I said YES...

I found my dress the other day.  I'd love to post it but my groom does occasionally read this blog so I won't spoil any surprises.  I love my gown it is what I wanted and its perfect for my style.   I can't wait to show my bridesmaids and to wear it on my wedding day.

Now that one of the big items in out of the way time to plan the rest of the wedding.  I found a book on how to plan a wedding on a small budget ($2,000-$10,000) and it has been great so far.  I've also entered into a contest to try to win my bridesmaids dresses from WeddingtonWay.com .  I stumbled upon this site one day and It is a great idea.  You can find dresses by colors, compare them and let your BMs vote on which ones they would like.  You can also invite your BMs to your page so that once you pick a dress, you can track to see who has ordered their dress and who hasn't.  Which is grate if you have a slacker in your group or someone who is far away.

Now to set the rest of my priorities for the wedding.  I have the dress and the groom so I suppose all I need are the venues, photography, food, and guests. I'm sure there are other things that I will need but they are lower on the list and will most likely be done a few months before the wedding. 

I think I'll also make a list of things that can be done if there is time and money.  I think that list will include: welcome bags, gifts for parents, custom flowers, cake/cup cakes, videography, activities for out of town guests. 

I'm also really looking forward to having a bridal shower thrown by my friends and family as well as my bachelorette party thrown by my Maid of Honor.  I'm hoping that we will have the funds to host an engagement party as well as a rehearsal dinner. (or have some really nice family members who will host these events for us/in our honor).

My Wedding

So I'm officially starting to plan my wedding. Because of financials I can't confirm my selected wedding date, however because my wedding is a little off-beat  I have the advantage of waiting a little longer than suggested to book the reception venue.  We are having a church ceremony that will have a elegant feel.  My goal for my wedding it to be fun, stress free and a celebration of my groom and I.  I want my wedding to feel like a family get together, relaxed and enjoyable without all the drama of usual family gatherings.  I may even create a code of conduct that everyone has to abide by or they will be kicked out.  My biggest challenge for my wedding day is that I don't do well being the center of attention. I know it will be about my groom and I but I don't want too much of the focus.  Which is why I'm  planing a not so traditional wedding. It also helps save money on decorations.

The dress, as previously posted I will begin shopping for it soon and I'm very excited.  I can't wait to start trying on dresses and finally feeling like a bride.  The first time I put on a dress is when I will finally feel like I am getting married.  I'm lucky that I will get to have my mom by my side for the shopping as well as my big sister (who is my maid of honor) and my other two bridesmaids.  

The wedding colors. We are currently running with the colors of midnight blue and purple. Although we have considered many others like Navy and Slate Gray with tangerine accents or Purple, Green and Cream.  I suppose the final colors will be based on what I pick out to wear and what the bridesmaids dresses look like.

Other ideas: welcome baskets for out of town guests as opposed to favors, signature cocktail instead of open bar, private party in a hotel suite instead of a ballroom, playlist on a ipod instead of a DJ, splurge on a photographer and ask friends or family to videotape the ceremony and parts of the reception.

Well thats all I can think of for now so I suppose I will sign off and keep you posted.

Favorites

So I've realized that I have a few favorite/go to things and I figured I'd share.

Let's start with the dress.  When I first got engaged I figured the only access I was going to have to dresses were from stores like Davids Bridal and Alfred Angelo.   However low and behold there is a local bridal shop that carries brands that I had seen in bridal magazines that I was falling in love with and excited to find out that the dresses are in my price point.  The dresses in the image below are a bunch of my favorite. Many of which are designed by Allure Bridals, others are Mori Lee, Moonlight and Justin Alexander.

Accessories: I love the classic touch of pearls as well as the femininity of bows.  Also considered putting a flower or broach of some kind in my hair. I've discovered that websites like The Knot and, Brides can be an amazing resource.  They seem overwhelming at first but as you develop your style and what you want your wedding to be and feel like it's a lot easier to put together ideas.  

Little details I love:  lace, bows, elegance yet simple.  Oh how I can't wait to start shopping. 

Let the countdown begin

After all the ideas have flown though my head my wedding starts to become real.  I have officially made appointments to try on wedding dresses. I'm soo soo soooooo excited.  All these appointments have me thinking what kind of style will I have on my wedding day.  I want to look beautiful and elegant but I'm also planning a wedding that is simple and stress free.  I've determined that I need to find a dress elegant enough for a church ceremony yet fun for a cocktail reception.  I don't really want to have two dresses as that is an added expense that truthfully isn't in my budget.  So I suppose my task is to first find out what style/shape I like that looks good on me, and then find a dress that is perfect for my wedding.  I've enlisted some from from all my BMs, my mom and her sister.  Hopefully it isn't too crazy and I can find what I'm looking for.  I love the fit and flare style or dresses with a dropped waist.  I want something a bit more fitted and fun.  I wore an ivory A-line gown to my senior prom, and while I looked classic and elegant I also looked like a bride(the congrats toasts as I walked through the casino told me so).  I think I may take some inspiration from Catherine Middleton and the royal wedding.  I loved her nod to Grade Kelly and her understated elegance. I also loved the dress she wore for her reception.  I think her reception dress fits more of the style of my wedding, while I would love to wear a gown similar to her wedding gown if I was having a romantic garden wedding.