Oh, by the way...

I bought a wedding dress!

The Dress(es)

Until recently, I've been focusing my energy on finding The Dress (and with only four months until The Big Day, I'm finally going in over-drive). I've spent days searching in bridal salons, department stores, and online, only to realize I don't just need to find The Dress; I need to find The Dresses. As in:

• The Dress for the bridal shower/engagement party
• The Dress for our engagement portrait
• The Dress for the rehearsal dinner
• The Dress for Sunday Brunch
• and, of course, The Dress

We are also planning to have a reception (or two) after the wedding, but I can't even start on that yet.

Help!

Over the next few days, I'll be posting some of my ideas for these different events. Maybe I'll even do a Polyvore. Maybe not. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

I really want to wear this dress:

by the lovely Jules Reid, of course.

(can I justify brocade in June in Santa Fe?)

Anthropologie Wedding Dresses

Anthropologie's new wedding collection. What do you think?

More pictures here!

Wedding Dress Shopping: What to Bring

1. Moral support. Mom, godmother, grandmother, future sister-in-law; whoever you can trust to give you honest feedback--but also tell you that you look beautiful!
   
2. A strapless bra and Skinny Britches (or similar slimming shorts). You'll be hopping in and out of a lot of dresses, and it's nice to be a little more covered. Many of the nicer boutiques will have strapless bras you can use, but it's nice to have your own (especially if you're not a 34B, which is apparently a very popular size).
   
3. A hairbrush for primping between dresses and veils (I chose my Mason Pearson, of course). Also: hair ties or clips for imagining updos.
   
4. High heels (or whatever shoes you plan on wearing). They don't have to be "the" shoes, but I chose to bring the tallest shoes I could walk in. Especially if you're short (like me), the dresses are going to look very different with varying amounts of added height! Again, nice stores will have ones you can borrow, but it's nice to have your own.
   
5. Water, chapstick, and mints. They won't let you eat or drink anywhere near the gowns, but it's good to hydrate between shops or during breaks!
6. Camera or camera phone. Many boutiques won't let you take pictures, but just in case, it's nice to have with you. It can be hard to keep straight a dozen different white dresses!
7. Pen and paper. If you can't take a picture, at least you can write down the information! This is also helpful to keep track of information (like when you have to order by, rush shipping fees, tailoring fees) that you'll want to compare later on.
   
8. Not much else. You don't want to be lugging around a duffel bag between boutiques. I would recommend scheduling 2-3 stops a day (but not any more!). That seems to be the right amount to keep all the dresses in your mind's eye, without totally exhausting you. Okay, you'll be totally exhausted, but at least you'll still be able to think at the end of the day. Any more than 3 is too much!

What did you bring wedding dress shopping? What do you wish you'd brought?

Dress Shopping

I'm headed back to DC to go dress shopping next week. I definitely want to check out Hitched. Any other suggestions in the DC-MD-VA area? Any dress shopping tips in general?

Anthropologie

My mother tore this image off the back cover of the Anthropologie catalog. I could never pull off the shoes in a million years, but there's something I love about the soft lace and black waistband. What do you think?

Seersucker Wedding Gown!

Click for a larger view. Oh My Goodness.

(From here).

Yes, yes, please!

Madge by Amsale, Little White Dress Collection

Elbow length sleeves

Love this look. Conservative, but still fun. Unexpected, but not altogether nontraditional. And, perhaps the only way I can get away with wearing a short dress in the church...

Unfortunately, the dress looks less cute on the website, here.

So much dress...but still, so pretty.

Another one from the Vineyard Collection, but I can't find it online. Image as torn from the March 2010 issue of Brides Magazine.

Tatum: One Name, Two Dresses

Tatum, J. Crew
$1,100


Tatum, Vineyard Collection
$2,000-2,500

One name, two dresses...love them both. Click on the links to see more pictures.

Short & chic

From Weddings Unveiled.

Blogger Round Up

A grand entrance from Style Me Pretty (with sparklers! and a sweetheart neckline!).

Soft, un-fussy wedding hair from Southern Wedding Magazine.

Multicolor bridesmaid dresses! I know I had my heart set on navy blue, but these look so fun...! (Also from Style Me Pretty)

OK--back to studying!

Birkshire Wedding Dress

From here.

I adore the custom made dress, but I think the addition of the red cardigan and embossed leather belt (embossed with the groom's name!) at the reception is so cozy and sweet! I wonder what the June equivalent would be?

For good measure

Some short dresses I love.


via Once Wed
Given Daddy's love for balloons, we should probably incorporate some into the wedding, right?



J. Crew, of course


More Jenny Yoo


I wish I could remember, because I think this dress is so sweet! I would probably upgrade the footwear, however (although I love the "something blue"!)


Frolic.


Melissa Sweet, Vineyard Collection

...but I love the seersucker, too!

I wish I could remember where I found these pictures, because I just love the bride's dress (I know, I know, I keep talking about wanting a short dress and then posting pictures of long dresses!), and I think the seersucker on the guys and gals worked really well here. Do you think I can convince JTP's cousin to wear seersucker pants?

I guess I *could* play croquet in a long dress

Worthington Photographers

Thread Bridesmaid: Seersucker Bridesmaid Dresses

link

Cotton seersucker--in so many colors and styles. Also, they have pockets. I think each of my bridesmaids could find a style she liked in blue... and maybe a white seersucker one for me?

#372B by Jenny Yoo

link

It's short, white, and has pockets...what do you think?