Blog entries in "Fallon's Blog"
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Bridal Blogger: Fallon finds 'the one' to walk her down the aisle!
Like a lot of brides-to-be out there who don’t have a father to give them away for whatever reason, I’ve had to ponder the question, who will give me away? I count myself very lucky to have grown up surrounded by fantastic male figures between uncles and cousins, so my predicament isn’t trying to find someone but picking the right person.
When I got engaged first, I asked an uncle to give me away but over the past few weeks he has backed out, with no hard feelings on my part at all. It’s not an easy task and my uncle just didn’t feel that he would be comfortable on the day having to speak to a room full of people, which I can understand completely. I certainly couldn’t do it! I want him to look forward to my wedding and enjoy the day, not dread the thoughts of it.
For me, the person has to be someone I’ve known all my life, who’s been around and taken part in all the major milestones and, most importantly, someone who I feel on the day will make me feel at ease. I think about that last moment when I’m waiting to walk up the aisle, bridesmaids are gone and it’s just you and this other person. I want someone who I can look at and think – ‘I’m glad you are the one who is here with me.’
I know a lot of you will think why not have your mam give you away? I also think this is a lovely idea and my friend Leanne, who was in my last blog post, did that at her wedding, but it’s just not for me or my mam.
I think unless you’re in the position where you have to ask someone to give you away you don’t realise how emotional it can be, or is that just me? It’s a declaration of sorts, like standing up and saying this person is important to me. So, over the past week or so I’ve sat and thought about it and made my decision, which to be honest really wasn’t a hard one. All I need to do now is pick up the phone and ask the question. I’ll keep you posted on what the response is...
See more of our real bridal blogger, Fallon's blog posts.
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Fallon loves Weddings Abroad, Turns 30 & Bags a Bargain!
Well, what a hectic couple of weeks it has been! In my last blog post, I mentioned that I was heading off for my first foreign wedding in Nerja, Spain. I really didn’t know what to expect but I have to say I had a ball! From the moment we arrived, the bride and groom had an action-packed few days planned for their guests. Nerja itself is a very beautiful town with winding cobble streets, quaint little buildings and the prettiest stone church right in the centre. I was concerned about the heat, but on the wedding day we were in and out of the shade so much that I really didn’t notice it. What a difference the sunshine makes though, everyone was sitting around sipping their drinks with their shades on. I can’t wait to see the pictures! I’m sure they’re going to be stunning. When the service was over we all piled onto coaches to head to a beautiful mountain location for the reception. I didn’t know what would be served food wise but it was just like home, delish! We then danced the night away until 6 am, the whole day was amazing and the bride was stunning, as you can see!!The Big 3-0!
When I got back from Spain it was then my (gulp) 30th birthday. I originally wasn’t going to celebrate but thought, sure how often so you get to have yourself a little party? Eh, never! So that’s what I did. I got all of my favourite people into one room and bopped until I had to have a little sit down, because ya know, I am old now.
Bridesmaid Dresses
On the wedding front I purchased my bridesmaid dresses before I went on holidays and I couldn’t be happier with them. I went for navy, which I think will be nice for winter. I got them in Coast, Kildare Village and I honestly think that for any brides out there on a budget the outlets are a must-see. My dresses were nearly half their original cost! They are very simple and elegant and the girls are going to be gorge!
Next on my list in is to sort out my invites and pick up my bridesmaid’s shoes and jewellery so I can tick them off my list too! Watch this space!
See the rest of Fallon's blog posts!
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Our Real Bridal Blogger Fallon Gets Over the Wedding Planning Hump!
WOL's fabulous bridal blogger Fallon Wasser is getting ready to marry her fiancé Darren Dunne on December 7th, 2012. Fallon is taking us on her wedding planning journey, through the ups and downs, highs and lows and is sharing her wedding planning tips and tricks with us along the way!
Since my last post, I dug a little hole in that wedding planning wall and I finally made it through. Last weekend myself and a buddy of mine, Louise headed over to Dundrum Shopping Centre for a little retail shoe therapy. I'd done a little research in advance online and I knew I wanted to go to Dune, Aldo and House of Fraser.
Now ladies, I love a sale, who doesn't?! But when I'm looking for something specific, the last thing I want to do is go through racks and racks of shoes all thrown together, whilst trying to battle the shopper beside me for the last size 6! Luckily for me, I spotted a couple of pairs which I thought were going to be perfect in Dune, not on sale unfortunately, isn't that always the way? Anyway, I tried on a few pairs and fell in love with my choice. Very comfy, I got the 'I can dance the night away' vibe from them straight-away! They are elegant and I'll definitely wear them over and over again. Total winner!
The other thing I wanted to make a decision on was whether to wear a veil or a shrug. So, after giving it some much serious thought... I haven't actually made a decision as such, but my dress is due to arrive in The White Room in September, so I'm going to wait until I try it on again and then decide what to do. See - kind of a decision made - I said 'kind of'!!
Next weekend I'm off to my friend's wedding in Nerja in Spain. I cannot wait! I haven't been to a wedding abroad before, so I'm looking forward to seeing how they differ from here. I think when you're getting married yourself, you become a much more observant guest, don't you think?
Are there any sunshine brides out there in need of any inside info, because I can do a little recon for ya!?
Also, how did you pick the perfect wedding shoes to dance the night away in?
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Our Real Bridal Blogger: Fallon Hits the ‘Wedding Planning Wall’!
WOL’s fabulous bridal blogger Fallon Wasser is getting ready to marry her fiancé Darren Dunne on December 7th, 2012. Fallon is taking us on her wedding planning journey, through the ups and downs, highs and lows and is sharing her wedding planning tips and tricks with us along the way!
L: Bella Bleu, Cork | R: Carla Ten Eyck Photography
Well, it’s been far too long since my last bridal blog post and I’ve a good reason, honest! In the couple of weeks since my last post I lost my job, visited the depths of despair, found a new job and then experienced the amazing sense of relief that goes with it! That’s a good reason, right?
During that time I really didn’t do a thing for the wedding and now I found in the last week or so that I’ve hit what can only be described as the ‘wedding planning wall’. Yep, I’ve hit it hard and head on. I just can’t seem to get motivated at all. Is it just me or has anyone else ever felt that way? Please say yes and that I’m not a bad bride-to-be. I’ve a list of things as long as my arm that I need to get done, but I just keep putting it off. Sometimes it feels there is so much to do that it all gets a little overwhelming. So, instead of looking at an endless list of things, I’m going to take it one project at a time.
The very first thing on my list at the moment is to finish me! I need shoes, jewellery and underwear and because I’m getting married in December I can’t decide on whether to wear a shrug-type-thingy over my shoulders to try keep a little warm or if I want to wear a veil – decisions, decisions! If there are any winter brides out there, what are you going to do to keep warm or are you going to be a slave to fashion and freeze? Can I wear a shrug and a veil together or is it too much? I definitely need some advice on this one!
I’m giving myself the next two weeks to source, price and make a decision on all of the above. I think once I get one thing finished, the wedding planning ball will start rolling again and I’ll be back on track! Watch this space!
See the rest of Fallon’s blog posts and feel free to leave a comment for Fallon here, or chat to her in the WeddingsOnline Forums!
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Our Real Bride Blogger: Finding the Perfect Wedding Venue
WOL’s fabulous bridal blogger Fallon Wasser is getting ready to marry her fiancé Darren Dunne on December 7th, 2012. Fallon is taking us on her wedding planning journey, through the ups and downs, highs and lows and is sharing her wedding planning tips and tricks with us along the way!I don’t know about you ladies, but for me the hardest thing about organising my wedding to date was definitely picking the venue. When I got engaged and started looking at all the different places, I had myself a mini-meltdown! There is just so much choice and it can all be a little over whelming. Luckily for me, I had my friend Louise on hand. She got married last year, so she was in the loop in terms of what a good package should contain and what questions I should ask the hotel. So we sat down one evening over a bottle (or three!) of wine and I must have given her about ten different venues that I liked for various reasons. You see, I love the old country house feel with creaking floorboards and chandeliers but I also wanted the comfort and luxury of a modern hotel. Honestly, I’m really not that fussy, I just wanted everything! We went through the various hotels that I picked and narrowed it down to three, which were all around the Meath area, one of which was Dunboyne Castle. The plan was to make appointments for a single day and Louise and I would go and do a little research on them. If there was any that I liked I would bring himself down and do the hard sell on him.
Winding Staircases
When we arrived at Dunboyne Castle we had a lovely lunch. The food was fab and the service from the staff was really great! The castle felt like the perfect combo of new and old that I was initially looking for and I fell in love with the old house with its beautiful winding staircase and period features. We met with a member of the events team to go through some details and get a proper tour of the hotel. She asked me to fill out some forms and when I looked down at the page Louise’s name was down for the bride and my name was down for the groom. She thought that Louise and I were a couple, which we had a good giggle about!
So home I went to convince himself that it was perfect, luckily for me on our return visit the following week he loved it just as much as me and we booked it! I’ve been back down on a couple of occasions since and have never been disappointed with the level of service. Sinead and the events team have always been extremely helpful with my many questions over the past few months and I know I’m in safe hands.
You're onto a Winner
For any bride and groom out there in venue hell, I would say sit down and write down what’s the most important thing to you about the venue and what can’t you compromise on. Make sure you look at the package available and price up the extras that aren’t included, because it’s the hidden extras that will hike up your overall cost. Any decent venue will want to work with you and try and facilitate your big day as much as possible - it’s all give and take. The last thing would be to read reviews, there are always going to be people who have had a bad experience at some point but as long as the overall vibe is positive you’re onto a winner!
In Fallon’s next bridal blog post, she looks for the perfect wedding shoes to help her glide up the aisle and dance the night away!
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Meet WeddingsOnline's Real Bride Blogger, Fallon Wasser!
Meet our new bridal blogger, Fallon Wasser, who will marry fiancé Darren Dunne on December 7th, 2012. Fallon will be taking us through the ups and downs of her wedding plans and has promised to share any wedding planning tips and tricks with other brides-to-be along the way!Fallon and Darren met ten years ago through mutual friends in a night club called Club Diva at the Red Cow Hotel. When Fallon first met Darren she thought he had a great smile and was confident in himself and that he was a bit of a flirt too! When Darren first saw Fallon, he thought she was beautiful, "I knew I wanted to see her again," he told us.
Darren proposed to her on their ten year anniversary. "I came home from work thinking we were just going to have a normal dinner together," said Fallon. "Darren told me to sit down at our kitchen table, then he popped into the other room and came back with a beautiful bunch of red roses. I thought it was just an anniversary gift until I looked at the card which said 'Will you marry me?' on it. To say I was shocked was an understatement. He had told family and friends that he was going to propose and they were all standing by for the party."
'The One' - Fallon's First Post
The one makes you go weak at the knees, can bring tears to your eyes and can make you feel like the most beautiful woman on earth. I'm not talking about himself, I mean the frock, the guna, your wedding dress. When you know it's the one you just know, isn't that what people say? It's such a bazarre thing because I have heard friends talk about just knowing and I always thought 'yeah right' until I had my own experience in The White Room in Mullingar. Let me fill you in.
Last November, off I trotted to The White Room. This was a full year in advance of my wedding but my objective at the time was to try on as many different shapes and types so I could narrow it down to a certain style of dress. That was when the real search would ensue, or so I thought.
Before I get into the dress-trying-on part, I'd like to say how important it is to have the right people with you for this experience. I personally wanted to keep it to one or two people. You don't want too many different opinions being thrown at you. So my Mam was an obvious choice. Now my Mam, bless her, would have told me on the day that I looked great in a white plastic bag. The emotion of it all really got to her seeing her only child in a wedding dress. She's not the most critical person in the world so I knew I needed to have someone who has similar tastes to mine and who, more importantly, would tell me straight out if I looked like a sack of potatoes, so I asked my cousin Tamlyn, who had recommended The White Room, to come along also.A Little Girl's Dream
When we arrived for our appointment we were greeted and brought upstairs to our own private fitting rooms, complete with dressing area, a seating area for those accompanying you, full length mirrors and a box thingy to stand on that you see in the movies. The woman in the shop told me to go through the many, many racks of dresses and pull out as many as I wanted. She advised me to try all the different styles, not just what I thought I wanted and that's exactly what I did. Ballroom, fishtail, 1920s, lace, no lace, fitted, sleeves, no sleeves - you get the idea. Each time I changed a dress, my little dresser friend was there to help me in and out and pin me together. I cannot rave enough about the level of customer service that I experienced in The White Room and the quality of the dresses. I can only imagine how many times they get tried on but they were all immaculate and the show room itself was like a little girl's dream, rows and rows of dresses, a veil section, jewellery, shoes and an area holding an assortment of boleros etc. Amazing!
It is so surreal putting on a wedding dress for the first time, whether you like the dress or not, seeing yourself in head-to-toe wedding get-up is just mad. I tried on around 10-12 dresses and after the first few, I knew that a fitted dress was going to work best for me. I then put on the last dress that Tamlyn had picked up as a "sure ya might as well try it" type thing. So there I stood in my little curtained off dressing area with my little dresser friend standing behind me closing me up and literally as she did so I started to well up. Yes, I actually had myself a little moment! I was in love, I'd met 'The One'. I stepped out from behind the curtain to show my mam and Tamlyn and then they had a moment, we were all a little glassy-eyed. I'd like to think my little dresser friend had a moment too. She popped a veil on and told me to stand on the box thingy and well, it was game over. I was sold. A couple of days later I paid the deposit and haven't been inside another bridal shop since.
I can never understand other brides-to-be when they say they have seen a dress that they love but are going to keep looking just in case. Let me tell you this; if you're still looking, it's not the one. Stop stringing yourself and the dress along and end it. Window shopping is okay, we all want to know what's out there, but trying on others behind your dresses back, well that's just not right! Occasionally I go onto the designer website just to have a look at her and each time I get a little flutter in the pit of my stomach that tells me "yes she's still the one".Fallon will have a regular WeddingsOnline blog spot, feel free to leave a comment for Fallon here, or chat to her in the WeddingsOnline Forums!
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Fallon's Blog: Who'll Give Her Away?
Fallon Wasser, WOL's very own, fabulous bridal blogger is marrying Darren Dunne on December 7th, 2012 (lucky guy!). Fallon is taking us on her wedding planning journey, and this week she reveals who she has asked to give her away, she also gets her wedding invites ready for sending and tries on her wedding dress again!
I really don’t know where the time has gone these past few weeks, there’s been so much happening but before I get into that let me give you an update on the ‘giving me away’ situation that I wrote about in my last blog post (click to have a little look-see). Like I said, there wasn’t really a lot of thinking to do on my part. My cousin Nick is a year-and-a-bit younger than me. We grew up together along with his sister Emma who is my chief bridesmaid. We spent every Saturday together in my Nan’s and we spent our summers for about 16 years in my auntie’s mobile home in Wexford. They are the closest thing I have to a brother and sister and I couldn’t imagine what my life would be like without them. Of course, when I called him I was nervous but I shouldn’t have been. He was shocked but delighted, and accepted the task of walking me - or maybe even strutting with me - down the aisle. He’s already working on the speech!
Hectic
With that part done and dusted, the last couple of weeks have been hectic on the wedding planning front. I collected my navy invites from Daintree Paper, they are just how I wanted them! My two soon to be sister-in-laws and one of my bezzie mates, Shel helped me put them together - well to be honest, they did all the hard grafting and I just made the tea. We just had to glue the inserts and tie a little bit of ribbon on. I still have a little bit to do on them but I hope to get them all off in the post this week. Then it will definitely be official that we are getting married! Woop!
I also went back to try my dress on - swoon! Goodness, gracious I still really love it. It felt great trying it on, I had my shoes and jewellery with me so I could see the whole look. I decided on my head dress, which I’m going to keep under wraps for the moment and had a make-up trial, which I was really pleased about. It’s all coming together!
Afters
I also attended the afters of a wedding last weekend of a close friend’s sister, Niamh O'Sullivan who was getting married to Paul Ledwith. It’s mad that as soon as you’re getting married yourself you pay so much more attention to other weddings. The bride was so beautiful, she looked flawless and we had a great night. Makes me look forward to mine even more - 11 weeks and counting!
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