Seeing as there are now 4 of us (at least!), I thought I'd set up a topic where we could all come & post about the Crown.

So if we have any questions, ideas, photo's etc, instead of tagging them on to another topic like we have been doing, we could have everything here, & always be able to find it.

So Kerry, Em, MrsWoody - anything to say?!

Kerry - Morris's florists, I can't seem to find them either, but that is definitely the name that they mentioned on a couple of occasions. I wonder if maybe he is the owner, rather than that being the name of the florists? Maybe one of us should ask Alexis?

Maria x

I've no details for them either Maria, we're going with a florist in Dronfield where my mum works, she's lovely and knows just what I'm aiming for!

I did love the table centres last week though - just wish I'd thought to take a photo - don't suppose any of you did?
xxx

By the way, did anyone else go to the open day? When we were there I kept wondering whether there was anyone there that I'd been chatting to online!

When are your date's?

We're 15.8.08
xxx

Hi MrsWoody,

Yeah I went, about 1.30ish I think, & I was wondering the same thing. We should've all carried a newspaper or something like they do in the films, so we could recognise each other!!

I took a few photo's of the tables & stuff, but don't think you can really see the centrepieces. Got a photo of the flowers on the top table though.

I'm not until 21.08.09, so I'm the last one out of all of us I think. At least I'll be able to get hints & tips off you all after your weddings, things you would've done differently etc.

Maria x

I'll make sure I post photo's after ours!

I might ring them and see if they have any photo's of the arrangements that were out - or they might be able to refer me to the florist with a number!

I'm so bored this week - off work and too ill to do anything other than loaf around the house and go back to bed every couple of hours - this website has been a lifeline to the world outside!

We're going to get adult bm's measured at Quinns on sat - it's all getting exciting now!
xxx

I'll look forward to seeing them then - are you having any photo's done at Bawtry Hall?

I've been ill this week, but unfortunately I'm at work, so shouldn't really be on here but I'm addicted!

What bridesmaid's dresses have you gone for? What's your theme/colour scheme?

x

Hi Maria,

Fab idea!! We were at the open day about 12ish I think, put fresh batteries in my camera the night before but they drained straight away so only got a couple on my phone.

I've definitely decided to go with silk flowers - seen gorgeous white calla lillies in dunelm so having those wrapped in fish bowls for the tables and found white rose bouquets on ebay with silver bits in to match my colour scheme.

Been stressing about whether to have round or long top table and if we go for long what to dress it with? Plus what to do about decorating the ceremony room - we're having it in the smaller suite. What are you all doing??

Kx

oh, we're fri 26th september. think its em, mrs woody, me then maria??

We've decided not to have photo's at Bawtry Hall, the photographer said that the garden at the crown is lovely, and most will probably be done at the church anyway, so we figured we'd save the money!

Our 'big' (adult?) bms are wearing a burgundy dress by forever yours and the little 2 are wearing an ivory dress with a burgundy sash, also forever yours! We're also having a sailor suit made for our page boy in ivory with burgundy trim! When we were there we noticed that the curtains were burgundy too - it must be fate!!!!

We're having fishbowls on the tables too, possibly with mirrors underneath, though I'm having second thoughts after seeing the tall arrangements! The top table will have a long and low display in the middle with a fishbowl at either end which we'll put the bm displays into!

xxx

Hi Kerry,

I wanted a round top table as well, but then I thought it might take up more room, & I want at least 8 more tables in there so would there be enough space? Think I'll stick with the long table.

What shape is your bouquet, as you could put that in front of you on the table as a central decoration, & then could have fishbowls to match the other tables, at each end?

Can't really help with the ceremony room I'm afraid, as I'm having a church wedding. You could have a low table arrangement for the registrars table, which could then be moved to the centre of the top table (rather than your bouquet like I just suggested)

xx

MrsWoody, I've just suggested your exact flowers nearly, must have the same taste!

I'm having (I think) mirror bases surrounded by purple tealights in glass holders, with a tall vase (about head hight), with a really modern arrangement - something like gerberas, bear grass, some butterflies, maybe a few feathers. My colour scheme is quite a dark/bright purple, with hints of silver & green, so need to find out what purple flowers I can get.

Kerry, am I right in thinking that you are having a BBQ for your reception? I'm a bit confused, as I'm having the BBQ at night, & was told that I had to have a 3 course meal for my reception??

x

Your colour scheme sounds lovely Maria, we're planning on having very simple Ivory flowers (cheaper apparently!)

We're having a sit down meal in the day, and a buffet in the evening - didn't like the thought of the weather spoiling the effect! xxx

Maria,

think I will see if bouquet lady can custom make a longer decoration which we can use in both rooms with both roses and lillies in it, good idea. I loved the arrangements at the open day, just worried about people not being able to see each other!

we are having a bbq - when we went for the first meeting we were planning on getting married at 4pm so they said bbq would be at 7ish, but when we rang to book registrar they could only do 2.30. Rang crown back to pay deposit and said I was worried it was a long wait for food so they said they'd do bbq at 5ish then bacon/chip butties at 10ish, they never mentioned having a 3 course meal?? spoke to 3 different people and they all keep saying they'll do whatever we want which i'm quite impressed with. maybe it's cos you're having reception only??? we're trying to keep it cheap and casual so don't think a meal AND bbq would have been in our budget anyway. having said that, don't know how much they're gonna charge us for the butties yet..

Kx

They seem very accomodating! We had issues about people (mum's friends) just phoning up and booking the discounted rooms without consulting us - they've now given us a few extra with the discount to make sure that Mike's family get the benefit as well!

Just being nosy - where are you both from/what do you do for a living etc?

I live in Donny but work (and grew up) in Worksop and went to secondry school in Retford - currently teaching the reception class at St Luke's Primary, Shireoaks.
xxx

Kind of wish we were having a later wedding now (having it about 12.30-1) as then we could've got away with just having an evening reception. The price for the sit down meal has gone up since I booked (before they released the 09/10 prices) & I'm probably going to be paying £1000 more than I thought. I'm looking at about £6000 just for food & drink, & that makes me feel a bit sick!!! Bacon butties sound yummy as well, they never mentioned those to me either. Oh well.

Me & H2B are originally from Intake/Town Moor but we live in Thorne at the minute. It's too far out for us really, for work & stuff, so will probably move back into Donny. I work at an accountants doing payroll, which is why I'm always on here, because it's very boring!!

I'd love to be a primary teacher, but I can't afford to give up work to study for it, so I'm stuck with this!

x

Poor you! I love my job, but it is also probably the reason I've been off ill all week - bloody kiddy germs!!!
xxx

Maria, do you know for def that you'll be paying new prices?? I saw that everythings gone up loads in new brochure but just assumed we'd pay what the prices were when we booked? AAAAGGGHHH!!!! Surely you can change your mind on food too if you want, told us we dont have to decide til 4 weeks before?

Mrswoody, we live in harworth, bought a new house bout 18 months ago. Originally from other side on town and still dont know round here too well tho we did have our first trip to retford other week to give notice with registrars. didn't realise how close it was, shall have to go shopping there, very convenient!

I work as a trainer for BT, been there 10 years, but I did nursery nursing at college with the intention of going into teaching. keep saying i'll go back to it one day, just always seems to be something to save up for so i'm stuck for now too

Kx

Yeah, I've definitely got to pay the new prices, apparantly it says in the contract that prices can be increased whenever, & as I'm having an 09 wedding I pay 09 prices, regardless that I booked in 07. In theory I could've booked a long time before somebody else who's getting married this year, but I still have to pay more.
The beef alone has gone up by £6pp - £25 each for fillet steak, you can get the entire meal elsewhere for that!!
They said that there has been such a large increase because they haven't had one for 2 years - yeah thats great for those that got married in those 2 years, but why have I got to suffer?!
You definitely won't have to pay any extra, as the price increases don't take effect until next year .

I can't be bothered to kick up a fuss though, as at the end of the day I really want my reception there, & don't want them thinking that I'm a nightmare bride, always complaining! I'll just eat the food & pay the bill!

x

That's such a pain Maria, we were panicing about the price rise, til Jamie pointed out that it wouldn't affect us, still not good for people who have been organised and booked in advance though!
xxx

oh thats pants. you're right tho, will definitely be worth it to have it there. I remembered to ask alexis at the open day what time the bar's open til, she said 1am but we can drink all night if we want to in the other bar. h2b's eyes lit up until he remembered we've got that huge shower to make the most of!! sure our guests that are staying over will take advantage tho and from what we've seen most places don't do that so we've got a fab venue worth every penny

Kx

All night drinking, god, don't let my h2b hear you say that!!! I never knew that. Can't wait for that huge shower - are you in room 501? We've booked it for 2 nights so that we don't have to go home before the honeymoon.

The plus points really do outweigh the bad points, like you say it's a fab venue, & no disrespect to anyone thats getting married at Mount Pleasent, Moathouse, Racecourse etc, but I really do think that it is one of the best venues in the area.

x