This is the one item I am the most clueless about. Somehow I thought that I could just hand this task over to my little sister, who is designing them for us, and go with whatever she came up with. Clearly not. We have to come up with a brief first… and I need some education on invitations, fast!

The Internet is a marvelous source of information. I have “aaah”ed, “ooooh”ed and “euw”ed my way through a myriad of digital representations of (mostly) paper manifestations. Am I closer to a decision? No. But I have a better idea of what I like! I hope…

Here are some of the more interesting ensembles:

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Okay, planning a wedding may not actually be a walk in the park, but heed the following advice and I promise you that you will get make it through victorious - with your head still firmly planted on your body.

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The search for the elusive venue commences… Somehow I had thought that it was going to be easy. 1 2 3… You visit a venue. You like it. You book it. Hoorah, move onto the next item on the extensive wedding to-do list. But no, not me. I guess that’s what I get for committing the one fatal error most bridal mags warn against: choosing the date in advance of choosing the venue.

I think the most fatal flaw of all is that I’m not very specific in my own mind about what I want. I never have been - I’m certainly not one of those little girls who dreamed days away about her wedding day. I always thought I’d see when I got there. Now I’m here. And to tell the truth, I’m a bit scared.

I have a vague idea - the setting should be beautiful, picturesque. The food should be incredible. Seeing as it’ll be a winter wedding I’d like heat - lots of it - in the form of fires (non-smokey ones) preferably. Most of all I want to be happy with the man of my dreams smiling into my eyes.

Choosing a wedding venue is a decision of considerable significance. Not only have Nico and I been faced with choosing a venue that “suits us”, we’re faced with an even bigger obstacle… wedding venue prices! Aaaaaaaaahhhh! It’s almost enough to make one run for the hills screaming. Almost.

Two weeks into “the engagement” Nico and I took our first official step towards wedding organising. We attended the Bridal Expo at Oakfield Farm. We were quite chuffed at how organised we had become, with our foresight and wedding mag tear-outs. We were prepared for this momentous occasion…My, what a bewildering and overwhelming experience. You just don’t have a clue what the wedding industry is like until you become entangled in the midst of it. Photos, venues, designers, invitations, table settings, wedding transportation mechanisms, dresses, dresses, dresses, makeup artists, lingerie, dresses… it’s said to be a multi-billion rand industry, and it’s not hard to believe!

We left with flyers, business cards, a bridal library magazine and DVD, and a brand new outlook on the oncoming months’ planning.

Whilst on the “Wedding Mile” we took the opportunity of looking at a few venues. Wow… there are some awesome places out in Muldersdrift, priced at varying degrees of expensive. Well ok, people don’t go into business for charity’s sake and there is money to be made in weddings… I just wish the money in my budget wouldn’t add up so fast!

As I mentioned previously, money is not the only hurdle. another, almost as daunting, is making that decision. Choosing THE VENUE. Somehow I didn’t think that we’d have to make that choice quite so soon, but having chosen a date in June (this year), we really don’t have much time! Will it be a friend or relative’s garden (should there be a kind soul willing to offer), Casalinga, Avianto, Toadbury Hall, The Westcliff, Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens, or some other place someone suggests?