Getting Dressed!

After we got our hair, nails and/or make up done, my girls and I headed back to our beach house to finish getting ready before the pro portraits (after stopping at Subway for a quick lunch... it was kind of funny going in there all made up!)

Our photographer showed up for "pre-ceremony" shots just after we got back to the house. Problem was, there wasn't much for him to photograph as I already had my hair and make up done. But, he did get some good shots of my girls.



Meanwhile, I was hanging out in the front room texting my cousin/DOC making sure that everything was still going smoothly.


And then just staring out the window, hoping that the fog would break.
(It never really did... but I'm not too bent out of shape about it. lol)

(The flowers were from Jacob... he had his cousin delivery them while we were at the salon. But there was no note or anything, so I thought they were a gift from our florist or something. lol I didn't find out until later that they were from him!)

After finishing up with us, our photographer went over to the guys house next door for awhile (Those photos to come later).

After my girls finished getting ready and dressed it was finally time for me to put my dress on. I was trying to put it off as long as possible so I could be sure to pee beforehand and hopefully not have to go again for awhile! lol Some of you may remember the conversation that went on in blog land a few months back regarding using the bathroom when in a wedding dress (I particularly loved this post via Morgan at the Handcrafted Hitching Post), and after my bridesmaid Holly asked who my "personal attendant" was going to be, I started to think about it and realized that I was dead set against anyone having to hold my dress for me while I did my business! My goal was to not have to go until the reception and then, if I ABSOLUTELY needed it, Jacob could hold my dress for me! lol

** I was so concerned about this that I ended up "testing" it out before we left the house for the ceremony. I was VERY happy to realize that I could gather up my entire skirt and hold it by myself in order to use the toilet normally! lol I just had to make sure that I had the whole thing... there was almost an incident in the reception restroom stall (not a lot of space in there!) but my dress stayed dry and I happily held onto my privacy! =)

Anyway.... back to the photos. lol


**All photos above courtesy of Justin at Sky Blue Iris Event Photography

My dress was a lace up. Girls, if you get a lace up dress, make sure you give your helpers PLENTY of time to get the thing laced! It takes FOREVER:


The whole process was pretty boring for me... I just stood there and held my dress up. Thankfully, when the cinching started to get a bit tighter I was able to focus on other things... like trying to decide what jewelry to wear! I had two pairs of earrings and two necklaces... and I couldn't make up my mind...

As you can tell by the above photo, I'm unsure (and seem to make this face a lot I've realized). Bridesmaid Jessica, on the other hand, is giving me the o.k. on my earring choice. lol

(and didn't end up wearing my original necklace and earrings.. the ones that I purchased for the ceremony! lol I ended up wearing stuff I had around and earrings that Jacob's mom found while cleaning out her house!)

After many minutes of cinching, the dress was finally done (though it did need to be re-cinched about 20 minutes later when I realized I kept hiking the thing up! I guess lacing up a wedding dress is kind of like saddling a horse... lol)


Then on went my beautiful custom garter


And the "check myself out in the mirror" stage began (it lasted a while. lol)

**Above photos by my fantastic MOH/unofficial second shooter, Josie!


Next up... The boys! =)

Done and Done!

So, really felt like I got shit accomplished this weekend! Or, at least, closer to accomplished.

Last Monday I drove down to Salem and picked up my wedding dress from the boutique that was holding it for me. On Saturday I had my first fitting/alteration appointment with my seamstress, Lois. I was not able/willing to have the bridal boutique do the alterations, so I went to an independent woman who was recommended to me. I was a little nervous when my mom and I walked in and were playfully attacked by a couple of little dogs (last thing I want is dog hair on my dress), but then I saw that her hall closet was covered in wedding dresses and I felt a little bit better! (Plus the house was REALLY clean... yay! lol)

My mom helped me into the dress... which took about 15 minutes. I think you should be required to take a class on how to lace up a wedding dress before you're allowed to leave the shop with it! Finally, Lois came in, put two pins in my dress, and that was that. I got redressed and we were off! VERY quick! But it was a confident quick; I did not leave questioning anything...

At least, not with the dress. I was able to quickly try my veil and necklace on with the dress... and I think I'm having second thoughts. I think my necklace is a little too shiny. I haven't decided yet... it will probably be one of those last minute decisions, but I'm starting to question whether I want to wear it, or wear a faux-pearl necklace that I already have. I have beading on my dress and I'm starting to think maybe the "pearls" will look better with the beading than the shiny-ness of the jeweled necklace... hmm... I'll guess we'll have to see. =)

After my fitting I met my bridesmaid, Jessica, at Joann's to take a look at some patterns for the ring bearer outfits. I was having a really hard time finding a little boys vest to match the groomsmen (and didn't come in some obnoxious slack and tie set). Thankfully, Jessica graciously offered to sew up a couple of vests! I found this pattern (check out the vest... gotta love the 1970's pattern art, eh? lol) and bought the fabric, buttons, etc. I can't wait to see how they turn out! Our boys are gonna be stylin'! =) Plus, with all the fantastic sales and coupons I had, the vests will come out to less than $10 each! Woot!


Finally, on Sunday, while my father lounged around watching golf and enjoying "his day", my mom and I spent some time in the kitchen working on our wedding favors. They are ALMOST done now! Would have finished them had I not forgotten one box of supplies at home... bah =P

Oh well, it's just a matter of hot gluing now... I can't mess that up, right? =)

Our Wedding "Map"

So, I JUST wrote a post a mentioned at the end that I should map out where all of our wedding stuff is coming from... so... I did! lol

In order to find the best deals for our budget, we had to widen our "net" a bit and search around. Pieces of the wedding are coming from numerous places throughout the western side of Oregon. When Jacob and I, our wedding party, and our parents make the trek out to the coast for the wedding, we will be picking up bits and pieces along the way.

Click on the picture to see it bigger!

Portland: Our Home.

Hillsboro: Our photographer's home base.

Estacada: Family friend doing our flowers.

The Dalles: Ceremony music (my brother... forgot to put it on the map... it's a little easy of Estacada on the river).

Wilsonville: The bakery that is making our cake.

Salem: Where I purchased my dress.

Lebanon: Where I'm getting my alterations.

Corvallis: Rental supplies (chairs, couple tables, etc.).

Newport: Hair salon.

Eugene: Our DJ (friend of mine), Officiant (my brother) and videographer (my other brother).

Roseburg: Make Up (Jacob's Mary Kay rep aunt).

Waldport: Our ceremony and reception.

So, as you can see, we really are having a DESTINATION wedding! lol

Weekend Fun

I have my first dress fitting/alterations appointment this weekend and I'm kinda excited... not only to try my dress on again, but also to play dress up with all the accessories that I've purchased to go with it. I haven't had the opportunity to try ANYTHING on with the dress yet... so I'm just hoping that they all look alright! lol

I had a little bit of a problem scheduling my fitting. The bridal boutique where I purchased my dress does not do alteration appointments on Saturdays... only Monday-Friday. Problem. I WORK Monday-Friday... an hour+ away from the boutique. I was told that I would need to adjust my schedule. I haven't been at my job long enough to "adjust my schedule" for these type of things (I just celebrated my 6 month mark a week or so back and am desperately trying to save up vacation/personal time for the wedding/honeymoon), so I was faced with the dilemma of finding somewhere else to go for my alterations.

I looked around a little here in Portland... but I had a really hard time because I worried about taking it somewhere without a recommendation... and I wasn't finding any in my area. So, in the end I took a recommendation from a former high school classmate (who happens to be getting married the same day as I am) and am taking my dress to a woman who is currently independent after working in a bridal salon for years. Plus? She is VERY reasonable priced and, like I said, comes recommended. Negative? She's even farther away than my original bridal boutique*. Plus #2, however, is that she will see me on Saturdays. So, this Saturday my mom and I are headed her way... and I get to play dress up. =)


*One of these days I'm going to have to map out where my wedding is coming from... lol. Not only is the venue a "destination", but in order to find the best deals I am picking up pieces of my wedding from all over the western side of the state. lol

Visiting My Dress

Yesterday I went to "my" bridal shop (which is holding my dress for me until August) for a little visit and to try on some veils with my dress... this is the excuse I gave the shop, but really Iwanted to see how I looked in my dress after dropping 20 lbs. ;)

If you've been reading for awhile you'll remember that I got my dress 50% off, off the rack, at a sample sale this winter. Additionally, since I'm the perfect height for wedding dresses (5'10") if I was able to dropped an inch or two around my hips, I wouldn't have to make any alternations to the dress (read: not spend more money)... which was my goal.

Well... let me tell you! lol When I got the dress shop I was introduced to their seamstress (is this P.C. any more? I don't know... alterationist? lol) who was going to be helping me into the gown. As she was cinching up the back she asked how it felt. I told her that it was fine... and then I mentioned that I'd just dropped some weight and was really looking forward to seeing how it fit. THAT is when she made my day! She said:

"It actually looks like we may have to take it IN a little bit"

Take it IN! Not let it OUT! No mention about the hips at all!!!!! Now, while I liked the idea of not having to pay for alternations, I LOVE the idea that if alterations need to be made it's because I'm too SMALL... NOT too big!! Woo hoo!!


P.S. I loved my dress more yesterday than I did the day I bought it... I think maybe because I wasn't trying to make a decision... just enjoying myself in it. =)

I just had to share =)

Say YES to the Dress!

I just watched about 2.5 hours of a "Say Yes to the Dress" marathon on TLC (I made Jacob change the channel before I kept going!) and I have to say, I love my dress more than ANY of the others that I saw on the show... I wanna put it back on! lol

P.S. I'm in Vancouver, BC right now.... here's a shout out to all you BC brides. I'm loving the sunshine up here right now! =)

I Did It!

I bought my dress tonight!

Caution: This is going to be a long post! =)

It terrifies me that I actual did it... but I did it! (I'm one of those people who always worry that I made the wrong decision... but I do really love the dress. I didn't want to take it off!)

A few weeks back my mom and I went to a bridal show. I signed up for a LOT of giveaways and things and tried on a few dresses. Two of the dress shops that were there, The Bridal Gallery and Simply Grand, sent me a flier last week about a "Midnight Madness" sale that they were going to do with dresses up to 80% off. Since the two stores are about a block from each other (and there was one dress I'd tried on from S.G. at the bridal show that I kind of likes), I decided to try to make it.

I was able to get one of my bridesmaids and my mom and dad to make the drive up to go shopping with me. And I'm so glad I did because I found my dress! I tried on about 8 dresses at S.G. and then we went over to T.B.G. where I tried on three more... the first dress I tried on was it. I tried on the other two but then put the first one on again and stared at myself in the mirror for about 15 minutes. lol My mother told me it was a very pretty dress (gee... thanks mom! lol), but the look on my bridesmaid's face was what did it for me... she just stared at me and nodded her head. Then she came up and told me that she'd overheard another woman who, when she saw me come out of the dressing room, said, "If that's not her dress, I don't know what is".

I'm not going to post a picture or link to the dress because I don't trust Jacob not to peek. lol But I will tell you that it's not what I was expecting to get at all. I thought I want a straight neckline... I got a sweetheart. I thought I wanted a WHITE dress.... I got ivory. I thought I wanted something basic and simple... I got beads. lol

Another girl was at the first dress shop with a friend. We got to talking and she told me that she'd been married this summer. I asked if she "knew" when she found her dress, and she said it was funny because she had tried on a dress as a joke and ended up loving it. It just shows that you need to try on things that you don't think you'd like.

If you really want to see the dress.... send me an e-mail and I'll mail you the link... I really do want to show it off, but don't want to risk the boy seeing it! =)

Here are a couple of the best parts. My dress was originally $800. It was marked down 50%! Which is UNDER my dress budget! And yes, I bought it off the rack. I have heard brides everywhere urging, "Don't buy off the rack for your wedding dress!" But, you know what? If I can get the perfect dress for 50%, I'm gonna do it! Plus, I don't have to wait for it to get here... it already is! (Well, it's at the dress shop being stored for me anyway... but I can go visit whenever I want!)

Oh! And off the rack it fits every where but around the hips... (which is odd, 'cause I thought wedding gowns ran excessively small... but I got the dress is my usual dress size)... but if I can kick my ass into gear and lose about one inch from my hips/butt in the next 8 months (which I'm pretty sure I can do) I shouldn't have to alter the dress AT ALL (except for the bustle thingie)! Which means I'd save even more $$!) =)

Wedding Showcase!

Went to my first bridal show today... the Oregon Wedding Showcase. It was an interesting experience... not what I was expecting at all. The vendors weren't pushy (which was fantastic!). And there were a LOT of samples and giveaways! Would be great if I won something! =)

There was also a fashion show and about four bridal boutiques were there with sample dresses to try on (at discounted rates). So, I tried on my first wedding dress today! I found some things that I liked... and some that I didn't. I don't think I found THE ONE, but it was nice to try some stuff on finally and get a feel for what looks good on me.

There was also a company there that rented out photo booths... so my mom and I tried it out! =)

ALSO... lol... I got invite lists from both sides of the family today... so we have a solid invite number! After I told both mothers that it would be great if they could weed out which friends/relatives would be happy just to receive an announcement after the fact, our invite number went down by about 30 people! VERY happy about this!

We should get our Save the Dates soon and can mail them out! Woo hoo!

Brides Against Breast Cancer Nationwide Charity Dress Sale

You guys tired of me yet? lol... third one today... geez =)

I found this event on (drum roll... ) Craigslist! =) I think it's fantastic and I really hope to be able to attend. They have these charity dress sales nationwide, so check out their calendar to find one near you!

Many, many members of my family (on both sides!) have died from and survived various forms of cancer (I am trying to make peace with the fact that I will have to fight my own battle some day, it just seems to be in the cards for me). So it really is important to me to support this cause.

So please, check out the Brides Against Breast Cancer events... there are a lot of them to choose from.

Now What?

I'm feeling kind of at a stand still wedding-planning-wise right now. We still have a little over 10 months to go... and I think it's this (what seems like) long period of time that is jilting me. We already have our reception site booked, our photographer kinda booked (I'll reveal this as soon as the paperwork is signed!), we have a beach picked out for the ceremony (just need to figure out the permit stuff), we have our wedding party picked out, we have our videographer (my brother) booked, we have our minister (my other brother) booked, and we have the ceremony music (my OTHER brother) booked. We even have a lead on a florist (who I sent any e-mail to yesterday), and are down to two possible options for catering (DIY-Family or the hotel where we are having the reception).

So, my question is, now what? I'm feeling the urge to shop (been scanning etsy and the dollar tree online for the last couple of days!), but I can't shop for dresses until Dec. when all of my bridesmaids are in the same state at the same time... and, even with shopping I feel like it's too soon! I don't want a PWC sitting around my house for MONTHS. I also want to do our invitations... but again... too soon! I don't want to get them all done and then have them just sit there! And then, God forbid, what if something happens and a change needs to be made? Then I have to do them all over again!

*sigh*

Cheap Dress Ideas

Contest Winner on Cheap Chic Weddings...

Can you tell what it's made out of? lol

Modern Bride

I bought my *first* bridal magazine today... I'm under the impression that it's some kind of right of passage or something... so I did it. I was at the grocery store trying to somewhat stock my kitchen (as I've been out of town for 2 weeks and everything in my fridge is moldy... including fake crab meat... I found that odd), and I saw two bridal magazines at the check out. I had NO idea which one to get, so, being the budget minded woman I am, I bought the cheap one! lol The Aug/Sept issue of Modern Bride.

I flipped through it and I have to say, I'm a little disappointed. There were a few cool things/ideas in there (which I'll share at the end of this post) but, for the most part I was not overly impressed. And, is it a bad sign that I only found a couple dresses that I 'liked' and none that I LOVED?

I have noticed that, as far as the wedding planning/dreaming process has gone, I've thought about EVERYTHING except "The Dress"... I'm wondering what that means. A couple people have asked me style of dress I want... I have very little idea... and, for the most part, I don't even know the NAMES for the styles! lol I know the "mermaid" and I know I DON'T want that... and I don't want anything TOO poofy... but that's about as far as my descriptive talents go in this area. I was hoping the magazine would help me out a bit... not so much. What's a good magazine to get to peruse dress styles?



** Here are some of the items/ideas that I found in the magazine that I DID like though... =)

The "XShot". I am FOREVER taking arm-extended self portraits... this would be FANTASTIC for the honeymoon! lol


Personalized M & Ms! I hadn't really put that much thought into wedding favors. I think the personalized matchbook covers/napkins are kinda a waste of money, and, up until this point I figured we wouldn't have favors, but I think this is sooo cute! Maybe just but a bunch and put a bowl of them on each table or something! =)


David's Bridal, style F13408. I really want to put my bridesmaids in a dress that they will wear again. I don't want them to pay a bunch of money for a hideous dress that's going to goodwill the next time they clean out their closet. So, I want my bridesmaids dressed in dressed that don't look like bridesmaids dresses! lol Plus, I want something short and cute. I like this one! Except for my MOH... I think I might put her in something more like this:

** Love you Josie! lol

Jessica McClintock gown, style 21194 Celine. This looked better on pg. 89 of the magazine, but this was the only shot I could find of it online. So, I would probably never wear this dress, but it DID catch my attention... and then I saw it was only $238 and that grabbed it more! =)


Private Label by G, Style 1370... so I really like this dress... I'm sure I wouldn't like the price tag though...