Hello all you lovely 'I really should be working but instead I'm having a quick browse on RMW ' readers! It feels like my last post was ages ago, so I had better update you all on what has been going on all things wedding-related since then. Clearly I haven't been keeping myself busy enough because I've just signed up to do a half marathon...yep that happened, and it's in 9 weeks time. I must have been on the prosecco at the time (it was a Tuesday lunchtime while at work, but we'll go with the prosecco story).

Firstly, SHOCK HORROR, still no spreadsheet. Well, not really anyway. We vaguely tried to cobble one together and have since not looked at it. So far our guest list exists on a piece of scrap paper, hidden under some magazines in the kitchen. Or maybe it's in The Man Draw..? Either way, it's not progressed very far! But now we're starting to look in to some of the key parts of our wedding (aside from the venue with the amazing staircase), I suppose I'm going to have crank out the old Excel.

*gets distracted and cracks open wine*

We have revisited our venue, Walton Hall, since I last posted. We have decided that, in the name of research, we should try out the facilities at Walton Hall so our guests can make the most out of their stay (apart from the incredible wedding they'll be attending, obviously). We have booked to have lunch in the Moncrieffe room, where our marriage and wedding breakfast will take place, and then will be spending the afternoon in the spa.

Research. It's all about the research. What is even more special about this is that we are doing this completely coincidentally on 8th August, exactly a year before we get married. Talk about MEANT TO BE. And the research...

But the big news since our last post is choosing our photographer, Hannah May. Having spoken to a few people who have married recently, I was quite surprised at how many people decide against a professional photographer in favour of more casual guest photos. We considered our options, particularly taking budget in to account, but decided to go with the whole shebang. We have a pretty big wedding planned with 120 all day guests *manically laughs*, and let's not forget making the most out of our GORGEOUS venue (sorry, I will stop going on about it at some point sooooon...ish?) with equally gorgeous photos.

We approached several photographers in the West Midlands/Warwickshire area via the Love Lust List, as well as Hannah who I discovered when she commented on our last post (hi Hannah!), even though she is South East based. Everyone that we approached or spoke to was really friendly, informative and accommodating, so actually making a final decision was a tough one!

However, in the midst of a hot traffic jam on the A14 just outside Cambridge, I called Hannah for a good long chat (not always about weddings, oops) and I was pretty much sold. Car chats aside, Hannah's story-telling style, her flexibility on the level of service she provided and, of course, her beautiful pictures won us over.

I guess in all of my two weeks (???) of wedding planning experience, my takeaway message is this - when it comes to photographers, it is never too early to book. Some people we spoke to were already busy or had other enquiries waiting, even though we're not getting married for over a year...so don't delay if you don't want to be disappointed!

I appreciate this has been mentioned by the others, but I'm signing this one off with a bit of a big up to my fellow RMW Brides & Grooms. Not only am I enjoying the great ideas from their posts (e.g. Summer has me dreaming wistfully of confetti cannons), we've also got a great Facebook message conversation going on, where we chat about anything from ideas to the latest celeb gossip. They really are a fab bunch who I'm loving sharing the journey with - not to mention the great taste in ridiculously hot celebrity men - Ryan Gosling or Chris Hemsworth, anyone?? SOLD.

Until next time...

Lauren xxx

P.S. Sorry Grooms re: ridiculously hot celebrity men. It's only been mentioned once. Honest. Ahem.