…every single piece you need for a wedding is three times more expensive than usual.
Have you ever heard of wedding bubbles? These bubbles are normal bubbles, the difference is that they come in form of a wedding cake for example AND three times smaller than the normal ones but cost the triple. Are people honestly that stupid to buy them? Otherwise I have no explanation why they still exist. The same for a cake. As soon as you mention the word wedding prices going upwards – but isn’t the cake made of the same ingredients as any other cake on this earth?
A really nice tailored and exclusive evening or even ball gown is less than the half of a wedding dress. Where’s the big difference? Apart from the color the work should be the same, shouldn’t it?
To save at least quite a bit of money we decided to do a bit of ‘DIY’ work ourselves.
We did for instance the invites. It took me ages and fingers full of glue but in the end it was something completely unique.
Also the placeholders\seatcards – I didn’t like the idea of buying general ones and just put the names on it. As the wedding took place in my parents’ garden and it’s all a bit vintage I bought small black plates like little chalkboards and wrote the guest names in silver on them.
Don’t hesitate to do things yourself as it seems more complicated as it will be and you give your wedding your stamp.
Faithfully,
Miss Faith
Attached a few pictures of DIY things from our wedding.
Does Pink Floyd’s “Coming Back To Life” reflect my life?
Who loves music not only for the beat but for the lyrics?
Confession:
I’m a music addict!
Confession two:
Dancing or feeling the beat are nice but the heart of music are the lyrics.
If a song doesn’t have a message it’s not a song I will add to my play list.
Texts are the most important part for me followed by the music composition.
Let’s have a look at the lyrics
I recently listened often to Pink Floyd’s ‘Coming back to life’ while I’m checking out songs for our wedding day. My husband loves this song and it reflects parts of his life so I was wondering if it reflects parts of my life as well.
Songs are emotions many know but only a few are able to say them
I would even say that many songs probably would fit into many life stories but not all humans are thinking deeply about their own life. There are always those who wipe emotions away quickly as it seems to be the easy way. I personally would say this way is wrong but I’m not the one to teach others, at least for me I think that I have to face it all and only this way I’m able to reflect, think about, learn, yes, even suffer, because in the end I’m more wise than before. That’s for sure not the easiest way but the most proper from my point of view.
There were times when I was exactly thinking that. Relationships in the past where I thought we were meant to be but when I needed the other one most I was standing alone. A true sign that it wasn’t meant to be but this is something I knew afterwards only.
“While the days slipped by from my window watching”
There were many of these days where you are unable to move. Stuck within deepest grief for whatever reason. Scared of when this state will change again or is it getting worse and ends up in a depression? People around me were telling me to stand up again, let go of the past and live and but I was still unable to move forward. Being stuck in the dark is sometimes needed to start all over again.
“Where were you when I was hurt and I was helpless”
Wishing for one special person to knock on my door, pick up the phone or show me at least a small sign of interest. The feeling that nobody cares is the worst. And it’s in most cases not even true. I always had persons who cared about me, but they were not the one I was longing for. I felt hurt and helpless but knew always that I have family and friends. They would always be there, nevertheless it wasn’t getting me out of this state as the “One” wasn’t showing up to be there at my side.
“Because the things you say and the things you do surround me”
Exactly, I remembered words and gestures, moments which passed by already but still were present and overlaid the reality. Life went into a state of dreaming, wishing, remaining still where I want to be although everything around me went on. Getting out was hard but worth it and sometimes it needs someone real to drag you out of this lethargy.
“While you were hanging yourself on someone else’s words”
This is a mean thing as I at least know from myself that these words become other meanings the longer you try to interpret them. Sentences which were totally clear remained in my mind until I saw them completely different just to have a valid reason for myself to hang on a bit longer. Words are often nice and charming but if actions never follow be careful.
“Dying to believe in what you heard”
One thing I learned from the past is that talking is absolutely important. Listening for sure as well. I heard many promises and plans but they never became reality. I love to talk about deeper thoughts and many other things but there is a big BUT.
Actions have to follow!
You can talk about planning something endlessly, but if you never start to do it, all those words are without meaning.
“I was staring straight into the shining sun”
Sunshine makes happy and I tried to escape from my messed up life and traveled to enjoy sunshine. What happened is that I realized quickly that there is no escape! Sunshine is nice, but it will never be able to erase your thoughts and feelings. I don’t know how many hours I stayed in the bright sunshine just staring into the sun, it were many. I felt low but the sun on my skin gave me the feeling of being alive.
“Lost in thought and lost in time”
What can travel and sunshine give? This travel and sunshine gave me time! Time to think about everything. What do I want, where do I wanna go, what do I expect from my life? And even more important what do I expect from myself.
Time out of the everyday circle to really sit down and think, forgetting the time and just listening to yourself, that’s a gift!
“While the seeds of life and the seeds of change were planted”
It was grounding me, getting me back partly to the person I was before. A change needs time and sometimes it’s not easy to remain in that state when heading back home. But what it does is planting seeds, like reminders for yourself not to fall into the same state you were about to escape from.
“Outside the rain fell dark and slow”
There’s no sunshine without rain and vice versa. Life isn’t always happy and yes, there were days when everything seemed to be dark again.
I unfolded in the darkness. What I learned is indeed that the darkness was needed to ground me and to bring me back to my raw inner self. Without these dark moments I would not have been able to start all over again.
“While I pondered on this dangerous but irresistible pastime”
Ghosts from the past were hunting me, no more daily but they still were present in my life. You can never erase the past completely, it is a part of your life and will remain but these ghosts will fade and loose shape after a while.
“I took a heavenly ride through our silence”
I never said I hate something but I learned that I hate silence.
Not the silence when you are alone in a house or walking through a forest, no, I hate emotional silence. The silence when two persons, who where more than close to each other, stop communicating. Or let me say it better, if you are not getting answers any more. This silence hurts and is able to break a person.
“I knew the moment had arrived”
For killing the past and coming back to life.
It took almost years and ‘the moment’ were many moments, quietly popping up in my life, showing me there is a future and I can make it.
Alone.
Just me.
Inner strength built up in tiny steps, month by month, week by week.
A moment can be a day or a month or a year, a moment is defined by yourself.
“I took a heavenly ride through our silence
I knew the waiting had begun”
Waiting for the day when the past is no longer important in the present. It will stay in the past where it belongs to, where it was important but the way forward should be free and open.
“And headed straight..into the shining sun”
Yeah, and sometimes it fits completely!
I struggled for a long time and the way back was hard and full of stones but it was worth it.
I married my shining sun and most important, there is no silence!
You are on another continent right now. I’m not sure if it’s completely right on the picture but a compass was there to get you thinking that I’m thinking of you every second there in the south east.
Waiting for you….
Our summer wedding in the garden – part VII and last
And then there was only one thing left – a good sit-down in a garden lighted up with several fire places to let dinner settle and enjoy the slightly cooler temperature. Music for those who would like to dance and blankets for those who weren’t heated up the we were. We didn’t had a couples first dance as my husband isn’t a dancer and my whole family isn’t as well. So even more a highlight of the evening as my dad started to dance with me. A father daughter dance, I think he didn’t even dance when he married mom so it was another very precious moment for me. The atmosphere of the garden was awesome and at midnight we had the wedding soup to warm up from the inside although it wasn’t ended at least not for me. I was thinking before what to wear in the night as my dress had a cut out back but I wasn’t freezing at all. We were enjoying our day to the fullest and even after all guests left we were still listening to the music, sitting outside for a while with mom and dad and my sister until around 3 am. What should I say? Our wedding was exactly how we wished it would be and it will always stay as this in our memories. A perfect & wonderful long summer wedding day!
Next on the list was cutting the wedding cake. Our imperfect Pisa wedding cake, as this cake decided over night to drop to one side. My sister and me were doing it the day before and the plan was to give it the final finish the next day but when I opened the fridge in the morning I saw an uneven cake. We fixed it a bit an then decided not to add more as it may fall completely to one side. Nevertheless, the cutting worked without ruining it and it tasted wonderful. Everybody was now completely relaxed after the ceremony. There was music playing in the garden and plenty of people were enjoying chatting and eating and enjoying the day. We took the opportunity to walk around and talk to everyone, sit down here and there and capture every moment while always looking out for each other and smile happily. We weren’t able to take our eyes off each other. After a while friends of my sister arrived to prepare the summer barbecue we planned as dinner. They were more than professional as almost invisible and did a great job. We’ve got lots of wonderful feedback for the variety of the dinner and especially for the quality and taste which is also a thanks to our barbecue masters. We prepared everything the other day but only if you know how to prepare it on the fire it will end up perfect. Our dessert was a big buffet of fresh fruits with a double chocolate fountain on top and it seems as if what one of the highlights for many. They were gathering around it as if there’s no tomorrow.
My best friend came and told me embarrassed that she forgot to hand out the happy tears handkerchiefs but that she gave them now to all guests and that was exactly the right thing.
There were no tears during the ceremony but after we arrived we started again music – Van Morrison with these are the days – and I started my bridal speech.
Standing next to my husband in front of all of my family and friends I felt exited, emotional, happy – all at once. I had so much on my notes but ended up talking freely instead of reading what I wrote down. Welcoming all was the easiest part but when I started to talk to my parents and about his parents it was the moment when tears started to run and handkerchiefs were needed. My sister came quickly to give me a handkerchief as well and after all was said we’ve got applause from all.
My husband told me later that evening that it was one of the most appreciated things I did that day and that he never expected me to mention his parents as well as I unfortunately never met them.
But I knew how important they are for him and they are as well for me as they are the reason for him being alive and being now my husband.
The reception started and everyone was hugging and congratulating while saying cheers to the couple, handing over gifts and flowers. I just felt like the happiest person on earth at that moment.
We had all our loved ones around us and the moment was perfect.
As this villa were we married has big stairs into a garden, we told the photographer upfront that we would like to have a picture of the whole wedding party exactly there on the stairs with my little cousin as flower girl in front of us.
She was proud to have these important tasks – she was also responsible to bring us the wedding rings during the ceremony. So cute!
Time to throw the bouquet.
I started to pick up all the single women and went up the staircase. They were gathering behind me and after I threw it I glimpsed while turning around that my best friend was almost jumping like a basketball player to get the bouquet.
After the reception all guests started to drive or walk to our garden and we stayed with the photographer and went straight out into the beautiful summer afternoon for some sun-kissed, romantic bride and groom photos.
The plan was that we arrive in our garden when all guests were sitting and had coffee or tea in front of them so that I can start my bridal speech before we cut the cake and open the cake buffet.
What I wasn’t aware of and I think my husband although hadn’t planned it like that is that he asked me after we parked the car if I want to walk up the street towards our house. I was wondering what he meant, why shouldn’t I be able to walk these 100 meters?
All of a sudden he grabbed me and started to carry me towards the garden.
Unfortunately no one was aware that he will do that so only a few saw our arrival and we don’t have pictures of him carrying his wife.
But the surprise was so lovely that I will never forget it.
Mom and my best friend left 5 min earlier than me and dad so that we were really the last ones to arrive at the ceremony.
My best friend was carrying our happy tears handkerchiefs as she was intended to give them to the guests.
I, the bride herself, was driving as I have a company car and dad is not allowed to drive it without permission from the company so I decided a modern bride can drive herself. It was much stress and all of a sudden this stress was gone when I stepped out of the car and was walking at dad’s side towards the ceremony.
Our photographer was waiting for the first shots of the arriving bride and two of my best friends were waiting in front of the old villa to wish me good luck.
When the music started the door opened and I wasn’t able to stop smiling.
There he was – standing, waiting for me, my love, kissing me slightly when he took my hand.
He was desperate for me to arrive as he was standing there alone in front of all our guests which were mostly my family and friends.
I chose “I’m ready” from Bryan Adams for my arrival as it was exactly how I felt. Glad to be together we sat down and started to listen to all the officer told us. Our translator explained everything to my husband and his uncle and finally we had to answer the question we were waiting for. Yes, I do! Yes, I do!
Then we were announced husband and wife.
Woohoo – officially, legally married, husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. K.
I never imagined how it may feel and can just say, it was wonderful!
My little cousin brought the wedding rings and it wasn’t that easy for my husband to get it on my finger. This ring is really sitting tight and I love it!
After changing the wedding rings, signing up the document with our witnesses and the congratulations of the officer the music started again and we walked out of the room into a sunbathed park full of flowers and singing birds. “You’ll never walk alone” from Mathou as leaving the ceremony song.
My husband-to-be was happy to have this time for himself to get ready without me bothering him with questions “think about…have you…what if…”.
When I came back home he welcomed me fully dressed and he looked amazing!
From that time on he wasn’t allowed to go upstairs anymore where I intended to get ready but he enjoyed the fully decorated garden already while having coffee with his uncle.
While I was running in circles in jeans and t-shirt and my done wedding hair to fix the last details he left as he was supposed to leave half an hour before me.
My intention was to have 30-40 minutes for myself before I had to leave just to have a quick shower, get the last finish on my makeup, step freshly into my dress and put on the earrings, the new bracelet, etc.
Plans are there to be ruined, aren’t they?
Honestly, I ended up with roughly 15 min. During these 15 min. Dad was reminding me every felt 5 seconds that we have to go, that I need to hurry, that he’s ready downstairs and just waiting for me to come down.
I think he was even more exited than me as he would lead me down the aisle where my husband would wait. And another point that I’m his eldest daughter and the first who married.
I’m glad that I always was a perfectionist although it’s not one of my best habits but on the wedding day it was helping. I already had make up on so it was quickly pimped and the evening before the wedding I had a long bath so a quick shower was really enough to feel still bridal.
There are those long, hot Summer days that just seem to go on for ever and that usually end in an evening of sitting outside, drinking, chatting and laughing.
Our wedding in the garden of my parents was exactly one of these days.
The most perfect weather for a wedding you could imagine and a perfect location in which to enjoy it.
From start to end it was a wonderful, sunny, happy day and we so enjoyed it.
On the morning of the wedding we still had lots to prepare although we did a good job the days before.
But as always, there are many small things which need time and I loved to see how everyone was helping us along to make it happen in time and for us to have an amazing wedding.
We can’t say Thanks often enough for that.
My husbands uncle and aunt arrived shortly before I had to leave for the hairdresser and gave me the first touching moment of the day.
I never had the opportunity to meet my parents in law because they died years before we met.
One touching story is that my father in law gave a watch to my husband to wear it on his wedding day, I liked this story already and reminded him not to forget to wear this special watch.
His uncle, the brother of his mum, and his wife came to me with a small present. She explained me that this is something she received from my mum in law when she married her brother and she thought it to be perfect for me now.
A silver bracelet which is the most perfect gift for me.
It has even the style I like so much and fits as if it’s meant to be.
That was honestly the best and most precious gift I received that day!
