Give a man a job – Table seating plan SORTED!

One of the reasons Lucy and Mark wanted to send out the invitations so well in advance of the day was to have an early RSVP to give plenty of time for the table planning malarkey!  Many couples they know have said that this has been one of the most stressful parts to the wedding planning. So with some trepidation last weekend, the subject of table seating planning came up.

Being MOTB , and relishing in this type of task,  I organised two sheets of A3 paper ( one spare in case of emergencies) and then typed out all guests names , printed off and cut them up – so we had approximately 90 pieces of paper with everyone’s names on. We had a slight panic when Andrew E disappeared off the kitchen table. Andrew was nowhere to be seen. I reassured the Bride and Groom that he couldn’t have gone far, as I knew I had cut him up earlier.

Anyhow Mark took charge and armed with pencils, ruler, blu-tak and a tin of spaghetti hoops ( well they are round table at Close House!) he made a start. He pretty much insisted at sitting on the top table, so Lucy agreed! They were joking...I think.

After half an hour, Lucy and I had to go out to our regular Sunday aquafit class – so we left Mark with the pile of names, still no Andrew E and instructions not to blu- tak anyone until “we”  I mean Lucy (!!) was back to check it over. So as we splashed and bobbed in the pool – Mark took on the challenge.

We returned an hour later, and he’d finished! We were most relieved to discover that Andrew E had been found - he had got stuck under his girlfriend, one of the bridesmaids the lovely Sarah – so all was well.

“We” had to admit that Mark had got it pretty much perfect. A very neat table plan lay before us. Mark hadn’t even needed the spare sheet of paper!

Once again, I found that looking at all the names of people coming to the day time does makes me smile in anticipation. 

Tiara for Princess Lucy

Lucy’s Chief Bridesmaid, the lovely Rachel now signs all her texts and messages as “Rachel, Chief Bridesmaid to Princess Lucy”. 

And my Lucy Sarah is a Princess...her wedding dress (obviously the design is a closely guarded secret) is a real princess dress. So to accessorise for that is easy, you have to go Royal!

Lucy asked my Mum and I to accompany her to view some tiaras in Debenhams. Got to love the 30% off days....

Lucy is a natural with sparkly headwear of course, and tried on quite a few – all of which were truly beautiful. And she was equally delighted when she just knew that the one she tried on first – absolutely was the one. So “we” bought it!

How lucky am I to have Princess Lucy as my daughter, and my best friend.

“Very lucky indeed” she tells me.

Cheerfulness!

Lucy and Mark were given a booklet from Granny called “Wedding Etiquette” published long before Granny and Grandpa’s wedding 52 years ago. It is full of handy hints from the late 1950’s relating to the BIG DAY. Much blog fodder I think.

While I wade through what to do and not do – here is an extract which had me smiling..

Entitled, “Cheerfulness” it reads...

Cheerfulness is of vital importance in domestic life as it helps you meet with good temper the little irritations and worries which are inevitable in running a household. The man does not always realise the anxieties and responsibilities with which his wife has to contend, and to look attractive and interesting after a harrassing day of domestic chores requires more than tactfulness, but men also have the responsibility, and the worry that goes with it, of being the provider, and a true woman proves herself the loved companion and wife when she combines sympathy, forebearance and tact without which her husband can never hope to succeed in his career.

That clearly explains a lot !!

Lucy has a theory that if you just wear the clothes the creases will drop out themselves, so no need to ever iron anything! Recently, Mark was ironing his shirts for work at our house. Lucy said she’d support Mark in his task by watching him, she soon announced that she was bored and disappeared leaving Mark to finish his shirt. Later over lunch I apologised to Mark that Lucy wasn’t very domesticated! Before he had chance to reply, Lucy piped up “ Well I may not be able to iron or cook, but I do know all the words to every Abba , Girls Aloud and Beyonce song” . Generally though, I'd say that Lucy is a cheerful soul, and so Mark's career is sorted!!