shot gun wedding, kinda (minus the shot gun)

[satya]

1. Buying secondhand will cut the cost but might be a little difficult with a sizeable bump. Leave the dress to a week or two before or you may find it wont fit.

2. I think that's plenty of time.

3. Outside is fine if that's what you want. Is there a covered area you can use if it's wet? If not go for inside.

4. Don't touch the MIL. She could be right, but if she is you will have to fork out a lot less money which can only be a good thing.

[Aimz]

2) its a thursday. so we're *hopefully* sending out the invites this friday/monday coming. would that be enough time for people to sort out time off work/sleeping arrangements? (it'll be around the 2 month mark) or are we REALLY pushing it?

8 weeks is plenty of time! General wedding etiquette says 6 weeks or more.

4)is it ok to beat my soon to be mother in law with a book becuase she's already started telling us no one will show up becuase its a thursday?

DH and I got married on a Thursday! Although we were in the Greek Islands and all our guests were already on holiday anyway. But people will sort themselves out to take time off for your wedding - permission to beat her with a book (or fish, rocks etc) is GRANTED

[LisaL]

Hi sweets,

I think Mat shops are prob your best option given how far along you will be at the wedding. I have seen a couple of nice dresses in Egg Maternity (retail about 300-500).

As far as the day of the week is concerned, if people want to come, then they will regardless. If someone I knew and liked was having a wedding, Id go even if it was at 4am!

Inside or out - can you leave it till the week before the wedding? Then you can check 7 day forecast and decide.

As for the MIL - go for your life, you can beat mine too while your at it

[luna moth]

I just made a white maternity dress. It's cotton, but very pretty

Getting married on a Thursday is the BEST way to cut the unnecessary riff-raff out of your guest list! The people who really really want to be there will be there. The rest will whinge about it.

I personally gripe about getting less than 12 weeks notice to go to a wedding, but it's because I live interstate, and often I can get cheaper flights if I know in advance. An example is a friend getting married in December, I've booked flights down there even though I'm not 100% sure I'm invited - how awkward! I don't want to ring and say "can I come?" but at the same time, she's getting hitched really close to Christmas, and flights get so pricey!

Don't beat your MIL. Buy her a shot. That's what I did. Bar staff insisted I do it after I made her cry at the pub one night. It backfired SO hard at the time, but then it worked out and now SHE'S the one who's embarrassed by her behaviour!

Do what you want. Most important thing.

[DoubleK]

I cant offer much advice on the dress... but im sure there is a beautiful dress out there waiting for you! as around, perhaps you could get one made? doesnt need to bee really fancy, just something that you're comfy in!!

as for the thursday wedding, i think its fine!! my best friend had a friday wedding, at 4pm. dp couldnt get the time off work, but there was no way in the world i wasnt going! so i ook my brother instead! my mum minded Krystal! i think weekday weddings are fine! im not even engaged yet, but i often think id like a casual sunday afternoon wedding/reception, perhaps in a park... but anyway, back to your wedding! i think thats plenty of notice as well... i can never think too far ahead anyway, so when i get invitations months in advance, i have to make notes in my diary 'one month till xxx's wedding' '6 weeks till this...' lol

i wish you the best of luck for your special day!!

[Muffy]

i just want to add that the ebay edding dresses are actually nice - yes i know by experience my sister bought 2!!

[Dansta]

thanks for all the replys. its nice getting support. it means alot to me :hugs: to all. with both good and bad points. its still good to hear non-bias point of view

amysarah- yeah, that'd be crazy fun. but i'd never hear the end of it! plus...i cant speek greek! but im glad some one else has gotten married on a day other than saterday/sunday and loved it!

Lisa l- i'll be happy to knock some sence into your MIL. i'll be doing that to my MIL tomorrow night! becuase we're telling her the dates SET IN STONE and we're both happy as...larry and she can deal with it. we're hardly convetnial people (hello ten years between us...living together 18 months and enaged since feb...and having a baby next jan!) if all else fails i'll just hell her to show up and shut up. my day...my way...or i'll beat her with a rock filled bunch of flowers...or flowers made of stone....which ever is cheaper!

snuggly bean- i would buy my MIL, but she's not a drinker. and rather... how do i put it nicely? prudeish. still no one but DF's brother knows about blip and i'd say they wont know untill...maybe the wedding. as for the dress...im still clueless lol...i'll hunt it down like croc dundee hunting...well a croc i spose!

Krystal ball- i think we're doing ok with the time line as such. becuase i got in invite to one of my ralatives wedding three weeks before (via word of mouth) becuase i was on the 'b' list along with my sister so i think 4 weeks RSVP and another 4 to work it all out is heaps of time! just have to knock that into MIL head...

laura133- i've heard stories of good and bad. i guess i worry that i wont get it in time (and i have horrable, horrable luck with mail!) plus i'd be worried my bump would grow HEAPS and not fit (such a worry wort i am...) but i am looking at ebay, but from aussie sellers...

[Artechim]

A friend of mine got a white baby-doll style dress from Myer on sale for $20 which looked really nice as her wedding dress. She was about 6 months preg at the time.

We are going to a Tuesday wedding next year, I don't think it is a big deal to take an afternoon off work, especially with two months notice.