Right....as promised earlier here is our wedding countdown challenge thread! Lindsay is getting married in September 2010 and I in April 2010 so we are starting a thread to help motivated and encourage each other (as well as talking weddings so we don't bore our friends and family to death!!)

Any one else is free to join in, just get posting!

I was weighing in at home but spur of the moment decision this morning saw me return to class....I was doing fine at home but I know in a few weeks the small 'cheats' would return as they always have done so wandered back to class - need the structure and 'threat!' of someone else weighing me, I need the accountability as I can't make excuses then.

I ordered my wedding dress 2 weeks ago in a smaller size (they are leaving the seams open for me though as don't really know what shape I will be when I lose weight as I've been overweight for so long!)

It's been ordered with measurements :- B (39) W (30) H (40)
Currently I am :- B (43) W (34) H (44.5)

Starting weight was 14stone 0.5lbs and at class today I weighing in at 13 stone 9lbs....my target weight at the moment is 10stone 5lbs (although my CM wants it lower!) so I currently have 46lbs to lose.

Its 14 weeks until Christmas and my mini target is to lose 23lbs for then which I think is more than achievable with roughly 1.5lbs a week!

So, there we have it....I will post my weight loss every Tuesday as well as my measurements once a month or so!

Let's do this and be slim, beautiful brides!!

Wow excellent idea Lindsay and Lindsay, you can both do it no probs, good luck in your challenge but you won't need it as you will both be focused on your big day and that's all the inspiration you could possibly need. You know you will get help and support here if you need it though.

xxx

good luck girls!

wow Lindsey you sound so super motivated

well done on going to class and best of luck to you and the other Lindsay too

will be popping in past to see how you are both doing x

Loads of luck! I got engaged in August but not set a date yet so really interested in how you're getting on and in all the wedding talk!
You are really organised having a dress already.

Mairi xx

Aww congratulations Mairi Feel free to join us, the more the merrier!

As for my dress, its meant to be £1050 in the shops but I got it for £212 delivered online so couldn't really pass it up!! Have been looking for ages and its my dream dress....haven't found any that come close
http://www.wholesaleweddinggowndress.com/m...s-4172-128.html

Have you got any dates/venues in mind? x

Aw ta! I think I will join you if you don't mind!

Wedding will be in Inverness. Would love October 2009 but we've probably left it too late now. There is a wedding fayre on here at the end of the month so will go along to that for some inspiration.

Must look up that website. I wasn't going to look at dresses until I reach target but I can't resist having a wee peek! You got yourself an absolute bargain there.

Looking forward to lots more wedding talk. O yes and PEP too......

Have you got your venue sorted?

Mairi xx

Welcome to the thread!! Will add you into the title! We were looking at 2009 as well but we both just started new jobs and decided it would be far too much stress trying to get everything organised in time.

Yeh, we're getting married at Atholl Palace in Pitlochry on 24th April 2010...
http://www.athollpalace.co.uk/wedding.php

There's a wedding fayre on in Glasgow this weekend that Im going to try and get to depending on my shifts!

I was going to leave mine until I got to target aswell but couldn't pass up the bargain and although I have ordered it roughly the size I should be at target they are leaving the seams open so I can alter it again if I need to! It's getting delivered in 2 weeks....can't wait to see it even though I won't be able to put it on!! x

Just looked online. Your dress is absolutely gorgeous. I love it! I really do. The detail is gorgeous. Did you see it in a shop first and then online for it?

Off for a nosy now.....

Mairi xx

Yeh I did! The online place I got it from have all the patterns and almost identical material to that of the designers and make them to measure....so even though it won't have the wee designer label on the inside its still the same dress (wouldn't pay £800 just for me to knwo its an actual designer one when no one else will have a clue as they are identical!)

It's a great site, they do free worldwide delivery and if you're not happy with it its a full moneyback guarantee....I ordered mine 2 weeks ago and they said it would take a month to get delivered I LOVE LOVE LOVE it, especially the detailing on the back! Sorry....getting a tad excited here! x

You've got me all excited now! Been so busy at work and not had a chance to think about the wedding (and to be honest I can't quite believe we're engaged after seven years together!) but I've now decided to make a huge effort to get things sorted. Ian has just walked into the living room and said 'here we go then' when he saw the wedding dresses up on screen!

Off now to look up your wedding venue. Catch you later and ta for motivating me!

Mairi xx

Aww thats great Know the feeling....I was banned from thinking about it the first 5 months after we got engaged as I was in my last year at Uni and had a dissertation and 7 exams to do but as soon as I graduated the wedding mags were bought and the websites were getting a hammering!!

We've got quotes through for a band and piper aswell so fingers crossed we get those booked soon!

We've been together 5 years and proposal came totally out the blue on Hogmany....was so special though and can't wait for Hogmany this year

Somethings clicked in my head today and I now feel so much more positive and motivated....long may it last! Have a good evening xx

Hey I'm not surprised your getting excited Lindsay, your dress and venue are both spectacular, I'm excited for you!!

Good luck Mairi too, c'mon girls you can do this, just visualise how wonderfull you will look and feel on the day

xxxx

Good luck girls - you can all do this

Thank you Angie and everyone else for your support! Angie, can't quite believe we've got that venue booked (thought it would be way out of our league!) but its utterly georgeous and very reasonable....we even get to stay in one of the turrets on our wedding night xx

Wow how amazing Lindsay, sounds out of this world!!! Can't wait to see the photos!

Good luck girls!

What a lovely post im sure you will all keep each other motivated and of course us forum buddies will be dropping in to keep an eye on you all

Well done on going back to class I think it definately helps.

Ona xx

love the dress lindsey, and the venue looks excellent, good luck girls

Morning everyone. Ta for the support. Lindsey has me all motivated now and I'm off to buy wedding magazines after work. Yippee. I will post my weekly results here too.

See you later.

Mairi xx

HI Everyone,

Sorry, i couldnt get on lastnight. I was so inspired after talking weddings to Linsey yesterday that i dragged my fiance shopping to stock up on less stodgy food after work, then made a big pot of soup (which i put too much water in so its not thick enough aaargh, any ideas how to thicken it would be great) took dog out then watched kaite and peter on tv (sad i know) then went to bed.

Congratulations Mairi. You and Lindsay have been with your boyfriends for soooo long! Ive only been with Craig for 8 and a bit months!!!!

We met 5-6 yrs ago in a club and have kinda been pals since. We always had feelings for each other but when i was 20 i didnt wanna get involved with a RAF lad as i thot nah their all the same, a girl in every country so iv been knocking him back for years. Then i was living with my ex last year and wasnt happy for about ten months - 1yr, and always thought about craig but had lost his mobile number etc when i lost my phone. And i didnt think hed still be interested after me knocking him back so much. Anyway, i finally split with my ex and craig heard about it thru a guy he use to work with (who is my friends hubby, they met thru me and craig) and he got in touch. We were in touch thru phone,ext and bebo for a while then had a date. And from the first date we knew it was for keeps and i so regretted saying no so many times over the years.

So, we spoke a few months ago about marriage as we both knew itd happen and he asked what kind of ring id want and how id want him to propose if he ever did, and i showed him what style of ring id like but told him id want him to choose to make it more personal and said i didnt want proposed in a public place etc, just the two of us, sitting having a drink in the house or something, casual and comfortable.

So, since that chat i jokily said a few times have u bot my bling yet and he said no itll be next yr, we cant afford it just now, which i knew. So i thot itll happen next year on holiday. Then last month he picked me up from work and said the chicken id taken out the freezer hadnt defrosted so we were going out for tea. Went to my fave restaurant which is an indian ( too many checks i know), had a lovely meal, then got a parking ticket, which he didnt get annoyed about which was strange. Then we came home and i went upstairs to get changed and came back down. I heard him rustling about in the kitchen then he came thru and i asked if he wanted to play mario kart on the wii till big brother came on ( sad), he was saying no lets watch star trek (eh??) so we were kinda having a jokey fight about what to do and i said no u watch star trek all the time, lets do something different tonight, so he got down on one knee, pulled the box out his pocket and said what about doing this then and asked me to marry him! To say i was shocked is an understatement!!!! Hes quite a joker so at first i thot it was earrings, theh he opened it and i couldnt even speak! The ring was perfect and to me the proposal was perfect. I sat speechless for ages till he actually end up getting worried ha ha and then finally managed to say yes! He had bought the ring 3 months previous, before id even shown him what id like and had it hidden in a shoe in his wardrobe! Had planned to do it on xmas day but said he was in the garden that day playing with my dog and thot why am i waiting the sooner i propse the sooner we can get married and i want her to be my wife.

So, family and friends were all over the moon and said theyd been expecting it, coulda told me then ha ha!

Next night my best frioend ( bridesmaid 1) was up for tea, shes a manager in the hotel i wanna get married in so she said ill ring up and check dates for you if u want. so we were pencilled in for 25th sept 2010 and planned on arranging everything else in a few months. Then we started trying to work out a budget so called the band we wanted for a quote and that was the last date they had for aug, sept and october 2010 so we took it. So then we had to make sure the church was free. So within a week of being engaged we had church, hotel and band booked ha ha. and now we have car booked, and hotel for honey moon picked! I like to be organised! everything else can wait till next yr but we have ideas of what we would like.

So now the next step is dropping 3 - 4 dress sizes for the big day. Which i know is doable in 2 yrs, but i think ill follow Lindseys advice and buy my dress in jan a few sizes smaller so i have no option but to lose weight.

Hers the church were getting married in http://www.trinitychurchdundee.org/Churcha.jpg

The the hotel for Champagne reception, Meal, then reception http://www.queenshotel-dundee.com/sub1d.html

The car taking us there http://www.chauffeursofcarnoustie.co.uk/ (the blue one in the top right hand corner)

The dress styles im thinking for me are http://www.alfredangelounitedkingdom.com/C...aspx?style=1160

or

http://www.alfredangelounitedkingdom.com/C...aspx?style=1136

or

http://www.alfredangelounitedkingdom.com/C...spx?style=1640w

all in ivory. they wont be getting tried on or bot till next year tho.

The men - Craig, best man (his bro) My dad, My stepdad, Craigs dad, ushers (my bro and craigs cousin) are all wearing kilts in the blackwatch tartan ( craig already owns one so itll make it easier), so my bridesmaids will be in navy dresses with a green sash belt, something like this (if u want to see the colur, the dress will be "midnight" and the sash "hunter"

http://www.dessy.com/dresses/bridesmaid/25...&colorid=28

I let them choose the style as i dont want them to feel uncomfortable. Their all different ages shapes and sizes and colourings etc so it has to suit all of them. I chose 6 sent them all pics and this was their fave!!

I think thats enough planning for me just now lol, i can sit back and enjoy being engaged for a while.

oh i forgot, heres where we hope to go on honeymoon, just waiting for the flight times to be released then can book, prob feb 2009, fingers crossed!

http://www.reefoasisresorts.com:8080/english/bluebay/

Wow Lindsay you are so organised and I thought I was doing well planning in advance!! Your venue's look fantastic and love the colours for bridesmaids Also, LOVE all those dresses for you, especially the first one....you will look fantastic

Proposal sounds fab as well..very personal...just as it should be! Kev proposed to me on Hogmany (well actually new Years day/morning)...we were out at a club with a heap of friends having an absolute blast and when the bells went and the piper was playing he got down on one knee and proposed....said he wanted to start the new year in the most amazing way he could think of and produced the most georgeous ring fom his sporran!! (He'd been carrying it round all night Still makes me smile just thinking about it all!

We are hopefully getting out band confirmed this week... http://www.firstclassshowband.co.uk/home.htm#confirm

And our piper... http://www.piperforhire.co.uk/pipers/scotl...ewar/index.html

We aren't needing cars as we are staying at the venue before and have both the ceremony and reception there, and Kevs mum is a hairdresser and she's gong to be doing all the bridal parties hair

Our colour scheme is going to be teal blue and chocolate brown......

For bridesmaids we're looking at either...

http://www.alfredangelounitedkingdom.com/C...1741f2&pg=0

http://www.alfredangelounitedkingdom.com/C...1741f2&pg=0

or

http://www.alfredangelounitedkingdom.com/C...1741f2&pg=0

in 'tealness' with brown shoes from the rainbow club.

For our cake we have decided to go down a not so traditional route and not have a white cake....we're wanting this chocolate brown one from M&S...

http://www.marksandspencer.com/gp/product/...8031&page=1

Ohhhhh and we're getting personalised M&M's for on the tables!!!!!.....

http://www.mymms.com/customprint/

Meant to say, Lindsay your honeymoon location looks AMAZING!! We're wanting to go to either Canada, West Coast of America or South Africa for ours but haven't really looked into anything yet!

Oh, and well done on getting stocked up on healthy foods and making soup! Don't know how to thicken it though....mabye adding a bit of flour??

Mairi, enjoy your wedding mags! I love the wee monthly handbag sized ones you get, Wedding Ideas and Perfect Wedding

Aww your proposal sounds so sweet! I think its much nicer if its just the two of you.

Those bridesmaids dresses are lovely, i like the 2nd one. Iv seen two alfred angelo dresses for the girls that i like but havent shown it to them yet. Your colour scheme sounds nice too, i love the colour teal.

Ive not really thought about hair yet, but mines will be down and curly or a little up but mostly down and the bridesmaids will have their hair up. Craigs cousin is a hairdresses so im hoping shell give me a good price. Also, one of my friends is a beauty therapist and has a wee salon in her spare room so shes gonna do make up, nails, tans, waxing etc for me, bridesmaids, my mum and craigs mum.

Now, im not a cakey person but yours looks gorgeous!!! Were just planning on buying 3 tiers of wedding cake from markies and getting the florist to decorate it with the same flowers from my boquet. My pals mum is the florist, she use to do the flowers for markies but retired last yr and a lot of ppl book her for weddings etc. So shes gonna do my boquet, 3 bridesmaids boquets, button holes for groom, best man, ushers and dads, and corsages for mums, plus table decs plus cake for about £300. On the table were having glass bowls (like fish bowls) with flowers in them, thistles and i dunno what flower, well decide that nearer the time, at the mo i just no i want thistles.

For invites were gonna make our own (need to cutback on pennies if we wanna stay in that hotel in egypt lol) and we were thinking http://www.confetti.co.uk/product/view/350...0&a39=f1080 but with navy ribbon instead of pink, or even blackwatch ribbon if i can find it.

Personalised m&ms is a great idea. A lot more people are doing things like that now. when i worked in a hotel some one had a wedding and had different sweets on every table like a bowl of skulls on one, white choc mice on the next, then jazzies. It was great and so different.

Have u thought about favours or anything?

Its so exciting isnt it!

I love wedding ideas magazine, its jam packed with good stuff!

soz for butting in but read thru the post and the dresses are lovely! my friend bought hers and bridesmaids from China and were a perfect fit!!!

maybe a wee idea but one wedding i went to had disposable cameras on the table and we all took photos of each other during the evening reception and the bride got them developed and they were brilliant and informal!!!!!! you know once the formalities have passed and guests can relax....

xxxxxxxx

HI Skippy,

Dont worry about butting in, everyones welcome.

Yeh i saw cameras like that in the confetti magazine so it on our list of possibilities, its a good idea. I just hope craigs pals keep it clean if u no what i mean!!

Lindsey-Have u looked at any photographers yet? ive been on amanda gards website and the photos are lovely!

OOOOOOOOO I'm soooooooo excited. Just incase you hadn't guessed!!

Lindsay you are SO organised. Just in from work so haven't had a chance to look up all your websites but I will later. Your proposal sounds lovely. Can't believe he bought the ring three months in advance!!

I'm quite crafty so I'm planning on doing the invites and favours myself, unsure of colours but probably a lilac theme. Have found a place that do personalised caricatures for cakes so we'll go with that. We may not have set a date but I know what's going on the cake!!! Not having a fruit cake, really fancy a sponge one. We also fancy a carvery style buffet for the reception but not looked into it yet.

I love the sound of personalised M and Ms!

Catch you later.

Mairi xx

PS We got engaged on 08/08/08 at 08.08am. Cool eh?

Skippy, we're getting a mixture of chocolate brown and blue disposable cameras from confetti - have already ordered them as they were on special offer, 10 for £24.99

Lindsay, we've talked about it and are really interested in Louis Flood - he's based in Perth and my parents used to use him...

http://www.louisflood.co.uk/

Waiting to get quotes back though

Good luck girls!! You can do it.

Love this post. Good luck girls

Oh all the dresses, venue's, piper's, cars and proposal's all sound fab!!!! I am soooo excited for you all!!!

xxxxxx

Oh My God!!! My mum is more excited about my wedding than i am, and im very excited!!! She has just text to tell me that she has just bot me ANOTHER wedding magazing, a wedding music cd, and is thinking of having her outfit the same colours as the bridesmaids! Ha ha ha shes off her head, its 2 yrs away!

Just looking in to wish you all luck girls - you will be beautiful brides!
Oh, and Lindsay - my mum & Dad got married at the Atholl Palace too - 44 years ago!
I'll drop by now & then to see how you are all doing.

Morv.

It all sounds so exciting girls and the dresses are all gorgeous!

Hi everyone!

That's 2 more pounds gone. 2 stone 5 to go. Wonder if I should chance trying on dresses now? I've been resisting but it's sooooo tempting!

Catch up later.

Mairi xx

Exciting times for you all Love all the dresses. Brings back memories of our daughter making her arrangements, she's been married 4 years now, how time flies, and your weddings will be here before you know it

Hi girls have just had a read through all of your posts and had a look at all of your dresses, venues etc everything looks fantastic I love all of it, i can feel your excitment and what a great incentive to you all for getting to your targets !!

you can all do it and i believe you all will

look forward to following your progress

Thanks everyone for your encouragement and support

Morv, Atholl Palace is simply beautiful, once we had visited we knew we didn't want anywhere else!!

And Mairi, well done on your 2lbs, thats a fantastic loss! You can always start trying dresses on even juts to get some ideas and get a feel for it, you den't have to decide on anything just now

Sorry, just a flying visit tonight as am knackered and heading to bed but will catch up properly tomorrow, hope you've all had a great Thursday xx

Thanks everyone for your kind words about our wedding plans, and about the encouragement. Ive not told any of my friends im doing ss as i find when they no ur trying to lose weight they expect to see results everytime they see u, whereas if they dont no and they notice uv lost weight then its a bonus and u no their def being honest lol. so iv only got mum and craig encouraging me, and you guys. So hopefully ill do it.

Mairi - Thats brilliant. Keep it up. Do u have a date in mind? Im gonna start trying dresses on in january as ive spoken to a few bridal shops and they get new stock in january and july. Id like to lose a stone before i try them on, hopefully more, but id be happy with a stone off, thats my xmas target. It wont alter my shape for trying on dresses but ill feel better knowing im losing.

You mentioned the other day u were gonna get started organising ur wedding, How are you getting on with this? Have u booked to see any venues etc? Its really exciting when u start planning, so have fun!

Lindsay, your right about not telling many people, theres less pressure on you and as you say you know all the complitments are genuine which is a fab feeling! You also sound like you have great support from Craig and your mum as well as us on here so am sure you'll do great

Succembed to some crispd and choc at work today as was shattered and hadn't planned properly but have counted them in and am still in checks so still hoping for a great loss on Tuesday!!

On the piper front, we were going to be paying £250 for one but my dad has just phoned to say he knows 2 or 3 people who are great and would do it for very little

Lindsay, great idea for waiting on January to try dresses, you'll get lots of new inspirations and styles to choose from!

Hope you've all had a good Friday, anyone up to anything exciting this weekend? xx

Hellllllooooo,

O thank crunchie it's friday! Hope you all had a good day.

There's a wedding fayre here next weekend so going along to get some ideas. Hopefully be able to get cracking then. Never been to a wedding fayre before so quite excited!
The cook at school makes the most AMAZING things and she's going to do the cake for the wedding (not a fruit cake!!!) I feel as if I've made some progress today with something. Only six weeks since we got engaged so at least we've done something.
Is the Confetti shop in Glasgow worth a look? Going down for a weekend soon.

Loving hearing all your plans. I'm getting loads of ideas.

Any plans for the weekend?

Mairi xx

Sounds exciting Mairi! I'm not going to make the wedding fayre in Glasgow tomorrow....knackered and have so much housework to catch up on then want to watch the footie and spend time with Kev in the afternoon as I'm doing an early shift on Sunday!!

I've never been into the Confetti shop although used to walk past it almost every day when I was at Uni Never had a reason to before but I ordered their catalogue last week and they have some really nice stuff in so I would have a look....I'm going to pop through sometime in the next few weeks!

We're not getting fruit cake either....ours is one layer choc sponge, one layer victoria sponge and one layer carrot cake xx

Forgot to say....

Most people seem to know I've been going to SS but I find it's quite annoying because every friday I'd get bombarded with questions about how much I'd lost. Totally understand why you've not told anyone. Thankfully it's stopped now.

Interesting point about new stock in January. Wonder if it's standard for most bride shops?

No plans here for weekend. Nice and lazy hopefully. Mow the lawn and do thank you cards for engagement pressies.

Lindsey - don't worry about choc. If it's counted you'll be fine. I may have sampled our cook's delicious homemade jaffa cake today Now THAT would be an interesting wedding cake!

Mairi xx Enjoy your Friday night. Wire in the Blood on soon. My fav. x

Afternoon girls,

How we all doing? Sorry to have been missing the past few days but have been mega busy at work! Been good though and lost 1.5lbs at class this morning and also got my wee sticker for my 1/2 stone

Mairi....how did you get on at the wedding fayre at the weekend?

Lindsay, how you getting on?

IM SO EXCITED!!! My wedding dress got delivered yesterday and it is absolutely stunning (even though I do say so myself!!) Haven't tried it on as I ordered it smaller and I want it to fit me when I try it on so waiting a few months! My mum cried when I held it up and pranced around the room in it though Having it there in 'real life' has given me a bigger kick than I though possible and has made me all the more determined to stick this out....I will look good in that dress....I will I will I will!!

Hope you're all doing ok xx

First of all well done on the loss. That's fab!!

Wedding fayre is on Sunday. Hope to get a few ideas.

So exciting your dress came. What a fab incentive to carry on with the weight loss. You will look amazing!! Must be fab to have it for real!

Catch up soon.
Mairi xx

Well done girls the the dresses are beutifull and so is blairatholl
keep the inspiration going.
i am looking to renew my voews when i get the weight off
Laura

Thanks for dropping by Paula and Laura

Mairi, how did the wedding fayre go? get any good ideas??

Lindsay, how you doing? Not seen you around for a while...hope you're ok

Had a horrendous few days PEP wise but have spent tonight planning meals for the week and tomorrow will be perfect I have a dress to fit into after all!!

x

Hiya!

Wedding fayre was quite good actually. Got a few ideas for invitations and stuff like that. I fancy doing all that myself. Never realised there could be so much involved with table settings! Lots to think about...... I'm now thinking that green might be nice instead of lilac. Ooooo I just don't know!!!!

Don't worry about a few bad days. Just think long term and how good you'll look in your GORGEOUS wedding dress!!!

Hols a week Friday so hopefully will get some time to think about the wedding.

Hope all is well. Mairi xxx

I was smiling away reading this post, really is exciting times for you all good luck on the challenge everyone