So this month Jon and I have tried to stick to our ‘to do list’…and you know it’s actually working!
First on the list was to get the wedding invites sorted… as a Graphic Designer there’s so much pressure to get that bit right (!)…especially as they’ll be making their way through my designer friends letter boxes.. I even pondered the idea of asking someone else to design them to avoid the potential embarrassment of them being deemed too ‘twee’, over designed… or the worst… just a complete disaster! However after trawling endless wedding fairs only to be greeted with the same diamante and ribbon adorned designs (completely understand peeps going for this look btw..just doesn’t suit me!) I decided that unless I wanted to spend a fortune (which I could happily on stationery…but Jon wouldn’t get it!) my only option was to design them myself.
So I set about collating inspiration and got pen to paper to come up with some ideas…I finally sent them to print last week and will put some pics up when I have sent them out…don’t want to ruin what I hope will be a nice surprise for the guests 
…(and no… unfortunately my budget didn’t stretch to letterpress if you’re looking at my inspiration pics with excitement!) In the mean time I have also decided to venture into the world of stationery design to help other brides like me find something that really suits their style without being budget breaking!…I have to thank my fellow Real Brides for being amazing test subjects too! Thank you girlies I’ll keep you posted on how I get on! xxx
Another thing on October’s list was to get the wedding website sorted…and after chasing taxi quotes and hotel rates…that can now be ticked off the list! I went with gettingmarried.co.uk though Appy couple were amazingly helpful (thank you Susanne!) and have exciting new things on their horizon…unfortunately just not in time for when I want to send my invites out 
Something for you other brides to consider?
A big dilemma for me was whether to have my make-up done or not on the big day… It seems like such a lot of money to spend on something you wash away! But after looking at myself in photos when I have done my own make up it’s very hit and miss! So I thought it would be best to leave it to the experts! So I contacted Jodie Hazelwood, recommended by my photographer Anna Clarke. She just gets what I need… And guess what… She did the make up at the Pretty Naughty event too! I’m so pleased that I decided to go ahead and book her and I’m really looking forward to being able to sit back and be pampered on the morning of the wedding! Are any of you lovely brides struggling to decide what to do with your look or make-up on your big day? Would love to hear your thoughts and experiences you’ve had during trials etc… Here are a few pics of make-up Jodie has done… Essentially I want to look like me but on a really really good day (That’s the plan anyway!!)
I also ticked off the ‘go shopping with the mums’ this month, we went to Shrewsbury and had a lovely time, there are lots of really nice dress shops and cute vintage boutiques. Though we spent nearly three hours just chatting over lunch! But all in all I’ve had a fairly productive month! And guess what…I’m on the less than 6 months count down! eek! Just too excited for words… well apart from these ones which I hope you’re continuing to enjoy.
So until next time…
lots of love
Hannah xxx
I have also now hit the less than 6 months countdown (last weekend)!
That and attending my future brother-in-laws wedding, the weekend before last, have made me very excited indeed. And then I had to remind myself that 6 months is still a while, and I have to get excited about Christmas first (for which we can all start the 2 month countdown today).
Well done on getting your invites sorted. I like the inspiration pics, so I’m sure they are awesome!
Is letterpress the sticky-inny wording thing? Ah, I’m sure they’ll be amayonnaising without them. I told you didnt I that I met a wedding stationery company at a wedding fair the other week and their business cards said ‘stationary’
L.U.V the Del Ray-esque girl with the make up. Go on, have it like that!!!
xxx
Hannah I can’t wait to see your invites, I know they’re going to be stunning!
My sister is doing my make-up for me and we’re planning to get quite a lot of practice in beforehand. She’s been with me to a couple of trials at make-up counters and I’ve been stockpiling lots of lovely Laura Mercier and Benefit make-up which I will be taking on honeymoon too!
Great post again m’dear xxxx
Hannah, I know your stationery is going to be just amazing.
Girls take it from me Hannah is a fabulous stationery designer!! Dave & I are soooo excited to get all ours finished and out to our guests, she has done such a fabulous job!
I am lucky enough to have a friend that does make up so haven’t really had to search very far for my make up artist!
Loving the make-up inspiration pics here. Currently I am torn between having just a pretty natural look OR going slightly hollywood glamour! I have always wanted to have the perfect eyeliner flight but have NEVER managed it so why not finally get my wish on my wedding day?! Also quite partial to a bride with red(ish) lips, but not sure I can be bothered with the constant re-applying!
And yes @Karen – that Lana Del-Ray look is hot!
xxx
‘Stationary’ – that’s so funny! I am n the process of getting our RSVPs back. Thank goodness I took advice and used a magic invisible pen to number them on the back, some people haven’t wrote their names on them!
Lovely make up – my cousin-in-law is doing ours. 37 days and counting!
Hello!!! Can’t WAIT to see your stationEry Hans
esp after the sneaky von peeky at Kitty’s. I’ve been well and truly in invite world this week trying to work out how I want to word things, who knew i’d be that bothered?!
Great makeup pics, I’d love to be able to pull off the red lip one too. I had a really great makeup trial in September, but it’s difficult as I can’t get back to Cornwall again for ages so in the meantime I keep seeing things and thinking ooooh maybe I could have that instead!! I’m going to drive myself (and my lovely makeup artist Suzi) mental by next May! xx
Letterpress, letterpress! I adore it. Sadly I don’t have a wedding to plan any more but I’m going to get letterpress business cards. I love it.
I love ALL those invites but I love the ones you’ve done for us even more! Can’t wait to see yours, I just know they’re going to be awesome.
I really have no clue about how I want my make up, that’s why I’ve booked Jodie too
@Rebecca – pleeeease go Hollywood glam that would look amazing with your theme!
xxx
Sorry for not replying earlier girls, been in and out of meetings all day!
@Ruby..yey! Join the less than 6 month bride gang! I haven’t even began to consider Christmas yet! Eek! Thanks for the 2 month reminder!
@Karen..yep letter press is where the letters are literally pressed into the paper..all very lovely but all very expensive! You made me panic I’d spelt stationery wrong in my post..I’m constantly worried I will in one of my posts on my site!
@Kitty I’m a tad jealous of all the lovely make up you’re getting..I might have to treat myself as a wedding present..or hint at jon (hope he’s reading this!)
@Rebecca..arh thank you for the compliment that’s so sweet, I can’t wait to see yours printed..I’m going to collect mine and Kitties next Friday hopefully..just too excited!
@Vix, might have to get some makeup inspiration from you ..all I keep saying is I want to look like me but on a really good day..but what’s that really! I’d be in a right huff if someone gave me a brief like that!
@Laura, letterpress business cards..beauts! Would love to see them when they’re done (I’m a bit stationery crazy!)
@Tabs I’m so pleased you love your save the dates..need to get the invites sorted next! Exciting! And yey to booking Jodie! Her works amazing!
Next Friday?!
Mega squeal!
Want to try and send them before my next post is due so I can put photos of them in it!
Apparently loads of my family read my posts on the sly, without me telling them I’ve done them or giving them the link so they all know what they’re getting for dinner!
Oh well, they’d have seen on the invites soon anyway
xxx
Next Friday!! how exciting
@Tabitha – it would really fit……hmmmm……we’ll see
xx
Love the graphic design and typography of these invitations, especially the first and last images – I see lots of brides (and grooms!) that actually start with the save the date cards / invitations and this inspires a theme for rest of the wedding. All the best for a fabulous wedding day… and look forward to seeing how you style the rest of your day!
Those invitations look fab! I actually didn’t want to spend a lot of money on invites but had the same wedding fair experience as you with the flowers/bows/diamantes, and eventually faced facts – if I wanted something that felt like me, it would have to be a bit more expensive. So we ended up at RSVP Candy. Best decision we’ve made so far, the compliments have been coming thick and fast! (not so much the RSVPs though, grrrr!)
I also had the same ‘me on a really good day’ brief when I went to MAC for my slap trial – I wore what I normally wear and explained to the girl that I just wanted an enhanced, more polished version of it. She did me proud so I’ll be making my way up to MAC on the morning of WDay (the joy of city centre weddings!). 14 weeks on Saturday, eeek!x
Your invite inspiration looks gorgeous. I know what you mean about the whole ribbons-and-diamante thing – a graphic designer friend did ours for us and we used a couple of motifs relating to our wedding (top hats and gramophones) and some cool type. But there are loads of cool invites out there for people who need to buy, e.g. on Etsy.
Can’t wait to see your invites! I’m just going through the stationery dilemma at the moment. I know what I want but it’s a little bit unusual and quirky and I don’t have a big budget to get someone else to design them for me so I think I’m going to go it alone – without any kind of know-how so this is going to be interesting! Would be very interested to hear more about your stationery design venture!!! And get you for being super organised. I am so far off and starting to panic a bit – 11 months and counting for me. Eek! x