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…advice that this very busy wedding blogger is trying to take as we storm ahead into an action packed new year, an inbox brimming with wedding inspiration and real wedding gorgeousness, even higher hits and a bigger subscriber count than ever before. I think I need a lie down!
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Have you survived the first week of 2012? To me a New Year means a fresh start, new challenges and a chance for Brides Up North to be bigger and better than ever. Check back here on Sunday evening when I’ll be announcing some plans to shake up the wedding blogging schedule in 2012. It’s out with the old and in with the new!
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Meanwhile, back with her words of wisdom, our very own newlywed and guest blogger, Alison.
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Over to Alison: This time last year I’d been merrily drifting along. When people asked me about our wedding, I’d say “It’s next year”. I was confident, I was relaxed, everything was in hand and I was on top of it all. I’d go so far as to say I was smug!
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But as I stood on Vauxhall Bridge at midnight last year, watching the New Year’s Eve fireworks pour out of The London Eye I felt a cold chill run right through me. It wasn’t next year any more. It was 2011 and our wedding was now THIS YEAR!
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DON’T PANIC – DON’T PANIC!
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Count to 10.
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Now breathe.
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If like me, you’ve started the year of your wedding on the cusp of a melt-down – let me introduce the cavalry. As the voice of experience (kind of) I’ve got some top tips to help guide you through the start of this, a new and very special year.
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Some New Year’s Resolutions for the 2012 Bride:
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And also…
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If you haven’t already, set up a spread sheet. Fail to plan – plan to fail. You don’t have to go mad (like I did with 22 separate sheets) but make friends with Excel. It will help you control your budget, mail merge your invitation address list, keep track of acceptances and manage your ‘to do’ list. People mocked my love of a good spread sheet. However, they were the first to coo that it was the best wedding they’d ever been to. So I guess the proof is in the pudding – which thanks to my spread sheet came out precisely on time and in the correct quantity!
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No time like the present to get into shape. You will never have an incentive like this ever again. Don’t do what I did and start the year with good intentions and then do nothing about it until a month before the wedding. To say my wedding dress at that point was snug is an understatement. There is only so much ‘panic pilates’ can do. If I’d only had the Brides Up North Bootcamp in my corner I could have worn much more comfortable knickers!
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Embrace the New Year sales. There are bargains galore. The only person who will know its last season’s stock is you and you can save yourself a packet. People traditionally do ‘sorting out’ between Christmas and New Year. It’s a national obsession which means we don’t have to speak to our relatives. Get yourself on e-bay and pick up some bargains. Remember – whatever you save now you can spend on yourself later – in my case my beautiful Jenny Packham wedding dress.
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Send out your invitations. At the very least make sure everyone has the date. While you are busy organising your life, so is everyone else. Now that Christmas is over people are busy booking holidays and mini-breaks by the barrow load to make themselves feel a little less depressed about grey January days back at work. Don’t give them a dilemma later on because a previously booked holiday to Disneyland may well win out.
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Remember, no matter how fraught and stressful things get – don’t panic – enjoy your wedding year. Throw yourself in and roll around in the whole wedding experience. Take every opportunity to make choosing flowers and cakes and dresses and wines as much fun as possible. Believe me, when the excuse has gone, you’ll miss it. Which leads me to a question – is your first wedding anniversary too soon to renew your vows?
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Alison writes her own personal blog at http://alison-staples.blogspot.com.
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Alison’s latest posts for Brides Up North:
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Santa Baby- A Bride’s Letter To St Nick
Christmas Weddings In Soap Land – Some Very Un-Real Weddings!
Up For Discussion- Money Can’t Buy You Love – Bringing It In On Budget
Up For Discussion- Don’t Tell The Groom! Man Management
Up For Discussion- How To Do “I Do”- Writing Your Own Vows
Up For Discussion- Empty Chairs
Up For Discussion- Achieving The Perfect Level Of Wedding Morning Zen
Up For Discussion- The Name Game (and meet Alison!)
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Would you like to guest blog for Brides Up North? Email julia@bridesupnorth.co.uk
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Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog © 2012 – Image via Wake Up Mr Singh & The Itsy Factor both found at Pinterest
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