Dress Rejects

I thought it would be fun to post the dresses that I tried on and are now dress rejects:

This is the dress I initially wanted and if it was $2000 or even $1500 cheaper it would have been mine. Unfortunately, reality is that Randy and I are paying for the wedding and this dress is not in the budget so I sacrificed this beauty to help make the rest of the day special.

I tried this dress on with my sisters and it was very pretty and looked nice. I really didn't want an A-line dress though and kept this as an option for just in case. We thought it was really funny that the website airbrushed this girl's waist so she looks like a Barbie doll. You'd think with all the airbrushing at her waist, they could have done something with her face and hair too. Yikes!

I really liked this one too but the one I have is 100% better!

This one made me look hippy and I felt blah in it. Definite NO! I've come to the conclusion that I like the idea of lace but lace and I do not mix!

Dress!!

So after visiting 3 different bridal shops over the past month with either friends or family, a friend that works with Randy suggested that I look at the Nicole Miller Sample Sale in Manayunk, PA yesterday. I had it in my head that the dresses would be too expensive and it would be complete bridal chaos (I was picturing "White" Friday at Nicole Miller would be the same as Black Friday at Best Buy). I told Randy I wasn't sure if I wanted to go because I had found dresses at the other shops that I liked and I thought if I added more dresses to the mix, I would just be more confused and not be able to make a decision. Well I got to the shop at 9am yesterday morning and when I walked in the door I was pleasantly surprised. There was one other bride looking at dresses and 3 sales associates (I did not have to fight the other bride for my dress which was one of my initial fears of a sample sale). I picked out 5 dresses to try on. The 2nd dress ended up being the dress but I told myself to try on the other ones just to be sure. The other ones didn't even compare so I put on THE dress one more time and the girls handed me a bouquet and put a beautiful triple-strand of freshwater pearls and I turned around and knew it was the dress for me. Bonus: It was regularly $1900 dollars which was well above my price range marked down to $950 which is totally within my budget. I then called my mother and bridesmaid, Courtney, to get their opinions of the dress and through text pictures we all agreed that the dress was perfect. So I walked out of the boutique with my dress later that morning. I have the dress hanging in our hallway closet and I'm researching dry cleaners and seamstresses in the area to help make the dress completely mine (as you all can imagine, the dress is way too long but that is the story of my life and I knew any dress I got would need to be at least hemmed). I love it and I can't wait for Randy to see me wearing it as I walk down the aisle next year.

No spoiler alerts on the blog. . . .you will all just have to be surprised next October!

Music!

We booked the DJ this week. We really wanted a band to play at our reception but unfortunately the lone band of upstate New York (I'm sure there are more but I haven't heard of them) has been dragging us along with for over a month about whether or not they wanted to sign a contract. It was a hassle and a headache dealing with it so Peacock Music will be providing the entertainment for our reception. We are so excited that we have our important vendors booked and can finally focus on the fun stuff. . . . . .

Photographer

Randy and I booked our photographer!! It was a little more expensive than we wanted to spend but the pictures are one of the most important parts of our wedding and we are willing to splurge. Here is the website so you can all see what we have to look forward to: http://www.mclaughlinphoto.com/

wedding dress shopping

I'm heading down to DC this weekend to spend time with my sisters! Elise is down in DC looking at colleges with Rachel. I really want to have my sisters with me for at least the first time I go wedding dress shopping so I am taking advantage of having both of them together in the same city. I won't be buying anytime soon but I want to find the dress that makes me feel bridal. I have no idea of what kind of dress I want (no cupcakey ballgowns). Hopefully, I will get an idea of the styles I like from this weekend! Wish me luck!

Save the Date

We've set a date to be married: October 10, 2009!!!

The ceremony will be at St. Joseph's Church in Dannemora, NY and the Reception will be in the Gold Room at the Rainbow Wedding and Banquet Hall in Altona, NY.

Save the Date cards will eventually go out in the mail so keep checking that mail box!