Amazing Wedding Planner Strikes Again: The Invitation of my Dreams, in my budget.....

After falling in love with several incredibly gorgeous invitation that were way out of the budget, I threw in the towel. Cried Uncle. Called the Goddess that is my Wedding Planner.

And of course, she had the solution.   She sent photos of the invitations I like to the fabulous Peggy at Erickson Design to see what she could come up with.  And boy, did Peggy nail it!!

I should have expected no less from someone who came up with these ideas:

I am so excited to see what the final product turns out to be.!!!

Recurring Nightmare.......

What I am afraid I'll look like just turned up in my IN box:

Click here for the gory story

Oh yes she did.....crash the wedding

No, not THEM.......us.

Yes we did.

Turns out, one of the bands we are interested in was playing a wedding within walking distance of our house. So being the lazy girl I am, I called my wedding planner to see if we could go take a listen.  Because driving to Schaumburg would just be too hard.

Of course, she did.

So, we dressed up and tried to look as inconspicuous as possible.

And learned Reason #637 to have a wedding planner:

The band did not start playing for over an hour past the scheduled time.  The temptation to wander over to the bar and grab a drink was strong, but I resisted.

Slow food service, and no one on hand to get things moving.  

The band was great, so it was such a waste!

And I think we have entertainment!

Ring Bearers?

This is Maverick. His human Becca made him this tux to coordinate with the wedding party.
I found this hilarious idea on one of my favorite bridal Blogs, Off Beat Bride

Tempting.

Oh so tempting.

Dom Perignon Wedding:(Champagne) at Crush Wine & Spirits

Dom Perignon Wedding:(Champagne) at Crush Wine & Spirits

OK, admitted.
If I received this as a wedding gift, I'd enjoy it.

I Must!.....or it's all in the details

It's the little things that count........

And I NEED this:

Click the pic!

So, how can you get some bling on your soles?

& Buy em at Belles & Crystals

& Follow Bridal blogger  The Wedding Chicks' excellent step-by-step instructions! 

& You can have a custom word stencil made by Creative Crystal for $4.99 to make the DIY project even easier

& Or, cruise your local scrapbooking or crafts store to look for some premade crystal stickers like these:

I found these on line at Createforless.com for less than $3

She Said Yes! to the Dress

There were a lot of close calls.....when the credit card almost came out of the wallet.

But those dresses very simply...... good enough,  or perfect if there was just a bit of lace here, or a sleeve removed there. Or, if it was in a different fabric.  Or a different color.   Or those silly pick-ups could be taken out. Or......just something was a little different. 

But there was this one dress........that was really good just the way it was.   

And suddenly all the other dresses I had seen were just, well, wrong.    So I went back to visit my dress.

And it really was THAT good.  So, I said YES!

I bet you're thinking I'm going to post a photo of side dress here so you can oogle it........

not so much.

You'll need to wait another 180 days.

Trend Watch: The Monogram

Since I was in the wedding planning game some 20+ years ago, things have changed. Mostly for the good.

Take a look at this fabulous wedding monogram I had made:

How cool is that??
I stay up at night thinking of how many things I can slap that on!!

Want one?   http://www.jennjohnston.com/ 

In search of the perfect signature cocktail

Presenting the Pink Squirel.......courtey of MadMen.

Two decades later, I'm learning, there are several trends I missed out on. One is the "Signature Cocktail".  Whether an old standard that is special to the bride and groom,  a subtle twist on a popular drink, or a completely original concotion dreamed up for the big day, having a customized cocktail for the big day is now a must.

For brides who are sticklers for a theme,  the drink must not only be tasty, but match her decor.

Before you gasp.........I will not be ordering up a pink drink!   But the look and vintage 1960's origin of the Pink Squirel is to delightful not to mention.   And if that's not cool enough, it is made with crème de noyaux  - a liquoir that's no longer even made!

So, the hunt continues..........

Stalking the Prey........

Who knew how hard it would be locate one little wedding gown?   Ooops. I forgot. Cut me some slack, it's been 21 years. Like many other highly competitive markets,  bridal salons seldom make it easy by stocking the same items or designers so consumers can easily compare.   In fact, they are quite sneaky about it.

So after trying several, OK, 637,469 dresses the other day, I did find one I wanted to try on again.  Without driving to the entire other side of Chicago.   Thus ensued part one: stalking the dress on the internet.   Not every shop carries every designer. In fact, several designers are offered at only a very few salons. You know, the ones really far away from me.  (Yes, Oakbrook IS another country, OK??)   And not every salon who stocks a specific designer has the same dresses, or the same sizes.   So it was looking like this dress existed only in ONE bridal salon in the entire Chicagoland area.   And it was not nearby.

Part two: hunting it down.

But I am a persistent girl.  So one day when I had a few extra minutes after eating my lunch of rabbit food very delicious and filling salad, I google-mapped a promising bridal salon.  BINGO:  Lily's Bridal and Gifts.  They had my the dress.   And a couple of others by Maggie Sottero I wanted to try.  Bridal nirvana - the ability to comparassion shop!  I hit the mother lode.   Thank you google maps.

Except the sample was obviously sized for a concentration camp survivor.  It fit quite well.  On my left thigh.  But happily, the other samples were in sizes that actually fit me.   And the sales girl was neither a bubble gum snapping anorexic, nor an overmade-up 79 year old sporting a heavy Brooklyn accent.    She was actually.......breathe.......helpful.    The shop was organized. And she even called the manufacturer to order a swatch of the color we could not identify and get me a "drop-dead date"*

So what happened?
Nmm, mmm.   You'll just have to wait on that one.

But I can tell you this, it's not THIS one:

* Drop-Dead date: last day the sress can be ordered to arrive in time for to be altered and ready for the wedding.

Top 10 Things NOT to Do When Shoping for a Wedding Gown....

Filene's Running of the Brides: A Bad Idea for the Feint of Heart

When one plans a wedding, it's probably a good idea to get some kind of dress. Sometime, that's not so easy.  At least I knew to stay away from the Running of the Brides.....

In no particular order:

• Shop with a bride who is 17 years younger than you are.
• Shop with a bride who is a size "0".
• Combine the above 2.
• Wear ratty granny panties.
• Shop on a 100 degree day, in a bridal salon with no A/C.
• Shope before you lose that 25 lbs.
• Tell the bridal consultant your REAL budget.  Cut it in half, because you know she'll be bringing you dresses that are "at the top end" of your stated budget.
• Give a bridal salon your REAL phone number.  There ought to be a special bridalcodicil to stalking laws.
• Shop is a salon that only stocks single digit sample sizes.  Unless you are bride #1 above.
• Fall in love with any dress. This simply guarantees it will be discontinued last week.

Sneak Preview!!

Here are some pics of the venue, by the photographer I've chosen....if you dare!
Photo #1191  Pictage
(You'll be asked to sign the Guest Book)

I've fallen in love all over again!

Props on Prop 8

Even though it has absolutely no impact on my life, or my wedding, I found myself REALLY happy to hear that Prop8 had been stuck down as unconstitutional. Maybe it's about living in a country that values all people,  equality, or true freedom to pursue happyness......

These amazing photographers are also happy with this turn of events. So happy,they are offering a great deal.
Click here for the fine print on their 45% discount.   45 is significant because that is the number of states who still refuse to recognize same-sex unions.

Our Version of the Royal Wedding......

After months of anticipation, peculation, sleuthing and spying, the wedding of our century has taken place.
This weekend,  Chelsea Clinton was married to a long-time friend in the suburbs just north of New York City.   Fortunately, the Clinton team was able to keep a better lid on it thatn most state secrets.   The event seems to proceed in fairy-tale like fashion without any mishaps or scandal to mar Miss Clinton's day.

Most of us have watched this girl grow up before our eyes.   And she has weathered some pretty strong political storms with grace.  It is so good to see the mega-watt smiles on this couples faces.

For those of you who missed the memo, the gown was by Vera Wang.   Hmmmm, I'm seeing alot of ruched strapples dresses with delicate crystal beading at the waist in our future....How about you?

Good Luck Mr. & Mrs Mezvinski!

Today's thoughts.......

Ahh the gift basket.    So many options.

Food for thought:

It's My Wedding and I Can Have Any Cake I Want To.....

Right?

Right?????

Choices, choices...........

And only one wedding day.

Photo: Broke-Ass Bride

How cute is this bouquet?   And it won't even wilt the next day.......It's made of felt and buttons!!! 
I totally love this.  So sad I can only have one bouquet - there are sooooo many gorgeous choices!

Hmmm,  could it be my toss bouquet?


Check out my favorite bridal blog to learn more:   Broke-Ass Bride

Or go over to Princess Lasertron to see all her amazing stuff, where she is giving away a free KIT!

TTYL