Strictly business from now on!

I hope the following is a valuable lesson to other brides to be. I had a bit of a disaster with a photographer. Whilst I was pregnant, at home and bored, I started doing my research into suppliers. As I ventured away from the traditional websites and into the world of blogging I began to find suppliers that I might not have seen on a site like Confetti or Hitched (although they are great for other things). I came across a photographer (who shall remain nameless) on a lifestyle blog that I read regularly, who's work was absolutely stunning. His website displayed an array of creatively styled imagery, which blew me away. I was sold from the first glance at his site and blog and I didn't even know the cost! I made contact immediately to request the price structure and find out more. I was pleased to find out that he came from my hometown - coincidence number one. I thought it was nice to have someone from my neck of the woods and it made me think of having my pre-wedding shoot in Birmingham instead of in London, where the wedding will be.

I was 100% sure I wanted him to do my wedding and pre-wedding shoot. Convincing my mum was easy. One look at his website and she was on-board too. Coincidence number two - she realised that she actually knows him. The guy was a friend of the family so we got on the phone ASAP to introduce ourselves. I was ecstatic, he knew who I was now and had pencilled us into his diary for my date. I wasn't able to meet him and discuss details as I was very heavily pregnant with the twins but he assured me that I was noted in his diary and if anyone else expressed any interest in the day he would let me know so I can secure the booking. So I felt pretty sure that he would be my photographer and the date was provisionally 'secure' until I had the twins. As I was going through a lot at the time (see post - Praying for a miracle), coupled with hospital visits once or twice every week, I was exhausted and had not yet switched into wedding planning mode, but I thought at least this was secure - or he would let me know if another couple wanted to book my date.

A number of weeks had passed, the twins had arrived, and I was adjusting to life as a new Mum. I started to think about the wedding more and one of my first actions was to meet with him and pay him so money to formally secure the date. So I tried to get in contact with him to no avail.

Wedding Update: 2 down but a lot more to go!

With less than 12 months to go before my wedding, I had no set date, no church, no reception venue, STILL, NO NOTHING. Progress was not a friend of mine and showed no interest in becoming one. My spare time around the little Madam was spent desperately trying to find a venue nice enough and big enough to host 'My big fat Nigerian wedding'! I spoke to friends, my sister in laws, I asked questions on forums but the same places kept coming up. I did visit a few, some better than the others but some disastrous!

First, my fiancé and I went to visit the City Pavillion in Romford. From the outside it doesn't look like a wedding venue at all. Just looks like a leisure centre or something but inside the hall was perfect. Definitely big enough, facilities were OK, the main room had a bit of wow factor with the funky chandeliers and there was even a separate room that we could use for a pre-drinks reception. All was good. I thought we had found the one until it got down to the nitty gritty.

My poor blog

So my plan for writing more blog posts has fallen completely flat on it's face. My little madam is taking up more of time than I expected. Who knew motherhood was so demanding and full on!! I'm literally sapped of all my energy just looking after the diva from day to day so my poor blog doesnt even get a look in!

Oh well, she is my everything right now and my priority. As she gets older i know I will have more time to do other things but until then my spare moments (when she's asleep), I spend eating quickly, running around the house doing the washing or a quick spring clean and if I'm really lucky I might get the chance to scour the internet or make a few wedding related calls *sigh*.

At the monent I'm spending some time at my Mum's house so while she is entertaining her Granddaughter, I have a few minutes to conjure up a few posts. Hopefully a few more to come....