My dress is "here"!

The bridal shop just called to say they have my dress and to confirm shipping information--unfortunately I missed them! Hopefully my dress can get to Chicago by next weekend, so I can have my first fitting when I am up there for our couple's shower and tasting. Yay! This is so exciting. I am really glad it came early, so that I can (hopefully) arrange to have my first fitting the end of July instead of the middle of August.

Bridesmaids' Gift?

Wouldn't this clutch make a great bridesmaids' gift?

Available here via Erin Ever After

And coordinate with bridesmaids' dresses in these colors?

Non-Matching Bridesmaids

j crew, aaron delesie, the image is found, sugarlove weddings via green wedding shoes via bespoke press

So excited to read the post on Green Wedding Shoes today about non-matching bridesmaid dresses. I have been a bit concerned about going this route, but am feeling much better about my decision now :)

UPDATE: Check out Erin Ever After's post today for more pictures of non-matching bridesmaids!

Black Pencil Skirt

Do you have one item of clothing that you adore above all others? I do. My black pencil skirt. I almost didn't buy it because it didn't have a matching jacket. But, even so, I wear it every week (and sometimes, when I am feeling lazy twice a week, don't tell). I love it--it's flattering, it goes with everything, you can dress it up or down. All it needs is a great pair of shoes. So, what's your favorite item of clothing (other than your wedding dress, of course)?

Bridesmaid Dresses

If my bridesmaids like these, I may end up doing bridesmaid dresses in these colors and giving the ladies a choice between two styles. What do you think? Look too bridesmaid-y? Too pastel-y?

On Wedding Dress Shopping...

One of the best things to me about blogging is the opportunity to get support from so many women and to get a glimpse into their own struggles and triumphs in wedding planning. I have finally realized that those aspects of wedding planning that trip me up the most are the same things that trouble me in my daily life, just magnified many times. Yes, one of these is choosing what to wear. I am not terribly stylish or hip, but I do care about looking nice and like "me." Some days this means more than one tried and rejected outfit lands on my bed or floor before I head out the door for the day. When choosing what to wear on a normal every day outting can cause this much angst, no wonder choosing what to wear on my wedding day has caused even more. And after realizing my deep-seated fear of committing to a wedding dress was part of the delay I got worried that this signaled a deep repressed fear of committing to marry my dear sweet honey. Yes, I am scared (terrified even) of getting married and of being married. But I realized it was less about my fiance and more about the huge momentous event this was in my life. I do not believe that it will be or should be the best day of my life, but on this day before God, our society, and my community I will be transformed from a single woman into a wife and a life partner. This people, is a very big deal. So, no wonder, after searching high and low, I have not yet spied the perfect garment to wear on this day--I believe that, for me, there simply isn't a dress that could match this momentous occassion. After all that, here's a link to see a sneak peek at what I have chosen.

Gah! I bought my dress

I bought my dress this afternoon after four hours in the biggest bridal shop that I have ever seen and I have already fallen out of love with it and back in love with it in the five hours since! Did you have bridal dress buyer's remorse? Is this normal?

Bridesmaid Dress

Still trying to decide on Bridesmaid dresses.

Bridesmaid Dress?

Available at Anthropologie

For $310, this Unique Recycled Vintage Wedding Dress could be yours!

Lulu Dress by Hay-Lo Designs

I think this dress is fantastic and would have purchased it and been done with my wedding dress shopping, except -- it's an empire-waist which doesn't do much for my hourglass figure and I am not sure I want to go the strapless route. But, I think that it is beautiful and the flowing skirt is "both romantic and fun." This dress fits like an 8 (36-29-full). Hay-lo is offering 60% off until April 30th, so go check it out!

I heart this dress

by Elizabeth Dye via {frolic!}

No Dress... Yet

So, I didn't find a dress that I fell in love with on our visit to the vintage store this weekend, but my girlfriend who accompanied me, who isn't even engaged (or planning to be soon), did! It is certainly a gem of a store and I plan to go back soon, wedding dress or not :)

Wedding Dress Shopping

This weekend, I am going to the vintage store where she got her wedding dress. Wish me luck!

Alternative to a White Dress

Image by Alisha & Brook Photographers via Snippet & Ink via Sparkliatti

If I wasn't planning to wear a white dress at my wedding, I would want to wear this stunning green dress. Hands down. No questions asked. It is simply the most beautiful dress I have seen a bride wear (perhaps this is because I am partial to green).

Wedding Dress Shopping

I am preparing to go on my very first wedding dresss shopping excursion. And I am excited. I think mainly because I am pretty sure that I am not going to buy something from a store, but try to find a pre-owned dress or some other creative solution. I think this takes a little of the pressure off.

That being said, I would like to look at any samples or sale items that the shop might have. Who knows, maybe I'll get lucky I have heard that some bridal shops can be, well, a bit snobby towards brides who favor their sale area. In an effort to make sure that my shopping experience is pleasant, I wasn't sure how to handle this. Should I just try on the expensive dresses and then ask if they have samples left from their sample sale or any other sale dresses. Or should I broach it initially: "I am looking for something with a sweetheart neckline or off-shoulder straps with a chapel length train. Oh, and if you have any sale dresses, I'd also be interested in looking at those." Thoughts?

Image: Priscilla of Boston Style # 4209