Exquisite Corpse

Just a reminder to myself DO NOT FORGET EXQUISITE CORPSE!

Most excellent Idea I had today regarding the wedding......... I don't want to go into details because I don't want my idea stolen quite yet.....

Dress Attempt #1

So lucky for me Andy is super supportive of me just buying a dress instead of making one.  I feel like it will be too much stress on me to make my wedding dress and my reception dress.  It's bad luck anyways for the Bride to make her own dress or so I hear.  As long as I can find a dress under $1000.00 which so far hasn't been a problem since I am looking for things more plain and with no beading or emblishments at all.

I went with Brook and Steph and my Mom to Wendy's Bridal in Dublin and tried on a bunch.  These were the top two numbers in my mind.

This is an all lace deal in Champagne.  I liked it much more then I thought I would.  I was afraid it would look too old fashioned but it was actually quite nice.

Then this huge ass Tulle Ballroom.  Which I really liked and happened to be the first one I tried on.  I thought the ballgown would be too much on me but I actually really really liked it.  I like also the Tulle skirt it is very light and airy.  The belt is optional so I would go without IF that were the dress.  I have only just begun.

This Dress I would love to try on but the closest dealer is in Cinci it looks like or I can go to Henri's in Minerva and I MIGHT get a discount since I used to work for them.

I also made an appointment to try on dresses at Girls in White Dresses at the Beginning of next month so my Maid of Honor can be here from Chicago and get her opinions.

So Far sweetheart neckline looks the best on me.  I like th Ballroom skirt,  I'm not a fan of the mermaid waisted bodice.  And still no beading or embellishments.  I'd rather adorn with jewelry.

Things I learned from my Cousin

Even though her wedding has not hit yet I feel like there have been a multitude of things I have learned from watching her.

1. Give yourself time to plan.  She was trying to do it in 3 months it really isn't working out so well.  People who previously promised to do things have dropped off and now there is no time for her to get it back together so she is conceding on not having what she wants just to keep the date.

2. Have your budget all up front and do not rely on going paycheck to paycheck to pay for things.  Also don't offer to put money down for someone else when you need that to for yourself.

3. Read books, magazines, blogs, anything before you start to plan your own wedding.  Seriously there is so much detail and watching her struggle to get it all done has been painful.

4. Educate your Maid of Honor and Bridesmaids of their roles and what they are actually agreeing to.  Don't just have them their because they are your friend. Have them there because they are your friend that cares about you to put you first during this whole planning time and day of event.  Nothing worse then someone not being a team player and IT IS a TEAM.  Ugly as the word is that's the truth.

5. Once again BRIDAL PARTY = TEAM get this event DONE!

6. Even if the groom doesn't want to help he needs to be there for Support.  Like Running errands helping to foot the bills when you aren't around. Signing off of orders etc etc.  He may not want to plan the wedding but he still needs to be involved.

Yep I think that's all fo far.  I'm sure there will be more.
Otherwise My cousin finally gave up trying to get all the exact same shoes for the bridesmaid and finally told us to buy our own and in a certain style color.  MUCH easier and gave me the awesome excuse to buy these Babies!

Michael Kors "Belinda"

Bumps and stumps

WOW wedding planning is just not fun for me.  I wonder if it is also because I am working so heavily on my Cousin's quick turnaround wedding that has been a total of 3 months or less due to happen 10.10.10.  Which I also don't understand why people get hung up on a date.  I like having a random date that you make special with your own personal holiday.  It's almost like a HUGE Unbirthday.

If Alice in Wonderland hadn't been beaten up so much these past couple years I would of liked that as my theme for the wedding.  As it is we are going for a "Under the Sea Theme".  Not some cheesy prom type, something classy and crafty.  I figured using a theme would help me to eliminate and to focus on what kind of decorations and invitations I want to use.  Also it is something I personally never tire of.  I could study Sea Creatures and their shapes and colors forever.

The main creatures in mind are Sea Horses, Jelly fish, Anemones and of course Octopi!  How strange most people must think I am but if you really know me then this is only natural to pull for my inspiration.

I've also decided not to focus on just one color of green but to let it organically be several shades of green.  Also to not neccessarily make my Bridesmaids all wear the same dress but let them chose something in the similar style so that they can all feel comfortable in their own right and have a dress that they will wear again as well. 

Lastly for this post I found my Shoes for the reception!

Tradition meets Alternative

I've been pondering and playing with ideas for my own wedding dress now....

My friend Larissa of Wilde Hunt Corsetry has got my back on a killer Piece that she is going to create for me.  It is going to be an underbust leather corset with her signature applique work.  I can't wait to get started on this.  The problem is that I need to find a dress that will suit my height and preferably not strapless.  I might change my mind and make an overbust but this is still so early on.  What I really need to do is go and try on a slew of dresses. 

Most likely I am going to either end up making or at least designing my own dress.  I know I want some HUGE organza something on one shoulder trailing down.  Also this is most likely not the dress I will be wearing the entire day.  I am thinking of doing a more casual costume change for the reception into a modernized Korean hanbok.

Cake Topper!

I am simply in love with this Cake Topper.  This is the only one that I want from Builder's Studio

ENGAGED!

Yep we finally made it to that point where there is a ring on my little finger.  It had been waiting for me so long that I forgot what the ring even looked like that I had picked out.  It is more sparkly and beautiful then I thought was possible.  The way the Stone is set really catches every single faucet of light available.

So the Story as I tell if is this....

Thursday night August 5th:  We are discussing the line up for the next morning at the Parks and Rec office to be put in the lottery for the North Bank Pavillion.  Andy decided he didn't want to go because it was too early in the month and he wanted to discuss it with his parents first.  I said wouldn't that be awkard to want to discuss wedding planning without us being Engaged?  He said "looks like someone is going to need their ring" then picked up a cat and ignored my faces at him.

Friday during work August 6th: Andy Txted me asking if I wanted to go on a Bike ride that night after work since the weather is so nice.  I said yeah that's fine.

After work Friday:  I came home and immediately tried to crash on the bed.  Our new cat Franklin decided he would have none of that and destroyed my nap with his snuggles, face kneading and licking.  Andy came home from work and was immediately greeted by our friend John from out of town doing a drop by visit.  He let me sleep till 7:00 pm

After a VERY groggy wake up we headed out for our bike ride on the usual Bike Path which goes right past the North Bank Pavillion (where we want our reception).  We headed past that and up to the new single Arch Suspension Bridge. At Main Street

At the Bridge there was this small overlook across the low level Dam.  We stopped and Andy told me about it and how cool it looked and I sat down next to him when I noticed him fidgeting with this pocket and he said to me "The real reason I wanted to bring you out here is to give you a ring" and he took it out of his pocket and we had a small heartattack as he opened it and it was not there.  It had fallen out and gotten stuck into the lid.  After quickly finding it he put it on my finger and we oooh'd and awww'd in the sparkle of the sun starting to set.

Then we Rode home and I txt'd my family first and then called my Best Friend to share the happy news!

This was us all sweaty and right after the ride.