The last 10-months since we got engaged have truly flown by. It seems like only last week that JMG got down on one knee and popped the question with my custom made neon sign.

Planning a wedding is exhausting. Exciting? Yes. But quite exhausting. Especially when juggling it with a full-time job, a blog and a life. However, we’ve thrown ourselves into it and have been very busy. 

But tonight, I’ve taken some time out. I’m curled up on our sofa, reading the newest offering from ELLE UK. The inaugural edition of ELLE Wedding magazine, kindly slipped in the post to me by the lovely Miette L. Johnson, Art Director at ELLE UK and now ELLE Wedding. You must be pleased as punch Lorraine, Miette and team!

It’s fresh, current and full of articles and suggestions that you wouldn’t see on the pages of any other bridal publication. It’s like a printed version of your favourite wedding blogs: think Style Me Pretty, Festival Brides, Rock My Wedding and Offbeat Bride in slick, well laid-out PRINT form! You will be pleased!

As a 29-year old bride-to-be with a strong idea of what I do like (natural textures, coloured-glass, a strong focus on ambient lighting and fun) and don’t like (organza bows and chair covers), this feels right up my street.

I get sick of the site of wishy-washy pastels, shit typography and sugared almonds. Something I can’t get my head around is when people jump onto the wedding conveyor belt and don’t dare imprint anything of themselves onto their big day.

Show me something of the personalities behind the fabulous event - like this magazine does - and I’m happy. It feels human. I can’t wait to buy the spring edition, I’m hoping that comes out just before I walk down the aisle in May 2015.

Things we’ve ticked off our own wedding planning list so far…quite a lot:

• Get engaged
• Tell everyone
• Design an engagement ring
• Gather Pinspiration
• Choose a date
• Write a guest-list
• Find a venue
• Book a photographer
• Choose bridesmaids/groomsmen
• Buy a dress
• Get bridesmaid dresses
• Search for a caterer
• Find a cake maker
• Sort out decorations
• Find hair accessories - to veil or not to veil?
• Buy bridal lingerie
• Have a dress fitting
• Hire lighting
• Book registrar
• Give notice
• Finalise guest-list
• Sort JMG’s suit
• Attend a menu tasting
• Book honeymoon
• Send out wedding invites
• Buy booze
• Organise wedding flowers
• Arrange wedding cars
• Arrange ceremony musician
• Sort out entertainment
• Choose and order wedding rings
• Book wedding weekend hotel
• Decide on hair
• Decide on makeup
• JMG stag do
• LEK hen do
• Sort out seating plan
• Advise caterers on final numbers
• Get married
• Send thank you cards

October is fast approaching and our wedding to-do list is not getting that much smaller. In fact, things are coming thick and fast now. Decisions need to be made, invitations sent and deposits paid.

My Mum  - aka Mother-of-the-Bride - is ever so excited! She’s coming to London at the beginning of October to make a weekend of it! We’ll be tackling wedding tasks like my vintage wedding dress fitting on the Saturday and then attending Brides The Show on the Sunday.

We need to find her a gorgeous (and not old-fashioned) Mother-of-the-Bride dress. One that is as unique and as special as she is. My Mum is only petite and so has a definite style in mind for my big day. We’re hoping to meet fashion and occasion-wear exhibitors at Brides The Show and see whether any of their wares tickle our fancy. The lovely Robyn Coles Millinery has also been in touch, after our brief encounter on #weddinghour, with a lookbook of her fabulous hats. So that’s another task on our list for when Mum comes down to stay - choose one that makes her feel fabulous!

 Wedding Hour is a huge Twitter virtual meetup between brides, venues and suppliers, from all over the world, that happens every Wednesday between 9 & 10pm - check it out!

Brides The Show is on from Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th October 2014 at the Business Design Centre, Islington. If you’re a fellow Bride-to-be and fancy 20% off your ticket* price, use my code LOVES20 at the checkout and save your pennies for all of the pretty trinkets on display that will make your big day super special. Buy tickets here.

*Single tickets cost £20, Gold Catwalk tickets £35 (includes fast track entry into the show, a reserved catwalk seat in the front two rows, a glass of champagne, a catwalk guide and running order and a luxury gift bag including treats from Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Michael van Clarke, Potcake weddings and Two Little Cats). Group tickets are £60 (4 people and over - ticket price £15 when buying 4 or more tickets).

If you’re heading to the show, give me a shout and don’t forget to share the promo code LOVES20 with your friends! 

Read more of mine and JMG’s wedding planning journey here: lucieloves.co.uk/tagged/LEKxJMGWedding

If you’re interested in working with us, please email info@luciekerley.co.uk.

Photography © Lucie Kerley