Bridesmaids Dresses: Part 2

Update on the Bridesmaids' Dresses: Mar went and ordered her dress with Mom to see how it fit and whether they liked it.  They had a short time schedule as Mary is about to start an awesome internship and therefore is headed to NJ for the rest of the summer starting tomorrow!  So after rush shipping it I believe, here is the result:

front view

side glance

back

How beautiful does she look???  And I called to confirm: she promises she FEELS beautiful too!  (Which is what we are going for here!!!!)  And apparently, the shoes are to die for: Steve Madden I believe?  I will have to do a little research to find a better picture.  But what does everyone think?  I think we have a winner!!  (If you are a bridesmaid, no worries, more details to come.)

And in case anyone already forgot, the dress can be found here: www.jcrew.com

Memory Candle Idea

[Yuck, I have been fighting with Blogger to upload my pictures for far too long... Eh hopefully this works!  Saturday: Okay, still trying to fix it...]

So I was "researching" for the wedding the other day (read as: looking through billions of pictures on the internet, trying to avoid unpacking) and I came across the most wonderful (in my opinion) knot bio ever.  And while looking, I came across this memory candle idea:

found here (under details)

Perfect!  I had been wondering what to do for this- something classy and noticeable but not too overwhelming.  And it reminded me of these pretty candle holders on sale at Pottery Barn that I had found via weddingbee:

found here (Thanks Mrs. Onion!)

So I called my super awesome Mom and told her about my idea: get two of them while on sale to decorate the new place, and then use one in the wedding for a memory candle.  To my delight she said she'd buy them for me!  (Thank you Best Mom Ever!!!)

Cue to yesterday when Ryan says to me, "you already have a package!" and I opened up these beautiful babies.  As soon as I finish unpacking and find my camera cord, I will take some pictures of how cute these look on our fireplace mantel.  (Yes, we have a fireplace.  S'mores in the winter, here I come!!!!!!!)

image found here

And in case you didn't click to the best knot bio ever, here is the picture of the floating candle memory vase that she used, and where to find it:

buy here (recommended by best knot bio ever)

Anyrate, what do y'all think?  Did anyone else do something different to remember loved ones who have passed?

And don't worry, pictures of the new place, an update on how moving went, and recap of how Ryan and I have not yet killed each other (yay we made it through three and a half days already!!!!) coming soon.

Moving

from www.joeslittlemoving.com

So today I do not really have much time to write because I am trying to get serious about packing for the big move!  (Ryan and I are moving in together on Tuesday.)  But I was just wondering- Does anyone have any great advice on combining households with your significant other?  I am a little worried for what Tuesday will look like once the dust clears and the movers are gone... and we actually have to make it work in the same space!  Stay tuned for whether we want to kill each other!

Honeymoon and Other Travel: Light Packing?

I found this website and I was totally curious whether anyone does anything like this:

One Bag

I will admit to be nerdy enough to absolutely using a typed list to check myself against any time I travel, but it is much much longer and includes lots of things I don't need!  I just thought it might come in handy with Honeymoon planning and other travel (since so much is associated with weddings).  Let me know what you think!  And remind me to use this when I actually pack for my honeymoon.

Jess's "Bachelorette" Party

I have been forgetting to post these pictures since the little party Lindsey and I threw last Thursday for our fantastic friend Jess, who is getting married in Mexico on May 30!  To get some background, Jess has friends spread all over the country and just wanted a quiet little get together to celebrate and relax before her big day.  She also does not care for much that is girly, frou frou, or pink.  She is having a relaxing barefoot beach wedding, so she is pretty non-traditional.  Therefore I present to you our attempt to give her almost what she wanted, while still making her laugh:

Our little set up: Lindsey artfully cut strawberries to decorate our champagne and juice bar

Cute wine glasses from the dollar store, decorated with candles, cheesy miniature fake white roses, and beaded wine charms I made with the roommate's help in Jess's wedding colors

Check out our hysterical plastic swans to hold the strawberries- Lindsey and I were having too much fun at the dollar store

Time for gifts!  Jess's Traditional Wedding Survival Kit: veil (I made!), furry ring pillow, fake bouquet, tacky garter

Jess being a good sport and posing with all of her new gifts next to our girly pink "Bridal Shower" Banner

Time for REAL gifts: Lingerie Shower!  A little blue number from Lindsey

And of course I went with the skimpy black lace :)

I know everyone is loving the fact that Jess needed to try on her gifts over her clothes... At least we know they fit!!  After champagne and gifting, the three of us headed to Maggiano's for dinner.  (Jess went without her veil or any lingerie on over her clothes- too bad!)  What a perfect, relaxing night of girl bonding.  Hopefully Jess thought so too!

Her comment to us after the fake gifts was: "Don't worry, I will be getting you two back!"  Uh oh... it might be dangerous to be the last of my awesome work girls to get married.  (Jess, Lindsey, and Chris will all be married before two months is over!)  Jess has already gifted me her singing "Honeymoon Fund" piggybank- so far only nice benefits to being the last.  And at Lindsey's bachelorette party, we spent the night discussing a beach party for mine.  Anyone else getting excited about their future plans as others come before them?

Thankful

Tonight my heart is hurting for a very dear friend who lost someone she loved, and so talking about weddings doesn't feel so right.  [If you would, keep everyone affected in your thoughts and prayers.]

It was for a sad reason that I talked to so many people that I love today, but I have to say that it made me beyond thankful to have so many wonderful people in my life that make the world a more beautiful place.  When your heart is hurting, being surrounded by love cannot take any of the pain away, but it can certainly make it more bearable.  So tonight I am just thankful for those I love and for the many wonderful blessings I have.  Anyone else want to share something they are thankful for tonight?

New Car

Props to Ryan, he spent two days haggling to get me a new car!  I just sat there and was silent (hopefully) moral support.  Check her out...

Isn't she pretty?  2008 Honda Civic... Blah blah blah on the details- I am more interested in giving her a name!  Thoughts??

Weekend Plans

So after putting myself and my two little sisters (and my poor, ugly little car) in the way of a semi last week, we are all safe, but I am buying a new car this weekend!  So tomorrow and Sunday will likely involve lots of car shopping, and I am also going to the Eagles concert!!!!!

At least if Ryan wants to kill me after car shopping with me, all will be forgiven after he gets to see the Eagles.  YAY!

What are your weekend plans?  Anyone else car shopping?  Got any suggestions?

Bridesmaids Dresses

Your mission, should you choose to accept it: finding a non-expensive, black, knee length dress that six of my friends would actually wear again.  You're laughing, aren't you?  My math brain really loves matching dresses!  Plan B: Have everyone buy a black dress they love and be done with it.

So to implement my plans I have two options.  Either: Scour the entire online and physical world to find something that is as close to a nice, flattering, non-expensive dress and ask my girls in a very sweet voice to humor me, or... get over my love of matching.  (I will try option one first, and upon admitting defeat will attempt option two.)

After giving a half-hearted attempt at forcing my two younger sisters to put on every potential option we could find in two bridal shops,  I return to my first love: JCrew.

from www.JCrew.com

I love this dress.  I would wear this dress one million times.  But would my friends?!  Said dress is $165 (in chiffon).  Not bad, you say?  Everything is bad when you're a grad student or fresh out of grad school.  (Shout out to recent Masters grads like me!)

So- I ran the dress by Mama and the two amazing and patient younger sisters (maid of honor and bridesmaid).  And they all liked it!  Then Mama called JCrew and verified that this dress would be flattering on all different shapes and sizes of girls.  Score!

I believe the current plan is for Mama to order the two younger sisters dresses, and see what they think in person.  If they like them, I start the begging process with the other four brave souls who have agreed to sign over their time, love, and money to my marriage process.

PLEASE comment supportive thoughts about how beautiful JCrew dresses are in person to inspire my girls to agree!

The Dress: Part 2

Alright, no laughing about the awkward poses!  This was right after I tried the dress on for my dad for the first time- and there may have been a few tears.

Full front view

Obviously not paying attention to the camera, but I like this because you can see the back of the dress in the mirror

Close up of the lace on the train

You likee?

The Dress

One of these days I will go into more detail, but now doesn't feel like the time.  The short story is yes, I bought a lace wedding dress.  I don't know what possessed me, except that I fell in love with it.  Check it out on the really excited model:

from www.CasablancaBridal.com

It is from the Fall 2006 Collection and is number 1827.  Oh wait, you wanted to see it on me?  Hang on, let me dig up some pictures...

I hate to do this...

So I know millions of wedding blogs exist.  I read many of them in an obsessive, awkward way.  In my nerd dreams, I have something super unique to offer this online world so that I can contribute to the time wasting of the masses.  (Primarily during boring job lulls.)

However I do not think I have superior writing talent, or something creative to offer.  I just... want everyone I love to have somewhere to look to learn about my wedding planning process!  Also now I will try harder not to monopolize the conversation every time anyone talks to me- y'all can catch up (if you wish) on your own time!

So I hate to do this, but I made an executive decision.  (Sorry Ry.)  Wedding info shall be shared here.  Hopefully if you are reading this, you will be semi-interested... even if only to waste time.