you who have read the blog from the beginning will know that when I bought the dresses for the adult bridesmaids I bought a spare one just in case it was needed for alterations.

Luckily for me it hasn't been needed because for sometime now I have wanted to make an addition to my entourage.

When Laura needed her dress fixing Sandy at Anna May didn't need to use spare dress.

I have known Pippa since sixth form when we braved a school full of boys to get our A-levels. We always stayed in touch but it has been recently that we have become much closer. Pippa was great when my mum died too - a real support.

Pippa moved back to the Wirral earlier this year and has been a massive help with regards to the wedding. It has been fab to have her live so close and to get to know each other much better.

I have wanted to ask her to do the honour of by a bridesmaid since before the hen party. Being a bit tipsy I told her as much. I don't think she believed me or realised that I have been trying to get hold of a dress for her. I am so pleased I was able to ask her last night.

This is how I asked her (by text): "I have found the perfect dress for you to wear to the wedding. It's aubergine, knew length and from Monsoon but unfortunately it is also being worn by Laura, Laura, Kim and Frances what do you think...?

She said yes thank fully!!

The wedding cake from the Chocolate Cellar

2009-07-27T10:05:26Z

I have been wanting to post a picture of the cake in here since I ordered so here it is.

We aren't having the roses as we are having strawberries dipped in chocolate instead! They are going to be out of this world and will sit in the grooves.

It was actually Rich who spotted the Chocolate Cellar when he was wondering around Liverpool ONE as I was shopping.

We went in and tried the cake. Having tasted a lot of cake in my time I can guarantee theirs is up there with the best.

The ganache was particularly tasty. We have tested quite a lot of cakes and a lot of yummy ones too. But for me it was always going to be chocolate cake.

Luckily, Rich agreed.

The Chocolate Cellar have a base in Hamilton Square as well as Liverpool ONE.

The cakes all look fantastic and are incredibly reasonably priced. Bala, the owner joked that they were too cheap. Where weddings are concerned making any sort of saving is welcome.

Bala and her staff are friendly, helpful, patient and knowledgeable - a must for anyone wanting a chocolate cake. The birthdays cakes and chocolate are made on the premises. Watching the melted chocolate go around and around is well heaven hmmmmmmm.

They also have a coffee shop on site so pop in and sample their cake as a break from shopping.

As they aren't based in the centre of Liverpool ONE you can usually get a seat :)

Nearly a Bridezilla

2009-07-23T09:53:44Z

I haven't blog in awhile because I am desperately trying not to have a Bridezilla type rant. I realise a few people maybe waiting for me to have some sort of melt down and fly off the handle. Well I haven't - yet.

I can't believe how fast the time is flying by. I'm actually quite scared by it. It is 6 weeks tomorrow to the wedding. Six weeks!

The wedding nightmare dreams have now started. I think I have dreamt of everything that could possible go wrong from swine flu to the church blowing up and for every dream I have thought out a contingency plan.

In truth though Swine Flu is a concern at the moment. If either of us are going to catch it I would rather we caught it now and got over it then caught it anywhere near the wedding. It would ruin the day.

We have both been very busy at work and at home. So we are off for a little break next weekend for four days to the Scilly Isles on a free press trip. We've decided that we are going to take full advantage of the relaxing surroundings and pretty much do nothing. At least it will give us a chance to catch up on where we are with the wedding.

Since I last posted I have had my hair and make up trial. Both went really well. When I looked in the mirror after having my make up done I was a little shocked as I look completely different. In normally wear a thick line of eyeliner under my eye and Sue had only done a thin one. It grew on me as the day went on but we have agreed I need a slightly thicker line. Rich liked the make up but commented on the eye liner. If he noticed then it must have looked quite different!!! But it was nice to have someone else do my make up. I do love doing my own make up but when I am nervous I panic with it so having Sue do is definitely the right choice for me.

Nicky came to do my hair and we spent awhile trying out different styles. If my hair is up I know that I will take it down as I like having my hair down. So in order show off the dress to its full potential I am having it half up with a column of curls down the back of my head. Nicky is even coming the night before to set my hair in curls which I thought was very dedicated.

Laura was with me and she had a little hair trial too. all of the bridesmaids apart from Danielle, my sister, will have their hair up in a bun. Nicky used a donut - something that makes a nice bun shape which will stay in place easily.

Laura also went for a dress fitting and was pleasantly surprised to find that this time the dress almost did up. There isn't a lot that needed doing to it. Which was pleasing. Laura needed straps and Sandy (dressmaker) had the brilliant idea of a creating a halterneck to match mine. I can't wait to see it completed as I think it will look amazing and brilliant next to mine. The same is being done to Kim's so that they match. The other bridesmaids are staying strapless.

I am also pleased to report that all problems with my wedding dress have been resolved! When I first tried it on it was too tight. I was a bit shocked as I had lost weight since I was measured and had to lose another 4 pound for it to be comfortable. There was also a problem with the boning in the corset which has had to be shortened. So I'm happy :) the dress is gorgeous.

We have also been busy buying presents for the children (to keep them amused) and decorations for the tables.

I am definitely excited now!!!

Stag do in The Lakes

2009-07-14T10:04:28Z

Am in the middle of planning a quasi stag do in The Lakes. I run another blog about walking and climbing and, oddly I suppose, that's what I fancy doing on my stag.
I've picked out this place in Eskdale Green, Western Lakes in Cumbria.

It's got a sauna and all sorts of creature comforts. I was thinking of camping rough just north of Hardknott. There's an elevated bit at the foot of Scafell Pike that would have been a good spot.
But then a dose of sensible reality hit.
A stag do should involve a bit of comfort and a spot of boozing though I suspect the lapdancing could take on a rural and possibly unpleasant turn should anyone seek it out in Eskdale.
I like a beer or two but the idea of a stag do which ends up with me chained naked to a lampost with a policeman's hat covering my chopper and flashbacks to a seedy joint in central Birmingham or somewhere equally ropey has never really appealed.
Heading out on the hills and then getting happily drunk in an old man's pub in The Lakes with a few mates sounds lots more like it.
I'm now in the process of booking it - probably the only think I've taken sole responsibility for so far and for a man of limited logistical nouse, a minor stress.
Will update once it's sorted.

Funny wedding related video

2009-07-07T11:51:19Z

A friend of mine who is getting married next week posted this on her Facebook page and I thought it was excellent so enjoy!