I Can No Longer Peruse the Boards

Well hello, internets, did you miss me? I just came on to inform you that I can no longer read the boards. Today I tried to search for sample wedding day timelines and was bombarded with signatures that said stuff like:

If this is a dream, please don't wake me up.
and
I'm his forever.
and
Smooches! Love is grand!


Seriously, BARF.

A Hiatus

I am going to take a long break from wedding planning. Our biggies are done and it's still like 9 or 10 months until the wedding and so I deserve a little me time. I have to actually do things I'd been neglecting, like getting a haircut and hanging out with my friends and doing some spring cleaning/wardrobe updating.

Stuff that's done:
ceremony site
reception site
photographer
hotel blocks
dress
colors
officiant

I may still post from time to time because I'm slowly designing the invitations and stuff. But I leave you with this post for now....



Today our new address stamp arrived, and it's a pretty big deal because it's really the first official thing that has both our names on it. It looks like this

I fully intend to get one with my new last name for the thank you notes. But, of course, my name comes first.

The Dress, the Aftermath

So, I cannot believe how many people asked me if my dress is Monique Lhuillier (ahem, five). First of all, I have absolutely no idea because I didn't look and now it is wrapped up in my closet not to be seen for another six months. Second of all, who is this designer? Why does everyone seem to know who she is and make a big deal out of the possibility that I got one? And third, I don't think so... I just took a look at the estimates for a Monique Lhuillier and there's no way they would have discounted a gown by that much. Especially because mine is brand new and I paid way less than a grand. Way less.

Since it's brand new I'm guessing that the dress retails for 1200-1500.

If it is from a big name designer I'd feel a little bad because I really swore I wouldn't do that. But all proceeds went to NYC schools so I guess I wouldn't feel too bad. And I fully intend on donating it back to Bridal Garden after the wedding so that I can get a tax write off.

I posted that picture because I couldn't find my exact one from looking through all the gowns on Brides.com and The Knot. Sorry for the confusion.

The point is, I don't know who made my dress, but my Maid of Honor or my bridesmaid who came with me might know. They might have been smart enough to take a look.

OMG The Dress!

I bought my wedding dress today!! I went to Bridal Garden in Manhattan, which is a non profit that has samples donated by designers, a few once worn dresses from brides, and a few new dresses from stores/designers. All proceeds from the dresses go to inner city schools.

A few thoughts before I talk about my dress:

1. I had read that one shouldn't stress too much about the size, because it differs by style and designer. And holy crap was that true. Normally I'm a 4 or 6 depending on how much pizza I've eaten that week. I was trying on 6 and 8 mostly, but imagine my stress when a 10 wouldn't go past my butt. The dress I eventually bought was a 14!
2. Poofy dresses are HEAVY. I felt like they added another 10 pounds. There was no way I would have fun in one of those.
3. The dress I got is so not what I thought I would get. I picked it up on a whim after getting really frustrated and just wanting to try on one more thing.
   

And now, about my dress. Behind the cut.



I couldn't find the exact design of the gown, which bummed me out because I couldn't figure out how much of a discount, if any, I got. It kind of looks like this:



But better. My dress comes in two pieces, where the lace piece can be completely detached and underneath is a very simple strapless dress. The lace piece has a really long train, I forget what it's called... cathedral maybe? It's one of the few new dresses that came into the store, since most of the dresses were samples.

It was the VERY LAST dress I tried on, and I was feeling pretty bad because I had tried on about 12 and I was getting very frustrated. I was iffy about it until I stepped on the platform and both my maid of honor and bridesmaid gasped and said "awww..."

I do have pics but you'll have to email me to get them for fear of Dude seeing it.

Since it's a 14, it's way too big in the bust area and the lace piece is too big and long, but I can work with that. My friends have some very good seamstresses.

Invitation Dorkiness

I'm going to make our invitations. Mostly because I find invitation prices completely unreasonable and also because I'm picky. I'm going to do it pretty much piecemeal but I heard that White Aisle was having a huge sale and decided to scope it out. Voila! 150 A9 envelopes in soft white for $35. They just came yesterday and they are great! I was going to order these, but the A9 only comes in white-white, and I wanted something not as hospital-looking. I also wanted a pointy flap. It's all in the details, people.

Now I actually have to design the thing.

There are Some Real A-Holes Quoted on the Knot

Anyone who knows me fairly well knows that I have a general dislike for weddings, even my own. But there is a twist to my dislike. Once I've come to terms that I have to attend such and such wedding (yes, even my own), I fully acknowledge that this is the bride and groom's daaaay and they should do whatever they want with it. All complaining stops, and while every once in a while I'll raise an eyebrow, I'm a good sport and very supportive and all smiles. And it's not at all fake. Once I've gotten over my grumpiness I'm genuinely happy for the couple and their families.

So I'm a little grumpy coming across this little article on the Knot where "real guests" chime in on weddings.

Some highlights after the cut.

"I hate it when the bride and her dad or the bride and groom stop halfway down the aisle for a photo op."
--Frank, 31, Ann Arbor, MI

Gee, Frank, I hate it when guests who are invited so that memories are created in the way the bride and groom wish complain about no more than 30 seconds of stopping so that they can properly record one of the most important days of their lives.

"I'm sorry, but limited bars are generally a bummer. Ditto for wine drawn from a tap."
--Liza, 25, Cincinnati, OH

I'm sorry Liza, but I really don't want to spend an extra money on you and everyone else so that you can get wasted on my dime. Why don't you go find yourself a man so that you can undergo this painful process of planning and holding a wedding? Oh wait, did you need the booze to be able to do that?

"[I hate long receiving lines.] Most of us just want to congratulate the couple and their parents. Unfortunately, you always get stuck making chitchat with a stranger in a bridesmaid dress who doesn't particularly care who you are, either, while the people in front of you hug the bride."
--Margaret, 42, Sarasota, FL

Wow, Margaret, I'm really sorry that my inconsiderate bridesmaid noticed that you might not know everyone there and realized that the bride and groom are otherwise occupied and that she should try to make you feel more comfortable. Doesn't she know you're the center of attention since you condescended to even COME to the wedding. Shame on her, she needs a lashing.

"I hate when people decorate the pews and altar in their church after guests are already seated. I have been to two weddings where I watched the attendants or friends attach flowers and bows to the pews and set up candles at the altar while all the seated guests watched. It looked so disorganized and informal."
--Danine, 46, Miami, FL

Danine, we're very sorry that we didn't spend the extra money for the extra hour to set up. We should have known that we would be busy GETTING READY FOR THE WEDDING and that our guests should not have to see the Goings On Behind the Curtain. It's all a fairytale, after all. Sorry to shatter the illusion.


So what I'm gathering from this little article is that people will hate you if you have limited bar, interrupt everyone with your photo ops, don't give your guests something to do between the ceremony and reception, or decorate when there are already guests at the ceremony/reception venue. Read: SPEND MORE MONEY!



I should really stop reading the Knot.

More Ring Madness

The wedding band!!! It's so fantastic.



I've done quite a bit of complaining in the last month and change since the planning started, but despite the complaining I am so excited to be Mrs. Dude. I even reserved MyName.DudesLastName (at) gmail.

Yes, I am changing my name, even though it will be a complete pain in the arse and it will sound really really weird for a few months.

Another ring pic under the cut.