Yes or no?

I think the pyramid is beautiful and sounds like a great idea. But it might be nice to do the favours instead so people can enjoy the chocolates later and remember how much fun they had, plus they may be full from food and cake, but its up to you, obviously. I like both ideas. If you decide to do the favours instead of the pyramid, I like the second option with the pill boxes. But the pyramid seems a more unique idea than the favours.

I don't think any further entertainment is required. I've never been to a wedding that had more than a band, though one I went to had also rented an Amelie photo booth because it was the movie the couple saw on their first date, and people had lots of fun with that and pasting the photos into a book for the couple and writing notes to them, etc. That was pretty awesome (this wedding was also in a museum). They also had big candy dishes filled with monochrome retro candy that matched the wedding colours (green and blue - it was a pretty modern style since they were a really artsy couple). Your wedding sounds like it will be so much fun and very much in your own style which is great.

Which brings me to the last thing. Go with the dresses YOU like, not what your mother picked. You even said that you didn't love the idea, so why do that just to keep her happy? It's your day and I think with the whole vintage theme you have going on, you should do something fun instead of something really classic, like what your mom picked. It doesn't sound like it would go with the rest of the decor and everything you have planned.

Do the bridesmaids in question have opinions on the dresses? I like coordinating wedding parties, myself - same fabric, different style dresses or same dress, but different fabrics... that sort of thing.

One girl in this dress http://www.cathkidston.co.uk/p-15186-cath-kidston-navy-flowers-olivia-dress.aspx
and one girl in this dress http://www.cathkidston.co.uk/p-15185-cath-kidston-navy-flowers-doris-dress.aspx
or something of that nature?

Ooh, I just noticed you can buy the fabric by the yard. So you can do pretty much anything you want with it

Do the bridesmaids in question have opinions on the dresses? I like coordinating wedding parties, myself - same fabric, different style dresses or same dress, but different fabrics... that sort of thing.

One girl in this dress http://www.cathkidston.co.uk/p-15186-cath-kidston-navy-flowers-olivia-dress.aspx
and one girl in this dress http://www.cathkidston.co.uk/p-15185-cath-kidston-navy-flowers-doris-dress.aspx
or something of that nature?

Ooh, I just noticed you can buy the fabric by the yard. So you can do pretty much anything you want with it

Well they're both under 10, so their opinion is not hugely useful I'm pretty sure I don't want them to match, even in different colours they'd look like tweedledum and tweedledee

I'm thinking I like the stripes and polkadots and even the pink paisley here - http://www.cathkidston.co.uk/c-104-cotton-duck.aspx

They're having bouquets made from lollipops, so the more I think about it the more I become convinced they need fun, fifties, cotton summer dresses.

Jewlz - I think I'm deferring to her as it means so much more to her than it does to me, I just want to be married, not so much worried about the details, whereas the wedding has become a big deal to a lot of people, like I have no idea why everyone wants to know what the menu will be, why are people (mother, and MIL) interested in what dinner they're going to have in 10 months time?

I do love those photobooths they look so fun! But so expensive! Wish I could afford it! I'm leaving out some of my vintage polaroids instead

Maybe defer to her on the seat covers (which, trust me, you will NOT notice) instead of the dresses? that way, there's at least a "picture" for you to remember that's in keeping with your wishes and personality?
I was quite stubborn about some things (NO bridesmaids etc and no coordination and very, very low key flowers etc) but gave in on the seat covers and few other "finishing touches" type things (garlands...).  I told my mom I wanted her to help me "tie it together" which meant she could do pretty little touches that she would TOTALLY notice and went right over my head.  (She still fumes about my dress (brown), but raves about her garlands and seat covers.)
I LOVE the Cath Kidston dresses.  This absolutely fits in fantastically with your overall look and will be CLASSIER than some fancy-just-to-be-fancy dress from somewhere else. If worse comes to worse, I'll send you pictures of my wedding (no bridal party! everyone wore random outfits!), and you can just show your mom it could be much worse. 

I'm completely in favor of putting them in little 50's dresses. I love that bubble fabric

I'm completely in favor of putting them in little 50's dresses. I love that bubble fabric

Yep, love that one, and love the one with stars on. Stripes are good, too. But I like all of the fabric on there! 

I agree that you could maybe give your mom some smaller things to do (like seat covers, some flowers, etc.) and you should choose the bigger things, like what your wedding party is wearing. I can understand making her happy, but it's most important for you to be happy. 

Yep, love that one, and love the one with stars on. Stripes are good, too. But I like all of the fabric on there! 

I agree that you could maybe give your mom some smaller things to do (like seat covers, some flowers, etc.) and you should choose the bigger things, like what your wedding party is wearing. I can understand making her happy, but it's most important for you to be happy. 

I get to marry my boy, so I'll be happy, even if everyone is in garbage bags

I get to marry my boy, so I'll be happy, even if everyone is in garbage bags

Heee, this reminds of a funny story while I was wedding-planning. We were out for my dad's b-day (in July, wedding was in Oct, I had not done too much planning) and the conversation went like this:
Mom: Jennie, honey, are you sure you don't want colours or matching outfits for (the random people walking down the aisle, basically, anyone who wanted to--they all just sat right down, we didn't have a "wedding party")
Me: Nope, don't care
My sister: Really, because I think it would look better
Me: Nope, still don't care
Mom: but your dress is brown, and it might help "unify the look"
Me: Nope, still don't care
My sister: but what if I look better than you?
Me: Uhhhh, just don't try to marry Pete, okay, that would weird people out.

I LOVE being married, our wedding was a boozy, love filled blast, PLANNING for the wedding was something else entirely.

Cheesebiscuit, whatever you can get your way without an argument, you should take! 

Not to go to far off-topic, but planning my first wedding (to my now ex) was a nightmare as it was my father who wanted to control everything (food, alcohol, religious part of it).  In the end my ex and I ended up paying for it all (luckily we could do it on the cheap with lots of help from friends) so we could do it our own way. 

My mom wanted me to let my sister "do my makeup" and was upset when I said, no because all I wanted to wear at the wedding was lipstick and mascara. 

Heee, this reminds of a funny story while I was wedding-planning. We were out for my dad's b-day (in July, wedding was in Oct, I had not done too much planning) and the conversation went like this:
Mom: Jennie, honey, are you sure you don't want colours or matching outfits for (the random people walking down the aisle, basically, anyone who wanted to--they all just sat right down, we didn't have a "wedding party")
Me: Nope, don't care
My sister: Really, because I think it would look better
Me: Nope, still don't care
Mom: but your dress is brown, and it might help "unify the look"
Me: Nope, still don't care
My sister: but what if I look better than you?
Me: Uhhhh, just don't try to marry Pete, okay, that would weird people out.

I LOVE being married, our wedding was a boozy, love filled blast, PLANNING for the wedding was something  else entirely.

I'm so suprised that she hasn't been completely psycho like at every other event in my life, I think  she learnt after my sister tried to take her invite back because she was being crazy and insisting on crazy things. Like turning up on the day with all these flowers to put in my sister's hair.

My sister had hers at her house, she had a marquee and quite posh caterers, evidently my mother didn't think there was enough food and drove to Marks and Spencers in the middle of the reception to buy more! She just disappeared and came back with all these bags and then spent the day in the kitchen, my sister (and the caterer!) were mortified, but R was so drunk that she didn't care by that point, she was dancing on her lawn in sweat pants and full make up after abandoning her dress. Was hilarious! Such a fun wedding

If she goes out to buy food during my wedding, I will absolutely kill her!

Cheesebiscuit, whatever you can get your way without an argument, you should take! 

Not to go to far off-topic, but planning my first wedding (to my now ex) was a nightmare as it was my father who wanted to control everything (food, alcohol, religious part of it).  In the end my ex and I ended up paying for it all (luckily we could do it on the cheap with lots of help from friends) so we could do it our own way. 

My mom wanted me to let my sister "do my makeup" and was upset when I said, no because all I wanted to wear at the wedding was lipstick and mascara. 

ahh, that would be awful. I've already made a stand about the religious aspect, my mother was really mental about it, (seeing as she's muslim, she was really pushing for a church wedding) but I'd just put the phone down until she gave up mentioning it and all the tears in the world wouldn't sway me.

We're mostly paying for it ourselves so I can always throw in the "I don't want to pay for that!" into the mix, but I feel mean doing that.

On the plus side, an awesome portrait photographer I know has agreed to do the wedding, and he'll work with a holga and polaroids (for super grainy black and whites) as well as digital for the day, and he's only charging £300 as he's only done 3-4 weddings in the past, I absolutely love everything he does so I'm super happy with that, he does some awesome eye-contact portraits which is really the only thing  I want.

 

On the plus side, an awesome portrait photographer I know has agreed to do the wedding, and he'll work with a holga and polaroids (for super grainy black and whites) as well as digital for the day, and he's only charging £300 as he's only done 3-4 weddings in the past, I absolutely love everything he does so I'm super happy with that, he does some awesome eye-contact portraits which is really the only thing  I want.

Yay! The photographer really is the most important part. You need good pics to remember your special day. So glad you found someone whose style you really admire. Fantastic! 

I have shot 3 1950's style vintage weddings this year, and they are great fun. It's the little personal touches that will be memorable, so don't be afraid to do something out of the ordinary.

Yes to the chocolate pyramid,

yes, the band will probably be enough, love the idea of the treasure hunt, but also the photographer in me is cringing at the thought of how that could prove problematic in gathering people when you need them for photos.

Love the vintagey fabrics for the kids, get the girls fluffy pettiskirts in two different colours, they will love you forever.

Be sure that the photographer you get has some knowledge of shooting in the type of lighting conditions that your venue has.  Love the idea of a Museum, but imaginging that it could be challenging to someone who specializes in portraits, especially if what they are used to working in just natural light. Preparation is key.

Best of luck, sounds like fun!

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Tebs, my wedding photographer (who has since become a friend) posted this on Facebook yesterday. I thought you'd enjoy it!

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I love the chocolate pyramid!  Agreed you don't need the favours if you have that. 

50's print dresses sound much better.

And I think a band is plenty of entertainment. 

It sounds like it's going to be amazingical.