Wedding Photo Preview

I've missed you guys! On Saturday night {msL} and I got married.  It was an amazing night and I'm still in awe of the incredible people in our lives.  We couldn't have had this wedding without them. They gave of themselves, their time, talents and were so generous. THANK YOU ALL! They truly made the evening special.  As I walked down the aisle, I couldn't look any of them in the eye because I knew I'd start crying and wouldn't stop.  Most of my favorite people in the world were there to support us and show us their love.  I was humbled.  What a wonderful day!  We had an amazing pro photographer, Erika Horn of Cozmik Photography.  I will share some of her photos later.  But here are a few taken by our friends and family using the free app, Wedding Party. We are off on a short honeymoon. Follow me on twitter and instagram for updates.

Mercury Glass DIY Here

It's Ok to Change Your Mind

Thank you all for indulging me with so many wedding related posts over the past few weeks.  With less than a month until the big day, it's all I can think about. This past weekend, I went to visit my mom for a wedding dress fitting.  I've mentioned that my Mom is making my dress. She's been working hard. I had a great weekend with my Mom, that included a trip to one of my favorite antique stores and lots of wedding talk.

A peek at the back of my dress, vintage pin I'm planning to wear in my hair, and my shoes (a bargain from Neiman Marcus Last Call)

 One of the best lessons I've learned through wedding planning is that you have to stay true to yourself and your inner voice.Over the course of planning, I've changed my mind about our location, my dress, our food, my jewelry, and other things. I'm usually very decisive and I have been when it comes to my overall vision.  The idea of an intimate wedding and an amazing party with great drinks, food and music. Changing my mind has been a bit out of character but I know now that we'll have the day we truly want.

Red or Fuchsia lipstick?

A few more feather projects for the big day.

Inspiration - Dresses and Suits

My sister and I sat down recently to talk wedding stuff. She's my Maid of Honor and she's got a much more practical and methodical brain that I do.  She offered to help me with the budget and logistics for the wedding. She's really good at telling me what I need to hear not just what I want to hear. In short, she's the greatest sister ever. Because of this talk, my brain is back in crazy wedding mode and I'm going to show you some of my thoughts about our wedding attire.

My Honey isn't girly and hasn't worn a dress since she was a teen.  She wants to look chic and polished but not stuffy.  She's a jeans, t-shirt and jacket girl but wants to look dressier on our wedding day.  My Mom is making my dress so my options are only limited by the fabric we can find and afford and the pattern we use.  I'm leaning toward a dress that is partially black or all black. All of these couples provide great inspiration.

photo credit: Emily Scannell Photography

photo credit: Jessica Claire Photography

photo credit: Sarah Tew Photography

I've read that Sarah Jessica Parker regrets wearing a black dress in her wedding to Matthew Broderick.  I think she looks great and so happy.  

photo credit: Hudson River Photography

photo credit: my wedding photographer

photo credit: People Magazine

photo credit: Whitney Lee Photography

Cynthia Nixon wed Christine Marinoni on a New York roof top.  I love Christine's suit but I'm more in love with the dress that Cynthia is wearing in the picture on the right from an event. I love the water color effect and I think it would be a fantastic and unique wedding dress.

photo credits: (left) Laurie Rhodes, (right) unknown

Thanks for indulging me again.

Mumbles on a Monday

I got up this morning and was in a huge rush. I had a client meeting and had to leave on time.  Then of course, because we live in DC and this is a way of life, traffic was not on my side.  I had to rush to get to my meeting and luckily I was on time. The rushing didn't start my day off well and I felt off kilter the rest of the day.  I'm sure that it doesn't help that my evil ADD is rearing it's head.  I need to narrow down my thoughts and ideas regarding wedding planning. We've found a venue and a photographer. Now I have to deal with sorting through the nightmare of catering.  I thought I'd share some of the things that are inspiring our rock n' roll style influenced wedding. Lots of these ideas are on Pinterest. I have even more and you can check them out on my boards.

Black chandeliers over the dance floor.  DIY, mercury glass, candle holders for the tables. Blue lighting and possibly black table coverings.  Peacock feathers and colors for decor and other items. A wedding dessert and candy bar displayed on mismatched, thrift store, cake stands and platters. Vinyl records as a backdrop for the photo booth. DIY table number, candle holders. Black beaded lace on the bodice of my dress. Glitter on the bottom of my shoes instead of all over glitter or crystals. Fancy shoes are mandatory! Save the Date announcements using custom concert tickets and a vintage rock poster/flyer.

We are going for a classy rock n' roll vibe for the evening.  I picture candles, mood lighting, and a lounge like club vibe. Since I can't find any photos of exactly what I have in mind, I've started making sketches to focus my thoughts.  I pulled out my sketch pad and my art pencils.

Thanks for indulging me, my friends.  If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.  I really appreciate all of the well wishes and support you are showing to me. The fabric suggestions you sent earlier were great! Keep them coming.

Have a great Monday (what's left of it).

My Only Thought on a Monday

Good Monday Real Girls!  It's been a tough day because I had to work and my mind was elsewhere.  I told myself that this blog would not turn into a wedding blog.  So I'm going to beg your forgiveness for this post. But I promise that this week I'll be posting some fun spring info and DIY tips as well as an outfit post or two. Today, however is about wedding dresses.  I've been thinking about my dress a ton lately. I've thought about going dress shopping just to get some ideas but frankly that doesn't appeal to me. If you've shopped for a wedding dress and you're a curvy girl, you know that the options for plus size bridal gown choices are limited. Also the thought of spending a ton on a dress is not in my plan.  I've always dreamed that my Mom would make my dress.  She made all of our prom dresses and formals and I love the dresses she's made.  Having that love as a part of the dress I wear would be very special. I found a pattern I love.

This is a vintage Vogue pattern.  It suits my body type well.  I have several dresses that have a fitted bodice and full skirt. They are very flattering on me.  I'm not sure I like the huge bow but I'm know my Mom and I can figure that out. Of all of the dress elements, it's the easiest to alter. When I found the pattern I started coming up with lots of ideas about the bodice. I always thought that I wanted my dress to be ivory and I'd like the bodice to have an overlay fabric (sheer with the ivory showing from behind).  This weekend my mom was in town so we went to look at fabric.  Before we went to the store, I decided I wouldn't buy any fabric unless I found something I couldn't live without.  Fabric is limited and many times if you don't purchase it when you see it in the store, it won't be there when you return. But I have time to look and I didn't want to feel pressured.  I found some beautiful ivory shantung dupioni silk. Dupioni silk looks irregular and has a slub texture. It is called dupioni because two cocoons (or dupions) are reeled together as one yarn. This creates the slub, irregular yarn. 

Dupioni silk, in gray. I'm using ivory.

Then I started looking for fabric or lace to over lay on the bodice. Traditional lace really isn't my style. I could go with a plain bodice or a basic lace but that wouldn't be me.  I want some sparkle, some drama.  I found a few beautiful, beaded fabrics.  But they don't come cheap.  The beading is done by hand on these exquisite fabrics and because of the detailed labor, the costs are high.

First I spied this one...

This fabric costs $249 per yard!

 Then I saw this one...

This one is $329 per yard!

Yes, you read that correctly, $329 per yard!!!

 
The bodice requires about two yards of fabric.  That's over $500 just for the bodice of the dress, if I chose one of these fabrics.  Not exactly, the less expensive idea I had in mind. Unfortunately, there aren't lots of fabric stores that stock beaded fabric of this type.  I'm going to hit up some of the chain fabric stores like JoAnne's and Hancock's.  I could always order something on line but that's a little scary because factors like lighting, photography and monitor settings have a huge impact on what you see.  So the hunt rages on.  I'm just glad I have plenty of time to look. Thanks for indulging me today.


If you have a topic or a question, please email me or leave a comment below. I'd love to write posts that interest you Real Girls.  Thanks for reading!

Inspiration - Country Wedding

I consider myself a city girl but my extended family lives in a rural area and my parents retired there (it's their childhood, country home).  Several years ago they sold my childhood home and moved.  Since then that area and house have become home to me and love visiting. I spent lots of time there as a child on holidays and over the summer. I've even thought of having our wedding in that country setting. Maybe it's the romantic in me creeping out.  Reality is that it doesn't fit our lives, guest list or our personal style.

When I saw these photos today of Lauren Bush and David Lauren's wedding (yes, her name will be Lauren Bush Lauren), I swooned.  It took me by surprise because as I've said, I'm not really a county girl and I'm not a lace girl either. The details of the dress are stunning. It's vintage and modern at the same time. Your wedding dress is guaranteed to be beautiful when your father-in-law is Ralph Lauren.

It's scary. I may have to check myself because if I'm getting the sappy Bride flu, I need some medicine. Regardless of my personal style, these photos are stunning and great wedding inspiration.

photo credits: VOGUE Magazine

These photos and more in the December issue of VOGUE.

Fashion Frugal Friday - Wedding Inspiration on a Budget

I haven't posted much about weddings and wedding ideas since I became engaged.  The last thing I want is for this to turn into a wedding blog.  But I'd love to get your feedback on my ideas and inspirations.

I still have a year and half before we are planning to get married.  Truth be told, I've done very little planning.  Weddings can be expensive and we have been working on our budget and saving.  We both agree that throwing an amazing party for our friends and family is what is important to us.  We will be spending the bulk of our budget on food, alcohol and a band.  Those are the things that are most important to us. 

Since we know where we want our money to go, we won't be spending a fortune on our wedding attire. I don't begrudge girls who spend thousands on their wedding gowns.  If that's what makes them feel amazing on their wedding day and they have the budget, I say, go for it. I want a beautiful dress but spending thousands of dollars on a dress just isn't for me. Many of my inspirations are the high end versions but I'm working on getting the same look for my meager budget.

My Inspirations

From Top Left:  Vera Wang Bridal Fall 2011, Bridal Sash - Sarah Morgan Bridal, My Mom,
Christian Louboutin Marine Glitter Platforms, Peacock Headband - Kaang Accessories

I love the flower skirt of this dress but Vera Wang dresses are in the $10,000 and up range.  The Art Deco style of this sash is just my style.  Even on etsy sashes such as this one go for around $200 and up.  My Mom borrowed her wedding dress but bought a Brussels lace mantilla. I've always thought I'd wear it on my wedding day. I fell in love with these marine blue glitter Christian Louboutins.  They aren't available any longer but at over $600 a pair, they weren't in my budget. I'm not really a tiara girl but somehow I'm smitten with the idea of incorporating peacock feathers in my hair.  What do you think of my inspirations?

Budget Ideas

From Top Left: Peacock feathers, Sew-on crystals, White by Vera Wang, My Mom, DIY Glitter Shoes - Teresa Does It

As luck would have it, Vera Wang now has a bridal line at David's Bridal.  This dress, similar to her couture dress is $1400.  I'm planning to borrow my Mom's mantilla.  My DIY skills will come in handy.  I'm going to try my hand at making my own glitter shoes.  I've also thought of covering them in Swarovski crystals. With my jewelry skills, making my headband and sash shouldn't be too hard. It will take some time but I know I'll love them even more if I make them myself.

I haven't even gone to stores and begun trying on dresses.  Once I do, I may change my mind completely.  I've collected some other dress ideas and I'll post them sometime to get your thoughts. Thanks for indulging me.



HAPPY FRIDAY!