Hi peeps, Adam here again introducing another new bride-to-be to the RMW real bride legacy 
You know what to do by now! Give Rebecca a super warm RMW welcome…
Oh my giddy Aunt, it’s actually happened….I’m a RMW Real Bride!!!
I cannot begin to tell you how shocked/excited/nervous I am. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your kind words on my entry and a MAHUSIVE thank you to Charlotte, Adam and all the RMW team for actually putting six of us through. If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t have met such a fabulous bunch of girls 
Right, enough gushing (well, I don’t want to make you sick)……
As I said before I have been pretty nervous about writing this and nervousness in Rebecca-land leads to procrastination…think the sudden urge to spring clean, sort out my photos, write cake-pop how-tos – I kid you not! Well there is no hiding now, I have got myself a little glass of vino to steady the nerves so here I go…
It’s Only My 27th!
It all started on the first day of December in 2010, just another birthday, or so I thought! My present this year was to go and see Arcade Fire, a band Dave and I just adore, and as I had the day off Dave had arranged for us to go for a spot of lunch in London. Feeling very smug that all my not-so subtle TopTable hints had worked, we headed into London town. Now I must add here that I have this ‘thing’ where I must have something to open on my actual birthday (completely my mother’s fault). As I knew about the tickets I had spent all my efforts reminding Dave of this fact and was delighted when he showed me a poorly wrapped box (bless he had tried)! the only catch was I wasn’t allowed to open it until later……..
So we get to Covent Garden, took a little stroll and Dave showed me the restaurant he had booked. OH.MY.DAYS it looked gorgeous. All I could say in my stunned state was ‘it’s not even a big birthday, it’s just my 27th’! Clos Maggiore was as absolutely magnificent inside as it was from the outside. We were seated in the middle of their ‘courtyard’ surrounded by beautiful white blossom and fairy lights (google it, you’ll see what I mean), and the food was divine. Fast forward to main course and I was told I was finally allowed my present. I excitedly unwrapped the first box to find a second & then opened the second box to find a third! At this point my present was taken away from me & it suddenly dawned on my…..*oh my gosh he’s going to propose!* Well I’m not ashamed to say I blubbed like a big girl, but these were tears of joy, absolute joy. Luckily for us, there were a lovely couple of ladies who were ‘lunching’ and once they had cottoned on to what was happening they took some snaps (apologies they only had an old Nokia!). I can honestly say that has to be one of the best days of my life, I was on cloud nine. That Arcade Fire gig will be the best gig I have ever been to & that’s not just because all our friends kept buying us champagne!
So, I hear you ask, why are we still not married? Well we made a joint decision that we would need more than a year to save up for our perfect wedding and agreed that 2013 was the year for us. It also happens to be the year in which we celebrate our 10 year anniversary so I think it is quite poignant to be getting married then. This was a decision we questioned many times, but I stuck to my guns, and boy am I glad we did. This year we have already been to 3 weddings and still have a handful left to go and I know if we were also getting married this year then we would be spending our whole year worrying about all the costs instead of enjoying what is really important. This way we get to relax and enjoy seeing our friends and family celebrating their commitment to each other on their special day.
So 2013 it is…..
We’re Just A Couple Of Old Romantics At Heart
As soon as we got engaged both Dave & I knew we wanted to get married in a church and choosing the church was a no-brainer. St John the Baptist has been Dave’s family church for as long as he remembers (his mum is a lay preacher there) and in the years we have been together I have also attended a number of services and know what a pretty little church this is with a lovely congregation. So on 22nd June 2013 I will make my way down the (not so long) aisle to become Mrs M.
Now for my bit of pretty, The Gatsby. I have to say I am a little bit in love with our reception venue and not just because of its amazing cocktails, although I cannot wait to sip a yummy Apple Strudel Martini in my wedding dress! Now, I have to admit that up until today Dave & I have been in a bit of a wedding lull, Dave has been studying hard and I have been busy with other people’s weddings so we haven’t really had time to get anything more done for the wedding. But then we got our inspiration back! YAY! It was exactly a year to go and unbeknown to me Dave had booked a surprise visit to The Gatsby for dinner, it turns out this was exactly what we needed. As soon as we walked in and saw those stairs again the smiles grew across our faces, our wedding mojo was back! We coo-ed about how amazing the chandelier is in the bar, daydreamed about the photo possibilities and more importantly we finally got to try the food there (yup we had booked a restaurant as our venue before we had even eaten at the place)! The food was divine, the wine yummy, the leather seats sumptuous and the pianist perfect. Oh did I not tell you? Our venue has a white baby grand piano sat amongst the dining room! So here are a couple of piccys of our gorgeous reception venue to feast your eyes upon…..
As I have mentioned before (and you may be able to notice in the pics) The Gatsby has been lovingly restored to resemble its 1930’s roots – the entrance to an old one-screen cinema. The architecture has hints of art deco throughout and the walls are littered with old movie posters. They even had old movies being screened on one of the large walls to side….just think Dave & I could have lots of black & white movies being screened during the arrival drinks?! Or maybe we could make a movie of pictures of us and have that screened in black & white? The possibilities are endless so watch this space….
My Girls
So all that is left for me to do now is to introduce you to the people who, for the next year (eek, it’s now officially a year to go!), will be putting up with all my bridal ranting and waffling! The girls in my life…..
Alex (Maid of Honour)
I’m sorry but I am going to boast a little now but I think I may have the best MoH ever! From the moment I told this young lady that I was getting married she has been so excited for our plans – even more so than me at times! Even with a gorgeous little boy to look after, she has made time to be dragged around the National Wedding Show, travelled up to see me for her birthday only to be dragged around London wedding dress shopping and has even put up with my ‘almost’ meltdown after putting the deposit down on ‘my dress’ (that’s a whole other blog post). She is one of three girls who kept me sane when I left all my friends in Hertfordshire and moved to Folkestone after uni (I will introduce you to the others in a mo). She kept me smiling when I was missing Dave, never let me feel lonely & more importantly introduced me to Tequila Rose!
Claire (Bridesmaid)
Claire & I first met in our first year at uni, she was dating my housemate (they married earlier this year) & so practically lived in our flat. We discovered a joint love of music, we both love a good Blink 182 number, and so for the next few years we kept each other company while going out with the boys. She was my rock at uni and although we live further away now I know I can always count on her to be there for me whenever I need her, with a bottle of fizz of course.
Keli (Bridesmaid)
Awww my Robin Hood! Keli and I played leads in an AmDram version of Robin Hood, and since duetting ‘A Kind of Hush’ we have had a special bond! She was another of the girls that saved me from a life of boredom in Folkestone with her warm and fun personality. You will often catch us drinking too much wine and attempting to re-live ‘A Kind of Hush’…
Michelle (Bridesmaid)
This young lady constantly has me in stitches, her sarcasm knows no bounds & I love her for it. Nights out in Folkestone are never dull when Michelle is there, which is pretty impressive as there are only ever a handful of places we dare venture! Yes Michelle is the last of my Folkestone saviours and for that alone I am eternally grateful.
Mims (Bridesmaid)
Lastly my wonderful newlywed sister-in-law. Only a couple of weekends ago this brave young lady took on the challenge of marrying my little brother!! (you love me really little bro!) Seriously though, Mims is the sweetest girl I know (along with above lot obviously!!) and she has made my brother the happiest man alive. I was honoured to be bridesmaid at their wedding and am chuffed she has said yes to being mine.
Hannah (The Flower Girl)
Oh and I mustn’t forget the stealer of the whole show……..my beautiful goddaughter (and our niece). How could you not fall in love with this face
So there you have it, that is our wedding so far!
Next time I hope to have booked a few more important bits, like maybe a photographer! I know we are leaving this a little late but I promise we are on the case (‘on it like a car bonnet’ as my fellow Real Brides would say). On this subject can I ask how many of you are not paying for an album straight away? Is this because you are doing your own? Or are you waiting to get this at a later date? I only ask as this is our current conundrum: do we go for a cheaper photographer so we can get the album with the wedding photos or do we go for the more expensive photographer, who I think I prefer, and not get the album until our anniversary. Seeing as the first anniversary is paper I was thinking this might be a nice way to celebrate our first year together as Mr & Mrs, what do you lovely peeps think?
Big ‘I hope this was ok’ love
Rebecca xx
ps. Apologies for all the exclamation marks in this and any future posts, I just can’t help myself!
What a lovely first post! Really nice to introduce all your bridesmaids too! (glad too see you have as many as me…I thought i’d gone a bit crazy having so many!) Your reception venue is beautiful, your pics will be amazing i’m sure…and as far as pics go my main concern was to get all of them at high resolution so I could do exactly what I liked with them. I plan to make an album and have it printed myself and maybe have some shots larger in frames for our house! Can’t wait to read more about your big day…and hopefully meet all of you Real Brides soon…must plan that date in September! xx
I’ve not read all of this, and I promise I will go back and read it but…. one of my best friend’s got married at The Gatsby last year… it was AMAZING.
Fantastic choice of venue – it is going to be amazing!
xoxo
Rebecca you secret Shakespeare! Why on earth were you nervous? That was a great first post.
Love that you managed to sneak “on it like a car bonnet” in there – haha!
Me and Al are having an album, but only because it was included in our package. If we hadn’t found our lovely photographer Beki we would have gone for a more expensive one without the album. Your photos will make your day last a lifetime so it’s worth going for the quality, and your idea of getting the album as a first anniversary present to yourselves is a great idea!
Much love, xxx
Yaaaay your first post
I also went to see Arcade Fire in Dec 2010 (in Manc) and weirdly it was the day my best friend got engaged, exactly a year before Lee and I got engaged. How sweet to have photos of the actual moment… love it!!!
I am J’adoring the Gatsby! It looks completely fabulous, bet you cant wait to swan about pretending to be Rita Hayworth.
You should speak to Pamela, she’s having a similar reception venue.
LOVE IT. xxxxx
Whoop Whoop! fabulous post lady!! I too enjoy an excessive use of exclamation marks, especially when it’s all so RUDDY exciting!
Seriously, well done lovely, great first post. The venue and church look utterly fabulous – are you going to have a red carpet entrance??!! Hannah is sooo cute I kinda want to kidnap her
and hello {waves} to all your other ladies 
We are going to wait on the album front probably, basically I know we will have a proper one done, but I’m not parting with cash for that until much later – it means that we have booked a photographer that we really want, and we can wait and see what our final spend comes in at, how much the honeymoon costs etc. Love your idea of doing it for a first anniversary though, that’s really sweet.
Oh and I think I speak for all of us on QBB – the cake pop diversion was totally worth it, although a delivery would have been even better!!
love love love
xxx
Lovely to read this Rebecca. Knowing you this blog will be full of lots of beautiful detail and humour. Looking forward to the next instalment! xxxxx
ps “on it like a car bonnet” is now legendary saying Swaley – almost up there with “i’d rather XXX glass”
Amazing reading! got a little teary when reading about the ‘have to have something to open on your birthday’ the pictures help set the scene! 2013 will be here in no time and all the waiting will be over!
Cant wait to read the next one!
I know a few photographers too hunny, so mail me if you are in need of inspiration!
xxx
Oooh your plans so far sound awesome! I live in Folkestone too so will be watching out for your posts!! Random question, did you and your maids go to the girls school?? I swear I recognise you all and Miriam was in my year! Small world! Also whereabouts is the Gatsby?? It looks lovely there
Xx
Hello Rebecca and congrats on RMW-bride-dom! Totally love the look of The Gatsby…what a cool venue! Great Gatsby is my all-time favourite book so I love that era. Looking forward to following your story…
LOVE the proposal pics… *sniff*… and that venue is totally brilliant. Totally.
You already know my advice re photographers – the best you can afford, images you adore. Don’t compromise – you have one chance to capture this day. The album can come later and your idea of 1st anniversary is lovely! If you choose a cheaper package with album included chances are the album will also be cheap. xxx
@Vix @Rebecca haha – Do I even say that?
It’s usually ‘on it like a tramp on chips’ or ‘all over it like it’s made of ham’
Oh also, we’re going to get our album after the wedding, maybe when the bank balance has recovered a little. The ones Claire does are super special and totally worth it
xxx
Oh speak of the devil! @Claire xx
Wow what a venue! Gorgeous, can’t wait to see the wedding
“On it like a car bonnet” is one I use a bit – I think I’ve used it in QBB a few times too!
Lovely story! Looking for ward to hearing more. LOVE your venue!!! x
We also waited over a year and have not regretted it for a second. My advice to you is to haggle with suppliers NOW as we got loads of people to freeze their prices for us.
Wonderful story, congratulations! I absolutely love your venue. It’s so 20s and gorgeous.
As for wedding albums, I think we prefer to get ours at the same time as the photography. Most photographers do packages, so it’s a little cheaper to get everything than to buy the album individually. Also, I figure I’ll never get around to it, so I may as well get it all at the same time
Looking forward to hearing more about your day! xx
@Rebecca – Hello love, fab first post! I am well jealous of your venue as there really isn’t anywhere that spectacularly art deco, but still a little bit new and shiny near us…there is the Midland in Morecambe but as the Big C said, ‘The hotel is fab, but we’d be asking our friends and family to spend a weekend in Morecambe, and the rest of the place is grim.’…
Anyhow, I digress, we’re getting married in a 1930s art deco theatre and cinema that has been restored and they’re letting us do all kinds of fun stuff (although as it is soooo big I am a little worried that we won’t pull it off)…
For me, the main thing about having such a 30s venue is to stress to our suppliers that while our day will be touched throughout with hints and nods to the period and we have clearly been very inspired by it…we’re not having a theme or fancy dress wedding…I don’t want people turning up in costumes they’ve had to hire! Clearly, you may be totally different and want to go the whole hog, but for me, I didnt want to look back at our photos and think that we look like we’re part of a play in the theatre…
That said, that all nearly went out the window when my mum took me to see the Top Hat musical a few months ago…I was all for ditching the ‘subtle nods’ and going for a full on white feather dress a la Ginger Rogers…now, if only I could dance like her…
xoxo
Lovely story and immense venue! (nothing wrong with a good exclamation mark or 3). Love that the ladies sitting nearby took some photos. My partner in crime proposed in public only for some mad flower seller to literally step between us about 2 mins after I’d said yes and said ‘flower for the lady?’ – I kid you not we both yelled at him. I felt a bit bad.
Anyway – re photo albums. I’d wait and get the best photographer you can. Substance over style – you wouldn’t want to buy a cake because it had amazing pink icing with sprinkles only to find out it tastes like pickled onions? So you wouldn’t want a smart album filled with medicore photos (slightly random analogy but you get the idea). You can get the photos on disk, so its not like you’ll be without ANY photos. And as you say, 1st anniversary is paper.
Looking forward to the next instalment. x
@ Kitty ohhhh maybe it was your phrase, apologies – i blame everything on Karen!
although KS “like its made of ham”??? really?! LOL! x
Hey lovely people!
*waves*
Thank you all for all your kind words. It is so lovely to know you all like my post – have had butterflies in my tummy all day!!
Thanks for all the love for The Gatsby, I am sooo chuffed we chose it & it’s good to hear it’s not just me who thinks it is pretty!
@Karen – I googled Pamela’s venue the other day it is amazing and all her ideas sounded soooo cool!
@Katie – thanks my dear you’ll have to show me some pics!
@Lia – awww thanks
(will message you)
@Steph – small world! I don’t actually live in Folkestone anymore (but do visit to catch up with the lovely Folkestone lot). I actually only lived there for a couple of years after uni so didn’t go to school there but I think Keli & Michelle went to the girls school, so maybe that’s where you recognise them from. As for me, maybe you just saw me drunkenly staggering around in Chambers! ha ha
Oh & The Gatsby is where I live now in Hertfordshire
@Christian – Thanks, I have a little confession to make…*whispers* I haven’t actually read The Great Gatsby yet! :-/ I know it’s terrible BUT it is on my list of things to do as research for my wedding, so please don’t hate me!!
@Claire – Thanks love
glad you liked the proposal pics, made me smile putting that bit together 
@Jilly & @Daphne – Thanks for the venue love!
@Annie – will try my hardest! I am a sales person’s dream, absolutely rubbish at haggling!! ha ha
@Inbal – opps that does sound a little inappropriate of the flower man! *awkward! Hope he didn’t ruin the moment too much! :-/
All of you – thank you all for your help with my photography dilema…I think Dave & I know the answer really but it’s just such a big decision for us to make I think we’d got a little over-whelmed by it all.
Plus there was a photographer I really liked at first but have since changed my mind (not a great website which means I just can’t get a feel for their photostyle enough) & so poor Dave is having to put up with my indecision! oops!
But it is soo helpful to hear your thoughts AND to know I’m not the only one who may postpone the album for a later date
Lastly….my lovely RMW gals you are all too lovely
Thanks for all your support and for the comment love
Not sure who used ‘on it like a car bonnet’ but one of you did & now that’s it, it’s stuck! :-p
@Kitty – Secret Shakespeare?! you are too kind (the poor guy would be turning in his grave! ha ha)
@Karen – definitely going to be swaning around like an old movie star….’where is my cocktail’…..’get me my feather cape’….heehee
@Miss Vix – Isn’t she just adoreable! We love her to bits
& maybe when we finally meet I’ll bring some cakepops?!
Oh & yes I use emoticons a little too much too! :-/
xxx
Love the proposal, love the venue, love the exclamation marks!!
Just on the photographer / pictures issue – we’re making our own album. Partly because my photo books (Photobox is brilliant for this) have become my trademark gift for loved ones, partly because I love poring over piccies for hours and partly to save the cost. I vote for an expensive photographer over expensive photo album.
Good luck with the planning! xx
Ps. oops! Keli got cut off!
sorry Keli (she is the one on the right!!!) xx
Finally, I’ve been dying to comment all day, silly work getting in the way!
Your venue is just breathtaking, I’ve never seen anything like it! Plus that Apple Strudel Martini sounds AMAZING, I would like me one of those please!
I think we will definitely be having an album, my parents never had a proper one for their wedding and I know they wish they had so we definitely will, but as for when I’m not too sure!
I also love love love your photos of your engagement, the one of you kissing under the mistletoe should go on the wall or something (plus I really like your coat)!
Xxx
I can relate to the getting-the-mojo-back feeling. I’ve had a bit of a planning lull recently after we had some sad events, but this week its been full steam ahead with venue finalisation and meetings with caterers and marquee suppliers. Your post has helped me get back in the mood Rebecca!
I agree with those who advise going for the best you can afford with the photography. And I love the idea of getting the album on the year anniversary. Stealing that one.
Hello lovely Rebecca!
I completely love you first post for a number of reasons…
1) You appear to be a fellow blubber, just like me (seriously, wait until my wedding write up to see just how much a cried in the ceremony!)
2) I forgot your venue was the Gatsby (I googled it after reading your application!) and just squealed when I aw those piccies – it ROCKS! There is a similar plce we love, in Cheltenham, called the Daffodil. Completely amazing!
3) I can answer your last question… 100% go with the better photographer – a) you prefer their style, so will always draw comparisons and inevitably *wish* you had booked t’other one, b) the paper anniversary is THE perfect chance to get the album, and c) We had exactly the same dilemma and I’m SO glad we went with the person we loved (despite the expense). Totally worth it
Looking forward to reading more!!
MrsA xx
Welcome Rebecca! can’t wait to read about the rest of your journey
hannah is so cute! Lucy x
@Pamela – thanks my dear
we’re exactly the same, as much as we love a good fancy dress party (we hold a fancy dress Halloween party every year) we really don’t want the wedding to be heavily themed.
Although I do think I need to see this musical – am definitely up for a white feather dress! Have a little obsession with feathers at the moment – have found the most amazing feather cape which I must have (BIBA at HoF)!
I do hope we get to hear about your wedding though as I think it sounds awesome
@Molly – thanks, we’re going to use photobox for parent books (*shhh my mum maybe reading!) But not sure for our actual album, maybe I need to see one..
@Tabitha – thanks lovely
Apple Strudel Martini is definitely one to be tried! 
Aww Dave hates the mistletoe picture…only because he’s wearing a big fleece & doesn’t look as smart as he’d like. I love that coat, had it since i was 17!
xxx
Ps. @Lucy – hello
What’s wrong with exclamation marks??!! I’m using them all the time:)
what a lovely, bubbly post. Just like you! I’ve enjoyed the reading and can’t wait for the next chapter.
ps. you’re right Hannah migh steal the whole show.
she is sooo sweet
love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
You are amazing RMW Real Bride!!!
Hello there Rebecca! lovely to have you on board pet
Loving all of your ideas so far and all of the exclamation marks….make a statement without saying a word!!!!!
Yes I am a child of the 80′s
Charlotte xxx
I used to live in Folkestone, it’s where I spent most of my teens!! Yay! Like to go and visit from time to time and still in touch with some old pallettes and teachers from school days. I went to Pent Valley back in the day!
Oh, and of course, fab first post, it sounds like it’s going to be a full of glammy affair! And don’t apologise for the exclamation marks!! I love em!
xx
@MrsA – thanks
not quite sure where all the blubbing has come from, but as soon as Dave asked the question that was it the flood gates were opened! Now no wedding is complete without a little tear or two from me! hee hee 
Ooo yes the Daffodil does look very pretty! I do love a pretty cocktail bar
It seems crazy that about a year ago we were planning a big outdoor festival for our wedding! I still love a good fete/festival style wedding, they always look so much fun, but I am now soooo smitten with our venue 
@Philippa – glad I helped get your wedding mojo back!
It is oh so easy to get too overwhelmed by it all but am glad to have helped (& glad I got my mojo back too!)
Thank you miss Malgorzata!
xxx
@Charlotte – thank you, soooo chuffed to be on board!
yup 80′s children are the best…obviously! 
oh and glad the exclamation marks aren’t offending – Dave gets quite annoyed at my ‘over-use’!!!!!! hee hee
@Alex Mrs M – Ooooo not sure if MoH went to Pent Valley?! Anyhoo…as much as I berate Folkestone, without it I would never have met such lovely people so I owe it a lot (plus my little bro still lives there!)
Thanks guys & gals – you are making me feel very loved & soooo glad you all liked it!
(exceptionally excited to have such lovely comments from previous RMW Real Brides, makes me very chuffed & I actually squealed while at the pub when I saw those comments! not sure Dave was too impressed! heehee)
Big ‘I’ve had a little too much wine & sun’ love xxxxx
Very lovely post:)
It looks so amazing, i am so happy for you and dave. you are such an amazing couple!!! The church is beautiful, less than a year to go now. oooohhhh exciting!!! xxxxxxxx