day trip

We've been to the seaside today! in the bloody rain as per usual. Horrendous journey down but all was fine when we finally got there. Went to the reception venue to pay the deposit and sign the confirmation and we took some pics of the function room coz kel had read somewhere its a good idea for planning decorations. While we where there we chilled out in the lounge with cappucino and chocolate cake and I stretched out on the comfy chesterfield with my new charity shop bargain novel! Afterwards we went to the ceremony location to pay some more money and the woman who drives the national trust minibus reversed into our parked car and smashed the lights! What a day! Before heading home we parked up so I could take some photos of my bridge. Menai has now been officially renamed Munch Bridge by kel coz i love looking at it so much! I'm going to post my photos in my 'made by munch' blog rather than here though.

SUPERBLOG

Well last week was fab! Munch surprised me with an overnight stay at The Beach Hut a lovely little B and B in Holyhead it was wonderful and so lovely of her to surprise me (I actually cried) but it was probably from shock more than anything haha. It was a lovely little place and we went to an Italian restaurant and had chicken and brie salad which was divine. This meant that we didn’t have to travel from home on the Friday, it was great we were up and out for half 8. We had a fab day looking at all the possible venues holiday cottages and hotels and we liked them all. The decision is now I think but like everything else this is subject to change that we are going to stay in holiday cottages and have a small party on the sat night instead of giving the reception from there, and hire a venue for the reception separately.
We definitely want to stay with our friends and family at cerrig y barcud having met the owner Ann Marie who is easily the nicest person I’ve ever met and seen the beautiful cottages it was a no brainer, we had to stay there. This means that we need to stay in the area of Llanfair pg really so this rules out Oak Lodge where I really wanted to go originally which is a shame as they were going to do us a bbq which is what munch wanted. This leaves us with Gwesty Carrig Mon which I have to say we both loved but not to sure on prices etc.
However the delightful Ann Marie had a suggestion…Around the corner from her place is Anglesey Sea Zoo owned by her friend Dylan, her idea was if we were looking for something unique why not go and ask him if he would do a wedding reception at the zoo. This as you can imagine is right up our alley and off we went. The Sea Zoo was closed but we found Dylan who took us to the room the reception would be in, they had never done a wedding before and he seemed really keen, they have a liquor license and a music license and the room holds 80 people. Perfect he would even leave the sea zoo open for guests to wander around. Sounds fantastic right! We loved him and decided we wanted it there immediately. Now I’m not so sure I cant see a wedding reception being held in that room, I cant see where there would be a dance floor, I’m concerned we would run out of alcohol and there is nowhere to get any, there is a shop next to the restaurant what happens to all that stuff…I have loads of questions but I cant think of them now, I love the idea and its right near Cerrig but I just cant picture it.

In the Pink

Hurrah we have actually begun! Last night we invited round In The Pink Photography who are very local to us and specialise in CPs. I'm sure I have mentioned them before on here, I love their photos so much, Ev the photographer has a great eye and loves to take quirky pics, just take a look. Munch has sorted out monthly payments so hurrah we are good to go.
Munch has also sorted out the monthly payments to Plas Newydd and we can do our own champagne which is just brilliant. So well done munch! The two most important aspects of the day are sorted.

Todays Musings

Sorry if this doesn't make any sense or is not grammatically correct just needing to scribble down what I've thought of today.
I have sat and done a breakdown of prices only estimations of what things will cost
Plas £1235, Photographer £1000, Car Free, Cake £100, Stationery £100, Clothes £600, Shoes £200, Hair Free, BBQ £100, Beers and Food £500, Rings £200, Flowers £50, Stereo and Karaoke £250. Obviously we are doing most of the work ourselves so this can all change depending on what we have to buy to make stuff.
Things we don't know about costing wise are the registrar, the reception venue, accommodation, and the legal costs of naming ceremony. So in the next couple of weeks we will need to do a reccy and arrange to go to coed cottages , Llandonna, and oak lodge, Also it must be a weekday so we can go to llangefni registry office to check out the procedure. Munch to arrange day off asap so we can call to make appointments.
Also I'm starting to think maybe oak lodge will be cheaper or as cheap considering the hassle, I worked the reception out to about £1000 but that was just a guess we will know more when we visit. So if you look at all the money we would need to spend on buying a BBQ, food, music, drink etc it might be worthwhile having BBQ there, no work for us before or after. I just don't know now. It would mean we would'nt get to make all the delicious food on the mood board.
Also must remember to get Plas stuff out for photographers visit Sunday pm.

Location, location, location

OH MY look at all that gorgeous food...
Well today we have been working on the wedding all day, we have looked at dresses, shoes, cakes, BBQ food, accommodation, reception, photographers, you name it ideas have been batted around, completely changed and totally re thought.
We have decided that Kacey should wear a little white dress as you can see below.
We have worked out with lovely Barbara that we can pay Plas Newyyd monthly which should really help us out.
Also I know what we said about not compromising on having Damion as a photographer but I really think we need to. We simply cannot justify 2 grand when there is a local photographer that I think is really good for half for the price, I'm leaving it with munch to decide.
We are looking at hiring a country home for the reception where alot of people can sleep and we can have the BBQ in the grounds, its very close to Plas Newydd so that's a bonus. Also there is a campsite with cottages to rent that I love but its an hour away. I think we need to go and view these locations as soon as possible. In case they get booked up.
So yes alot has gone on today, I also think I want to do a black and white mood board as I've seen some shoes I really want!

Current Definites Mood Board

Stuff we have decided so far:

Colours: Aubergine & Olive
Theme: Dots & Flowers

Location:
Civil Ceremony - Plas Newydd, Anglesey
Reception - somewhere on Anglesey suitable for a large family barbecue with holiday cottages and other mixed accommodation like static caravans etc. To be catered by the family. Atmosphere like Phil's World Cup Parties.

Munch - Aubergine dress and green chrysanthemum wrist corsage
Kel - Grey halterneck waistcoat suit, aubergine pinstripe if possible. Green and aubergine buttonhole.
Matthew and Lewis - Grey suit with aubergine cravat or tie and waistcoat. Green chrysanthemum buttonhole
Wilson - Green dress and purple chrysanthemum hair corsage.
Kacey - white flower girl dress with aubergine sash in bow at back with front green flower detail

Food & Drink
Cocktails - Mojito and Pink Champagne
Food - BBQ, possibly hog or lamb roast, lots of salads incl artichoke and feta cous-cous and Mandy's homemade coleslaw.
Desert - not decided maybe just wedding cake or other homemade cakes.
Wedding Cake - 3 tier. Bottom tier - white iced with green dots and base aubergine ribbon. Middle tier -Apple white iced and base aubergine ribbon. Top Tier white iced with dotty icing flower and base aubergine ribbon.

Transport
Brian's Silver Audi A5

Civil Partnership Location

Plas Newydd - Home of the Marquess of Anglesey, with spectacular views of Snowdonia.