Archive for category Bridal Style
2 Dress or Not 2 Dress… Continuation
Posted by Jill in Bridal Gowns & Accessories on January 21st, 2010
…So the next morning after debating with myself all night, I told my mom that I thought I’d made the wrong decision. At 8:20am the very next morning I called the dress shop and left a message saying that I thought I’d made the wrong decision, I knew she was going to order it that morning so I begged her to hold off. I called her 4 more times through out the morning. My dad called her. But no answer. I remembered that she was taking that day off, but I thought she’d check her messages. She didn’t.
In the meantime, mom and I had 1 more day to find my REAL dress. We had an appointment at a dress shop close to home to look at a Kristina Eaton Veil, which was OMG gorgeous online, but kind of not so pretty in person. But it was at that dress shop that I found “the ONE!” the REAL the one. I’d tried it on in Birmingham and it made me cry… even though at the time I didn’t even think it was even in the running. So I got measured. And mom wrote a check for half the amount and we left. With another dress.
So I owned half of two dresses. From two different stores. In two different states. I called my dad to tell him the “good news”. He wasn’t as happy as I was. He recommended that we put a stop payment on the first check. So we did. And we called the first shop about 12 more times. When we got home we noticed on the first contract that it said ‘NO REFUNDS. NO EXCHANGES’. I thought we were in big trouble. I thought for sure we’d end up in prison and I had terrifying visions that my “wedding night” would have to be a conjugal visit at the county jail. My parents were sure that they’d get sued. I was sure that I’d get disowned. It was a tad on the tense side.
Thankfully, early the next morning the first dress lady called us back. She was able to cancel the order. She wasn’t happy that we’d put a stop payment on the check, but she didn’t yell at me or call me names, or throw us in jail or sue us so I was grateful. She was really a wonderful woman. Her shop is Elegant Brides in Edwardsville, Illinois. She was insightful, professional, and flexible. She had beautiful gowns and a beautiful store and I’m a little dissappointed that we weren’t able to get “the one” from her.
Anyway, I’d obviously like to keep THE DRESS a bit of a secret… but it COULD BE one of these dresses…. Ps. Why can’t we wear fuscia wedding dresses?? White looks awful on me. AWFUL. I mean, if a white shirt was all I had in my closet, I’d rather walk around nekked than wear it. It. Looks. Awful. 
2 Dress or Not 2 Dress….
Posted by Jill in Bridal Gowns & Accessories on January 19th, 2010
After a whirlwind trip home for Christmas/wedding planning (let’s be honest here, it was really WEDDING PLANNING/Christmas… are screwed priorities a symptom of bridezilla-ism??) we have….
Centerpieces
Flowers
Bridesmaids dresses
A Wedding gown
and
A Wedding gown.
Yes. Two wedding gowns. TWO wedding gowns. As a result of a hasty decision that I’m afraid my father will be talking about until he’s 92, we purchased a wedding gown. And then another wedding gown.
I arrived in town on Friday. We shopped on Saturday and Sunday. I knew I had until Wednesday to find “the dress” or else it would be too late to order one. It was Monday. We found one that was beautiful. It had many of the things that were on my priority list. I didn’t get “that” feeling, but I could tell that it was a beautiful and flattering dress. One I could be proud to be married in. My mom loved it. So I told her that it must be “the one”. So I got measured. My mom wrote a check for half of the amount and we left. With a dress. My mom was happy. I didn’t really feel… anything.
I called J when we got home and told him that we got a dress and that it was very pretty but I felt like I had to settle. I cried. And then I didn’t sleep at all that night. I just kept thinking about how it was a lovely dress, but I didn’t feel like it was MY dress. I debated with myself about what “the one” meant, if the “one” was the one you ended up with or if there was really truly a dress out there that was meant for me. I debated with whether or not I burden my mom with my lack of certainty or if I should just suck it up and get married in the perfectly fine and beautiful dress…
TO BE CONTINUED…
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A Pronovias Gown…. OR dinner????
Posted by Jill in Bridal Gowns & Accessories on December 17th, 2009
I love thrift stores. I really do. I don’t mind digging through a pile of ugly 1980’s sweaters with ginornous shoulder pads to find one cashmere v-neck from Ann Taylor… for $3! I know people get freaked out by wearing someone else’s clothes, but after you wash it or dry clean it, it’s like new! Plus, how many people have tried on those brand new jeans that you’re trying on at Banana Republic??? Anyway, it’s like a treasure hunt. Its almost cathartic for me to find the name brand clothes for less than I’d spend for lunch.
Last time I was home, my mom and I went to Good Will in search of clear glass vases/candle holders to make some mock up centerpieces from. They didn’t have anything, which was a giant surprise, but they did have THIS…
Photo Courtesy: Wedding Gowns Galore
A Pronovias, mermaid, lace gown covered in crystals. It was beautiful. 100% not what I want, but some very lucky girl is going to get a stunning gown for… get this… $50! Of course, it was in desperate need of cleaning, and likely some major alterations. But still. The fabric alone would cost WAYYYYYYYY more than $50! I was tempted to buy it and make a knee length dress out of it, maybe for the rehearsal? Maybe resell it?
But I didn’t get it. I left if for some girl that’s dying for a Pronovias, mermaid, lace gown covered in crystals but thinks it’s out of reach. And I sincerely hope she finds it!
I feel sorry for the girls that don’t think they can afford a beautiful gown. All they have to do is look in the right places, have a bit of luck… and have the patience to dig through the puffy sleeved monstrosities.
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Wedding Tool Kit: Nails
Posted by Jill in Bridal Style on December 1st, 2009
I am a total and complete girly girl. I love makeup and potions and lotions and feeling pampered. Obviously I’d prefer to spend the day at some hoity toity spa in a cashmere robe sipping sweet champagne and getting my nails done. But I’m completely okay gathering some of my favorite finds in my bathroom at home, in a cotton robe, sipping wine from a box. 
#1. I love French manicures. I think they looks so elegant. But I work part 
time in a portrait studio as a baby photographer, so acrylics aren’t the most practical for me. One of my all time favorite beauty products in the Sally Hansen French Manicure pen, you can get it anywhere Walmart, Walgreens, Kmart. You simply draw on your French manicure, add a swipe of your favorite top coat and voila! Everyone will think you’re French. And it’s so convenient to just toss in your purse or makeup bag, so you always have it on hand for touch ups.
#2. Speaking of a swipe of your favorite top coat… My top coat of choice is also Sally Hansen, Hard as Nails. Also available everywhere… but it’s only $1.88 at Walmart. It’s 
wonderful! It dries SUPER fast. My nails are always strengthened when I use it and they grow noticably too!
#3. I love OPI nail polish. Yeah, it’s a little on the expensive side, 
but it seems to stay looking good longer than normal drugstore nail polish. There’s a cool interactive section on their website which allows you to “try on” different colors. My favorite is “Catch the Garter”, light pink and very
appropriate for a bride!
#4. A friend of mine was at the television network where I work (full time) last week taping a series. She had her nails done. I though they looked excellent! I love artificial nails and whenever 
I see a woman with french manicured artificial nails (in an appropriate length) it makes me think that she had just been “lunching” somewhere fabulous and that she has a Burberry jacket hanging in her closet. I asked my friend if she got her nails done all the time. She said they were glue on nails from Walgreens! Fake nails from the drugstore that looked fantastic and stayed on the whole week! For $6 I might have to give them a try!
I haven’t decided which I’ll choose for my wedding day nails, but it will likely be one of these options! What are you planning on doing with your nails????
Photos courtesy Walgreens, OPI, and Sally Hansen
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Seriously Cute, Seriously Affordable Bridemaids Gowns
Posted by Chrys in Weddng Party Attire on December 1st, 2009
I originally found CutesyGirl when I was searching for shoes to blog about at If The Shoes Fit – and they definitely have an amazing selection of gorgeous, chic budget friendly shoes (remember the purple pumps from earlier this week?). Anyway – I was browsing the site today and decided to take a look at their dress selection and I am SO GLAD I did!
You’re going to LOVE this: gorgeous, formal styles at unbelievable price. Seriously – take a look at some of my favorites. All from CutesyGirl. All priced between $48-$69! Seriously!!
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