What to Post

I haven't posted for a week or two because I have so much going on that every time I sit down to write a post...  I have TOO many thoughts in my head.  haha I am learning on focusing on one thing at a time and I would like to share that info with you brides to be now.  

Since I have been feeling overwhelmed with the amount of tasks and decisions ahead, I have made a week by week list.  This way, when I feel overwhelmed I can look at that list and say "Don't worry about the favors this week, that is for the week of May 3rd."  I have to apologize to anyone who has gotten married before I was engaged.  I had NO idea how much planning goes into this stuff!  People don't give brides and grooms enough credit!  This is a full time job!  Maybe it is the designer in me, but I have so many ideas in my head that it actually can be a detriment to planning!   Don't get me wrong, it is fun planning it all.  It is just A LOT.  So I promise (to you and to myself) to post more, focus more, and ENJOY more!  This goes for all things in my life, not just weddings!  I definitely think that I am learning many life lessons through planning!  Haha Who knew!  Here is to the future!

The perfect shoe...

Accessories are my thaaaang.  I get a lot of joy over a new necklace or scarf.  I also have really been into shoes lately.  With my wedding EXACTLY four months away, it is time to start on the accessories search!  Here are a few different styles and colors of shoes I am thinking about.  I am definitely going to have to narrow down soon!  You will definitely notice similarities between all of these shoes.  For example,  they mostly have some sort of embellishment on the front.  I want to make sure these shoes are special!  

I have really been feeling the colored shoes lately.  I think it is such a fun way to add a little funk into your wedding style.  Here are a few of my favs.

Claudia Ciutti Bella Pumps... I can't find you in my size and color, but I love you...

I have mentioned these Natalie Portman shoes before...  but I still love them even though they don't exist anymore.

Are you noticing a trend?  I can find plenty of perfect purple shoes, but none of them are actually available!

These are pretty fun, a little too out there for me.  But I love any bride that can rock these!  I also love how Angelica Glass photographed them.  Making them look even more fantastic!

Here is another example of something blue.  This totally became a trend after the "Sex and the City" movie for obvious reasons.  Getting your something blue and being like Sarah Jessica Parker are both prerequisites for any wedding.  Haha!

I also could go the way of grey shoes.  Thanks Zappos!  Best shoe website ever!  Love these!

The thing that makes me nervous about these Nina Shoes is that they don't look very sturdy!  Very pretty though.  But,  I need to be able to dance the night away!  Very important!

Asheville

Some of my favorite pictures from the last time I was in North Carolina.  This is where I am going tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited about it.  I have the best sister ever.

Ladies and Gents, We have Bridesmaids Dresses

Before I begin to tell you about the most fantastic black cocktail dress you will ever see I should mention that the above photo comes from this uber cute Etsy shop.  http://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleLadyCompany

So, there have been a few posts about Bridesmaids dresses on this here blog.  The most important thing to me about these dresses is that they 1) need to be flattering 2) need to be chic and cute 3) need to not look like a bridesmaid dress.  I love my friends a lot, and I really want them to look fantastic.  I have gone to pictures like this for inspiration: 

Cute black cocktail dress that makes everyone feel good.

For accessories and hair, I am going to these two photos to be inspired.

I love how in the above photo all the bridesmaids have different hair and accessories.  So even though it is the same dress, they still look like themselves and have individual style.

I love the glam in this photo.  And I really like that necklace... I wish I knew where it was from. First picture is from GreenWeddingShoes and the second is StyleMePretty.  

We actually did go to Priscilla of Boston (see previous post) and tried on a lot of those dresses.  We all really liked them too.  If it wasn't for the fact that Bridesmaid O and Bridesmaid DL were in Connecticut with me having a fun sleepover we would have never ventured into White House Black Market.  In fact, we were pretty sure we were going to forget about shopping altogether and instead we were going to get Mani/Pedis.  I am not going to say manicures and pedicures because they are not called that.... they are called Mani/Pedis.  

Back to White House Black Market.  We strolled in and decided to try on a few dresses.  Low and behold this adorable dress was on sale for $50 bucks!  I wouldn't mention the price except it was such a steal!  Both Bridesmaid O and Bridesmaid DL looked amazing in it!  I knew the rest of the ladies would too!  Now, the new challenge was to find all the dresses in the right sizes.  Something I now know, that everyone should know about this store is:  THEY SEND THEIR DRESSES ANYWHERE IN THE U.S FOR FREE.  This is very important if you need to ship a size 2 and a size 4 to Kansas City for one bridesmaid and ship a size 8 from Vegas to your house in Connecticut!  Even though the dress looks much better in person, here it is!  

So, to conclude, not only did we find the perfect black cocktail dress, but we found it for a great deal and were able to get all the sizes we needed.  I can't wait to see them all together looking amazing.  Makes me so happy!  Now it is on to accessories for me and for them!  Oh and I guess I have to figure out what Andrew and the Groomsmen are wearing, and my sister..ok so I have a lot to do.  But in my mind, the two most important parts are done.  That is definitely the designer in me that thinks Bridesmaids dresses and my wedding dress are the most important parts.  Ok, maybe it's my shoes. ;p

Iain Crawford rocks my socks off...

This man is a genius... Thanks to my lovely friend Brianne over at http://coolbreez.tumblr.com/ for filling me in on these incredible images.  How have I not heard of him before?!  Check out more of the brilliance here  http://www.iaincrawford.com/

Happy Valentine's Day

photo by http://www.joeelariophotography.com/
I know there are Valentine's day skeptics out there.  But I think anything that celebrates love in any way can't be a bad thing.   For all of you "haters" out there.  There ARE ways to tell the person you love them without going to Hallmark.  I say we celebrate love all the time.  It doesn't need to be on February 14th.  And it doesn't need to be someone you are in a relationship with.  Tell your best friend, your sister, or mother, anyone you love, how special they are to you.  Ok, I know I am in a mushy, lovey mood.  But anyone who knows me that I am just that mushy, lovey person.

As for our Valentine's day celebration,  I made homemade chocolate truffles (seen above and taken on my Iphone camera), a painting, and a homemade card for my love.  And I think it made it even more special, because any gift given with love is the best kind.  Andrew whisked me away to Boston this weekend.  And the act of someone showing you how much they care, and how much they want to spend time with you is really special.  I am very grateful to have the kind of love I have in my life.  And maybe that makes me a romantic, or maybe that makes me a sucker.  But I would like to think we celebrate love more than once a year, and I suggest you do the same.  =)

Purple love

If I have not discussed it before, purple is the main color in my wedding.  White, black, grey, and PURPLE.  Vibrant, luxurious, and just plain lovely.  Love me some purple.  Have for quite some time!  Here are a few pretty, pretty pics of the color in all of it's glory.

From Junebug's best of 2009: http://junebugweddings.com/blogs/what_junebug_loves/

Pretty Pretty Bouquet from Style me Pretty 

Lucy Liu in Zac Posen... LOVE

Natalie Portman looking sophisticated as always in this Lanvin dress.  She is the Audrey Hepburn of our generation...