Don't tell the...groom!

Along with so many other people, I'm a bit obsessed with BBC3's 'Don't Tell the Bride'  at the moment. It provides me with so much entertainment and I can't believe how brave some of these women are, and how clueless the men can be. One of my favourite episodes was the one in which the groom decided to spend the whole budget on a Vegas wedding and cut some of the brides family members out of the wedding. Of course, there was a happy ending but it was very touch and go!


So, would you ever let your partner arrange your wedding? I don't think I could! As a currently very single girl, one can only fantasize over their dream wedding, so I thought I'd post my own version of Don't Tell the Bride, just in case my dream man ever reads this. So, let's start with the dress.


Dress:
I'm not a huge fan of wedding dresses and I couldn't tell you exactly what I'd want. Only what I wouldn't want (fairytale, princess, Jordan style a definite no-no) So once I'd combined all my wedding dress dislikes, I was left with few options. Here's what I came up with (be imaginative here, I'm basing this on the pipe dream that I'll be 5'10" and size 8 by the time I get married)

Although I could never pull this off, I love the Audrey Hepburn, vintage feel to this dress. The asymmetric skirt is also very flattering on this model. And I'd definitely go for ivory rather than white. This dress is by Hollywood Dreams and is a very, erm, reasonable £1400...bargain!

This dress is a little more plain and realistic! Although I'm not a fan of the bead detail, again I like the asymmetric skirt and the general shape. I'd definitely want a bit of poof to my dress and a reasonable sized train. It's from an American website at a very cheap $142.99 - around £90.00! 

Venue: 

I've been lucky enough to have dined at some fantastic venues for various occasions and events. My sister celebrated her twenty-first birthday at Hartwell House, in the Aylesbury Vale. I remember being overwhelmed by the grounds and even more impressed by the menu.

I grew up in Buckinghamshire and have always loved the countryside around the Chiltern hills so it would be sentimental to get married somewhere so beautiful and close to my home comforts. 

"Hartwell house is one of the Stately Homes of England, just one hour from central London and Heathrow and Luton Airports, and two miles west of Aylesbury.   Its most famous resident was Louis XVIII, exiled King of France, who lived there with is Court for five years.  Situated in 90 acres of landscaped parkland, Hartwell House provides a country house setting, adding lustre to every social occasion"

My other choice in venue is the place I was lucky enough to have been taken to celebrate my own twenty-first birthday. Danesfield House  is a typically English Hotel/home situated near Marlow, Buckinghamshire. Again, this venue has some breathtaking views over the Chilterns.

Bridesmaids:

I quite like the idea of an aubergine theme throughout. That way it's quite classy and neutral and would suit whoever I choose to be my bridemaids. Something like this perhaps (I like the one shouldered dress on the far left):

Transport:

I've always loved the idea of driving a vintage car. Now, obviously I'd be in no state to drive for my own wedding, but being driven in one would still be amazing. Here's my ideal mode of wedding transportation:

1926 Austin Seven box saloon photographed by Malcolm Asquith 

If that one's not available, here are some alternatives:

I'll leave it there, for now. Obviously I know there is far more to organise and I haven't done my research thoroughly enough to know if this is all within the £12,000 DTTB price range but until I come close to even being in a relationship, I don't have to worry about that.

What are your thoughts? How would you do it?