the little details

Late night etsy searching is dangerous!  I just had a late night, impulsive wedding purchase.  I bought this amazing handmade hanger for my wedding dress from lilafrances.  It's gotta hang on something right?!  Might as well be a really cool, personalized hanger!  I didn't want to put mrs. "insert future last name here" because I won't be married when I first put the dress on the hanger.  So I decided on our first names instead.  Now I need to add "buy wedding dress hanger" to a list so I can cross it off!

Wedding Day Style...how to get some

I am officially obsessed with this wedding photographed by Tanja Lippert

http://www.stylemepretty.com/2010/02/24/san-francisco-wedding-by-tanja-lippert/

This is everything I want my wedding to be.  Modern, sophisticated and graphic with a little bit of whimsy.  I love how confident the bride is in her style.  

Whenever I am designing a play, and an actress is not self confident in what she is wearing, I know right there.  She will not look good on stage.  It is the same thing with weddings.  You need to have your wedding style and you need to OWN it.  Self confidence is key in life.  Now, this is much easier said than done of course.  But I think we should all take a cue from this bold bride.  Because I gurantee you everyone fought her tooth and nail on anything she wanted to do that was different.  "Red shoes?!?!" they said.  "Short dress with a BIG head piece?!!?!"  They exclaimed!  And when they all saw how gorgeous this wedding was they all shut their mouths!  

So thank  you Style Me Pretty and Tanja Lippert and this gorgeous bride.  You have all inspired me to trust my instinct!

How did I JUST find out about this...

I love Natalie Portman and I love shoes.  I remember hearing she was thinking about doing a Vegan line of shoes and I was so excited... So it turns out it happened and ended before I even knew about it!  The store was called Te Casan I believe and I keep on trying to find their website and it no longer exists!  There was a store in Soho and it closed!!!!  

All of this came about when I found the most INCREDIBLE WEDDING (that deserves its own post) on http://www.stylemepretty.com/ 

They posted this amazing wedding that took place in my new home of Connecticut.  She based the wedding off of a pair of Natalie Portman shoes that are just INCREDIBLE.  I mean, incredible in ALL CAPS.  I can't find them anywhere.  But, I will take this moment of inspiration and begin my search for the shoe that speaks to me.  Because we all know how I love shoes! 

As for Natalie Portman's shoe that sparked this post... 

This fabulous photo of the beauties is by Robert and Kathleen Photographers that are based out of Connecticut as well as the Bride who happens to be the event planner of Jubilee Events.  As I discussed this wedding is so amazing it deserves it's own post.  With a wedding based on shoes like this, you can see why!

I wanted to take this moment to remember my fabulous engagement shoe.  I needed to find the perfect shoe!  Here is a reminder of that hot, fun and flirty engagement shoe

The wedding shoe has to top these hot tamales!!!!  That is a lot to live up to!

The short wedding dress

These images from the talented photographer Ashley Rose made me smile.  I love love love the idea of wearing a fantastic pair of shoes in a different color.  But I really like the idea of actually being able to see those fabulous wedding shoes!  I already have my beautiful dress, but, in another circumstance I would be all over it!  Maybe a dress like this one from Sarah Seven

Hmm this could be worn to a rehearsal dinner couldn't it???

I also can not get enough of what this Manhattan bride did!

I mean.. it's Oscar de la Renta people...  This wedding also happens to be at a gorgeous hotel in NYC.  The Gramercy Park Hotel,  Love it!  As if wearing a short dress wasn't different enough, she changed into a hot little red number.  Totally stunning.  This was found on one of my fav blogs http://bklynbrideonline.com/

I don't think I could do it.. pay that much for a dress and only wear it for half an hour and then change... but I admire those women who do!!!! =)

I went to Kleinfeld and "Said Yes to the Dress!"

Yup!  That's me and my beautiful mom after buying my wedding dress at Kleinfeld!
I was very nervous about the idea of going to Kleinfeld.  My mom and I watch the show religiously and it looks very hectic.  I am not the kind of bride who can go to one of those crazy sales and trample over other people to find the best deal.  Maybe for a pair of new heels... but not for a wedding dress.  I need to be in a stress free situation.  So I started my search elsewhere.  One of my first stops was Priscilla of Boston.  Which was fantastic, but we didn't have such a great consultant and even though I loved one of the dresses I found there, I wasn't ready to commit.  I then went to a few more stores and ultimately realized that I was PICKY.  I am a costume designer, which means I know fabric and I know details.  So I needed something that would meet my criteria.  What was my criteria you ask?  Well, I will tell you.

1) FLATTERING

2) Flowy yet structured.  This sounds complicated, but ultimately, I wanted a chiffon or organza dress that had a lot of movement but that still gave me a fantastic shape

3) I didn't want to be Cinderella Barbie.  It is totally cool if you want to be that.... It is just not me.

4) I wanted something a little different, but still chic and modern

SEE!  I told you I was picky!  But, in the end I decided I had to go to the store with the most amount of dresses in the world.  Kleinfeld.  

Our experience was phenomenal and I ended up totally having that moment when I looked in the mirror and pictured myself walking down the isle in MY dress.  Do not underestimate that moment people.  Even for someone like me, who never thought about what her wedding would look like until it happened.  Even for me, that moment was pretty magical.  I cried, my mom cried, then two of my bridesmaids cried.... then another bridesmaid who was also there handed us all tissues.  It was priceless.  

We did not have a consultant who was on the show, but she was very attentive and she listened.  The customer service there is incredible.  There is a reason they are successful. 

Ok.. so I am VERY sorry to not post the dress on here.  But I really don't want my fiance to see it.  And trust me folks.  He will if I post it.  I have very bad luck with these things!  But I will put a few pictures up of dresses that I liked so you can get an idea.  And in 8 months you will get to see a pretty gorgeous dress!!!

This first dress is Romona Keveza and it is so beautiful.  Don't you love the sweetheart neckline and the tulle skirt.. hmmm this looks a lot like the Christos Gown I spoke about in a previous post.  Funny how this was not the silhouette I ended up with!

Oh Monique... how I love thee.  I love love love almost anything Monique Lhuillier does.  Please, if you don't believe me .. go here http://www.moniquelhuillier.com/

I mean really she can do very little wrong.  This model also happens to be gorgeous.  This dress is a much slimmer silhouette, but still flattering and flowy.  See what I mean?

In the end.. I bought a wedding dress!  There at plenty of dresses that I loved and that looked good on me.  But, when it comes down to it.  There is only going to be one wedding dress.  Well... unless you have a different dress for the reception.  But that is a whole different post!

Gorgeous Rustic Wedding

So, I have sort of been obsessed with this one wedding dress.  It is a Christos Gown and the style is Julianna.  I love the fabric detail at the top matched with the romantic tulle skirt.  It is not in my budget but a girl can ogle can't she?  The one thing I always said about the dress was "I wish it was strapless".  Well this beautiful bride did just that!  I can't get enough of her impeccable style and wedding glow.  I hope I can look this gorgeous in my wedding photos!  Once you see this dress you will totally understand my obsession!  I found this wedding on my favorite wedding blog  http://greenweddingshoes.blogspot.com/

Everyone should go there who is planning a wedding.  It is truly an incredible resource and inspiration.  These photos also happen to be from Tec Petaja again!  Wow, I didn't realize how much I loved all of their photos!  Her belt is from J Crew and I love the pale peach color.  I almost used that color as one of my wedding colors.  Maybe I should rethink things a bit and add an element of peach in my bouquet.... hmm lots to think about.  Again, love everything about this wedding dress and this bride!  The Groom also happens to look fantastic in his three piece suit.  I just might have to go convince my loving fiance to go that route as well.