The Dress: The Trunk Show

Now don't get too upset with me, but I am not going to give much information about my second experience during wedding dress shopping day number one.  I was VERY excited about this second place, and had heard that it was fantastic.  However, the owner of the salon got on my bad side fast.  Let's just say that she... had a lot of strong opinions.  Pretty much every comment out of my mouth was wrong, and she knew much better than I did about every aspect of my experience.  And the one thing she knew for sure, was that all brides love sparkles.  When I tried to explain that they just aren't for me, she told me that I was too far away from my wedding day.  "The closer it gets, the more sparkles all the girls want!  They'll have to cut you off come next January!  You'll want sparkles everywhere!"

Strange.  Six months out, and I am still not a huge sparkle fan.  Maybe this phenomenon kicks in after the six month mark?

Needless to say, I felt that experience disappointed.  So my hopes were back on the Jenny Lee trunk show.

Jenny Lee

I was foolishly hoping that my dream dress was going to not only magically appear, but magically appear in my price range.  Yeah... Not so much.  Jenny was amazing to meet- extremely nice and very helpful.  Having her drape and pin a dress exactly to fit my body was insane, and definitely (for me at least) a really cool, once in a lifetime type experience.  (Listen, I don't get out much.)

But alas, the dresses were still beautiful but not giving me butterflies, and were still not affordable.  I left feeling more than anything really stupid that I had let myself get all excited about something I couldn't afford.  I searched PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com and found one of the two I loved, but at $1750 plus shipping it was still more than I could stomach.  (I was shooting for as inexpensive as possible, but ultimately under $1000.)

I kept telling myself that I was glad; I had gotten a perfect idea of what I wanted.  There had to be something out there like these dresses that was inexpensive, and when I found it I would get that 'The One' feeling, and life would be fantastic.  I decided to quit dress shopping for a while, and wait until my Mom and sisters were in town to shop with me.

The Dress: The Search Begins

After getting engaged, I was very eager to begin the search for The Dress.  This struck me as the ultimate moment when it would become real- I would see myself as a bride.  I had done a pretty extreme amount of research into wedding planning before getting engaged, and there were a few things I was massively skeptical about when it came to The Dress.

First: What makes a designer dress so freaking special?  Besides that I find it completely ridiculous to spend an excessive amount of money on something you will only wear once, WHY were some dresses so much more outlandishly expensive than others?  Was it the name?  Was it the fancy salon?  Was it the material?  Could anyone actually tell?

Second: Is there really a 'The Dress'?  (Yes, bad grammar, I know.)  I had a very very very hard time believing that I would 'just know' when I found the right wedding dress.  It's a DRESS people!  Does fate arrange for me to lose my sanity temporarily and fall in love with a dress?!

Now don't get me wrong.  I was VERY excited to go play dress up with my fr

iends.  Nervous and shy, but excited.  So I did what appeared normal to my completely inexperienced self.  I sent an email inviting three of my close friends in Atlanta to come play dress up with me.  (It just so happened that all three of them were engaged, so I knew they would enjoy the setting as well.)  Then I researched the discover the 'Best' Bridal Salons in Atlanta, and made appointments at two of them.

Kelly's Closet

The first appointment I made was at Kelly's Closet.  Before I say anything else may I just tell you- my experience here was FANTASTIC!  If you want to hang out with fun, supportive, and loving girls, try on insanely gorgeous dresses, and be treated fantastically- make an appointment here.

It was here however, that I was introduced very quickly to the world of expensive designer wedding gowns.

I was almost shaking because I was so nervous to try on a wedding dress, and Sarah, the girl helping me was incredible.  She just kept me laughing, telling me I didn't have to wear a princess gown to be a bride, and telling me how hot I was.  (Before you laugh at how nervous I was, realize that new things are really hard for me!  And this DEFINITELY is classified as new.)

I didn't have a complete idea of what I wanted, but I knew that I didn't want a princess dress (no offense, they just aren't me!) and I was curious to see something all lace.  In my imagination, that is what I would get married in- something somewhat fitted, and all lace.

However, when I tried on something all lace, I felt all wrong.  Too unlike myself; too girly.  It made me uncomfortable.  Instead, here are the two incredible gowns that I left my appointment loving:

Jenny Lee #601

Jenny Less #503

Being that I loved these Jenny Lee dresses so much, Sarah encouraged me to come back the following weekend for the Jenny Lee trunk show.  Without realizing what I was getting myself into, I agreed.

I had managed to begin to understand the complicated and overpriced world of designer dresses (of which I never could and never would choose to afford- but had fallen in love with), but the concept of 'The Dress' still escaped me.  As stunningly gorgeous these two gowns were, and how beyond incredible I felt in them- I just didn't get some lightning bolt wake up call that said 'I am the One.'

So I left my first attempt at wedding dress shopping feeling like I had massively enjoyed myself, but unsure as to how to proceed.

Random Love Friday: Round Three

This week's random love includes all things lacy and white; it appears I am in a romantic mood.  Enjoy!

napkin image via An Atlanta Bride

Fantastic carnation bouquet via The Fairmount Bride

Beautiful handkerchief via In This Instance

Gorgeous image via That Bride

Anyone else feeling romantic?

Fear of Flowers

One of the biggest things Mom and I talked about (with Lindsey's help!) while she was here was floral decor.  Neither of us knows too much about flowers or wedding decor, and I am not so good at visualizing.  So we took Lindsey out to lunch, and while picking her brain, she got me to realize that I don't need specialized floral knowledge to meet with a florist and vaguely describe what I want.

So I went ahead with my first step in "facing your floral phobia" and contacted three florists.  Now that I have one appointment scheduled so far, I realized that I am not good at describing what I want in words- at all!  I better come up with some pictures to demonstrate my desires since I won't be taking Floral Design Language 101 anytime soon.  At least not while I still have a day job.

Row One: "I love candles."

Row Two: "simple and small centerpieces"

Row Three: "classic, white bouquet"

Row One: first two images from On Occasions of Atlanta (I believe), candles via East Side Bride

Row Two: image via Tying the Knot, multiple centerpieces image via The Bride's Cafe, gorgeous image from Michelle Rago

Row Three: bouquet image from On Occasions of Atlanta (again, if I am remembering correctly!), carnation bouquet from Birch via The Fairmount Bride, bouquet via Miss Green Tea

So what do you think?  Did anyone else have to learn a new language to talk with wedding vendors?

Celebrate Your Differences

As Ryan walked out of the living room with the words "I couldn't respect myself if I watched that crap," I smiled and was thankful that we are different people.  YAY for Season Five of Project Runway!!!

Image via BuzzSugar

Wedding Planning Confession

Alright- I have a confession to make. I have no freakin' clue how to plan a small gathering at my apartment, let alone plan a wedding. Does it show?

Up until this point I have largely been trying to figure out how to plan this wedding "correctly"... God only knows what that means. As I'm sure you can all imagine- this was only succeeding in making me crazy. But today I decided- I am finally ready to embrace my total confusion, being overwhelmed with choices, and start having FUN.

I don't mean that I don't still want to take guest comfort, or the happiness of others into consideration. But I mean that, well, you can only do so much. I don't think I was ever going for "my PERFECT day," I was only going for "doing things right." And as my fantastic parents both keep trying to remind me: there are many ways to do this wedding thing right.

I think I am ready to start listening.

And I realize you're wondering- Pretty bath tub picture, but what the f*ck does that have to do with anything?  Well my friends, my master's degree has given me the gift of learning the importance of self-care, and this thought process is part of that.  So are gorgeous bath tubs.  Related in my head, I promise.

A special thanks to Meg for reminding me to keep taking deep breaths. And making me laugh at the same time.

Image from lioninoil via An Atlanta Bride.

Strange Personal Issue: Tables

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You know how it is; there are those few weird things that you have strange, unpopular opinions about when wedding planning.  One of mine is that I really dislike round tables.

Now in an effort to avoid them, I have done my research on pricing and I think I am in a good place.  But my parents are still concerned for guest comfort.  During Mama's visit, we visited Magnolia Hall with Lindsey, and all three tried different seating options around the rectangle tables.  I got the feeling it might not be as smooth as I had hoped.  So the question is, should I:

• Get over it and have round tables
• Ask nicely for all rectangular tables
• Mix it up to make everyone happy

And also, can I get a little feedback on rectangular tables?  Are there set-ups that work better than others?  Any thoughts would be great!!

image via The Bride's Cafe

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