"It is Time to Get Excited!"

I think it's been fairly evident with my lack of posts lately, and the length of the ones I do post, that there's been little excitement around here.

I'm not sure if it's because I'm overwhelmed (not really with the wedding, but with simultaneously trying to plan a honeymoon and 2 weeks out of work), or if it's simply because I'm impatient and just want the day to be here already, but I'm just not excited. There. I said it. Judge me if you will, but I've been finding it harder and harder to be excited. I know I should be jumping around and dancing and gushing to every single person who will listen, but I can't for some reason.

This isn't cold feet or anything, please don't jump to conclusions. Maybe it's just the overwhelming-ness of the plans (as stated earlier) with the realization that I'M ACTUALLY GETTING MARRIED. Weird. It still doesn't feel real, and probably won't until about half-way through the reception, once it hits me square in the face.

Yesterday, as I enjoyed a fun outing to a baseball game with my lovely fiance, I received an email from one of our vendors with some contract details. As I read the email, I saw these words: "It is time to get excited!" A genuine smile crept across my face, and as I leaned over to show Tom the email, I saw the grin on his face get wider, too.

And there you have it, folks. A glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, I can break out of this funk and enjoy the next 2.5 weeks (though I'm guessing with my diet/exercise regimen that might not be possible)...

A Weak Moment...

I was having a weak moment last Thursday, trapped in wedding-land, where all I could see were artistic photos and wedding magazines, and purchased these:

Well, 10 of these, to be exact. In blue.

I pictured a fun picture like this:


(coincidentally taken by our lovely photographer).

I picture cute pictures in the garden of my sisters and I, each holding one of these, and the extras sitting in a basket for the guests who wanted to stroll in the sunny rose garden...

I admit, it might not have been my finest moment, but at $4 each, I thought it was worth it.

Besides this moment of weakness, the rest of the month has been going pretty well. Just wait until you my to-do list at the end of the month!!! I am on top of it! And really, with 56 days until the wedding, I need to be! Things are creeping up!

A Recap Among Recaps

So this is going to be a ridiculously long, picture-filled post. My apologies.

But, as we stand 4 months out from the wedding, here's the plans/inspiration so far:

This is the bouquet that started it all; Most of my decisions have stemmed from this picture:



The ceremony venue:



The apparel:

The ties for the gentlemen:


The flower girl dresses:

Symbolic of the black dresses my sisters are wearing:

My HOT shoes (but in blue):

The accessories:

The rings:

The paper:

Invitation inspiration (but blue, not pink):




The programs:


The favor boxes:

The details:

Our wine "guestbook":

Our personalized brick:

So I think it's shaping up nicely!

Fabric Swatches - The Finale

Remember when I professed my love for swatches?

Look what my swatches turned into!!



Yay! Our ties our finished! In less than a week, no less. They're being shipped from NY today or tomorrow, so I should have them soon! I should also have our wedding rings in this week, too! It's all so very exciting!!!!!

PS - Videos of Tom to come later...he hogged the computer all night last night so I couldn't upload them :(

Do You Know What I Love?

You know, besides Tom, that is...

Fabric swatches.

I'm not sure why. Could it be the promise of what will be made with those swatches? Maybe. Could it be the ability to coordinate these swatches with the rest of your design elements? Possibly. Could it be the ability to feel the different textures and see the way they look in different lights? Could be.

Who knows? I just love them. So when I received swatches in the mail on Saturday, I was a happy, happy girl. I immediately dug out my wedding boxes from underneath my bed and in the depths of my closet, comparing ribbons and invitations and flower girl dresses to these tiny swatches.

And what where these swatches for? The guys' ties! (Say that 5 times fast.)


(Etsy Seller Jesswitaj)

I put a bid out for these ties using the Alchemy feature of Etsy. You simply describe the object(s) you want, how many you want, and the price you are willing to pay. Sellers then input bids that you can accept or reject. Then you work with the seller to create your custom item.

I received over 20 bids in 24 hours, which was awesome! I had retired Home Ec teachers, stay at home moms, and aspiring fashion designers all offering to custom-make these ties.

In the end, I selected Jes. She falls into the aspiring fashion designer category. Her Etsy shop is filled with her printed ties, which are really fun. We're not having our ties printed, since it doesn't really match up with the feel of the wedding, but I've seen some of her work from weddings, and they look awesome!

So, back to the swatches: After showing them to my family, the consensus was to select the Light Aqua silk and the Kiwi silk. But since they're for the boys, the decision ultimately came down to what Tom liked. He chose Light Turquoise and Apple, which were the colors I like first. :)

Now we just have to decide who gets what color tie, and place the final order.

Oh, and before you get all judgey-judgey about ordering custom ties, I'd like to mention that these ties will cost us less than if we purchased them in a department store. Total price for 8 ties? $120, or $15 each. Plus, I get to keep the fabric swatches! ;)

One Trend I'm Not Ashamed to Love

The latest trend in wedding shoes is to wear cute shoes that match your color. While nobody really sees them, they do make for some cute photographs! :)


(Tina @ With This Ring, I Thee Obsess)

While I've been keeping my eye out for a pair of cute aqua/teal/blue stilettos, you can imagine that I've found few options.

Dyeable shoes to the rescue!!

While the word "dyeable" may conjure up images of square toe pumps dyed magenta to match the taffeta bridesmaid creations of the '80's, the line has really come a long way. Behold my potential choices:


(Daisy)


(Flash)



(Bianca)

I'm leaning towards Flash, the middle pair, because I like the simplicity. I also think they'll be a much more "wearable" option after the wedding, while the other two pairs look like "wedding shoes." Opinions?

The Attire: Take 2

My mantra throughout this planning process is "Simplify." While I know that I am a fiend for details, this may not always happen, but I'm working on being mellow when it comes to much of the decisions.

For the bridesmaids, I'm being a bit unorthodox. Instead of having them debut in some snazzy aqua taffeta number with a matching sequined hairpiece, I've informed them to arrive wearing a plain-ish black dress, preferably cocktail length. Bonus if it's sleeveless. I don't even care if they've already worn it, as long as it's in good condition. How zen-like of me!


(An example dress from the ever-lovely JCrew.)

I think this idea is going to be best on several different fronts. First, it cuts down on the stress of trying to find a dress that flatters each of them. Second, it prevents the unnecessary spend of $200 on a dress that they won't wear again. Third, I think it will still provide a cohesive, sophisticated look without making them look like they're runaways from a show choir competition gone wrong. I haven't really given much thought to shoes and jewelry, but I'm assuming they'll all just wear simple black shoes (again, bonus if they're strappy or peep toe!), and either pearl jewelry or simple necklaces that I can have my lovely MOH and younger sister, Nicole, design and create for them. In terms of hair/makeup, I decided early on that I won't be using a stylist or makeup artist. I've had bad experiences with the professionals, and always end up re-doing it myself anyway. They're under the same direction. Do what looks best and dress it up a bit.

For the gents:

We're looking into the gents just wearing simple black suits instead of renting tuxes. We'll provide them all with matching (go figure!) ties and pocket squares in our signature blue or green. I like this idea a lot better than tuxes, since I've heard horror stories (and witnessed) wrong orders, ill-fitting tuxes, and mismatched shoes. Since Tom already owns a suit that has been tailored to fit him perfectly (those athletic shoulders mess everything up!), I know that this will be the best option for him. We're going to have to take a poll of the guys and see who already owns suits before we make any decisions, though. :(

As for me:

Le sigh. I still love my dress. Possibly even more than when I first ordered it. So what if it doesn't exactly fit yet? Me and my new buddy Jillian Michaels will fix that problem in no time! :) In late February/March, once I've bought shoes, I plan to visit a seamstress and evaluate what alterations will be needed. I have a sinking feeling that it will need to be hemmed, which I'm not looking forward to. Here's to hoping I grow 2 more inches this month! :-)

Anyone out there with additional thoughts/opinions on attire, jewelry, suits/tuxes, etc.?

Apologies...

...for my lack of posting, lately.

Between the upcoming holidays, regular bills, and the demand for wedding deposits, our wallet has been stretched pretty thin, which always leads me to feel uninspired.

However, I think a brief recap may help to remind me of all the "good" that has been accomplished lately.

• Still in talks with the caterers. There are 2 definite possibilities for the cocktail reception, and 1 definite possibility for a sit-down affair.
• Met with a florist on Monday. Got a great quote for everything I wanted, proving that small budgets don't necessarily mean giving up what you want.
• Will be meeting with a "linen specialist" soon. She's quoting us 60% less than the caterer. Talk about a markup!
• Both the comb and my earrings arrived. I pulled my trusty dress out of storage (hiding under my bed!), and held them up. They both match perfect and I'm super excited that I bought them.
• On a whim, bought paper to line the envelopes for the invites. It's a small touch that will probably mean a great deal of work, but I don't mind doing it! :) Plus, I got all the paper I need for $2.75. Total spent on invitations so far = $35.00. All I need now is the paper for the programs and I'm done...
• We've almost finished our Christmas shopping, with the exception of one grab-bag for Tom and our parents. I just bought Tom an AWESOME gift, and I'm bursting to tell him. :( I can't wait to post some pictures of his gift after Christmas!!! :)

Another "Should I Buy?"

So I'm not really sure why I feel it's necessary to buy the accessories to my dress 18 months out. Maybe it makes me feel productive. Maybe it gives me something tangible to stare at since my lovely dress is boxed up beneath my bed.

Who knows.

But, keeping my new hair comb and my dress in mind, what do you all think of these earrings??


I know they look super huge, but they're really only 1.5"(a little smaller than your thumb).

You're looking at your thumb, aren't you? I knew it.

Anywho, they're on WhiteAisle.com, a site I've been perusing (read: stalking) for quite a while. And they're only $29.99. Maybe I could even have someone buy them for me as a Christmas present, hint hint, wink wink, Mother!!

Any thoughts from the peanut gallery?

Looking for Opinions...

**Update**: I bought this. A moment of boredom and unusual bravery overtook my indecisiveness. I probably should have checked out the return policy first...



I really like this...I think it might be just the right amount of sparkle. But, since I'm not completely sure what I'm doing with my hair, I don't know if it's a good idea to buy it.

It's only $18.00, though. Opinions??


Also, while I have your attention, what do you think about this Save-the-Date??



It's our absolute favorite movie! :) Too cliche??

While We're On the Apparel Train...

Love this. LOVE IT. Maybe more than Tom. Don't tell him I said that.

It's from Bonzie, goddess of all Etsy wraps/shrugs.

The Dress!!!!!!!!

***Disclaimer***

I promised T that I would post fair warning before putting up any pictures of my dress because, being the fairly traditional boy that he is, he doesn't want to see it before the wedding. He's heard me talk about, but the extent that he knows is that it's ivory and has silver beading, and I got it 50% off or whatever.

So, T, if you're reading this, do not read further or click the link below, or else you will be sorry.

***End of Disclaimer***


So, on to the good stuff...

As this summer marks the end of Ann Taylor's 2007/2008 Celebrations line, pictures are no longer available of my dress through the website. However, due to the Google-talent that I have, I was able to find the picture of it! :)

Let me tell you, I love Ann Taylor/Celebrations. Not only are the prices great, but you can't beat the styles. And since there are just a few colors, everything coordinates! Oh, and it also comes in this AMAZING packaging with ribbons and bows and everything else that makes my heart sing...So without further ado, here is the link to THE DRESS.

Now, keep in mind that it looks a little goofy in this picture and is not nearly as mermaid/poofy at the bottom as it appears. And the beading on the bodice is so much more amazing in person. And I'm not a size 0. But, that is the dress, in all it's amazing 100% silk-ness glory. And I love it.

My thoughts about jewelry, from the very beginning of all this, was to wear the pearl necklace and earrings that my parents' gave me for my 18th birthday. They're the perfect shade of ivory to match the dress, but I'm not sure if I like them with the beading. I had tried them on with the dress, but I just couldn't get past the fact that I was wearing my wedding dress to concentrate on silly details like jewelry. I would love to wear earrings like these, except they're $1,290. Awesome. Anyhoodle, we have lots of time to figure this out, now don't we???

So, for your question of the day, any thoughts on jewelry/hair/accessories that spring to mind looking at this picture???