Thanks mandalinn - we may have to go the measurements route for some of the guys. I do want colored vests that coordinate somehow with my bridesmaid dresses. Ties as well. Speaking of which, I really like the look of a regular tie, as opposed to a bow tie - that's a change since back in my college days when the groomsmen all wore bow ties. DF likes it as well, amazingly enough, since he is such a traditionalist.
Anyone know where I can get Jelly Bellys cheap? $5/pound or less is what I'm looking for. They are part of my favors - I know this is going to sound corny, but I ordered some of those "perfect pear (pair)" candles and then I'm going to have clear boxes with juicy pear flavor Jelly Bellys to go with. I love anything fruit related - fabrics, prints, paintings, dish patterns,... so this was right up my alley when I saw them. I think I'll have different varieties of pear names for the tables, and I'm going to have the florist do a cornucopia-type centerpiece for the head table, incorporating pears, apples and small gourd/pumpkins.
Along those same lines, I may have pear martinis at the bar - haven't tried one yet, so may change my mind once I do - we'll have to see.
Bridesmaid dress shopping this weekend - both bridesmaids will be in town, along with my Mom, so wish us luck. I'm really hoping to find something in a yellow/gold tone that we like, or burnt orange/cinnamon. Red could work as well if the right shade - I really want to stay with Fall/harvest colors.
Cindy
Depending on your colors, you might also consider putting your groomsmen in black shirts. We did, and could NOT have been happier with how it looked. Of course, your fiance might not go for this if he is a traditionalist on the attire, but it did look really nice.
David's Bridal is evil bridezilla fodder. That place encourages you to freak out so you spend tons of money on their solution. They should really just offer you their special kool-aid when you first walk in the door!
My wedding is March 29, 2008, and I plan to pick out the dress in October 2007, six months before the wedding and when I'll be at my goal! If it works for Martha Stewart, it'll work for me! And because I am, in fact, much more OCD than this post lets on, I do have a seamstress waiting in the wings who will make me a dress from scratch if I don't find what I want...
Mandalinn had her dress altered quite a bit, I think, and her pictures look beautiful.
Mothers are in a league of their own when it comes to weddings, aren't they? I feel your pain and I am just no longer discussing the subject with my mother because I've had enough!!!
Yes I totally agree with you. I bought my dress on the first visit to Davids Bridal. The dress that I really wanted was on the girl next to me and that was the only one that they had in that size. Man was I really sad and mad. I did find the most beautiful dress, but I am just worried that I wont find anything.
Forgive me if I am going off a little bit, I need some advice. I was talking to my FH about wedding stuff tonight and I was telling him that I have the wedding itch, baby itch and buying the house itch. I just wanted it all to happen now. I am tired of waiting. Do you think that I am going crazy?? I just want all of this to be over and all I want for us to start our life together. Granted my FH lives in California and wont be here until june 20th, he is moving his parents from California to Indiana. I moved here in Dec when I got my job. Just to give you some history on why I am asking this question!!! Sorry for going off just needing some advice!!
Yes MOM'S are MOMZILLA'S and it is a long story to get into mine, so I will just leave it at that!!!
Sunshine--I lmpw what you mean about "itchin'" for everything all at once! I think a lot of goes through that at some point to some extent. I was itchin' for a baby before we even got engaged (stupid TLC and Discovery baby shows ), but then my sister had one, so I get to play with her all the time All these urges happen, but you just have to remind yourself that doing EVERYTHING all at once is a whole lot of stress, and no one needs that! Anyone will tell you that moving + wedding planning is a tough combo--not that it can't be done, but that it's a LOT to deal with all at once--so adding trying/pregnancy/baby into the mix, man, I couldn't ven imagine when you'd have ANY time to do anything for yourself!
I guess my suggestion is just to realize that each of these things is a BIG thing and deserves its own time for you to focus and make sure it happens perfectly. Jeff and I are purposely waiting to start planning our wedding until after we move in the fall. We know that moving will take up a LOT of our time--researching, finding a good realtor, finding just the right financing, comparing lots of features, determining the order of our priorities, figuring out our budget/finances, going to look at homes, deciding which one we want, deciding how much to offer vs. asking price, finding a good home inspector...the list seems to go on forever. No need to add "planning a wedding" to that list Of course, I think about our wedding and what we want to do and whatnot, but actually planning will come later. We haven't even set a date yet (or picked a location within the country or picked a general season/time of year...).
Jill, your point about waiting so that you can plan each stage was timely! I would love to have everything done and would have if my fiance hadn't become so involved in the planning. He has slowed me down but I know the whole event will truly be "ours" so it is worth it.
I wanted the wedding planned ASAP (still kinda do) but I do events professionally and knew that dinner for 180-200 would be much easier than my usual luncheons for 500-600, especially if I just paced it out and checked off the arangements. I guess in that respect, I am not the typical bride! I would love to have the whole house perfect, too, but I'm definitely pacing myself there!
As for the David's Bridal dress, I'm not sure what alterations cost but taking the dress to a consignment shop and buying the one you love in a smaller size may be worth considering both for finaces and just for you. Just keep momzilla at home... I felt guilty about excluding my mom but it makes things so much easier. Is this possible for you Sunshine?
Thanks jillybean720 and Lafayette for the words of encouragement. See and I watch the damn discovery and baby story shows. Maybe that should be an answer to not put myself through that, so maybe I wont think about it. I live with my SIL and BIL and they have a 17 month old godson. We adore each other but it is still not the same as having one of your own. You know. I know that one day we will be able to have a family, but I know that I need to wait till all the other big moments have taken place and we have our wedding and our house, before our family.
As for the momzilla she lives in California. I put her to a test about a weekd ago and asked her if she would come to Indiana instead of all of us flying to Vegas. She said no and no one else from your family would come, you are so SELFISH. I am just glad that she is in another state right now because she would be driving me nuts. She hasnt even offered to help out either, but at this point I think it is safe to keep her out of the mix right now!!
Oh, boy! My mother has given me the selfish lecture, and the self-centered lecture, and the spoiled little brat lecture... but I've been listening to that all my life so, in the interest of not increasing the cost of this wedding by adding therapy bills, I have stopped telling her anything about the wedding.
I've had family vehemently oppose my dream of a wedding in Ireland with only our closest friends and family, repeatedly insist that the country club was the ONLY venue worthy of consideration for the reception, insist that children MUST be included, insist that people I have never even met be included on the guest list... I consider each of them to have BLOWN THEIR WAD. They are no longer allowed any say in anything. Period. Amen. Each person gets one request. If they didn't realize it, then that is not my fault.
As a result of keeping them all happy (big surprise- several were bridezillas at their own weddings and would now like to play the same role in mine), some of my dearest friends, who live in Europe, will not be able to attend the wedding because travel to Milwaukee is a damn sight more expensive than Ireland. Instead, Bob and his wife whose name no one can ever remember will be attending. Yippee!
So much of the wedding stuff strikes me as doing whatever keeps the peace and managing to keep the things that are really important to you. For me, it's my fiance and the fact that, at the end of the day, we will be married. Anything else is just not that big a deal, I guess! Um, maybe we should disregard my previous rant then
I’ve had a bad experience almost every time I’ve stepped into David’s Bridal. I doubt I will go there for my own dress shopping. DF’s mother has offered to go dress shopping with me when she’s in town next month helping us close on our townhouse (she’s a lawyer and will serve as our legal representation, for free!). I think it’ll be too early to order anything, but it will be nice to start getting an idea of what I might like and what looks good.
DF came across a fun idea for table names that I think we’ll use. You name each table after a place in the city the wedding is in and put a picture of yourselves at that location on each table. We both love Madison and were able to easily come up with a list of places of significance to us so I think we’ll end up doing it.
Our contract is final with the Monona Terrace, so glad we have our ceremony and reception sites all taken care of.
Our friends that are getting married in Madison on Sept. 2 will be here Thurs and Fri next week to meet with their caterer and bakery for taste testing. Sadly I will be at work during those times. Ah well, guess I’ll just have to look on the bright side that I’m being spared the calories, right? It will be nice to spend some time with them anyway.
Shan- we are thinking of naming the tables after Irish pubs but I have some elderly guests who, while they're no strangers to the drink, would be very confused. I have this amusing image of a group of people turning their walkers and heading off to Paddy's for the reception... I think we'll do numbers and drinking establishments, just in case!
Does anyone have any David's Bridal survival tips? I have bridesmaids all over the place (like Europe) and would like to get the dresses there because it would simplify the measurements, purchasing, etc. Seriously, the bridal Barbie was TOO MUCH!
Lafayette – When I ordered my bridesmaid separates for my sister’s wedding through David’s Bridal it wasn’t too bad since my sis sent me the item numbers and color of the items to order. All I did was go to the store to try on samples to find my size, paid, and then picked up a few months later. I remember it taking an awfully long time to get the items (4 months maybe?) so I would suggest getting in touch with them to get a time estimate if you’re going to go through DB. So, if you can find what you want online and go to the store knowing exactly what you want that will help. In my experience the trouble starts when the sales staff tries to “help” you make decisions or select things for you, if you can bypass that all together it really helps. Good luck!
I did have my dress altered quite a bit...from a size 18 to a size 10 (regular sizes, not bridal sizes), as well as completely changing the dress back (from a zipper to a yummy corsetback), so it ended up being one-of-a-kind despite being originally purchased at David's. One word of advice - the David's alterations people not only do a shoddy job, but they won't do -any- design changes on the dresses other than adding the pre-fab "sleeves" on. If you find another alterations specialist, they are almost guaranteed to take better care of you, for very little extra money.
I've got a stupid question that's been puzzling me for a while, so here goes...what's with all the open-toe bridal shoes? I always thought that stockings were part of the super-traditional bridal attire (hence the garter), but sandals are for bare feet. Do a lot of brides not wear hose? Do some manufacturers make toeless hose or something? Wouldn't they ride around on your feet, making the end of the stocking difficult to hide under strappier shoes? I can't belive I spent three years living in a girls' dorm and have no answer for this.
I didn't wear hose. Your legs are buried under piles of dress, usually, so there is no need, and honestly, it gets kind of sweaty under there.
Oh, for the girls currently trying on dresses, coat yourself in baby powder from neck to feet next time. Rub it in nicely - it prevents that whole "I am sweaty and sticky under this giant freaking petticoat/slip thing" issue that really irritated me during the dress try-on process.
), but then my sister had one, so I get to play with her all the time 
Of course, I think about our wedding and what we want to do and whatnot, but actually planning will come later. We haven't even set a date yet (or picked a location within the country or picked a general season/time of year...).
