Amazed & Confused

Wedding pics

So at long last, our Wedding photos have been printed. I thought inflicting all 500 shots might be a little excessive so I've chosen a few of our favourites to give you an idea of what the day looked like. Hope you enjoy! xc

Snapshots of Domesticity

It's amazing how much life has changed in the last month. I'm really enjoying building new habits, traditions and rules in our new home. Finding something between the methods of our former independance and discovering the things we've always been rubish at that the other does really well. Sweet...

The pre-Wedding build up

To thoroughly mull over the last month I want to start with the words of my husband. On my Hen day my lovely bridesmaids cornered Steve and filmed a little Mr & Mrs quizz with him to much hilarity when they were viewed. As I sorted through the clips they gave me this week I thought three were particularly apropriate to share post-nuptuals...

From Mr & Mrs Harding

This is a very brief message from Steve and I before we jet off to a secret location for our honeymoon. Yesterday was the best day of our lives and we will never forget it. Today, as Mr and Mrs Harding we are happier than we could have imagined. Thank you so much to everyone who came to celebrate with us or sent your love. More from us, photos included, post honeymoon. Much love Mr & Mrs Harding... xc

Getting into the dress...

I'm a little tired today. Last night, though I snuggled blissfully into bed at 10.30 with a good book, I spent the entire night having Wedding anxiety dreams. This has only happened a few times but last night's felt particularly fraught...

Bridesmaid's Bounces

This may sound odd but it feels really weird having so much attention. My conversation has become quite limited so I’ve been finding things to do, like helping friends move house and spoiling my girls to get some head space. It feels so much better…

A risky decision

I am so excited I had to write an unashamadly girly blog. I'm typing this from my bedroom and I'm having that adrenaline rush I sometimes get when I've done something potentially stupid only to find that it works out brilliantly...

Henning it up

I have ten minutes until I'm taking up the challenge of being totally silent for a whole hour in the prayer room. Before I run downstairs to grab the bull by the horns I want to take a few minutes to recap my Hen weekend. That fabulous festivity of fun, food and fffff.... ok I can think of an 'f' word so I'm going to say Jet skiing!

To be a Hen...

Tomorrow morning I will awake a whole new species. Tomorrow and Sunday mark the culmination of a lot of hard work, practical jokes, imagination and secrecy from my five lovely bridesmaids; this weekend is my hen weekend. I shall be bringing my camera so expect a full report on Monday, but until then please remember me in your prayers. Hopefully I won't end up dressed as a chicken stranded in France, though... that could be a chance for my secret spy skills to kick in and get me home! xc

Sparklers & Suits

Today I received the most imaginative multi-media RSVP to our Wedding invitation to date. The always resourceful and industrious Wardy and his delectable girlfriend Miss Shirley decided to sing their reply whilst burning the sparkler we sent them in anticipation! Download their musical marvel here... Download sparkler_fun.mp4 It's three weeks and five days 'til W-Day, it's starting to feel awfully close. Where on earth did the last ten months go?

Less than perfect

As Lisa and I stared at my blue toenail in All Bar One in Moorgate this lunchtime it occurred to me that I have lost the pursuit of perfection seven weeks to W-Day.  Well, it's not a great loss, just a big toenail, and I wasn't dreadfully serious about grooming anyhow.  The attendant at the Wedding shop had looked appalled when I told her I couldn't be bothered to diet...

The stupidest thing I've done in years

Fabulously cheesy countdown to our Wedding!
Look how gross this is! Jonah made me do it... xc

Countdown

Today, it is precisely three months or thirteen weeks or ninety two days or precisely twothousandtwohundred and eight hours til I walk down the aisle... I just picked the invitations up from the printers, I'm gathering the last of the addresses and Charlotte and Smiles are giggling over secret Hen Night plans at the next desk. Now I'm excited officially excited. xc

The stand-off

I guess you could say that Steve and I had our first domestic dissagreement on Saturday. Steve, by his own estimation, has about 60 pairs of Boxer shorts, he is the Emelda Markov of said underwear. For a while now I've been suggesting he might want to throw the worn out pairs away, but little did I know how fond he can be of slightly nasty ribbed, discoloured (he washed them with a red Tshirt) Ben Sherman (I mean how much more towny can you get) Boxers...

Certified

It's official, Steve and I are fully prepared for marriage, or at least we've finished the course that says we should be. Last night was the last evening we gathered to enjoy a scrumptious candle lit dinner and a few galsses of wine before sitting down to explore and discuss a different area of married life...

What's in a name?

I am freaking out! I just had my first,"Oh my goodness my name is going to change!" moment. I've been chatting to Brian Heasly about the release of a book I helped him edit called Writing on the Wall. The book will be published in the autumn and Brian wanted to check what name should go on the cover. Then it hit me. I won't be Carla Trundle, I'll Carla Harding! Who on earth is Carla Harding!?!

My Lovely Ladies!

Now we've set a date, getting married has become very tangible.  The Church is booked, the dress has been ordered and I have five fantastic friends as my bridesmaids.  Wanna meet my lovely ladies?  They're pretty unique and I've chosen each of them for very special reasons...

The Outlaws

Yesterday was the long anticipated meeting of the families.  After Dad's spooky impression of Robert Deniro in Meet the Parents I was praying this wasn't going to be a disaster riddled, blundering, cringe inducing sequel as our two worlds colided and the people we love most in the world meet for the first time...

Mission Accomplished

I actually did it! I can't believe it! In five short days I have dressed my bridesmaids in the most gorgeous chocolate brown bodices and skirts and with the help of Mum and Lili I have chosen THE dress!

Bargain Bride

A jolt of terror tore through me as I looked down at my bare ring finger this morning.  I was taking minutes in my morning meeting when I realised I left my engagement ring in it’s box on my dressing table.  I felt like I’d done something really wrong and was almost glad when I missed my train to Brighton and had time to nip home and get it before the next one…

Little, white dress

Saturday I succumbed to the first in a long line of watershed events... shopping for THE white dress.  I needed moral support and a little creativity (teeny weeny budget, lots of imagination) so gathered Smiles, Helen and Bex for a hearty brunch (bagels with scrambled eggs and bacon!) and set forth to act like grown ups and enter the strange world of bridal wear...

A very special announcement

I keep pinching myself because I can't quite believe that I am about to write this.  As you all know I am often a rather excitable person and I can never sit on good news, so today I am blogging with the best news I can think of...