What the hell is a theme? I'm sure some of you have cried out in frustration, upon commencing your wedding planning journey. I know I certainly did. When Ashley and I got engaged my wedding knowledge could be summed up in a very simple checklist:

• Venue - preferably somewhere ultra-romantic, because isn't that the only option?! (church as well if that's what takes your fancy - we're not religious in the slightest so we'd have felt very out of place)
• Person to take lovely photos - no one told me these people had to be secured as soon as the ring was on your finger, man they get booked up fast.
• Supplier of pretty flowers
• The bridal get up - obviously saving the best for last

Like I said, very simple. I had no idea the kind of depths you can get into when wedding planning. Which is why now, when I look back at the first couple of months of our engagement, I think I pretty much jumped into it feet first, not giving anything very much thought at all. So carried away was I with booking things right away, that I didn't really take a breath and have a look at all the options that there is out there.

So you may ask yourself why you need a theme, and to be quite honest, many of you probably won't need one. But I've found coming up with a wedding theme has kept our planning focused and structured, otherwise I'd still be out there booking circus tents and art deco stationery (literally just made that combination up, though I can see it working, hello Water for Elephants).

I'm pretty sure I've told you this, but I'll reiterate, I am ridiculously indecisive! Like seriously, it'll take me a good 5-10 mins to think about what drink I want from the bar. I must have changed our colour scheme about 20 times, and I'm still adding to it. Coming up with A Midsummer Night's Dream/Enchanted Forrest theme (doesn't that just make sense with our wedding being held at Woodlands Hotel, I know hardly ground breaking, but I'm still giving myself a pat on the back) has really helped give us a fixed idea of what we want our wedding to look like.

I've also found it's really important to stick with all the things you like, so just because we've chosen an Enchanted Forrest theme, doesn't mean we're going to have all neutral colours - I love both bold and soft romantic tones, therefore I'm making sure our day is filled with just that.

I'm sorry but can we just take a minute to ogle Ashley in all his 'aawww that is so sweet' glory.

My heart melts every time I look at this, definitely makes me love him even more (I should look at it every time we have an argument). Sadly that gorgeous pooch isn't a part of our little family, we were merely dog sitting for Ashley's parents. Was so very tempted to steal him though!

I'd like to give an update on recent planning activities, but I'm afraid it's all a bit quiet on that front at the moment. Seeing as we're so far away from the big day, and most of the big ticket items have been ticked off the list, we're sort of just waiting around until we can get properly stuck into organising things again. I have been informed though that one of my bridal accessories has been delivered and is ready to collect, which is rather exciting. We also went to a wedding a couple of weeks ago, much fun was had - certainly by me anyway, I'm not sure about Ashley I sort of ran off and abandoned him as soon as Summer of '69 came on! As you will see below, Prosecco has played a very big part in my life recently, it's just so damn good!

And to be honest wedding planning has taken a bit of a back seat this month, in favour of some other party planning. That's right, I've been charged with sorting our team's Christmas do. I'll take wedding planning any day, far easier! I was having visions of us supping cocktails out of a carton in Wetherspoons for a while, it's only by a sheer stroke of luck I managed to get us all in a swanky restaurant 2 weeks before C day. I am a hero.

Are you keeping yourself on track with a theme? Or are you preferring to let your day come together more organically? Let me know :-)

Xxx

P.S. Officially less than a year to go, properly on the countdown now, eek!!