Manually build a form inside page template

What I'm wanting to do is manually build a form inside a WP page template. I want to do this so 1. I can use utilise html5 placeholder (I realise GF does not support this yet)
2. Make the forms html a lot simpler (without all the classes, li's and such)

It's just a very simple form and I see if I copy and paste the raw html after building it (from firebug) it works but I don't get validation and the thanks message. How can I manually add the validation and thanks message back in?

Personally, I'd just use a standard form, and then add placeholders using JavaScript if you really feel you need them. It would be a lot less work, and less error prone, I'm sure.

Tons of results for jquery add placeholder on google.

Well you could have the labels show, and hide them w JavaScript. That way, if JavaScript is disabled they see the labels. If it isn't, they don't see them. Simple CSS like:

.js label {display: none}

And jquery like:

jQuery(".gform_wrapper").addClass('.js');