Everything seems to be getting organised now

for our wedding (in November). A couple of excellent friends and I have spent some fun evenings planning my hen night. I hadn't realised until we started how much I hadn't been looking forward to sorting it out. One more task to add to the never-ending, ever-expaning list of things needing to be done. Anyway, Derya organised Laura and me into trying out restaurants, choosng menus, working out a fun activity for beforehand (some of my friends have small children, and a two-hour stint in a salon wouldn't interfere so much with their evening rituals as a full night on the town). We got it all sorted out, and people are responding.

We sent out the invitations about a week ago, and my parents are now receiving reply cards. They've got over half already. Mr W's parents' friends have mostly all responded saying they are coming. Our friends are being very slow at responding - when you're used to getting invitations in October for New Year's parties, you get used to not respoding quickly. Most of my parents' friends and family have responded, however, one of my dad's brothers isn't coming - no explanation, no note, just an "unable to attend" for him and his entire family. Which has shocked my parents. To be honest, it's shocked me a bit too. When we were organising rooms for people on preferential rates (months ago), my dad called his brothers to see if they wanted to be pencilled in - and this brother asked if we were inviting his daughters, my cousins (we are), and never responded on the room thing. So I guess we could see it coming. Whilst I'm pissed at him for not having the good manners to even call and explain, it does mean we're either a sizeable sum up on the budget (lovingly tended to by Mr W and my dad), or able to invite more people.

Yesterday I visited the florist and we ironed out all the finer details (what colours? what size? what time does she need to turn up? what percentage of her bill incurs VAT?). She'd sent me a couple of proposals, including some details I didn't agree with, so I'd trawled the internet, her website (she's fantastic, by the way - and does all kinds of fuctions), the three wedding magazines I've purchased over the past year, and came up with my own proposal. Anyway, it's all agreed now. This means I have to get in touch with Mr W's mother about her florist, and tell them what I want.

I have had my first dress fitting - for my top half. It didn't go great - they'd measured me incorrectly because I'm crooked, but I left my veil there to be sorted out. I'm borrowing it from Mr W's sister, and it's way too long right now. Putting it on was a bit like putting on my first fencing mask - I had problems focusing beyond the mesh. However, as with fencing, this disorientation only lasted a few seconds and then I was fine.

So, it's all coming together. I'm editing the Order of Service this weekend, have got to get Laura's shoes sorted out (she's wearing her own dress which happened to be exactly the right colour, so we're pushing the boat out on shoes!), sort out the caterer and complete my passport application. Mr W's doing all the dealing with the band, which is so incredibly helpful of him!

So, I'm spending the night with Laura, we're ordering pizza and shooting the breeze, and I'm feeling as though I'm on the home straits. I sense I'd better hold on to this feeling while it lasts!