My dress has arrived (yay!!!!!) and scheduling my first fitting is towards to the top of my to-do list. And while I can’t wait to see how it looks fitted just right, knowing the dress is here also gets my fantasizing about (and shopping for) accessories!

The dress is gorgeous on its own, but one of the things I loved about it as that it is simple enough to accessorize and really make it my own.

First, I need some lovely jewelry. I’m thinking simple earrings, a bare neck and stacked bracelets.

Source: Coral, Multicolored, Rose

Source: Diamonds, Peals, Mixed

For the bracelets, this is certainly a fun trend to take advantage of in my bridal look. To make it a bit more special, I’m going to mix my own bracelets with borrowed bracelets from the important women in my life. I love this for my something borrowed and I think it will look really chic.

What would a bridal look be without some fab-u-lous shoes. I’m going bold here. There’s nothing like some fantastic shoes to make a girl feel really special.

Source: Wedge, Heels, Espadrilles, Platforms

Lastly, my dress needs a sash. I want organza flowers in ivory…but these peach flowers really caught my eye as well! What do you think of a little color on the sash?

Source: Peach, Lace, Pink, Ivory

Any favorites? Any good places to shop for bridal accessories? I would love to hear your thoughts!

I just spent the entire past weekend moving. And as I was unpacking boxes and trying to find space for everything, I forced myself to honestly answer the question, “Do I really need this?” As I was doing this, I couldn’t help but think about all of the wedding and shower gifts I will soon be generously given by our friends and family. And my first thought was, “I need to revisit my registry.”

The first time I actually headed to the store to start my registry, I have to admit I went a little crazy. You are basically picking out things that other people will buy you! I think it would be difficult for anyone to show restraint (Yes I NEED a melon baller and two different sized ice cream scoops!). But now that I know where I will be living when said gifts arrive, I think it’s time to edit this list a bit. For one, I actually hate melons and my fiancé and I don’t eat much ice cream, so why would I register for these two things?

In the registry process, one of the biggest things I learned was register for what works for you. For example, every one of my friends registers for a KitchenAid Stand Mixer. So of course, I almost registered for one (they are so pretty – for a kitchen appliance!).  But my fiancé and I try to avoid sugar and gluten, so I doubt I will be making anything that requires this. Oh yeah and that minor detail that I don’t bake!

So I will be taking a hard look at all the fun stuff that is on my list this week and doing a thorough “house cleaning” before these things are even in my house!

What about you – and tips for registering? How did you restrain yourself when “pulling the trigger” on that nifty registry gun they give you?

Credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Let’s talk about welcome bags. Since we have family and friends traveling from all over the country to be in Long Beach on our special day I think it’s appropriate to leave a welcome with a personal note & bag full of goodies to show our appreciation. I found a helpful list from The Knot that gives suggestions on what to put in your welcome goodie bag.

I am all about the personal touches. Here are some ideas I think I may incorporate into my welcome bag:

Local postcards & a vintage map of Los Angeles! (I like how a personal welcome note was wrapped around the postcards!)

photo credit: Intimate Weddings & Etsy

I’d also like to have custom totes that our guests could reuse. I’m envisioning something with a map of southern California, or perhaps something sweet and simple like these:

photo credit: Intimate Weddings &  Style Unveiled

photo credit: Wedding Chicks & Etsy

This tote (above) can be custom made! Photo credit: Ruffled Blog

Here’s the tutorial on how to DIY!

Some other items I plan on adding to this bag are Advil ;-) snacks, magazine, transportation info, wedding itinerary, bottled water, and perhaps a burned CD of our favorite tunes.

What are your thoughts on welcome bags? Are you planning on giving one to your guests, or are you going to keep it simple and just leave them a sweet welcome note & itinerary? Feel free to comment and leave tips/advice!