B-Maids, Bridesmaids, Bestmaids

My bridesmaids, bestmaids, are my very best friends from high school. I love each of them completely for being so adorably unique that I always knew I wanted them to each wear a dress of their choice. I gave them a color scheme and let them pick and things have gone even better than I could have imagined. Each dress looks like the friend that picked it, which is exactly what I wanted (how often do you and your friends get to dress up fancy and take tons of pics? I want them to all look GREAT). Three of my four besties have their dresses already:

one, two, three

Don't the colors look great together?! I'm in love, so sun-washed summer!

However, my fourth bestfran is still looking for her dress. We're thinking something in a caramel, warm brown color, but we're having trouble finding anything online that you can easily return for money back if it doesn't fit right. Let me know if you've seen anything you think would look great, because we're struggling!

My girls are all wearing neutral-ish shoes, but the accessories are what I'm currently excited about! The J. Crew champagne colored dress is going to be paired with a gold belt like this, and probably no necklace. However, I want my other two girls to wear some neat statement jewelry. I've been scouring the web for big ol' (affordable) statement necklaces for my friend in yellow and slightly more subdued ones for my friend in orange, but I just can't make a decision. Here are some of my faves, what do you think? Have you seen something better?

Clockwise from top left: one, two, three, four

We're also on the lookout for a belt or sash for the orange dress, pretty please send me anything you think would look good!

Happy New Year!

Next week I'll be sharing my Save the Dates because...I'm getting married THIS year!

Art Deco Accessories

My reception venue, The City Club, has amazing Art Deco architecture. One of the things I would love to do to enhance the Art Deco theme is tie it into my jewelry and accessories. The Art Deco period, which began around1920 and ended around 1935, was a dazzling time for jewelry. Art Deco jewelry complimented the very flamboyant and playful attitude of the day with bolder colors and straight lines. The jewelry tended to have geometric cuts that were symmetrical and streamlined. Long earrings were popular, along with pearls, beads and cocktail rings. Even if Art Deco is not a theme for your wedding, the period offers wonderful pieces that would go with almost any bridal look. And if you were paying attention to the fall fashion shows, you couldn’t help but notice that Art Deco is making a come back! So even major retailers are using the Art Deco period as an inspiration for their 2012 collections.

I definitely plan on wearing a bold and sparkly bracelet. Something that I can wear post-wedding when I am trying to glam up a non-bridal outfit.

Credits: 1, 2, 3, 4

These longer earrings would be great for any bride. Credits: 1, 2, 3

I love all of these headpieces. Although I plan on wearing a veil down the aisle, these would make a great accessory for the reception.

Credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Tell me your thoughts below! Will you be looking to a certain theme or time period in making your jewelry selection for the big day?

And last but not least, Happy New Year! I wish you all the best for 2012 - especially all of you 2012 brides!

I Found THE Dress!!

So after searching online through pages and pages of wedding dress photos for the last 6 months, it only took an hour to find the one. THE one. And it's an amazing one that I'm totally in love with. I can't believe it!! Being home for the holidays, I went today with my mom and my Maid of Honor to a wonderful boutique shop in San Diego called Bliss Bride. I have to give them a shout out because they've been completely wonderful and had several particular dresses I wanted shipped in for me to try on. They have some wonderful designers, but I was particularly interested in Claire Pettibone, Jenny Packham, and Amy Kuschel (as I mentioned in my last post).

   

I was so nervous and didn't know what to expect! I put on a Claire Pettibone I had requested and thought "well, this is a pretty dress." I was less than moved. The first few dresses I tried on were all "pretty," but how was I going to choose from a pile of pretty dresses? None of them were giving me that feeling! But there was one Claire Pettibone my mom and MOH loved called Kristine that had a beautiful vintage feel that would be perfect for my venue.

Then she put me in my ultimate dream dress, Jenny Packham's Willow, which I couldn't stop staring at on the mannequin up until that point. Willow has been my favorite dress for a couple of months. I was so in love, I'd find myself just staring at it online. I walked out and stood on that pedestal in front of the mirror, and got chills. THIS is what it's supposed to feel like!

She then put me in one other Jenny Packham dress that she told me from the beginning was the one she wanted to see me in. It was one that I wasn't too sure about from the photos I had seen online. But something about the way she clipped it on me gave it a completely new personality. I walked out and lost myself staring at it in the mirror. It was so special, so different, so romantic, classic, and vintage. Everything else seemed like a paper bag after this.

I went back into the room to try on some Amy Kuschel gowns, and I just breezed through those. They were gorgeous, but just did not compare to the Jenny Packhams for me. They confirmed for me what I thought I wanted from the start - a dress like no other wedding dress. Something not just white and pretty, but something that told a story.

I tried on the Claire Pettibone Kristine, Jenny Packahm Willow, and this one once more and it was clear which one it was, because it was the one that made me cry. I could picture myself walking down the aisle to my amazing soon-to-be husband in this. It was perfect. But being me and having my inability to act instinctively, I went to lunch. My mother had to deal with me doing nothing but looking at photos and talking about the dress like it was my new boyfriend for the next hour. We went back, tried it on once more, and that was it. I knew nothing would ever compare to it. I could go to a million more bridal salons and nothing could beat this (or the 15% off sale!). We bought it on the spot.

At my fiancé's request, I can't show a picture of it (he wants the surprise, but I'm so terrible at surprises!), but it reminds me a lot of Kate Moss' gorgeous wedding dress.

   

Sources: 1, 2, 3

So how was it for you? How many bridal salons did you go to before you found the ONE? Or was it an instant and obvious choice for you? Share your story!

Mismatched 'maids.

The mere utterance of the words "bridesmaid dress" can evoke cringe-worthy images of dated dresses with tacky fabrics, unflattering colors or ill fitting styles. Of course, this is (usually) not the case anymore as bridesmaids' dress fashion has come a long way over the years. There are many wonderful dress options to choose from these days but I'm not quite sure that the promise of "You can wear it again" will be able to regain its credibility any time soon...what do you think? Luckily for me, I have no desire to follow the tradition of having my girls dressed the same, so I'm letting them select their own dresses.  That means the pressure of having to choose a dress that everyone likes is off...  *phew!* My girls are all beautiful, unique and fabulous in their own ways and I want their dress selections to showcase that.  I've given them a few basic "guidelines" to follow when selecting their dresses but other than that, it's up to them.  The pictures below make me absolutely giddy and represent my vision for my mismatched 'maids.  Check out my Pinterest page for more bridesmaid dress inspiration!  PS:  Brownie points for whoever can spot Allison in one of the pics ;)

credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

To Cover-Up or Not To Cover-Up?

Being a March bride it's really difficult to plan for the weather, since we're really riding the line between winter and spring.  It's possible we could get a freak warm day, since we're having such weird weather on the East Coast this winter.   But who knows, maybe we'll get a late snowstorm!  We decided our ceremony will definitely be inside, since we didn't want to make any last minute decisions like our venue said we could.  But it couldn't hurt to be prepared with a cute cover-up for our outside pictures before the ceremony, right?  I really love colorful cardigans as cover-ups, it just seems so fun and casual - which is exactly the vibe I would like to achieve.

Although BHLDN has some really pretty boleros and cardigans that are slightly dressier.

Even the idea of a winter jacket and scarf like the gorgeous pictures below appeal to me.  A little snow on the wedding day could make for some great pictures, as long as it doesn't mess up anyone's travel!

I am not a faux fur wearer, but it does look classy sometimes.  I'm just not sure it's really me, though I do like these goofy trapper hats.

Even mittens can look adorable when done right.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Winter brides, did you feel the need to buy a cover up?  Does it take away from the dress?  Any other March brides out there?  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

The Wedding Suit

For me. it was never a question of suits vs. tuxes, it's simply always been which suit (or suits...I'm not in to the boys matching, so I'd like them to each have their own unique suit). In my dream world, all the boys in the wedding would look like this: However, I know that JB is so far from being in to these kind of suits that for him to even glance at this picture would be a miracle. So, I've pulled myself away from hoping that the boys look as if they stepped out of an Italian magazine and am beginning to try to find some more reasonable suit inspiration.

With my whimsical theme and just general taste, I won't be having any black at the wedding (I just don't really do black). So that means brown, camel, khaki, beige...suits for the men, which are a little harder to come by than a nice fitting black suit. Here's where I need your help, where do I find great, slim fit suits for my boys? I've seen Indochino.com (which is SUPER neat) but their color options are limited. Do you have any other suiting suggestions?

It's VERY important to me that the boys' suits fit them well, (I mean, slim cut shoulders, skinny legs, shorter blazer), but it is hard as heck to find suits like this for a reasonable price. Let me know what you've found, because I'm floundering in the world of Men's Warehouse without any luck!

Here is what I'd like the boys to look like (in my *slightly* more realistic dreams):

Clockwise from top left: one, two, three, four

Do you feel the same way? Have you struggled to find reasonably priced, modern suits for the men in your wedding. Are you having the boys match, or simply giving them parameters for a mismatched grouping?

P.S. The dress fitting was GREAT! It was the correct dress, all of my accessories worked flawlessly and there are only minor changes to be made. I was starting to think I had buyers remorse, but when I put the dress on, I loved it all over again.

Shopping for THE Dress!

I’ve lived in San Francisco for more than five years, but my entire family still lives in Philadelphia, so my fiance and I are traveling back there this weekend to celebrate Christmas with them. This year, I am especially excited to go home because not only will we be celebrating the holidays, but I am also going wedding dress shopping while I am home! When I got engaged what I was most excited about (besides my actual wedding day) was going wedding dress shopping with my twin sister and my mom. My sister and my mom are my best friends, and our favorite past time together has ALWAYS been shopping. I couldn’t imagine searching for the most important garment I will ever wear with anyone else. To tell you the truth, I don’t even care if I don’t find a dress while I am home. I just want to have a great day with the two most important women in my life. Of course - I hope I find something I like! I’ll be keeping an open mind when shopping, but here are a few dresses that have caught my eye.

I love lace and sheer fabrics and the sweetness that they evoke:

Credits: Dress

Credits: Dress 1, Dress 2, Dress 3

Credits: Dress

But I also love sexier dresses that have a more architectural element to them:

Credits: Dress 1, Dress 2

Credits: Dress

Credits: Dress 1, Dress 2

And finally, as our venue has a great Art Deco vibe, I love these dresses that evoke the 1920s and 1930s:

Credits clockwise from top: 1, 2, 3, 4

I am really excited to see what kind of wedding dress I end up with! What do you think? Sweet, sexy or vintage?

Oh and one more thought – Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah! See you back here on New Year’s Eve!

The Very First Dress

I will be trying on my very first wedding dress next week!! I can hardly believe it! I am so excited, nervous, and curious, and... well, EXCITED! After staring at dresses online and in magazines for the last 7 months, I am overwhelmed with beautiful designs and concepts. But I haven't the slightest clue what will look good on me. Beyond that, my wonderful yet fashion challenged fiancé has a very different idea of what sort of dress I should wear. He prefers a simple, strapless, pure white dress. I prefer something different, something vintage, off-white, and lacey. But lace reminds Kyle of his grandmother's tablecloth.

Being a vegan bride, I've spent months researching silk-free dress options. I've contacted designers, bridal salons, and scoured through websites looking up materials. Thankfully, people have been so helpful and accommodating! Here are a few of my favorites that I will be trying on next week.

Claire Pettibone makes gorgeous, effortless dresses, many of which can be made without silk (lucky me!). To save some other vegan brides some time, these dresses are: Cassandra, Madeleine, Lydia, Cloisonne, Clover, Constance, Dew Drop, Elwin, Larissa, Louisa, Norah, Queen Anne, Rhoswen, Provence, Sophie, Frederique, Amelie, Lyon, Mademoiselle, Fleur de Jour, and Toile Francais. I'll be trying on the two above next week! (Hint: she also makes sexy, classy lingerie for your wedding night)

Jenny Packham has been my favorite designer from day one of virtual dress window shopping. She makes such beautiful, vintage inspired gowns, it kills me. So you can imagine how thrilled I was when they said several of her dresses are made from synthetic materials! Of the ones I told her I liked, she said that they could make Arabesque, Iris, Willow, Luna, Belita, and Eden without silk. I'll be trying on the two above, Eden and Willow, next week as well.

Amy Kuschel is a local San Francisco designer who offers a silk-free option on several of her gowns, to help make buying a tailor made wedding gown a bit easier on the budget, and she kindly lists the materials in each dress on her website. She's also a nice eco-friendly option for Bay Area girls since all of her dresses are made locally! I will be trying on Lauryn and Paris next week, but above are two of my favorites that I hope to try soon.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

How did you feel before trying on your first wedding dress? Should I try on my favorite one first or last? What happened when you tried on your very first dress? Did you cry?

I think I'm going to cry... I tend to do that. I'll be sure to update you after the big dress day.

It's A Shoe Thing

"Cinderella is proof that a new pair of shoes can change your life.'' - Anonymous I must admit that I have been spending an unhealthy amount of time drooling over shoes online in search of the perfect pair to wear on the big day. Early on in my wedding planning I briefly thought about wearing cute flats the whole day but I quickly dismissed that idea after seeing so many fabulous shoe shots on just about every post of every wedding blog I stalk.  I've decided to jump on board the killer heels train and to suffer through the inevitable pain...of course, I just might have to have an adorable pair of flats on hand for later in the evening...a girl needs options, right?!

When I began my search, I immediately fell in love with a pair of Gucci heels that are not even on the same planet as my budget.  I quickly realized that many of the shoes I am drawn to come with hefty price tags.  However, I also noticed that there are many knock-offs/similar styles out there to choose from. Lucky for you, I've done the dirty work and have put together some examples of high vs. lower priced shoe options that are sure to fit any budget. Check them out and let me know what you think!

I also came across some amazing DIY tutorials for making your own crystal shoes. One bride-to-be even covered the bottom of her shoes in glitter...such a fun idea!  Check out her tutorial here.

The question is, should you splurge or save on your wedding shoes? What type of shoes are you planning to wear? Are any of you planning on adding any fun details to your footwear? Do tell!

Shop till you drop: kate spade, j.renee, miu miu, aldo, badgley mischka (ivory), rsvp, badgley mischka (blush), bp platinum, jimmy choo, michael antonio, giuseppe zanotti, gucci, steve madden

Making a Statement...

I am definitely not a classic single strand of pearls bride, not that there is anything wrong with that, it's just not me!  I'm on the quest for a statement necklace that is just the right amount of quirky - and that enhances but doesn't take away from my dress.  Oh, and I also don't want to spend a million dollars on it! :)

I have found a few from BHDLN (Anthro's wedding site) that while gorgeous, are a little out of my budget.   I also really like a few necklaces in the Erin Cole accessories line, but I'm not sure what they cost. Or there are a few pretty (and affordable) necklaces from Othelia Grace that I like a lot.

 

I also like this twisted strand of pearls with ribbon & crystals:

1, 2, 3, 4

I've heard that Nordstrom has a bunch of necklaces, but I feel like that's hit or miss in the stores and I haven't seen a ton on their website.  I have heard good things about Kate Spade - and I definitely like their quirky simple necklaces  that say, "i do' or "mrs".  But I'm not sure if they are really wedding day jewelry material (though they are probably the most "me") .  They might be just a cute thing to wear on the honeymoon.

Anyone have any tips on where to find statement necklaces?  I am scouring pinterest for inspiration - and would love to hear any suggestions you have!