Legal Beagle Gets Married!

DC Bridal Bash

2008-11-06T22:21:00.023-05:00

A few weeks ago, my wonderful MOH and bridesmaids threw me my very first bridal shower! As I used to live in DC, and many of my friends (and bridesmaids) still live there, they had the shower there. My MOH's mother lives in DC and was gracious enough to allow us to hold the shower there. Instead of a typical shower, this was a "recipe" shower, where all the girls baked something, then decorated a recipe page for a book that I was given. It was very yummy, and such a cute idea! I now have a book full of recipes, and many of the baking utensils and accessories off my registry.

We also played the toilet paper wedding dress game, but, in true DC fashion, we decorated cardboard cut-outs of the presidential candidates (and Bush) instead of each other! Everyone divided into teams, chose a candidate and had 5 minutes to create a wedding dress out of toilet paper. As the bride, I was the judge (although apparently there were claims of impartiality given my choice of Hillary).

The rest of the weekend consistent of eating at La Mad (my FAVORITE place!) and going out at night. Saturday night was so much fun, as we headed to the "old hangout" of Front Page. Oh, the memories! :)

Thanks, ladies! It was so much fun, and I love ya'll!

Happy Engage-iversary!

2008-10-21T12:10:00.004-04:00

Monday was my and FI's one year "engage-iversary." Yep, that's right -- we've already been engaged one year! I have to say, though, that this is one time in life when it actually has FELT like a year... or more. I can totally understand now why most brides get married within one year of getting engaged. For example, here's a rough timeline of emotions over the past year:

From "Yes" - 4 months: Ecstatic, excited to jump right in and begin planning everything, go wedding dress shopping, book a venue and maybe a vendor or two, pick a color scheme.

4 months - 8 months: Still very into planning, reading every wedding magazine and blog out there, buy a wedding dress, reach the "one year until the wedding" date, finish booking most of the vendors, pick out bridesmaids dresses (but don't purchase).

8 months - 10 months: Dead zone. Nothing to do since we've already booked everything that most brides do during this time, become a little bored with the situation. Start to second guess everything we previously decided.

10 months - 12 months: Send out the STDs! Then, completely redo the color scheme, meet with the florist to inform her of this, and pick new bridesmaids dresses to go with the new scheme.

You see, the problem with giving a bride such as me too much time to plan is that I'm always looking for "new" and "creative" elements to add to my wedding, which basically means that I change my mind a lot. While I'm happy that we were able to basically have our pick of vendors since we booked so far in advance, that really has been the only positive to having a long engagement. If I had it to do all over again, and law school wasn't a factor, I would definitely not wait a year and a half to get married.

A New Image

2008-10-02T20:26:00.007-04:00

A couple of weekends ago, FMIL and I met with my florist, Laurel Lane Florals, and had our first cake tasting. Unfortunately, both were sub-par.

First, the florist. As you may recall, I love the idea of having bright, colorful flowers -- blues, purples, and hints of magenta -- for the centerpieces at the reception. Everyone else, though, thinks white flowers are best give our extensive lighting and blue sheers. I can see their point; white flowers may reflect the specialty lighting better and "absorb" the colors. And I definitely don't want our wedding to be a "sensory overload" of colors. At the time, I agreed with the florist, FMIL and FI (who had expressed his opinion before the meeting), and we worked on coming up with centerpieces based on white. I love orchids, so we went with dendrobium orchids for the tall centerpieces and "miscellaneous" white flowers for the lower centerpieces. The more I think about it, though, the more I wish I'd stayed with my original idea. Since nothing is written in stone, yet, I have time to change my mind. But what do I want to change it to?

I think some kind of combination of white and colorful flowers will look good. Perhaps having the orchids hang down and encircle the colored flowers? With white pin-lighting on each centerpiece, I feel that the blues and purples of the flowers will show up more than everyone thinks. Regardless of what I ended up choosing for the centerpieces, the bouquets will definitely still be in the original color scheme. These are just such "happy" colors!

Next up, we went to Scrumptions, which is a cake shop in East Greenwich, RI. Many of the wedding websites I frequent list Scrumptions as a "top" cake shop, and many of the weddings posted on my photographer's website used Scrumptions for their cake. However, I wasn't overly impressed. The tasting included several different kinds of cake as well as small samplings of their fillings. The cake, however, tasted stale. I realize that you can't make a cake for every tasting, but I do think they should serve "fresh" cake. They are trying to sell it to me, after all.

I looked through their books and chose a very simple design -- 3 tier (smallest available) square cake with ribbon trimming (real ribbon provided by me) and real flowers on top (so no fancy sugar flowers or anything. I also decided to go with butter cream icing instead of fondant. We picked out different flavors and fillings for the cake, too. So, the cost of this small, simple cake? Over $1000!! I understand that wedding cakes are expensive, but if we're paying $1K for a cake, then it should at least be good. Needless to say, Scrumptions is off the list.

Next up, we're spending the weekend in RI for FFIL's birthday celebration on Saturday, and we're visiting Belle Mer on Sunday. We're also going to try the whole cake thing again on Sunday -- this time trying the Creative Cake Company. Finally, we're hoping to go aboard and tour the Majestic, which is the boat where we're hosting the rehearsal dinner. Wish us luck!

Post Picture Here

2008-10-02T20:21:00.004-04:00

I know everyone's waiting with baited breath to see the STDs, but unfortunately our camera is broken! FI and I both have cameras and both are not in working order. :( To those of you who haven't received one, I decided to go with the postcard idea using Vista Print. I was particularly happy to use the heart in the sand picture with our initials (the one to the right of the posts). On the front glossy side was the picture and "Save the Date" at the top with the numerical date on the bottom. On the reverse side was "...in the Ocean State!" (yes, I'm a rhyming fiend!) and the details (names, dates, venue and our website). Overall, I was very happy with how they came out, and even more happy with the price. We mailed out about 200 of these babies and total cost for 250 STDs and postage was a little under $100. Not too bad considering the other much costlier ideas!

Please Mr. Postman

2008-09-13T13:35:00.006-04:00

We did it! After a week of sitting dormant in our living room, our STD's are finally in the hands of the United States Postal Service. Although I don't have a firm count, I think we sent out a little less than 200 of these babies! Clearly, we're not expecting everyone to attend, otherwise we'd have 400 people at our wedding. . . and FI would have a heart attack when the final bill came.

Most of my family from North Carolina will be unable to attend, but we still wanted them to feel included. In fact, my parents will be hosting an engagement party/reception/shower for us in January, so that many of my NC family and friends will be able to meet FI (and his parents and grandmother, who will be traveling down for the weekend) and celebrate with us. We had to schedule it during my winter break, but I didn't want it to be too close to Christmas or over New Year's because so many people will be out of town. Thus, we scheduled it for January 10, which is my last weekend off before starting the spring semester.

After I receive word that some of the STD's have been received, I'll post pictures and "the making of" story. Let's hope the USPS comes through in the clutch!

Time Flies

2008-09-12T15:55:00.006-04:00

Wow, it's been forever since my last post. I apologize for the absence, but it's been a crazy time in the Legal Beagle household. As I mentioned previously, I had interviews the week before classes started, and those actually continue through next week. So, in addition to all the craziness of beginning my 2L year, I've had to conquer it all in a suit (since my interviews would often be immediately before, during or after class). Things have somewhat settled down now, though, so I can get back to the wedding grind!

UPDATES:

The Save-the-Dates have all been addressed, and they have been sitting nicely on my living room table for the past week. Yep, I've been so busy that I haven't even had time to go to the post office to mail them! It is first on my list for tomorrow, though. Once they're out, I'll put up pictures of them.

Next weekend, FI and I are going to Newport, ostensibly to meet with the florist and find a cake baker. We may also swing by Belle Mer. We have been planning this trip for weeks now, though, and something always comes up to divert our plans. However, it is DEFINTELY happening next weekend. We're almost 8 months out, and I have yet to meet with my florist outside the initial meeting before we hired her. I'm excited to show her my table sheers and explain our color "scheme" (if you can call it that).

We have also found our ceremony musicians, which is a relief since we didn't really think about needing them initially. The only problem has been in actually getting a contract. The first one they mailed took forever to get to us (even though they mailed it from Somerset, MA), and then it didn't include the vocalist (only the trio musicians). So, in order to save some time, I emailed them FI's fax number, and they assured me they would fax the new contract today. Apparently, though, no fax has arrived (as of 4pm EST). If I hadn't heard great things about this group, I might be worried... ok, I am worried period. But, I really love their sound and the vocalist is amazing. They've also performed at St. Mary's in Bristol, so they're aware of the acoustics and protocol with the church. If we ever actually sign an agreement with them, I'm sure they'll perform beautifully for the ceremony.

Ok, that's the update for now, but check back soon for the STD pictures!

To Hire or Not to Hire

2008-08-27T19:44:00.002-04:00

FI and I have been fortunate enough to find and book most of our vendors well in advance. However, there are a few loose ends that we have to tie up.

For example, while we've booked the guest shuttle bus, we haven't booked the wedding party's transportation. Since our wedding happens to be on a popular prom night, the limo companies book up fast. Of course, we're not sure if we want to get a limo since most aren't large enough to carry everyone. Since the entire wedding party will be traveling around Newport to take pictures after the ceremony, it's important that we have something that will allow us to ride together. So, we've also thought about renting a limo bus, which holds up to about 30 people. However, there's the question of how I (as the bride) will get to the church. Obviously, I wouldn't be able to ride with the groomsmen and groom. So, we're back to possibly needing 2 vehicles or having to make 2 trips. It's a dilemma. While I've always thought it would be nice to arrive in a white Bentley or Rolls Royce, they are unfortunately very expensive. And, there's only room for me and my dad (prior to the ceremony). There is FI's car, "Vivian," a silver Mercedes. I could possibly just ride in it and have my dad drive. This is the first "to hire or not to hire" question we're facing... and one that needs to be decided soon.

Our second questionable hire is a videographer. Personally, I think we should hire one. Every bride I've spoken with said it was one of their best "purchases," as the day goes by so quickly and it's great to have a video to see everything that you missed. Unfortunately, FI doesn't think it's necessary. He says that we'll never watch the video, and it's just a waste of money. This is a valid concern. We probably won't watch it all that often, but it would be nice to have it to watch after the wedding. To be able to come back from our honeymoon, pop it in, and relive the day. Especially as the bride, I'll miss so much of the ceremony, such as the little flower girl and ring bearer, and the bridesmaids, walking down the aisle, and even FI's debut. However, the average cost of all day coverage is about $2000, which is definitely not cheap. So, is it worth it? Hopefully, this is a battle I'll win. I definitely think this is a "to hire."

Finally, and a most definite "to hire," we have to find a cake baker. There are several places in and around Newport, but we haven't had an opportunity to go cake tasting yet. Personally, I don't want to spend a lot of money on the cake. I just don't think it's going to be the focal point of our wedding that it is in many weddings. So, as long as it looks good, and tastes great, it's good enough for us!

Thoughts? Suggestions?

STD Update

2008-08-22T15:09:00.004-04:00

This week has proven to be very productive, but very busy. Next week is the beginning of "OCI" or "On-Campus Interviews" at BUSL. Basically, OCI is the convoluted process of finding a job for NEXT summer. Law firms come onto campus and meet with anywhere from 20-50 students in 20 minute segments to determine if they want to offer them a "call-back interview." A call-back interview takes place a few weeks later at the firm and lasts much longer (usually around 4 hours), and you meet with 4-5 attorneys at the firm. If you pass this interview, then you're offered a summer internship ... for next year. While this seems premature (and probably is), it's nonetheless how things have worked for years. Plus, at the end of next summer, you're usually offered a permanent job at the firm for when you graduate. So, I guess everything works a year in advance in the legal world.

Therefore, I've been dutifully researching the firms I'm interviewing with, dusting off my resume, and bolstering my interviewing skills. On top of that, I finally ordered our SAVE THE DATES!

While I'm happy with the STDs, they're not what we'd originally planned to do. Up until about 2 days ago, we had the fabulous idea of sending out Italian cookies from Modern Pastry (here in Boston on Hanover Street) in their cute little boxes with the STD information inside. Modern is our favorite pastry shop (as any real North Ender would know, Mike's is only for the tourists!), and they are relatively inexpensive. A half-pound box of assorted cookies is $4.50. There are about 15-20 cookies in a half-pound box. So, we looked at our enormous guest list and decided to only send STDs to those people we thought may actually come, which equaled about 125 boxes (only sending 1 box per household). Figuring we'd put about 3-4 cookies per box, we decided to order 25 pounds of cookies and 125 half-pound boxes (at .75/box). Since 25 lbs equals 50 half-pounds, which would all come in half pound boxes, Modern was only going to charge us for 75 boxes. After checking with the post office, it would cost about $2.70 to mail each box. All told, it would probably be about $500-550 to send out these STDs.

A terribly cute idea, right? FI and I both loved it, and, as I mentioned, it was THE idea until about Wednesday. "What happened then?" you ask. Well, I came to my senses. There are a couple of major issues with this idea:

1. With all of my interviews next week, I don't really have time to make the cute little inserts for the boxes with all of our STD information, including travel and accommodation information.

2. It's outrageously expensive. And, I can think of about 5 other ways I'd rather spend that money.

So, yesterday, I went back to my very first, and cost effective, idea -- and no, it's not magnets. What is it? Well, you'll just have to wait a week to find out!

Crazy/Beautiful

2008-08-16T12:16:00.010-04:00

Most brides start some kind of workout routine prior to the wedding, whether it's to shed a few pounds or tone up some flabby areas. Personally, I have some issues with my thighs and "armpit fat" that I'm trying to overcome. The entire wedding industry is geared towards making a bride feel like she needs to be at her absolute best for this one day, and many brides take this to the extreme (think liposuction, breast implants, etc). Brides to be are made to order a size smaller and then stress about fitting into it for a year. I don't know about you, but, when I'm stressed, Ben & Jerry are my best friends, so losing weight just ain't gonna happen. Add to this the fact that many popular dresses now are skin-tight mermaid styles that show off every dimple of the butt and thighs, strapless gowns that require a Madonna-esque upper body, or the silky wisp negligee style of Claire Pettibone that "real" women would only wear in a darkened bedroom on anniversary night. It's brutal on a woman's psyche... and physique.

Some brides get so caught up in perfection that they even require their bridesmaids to "better" themselves. The New York Times recently had an article on how some brides are demanding (although often also paying for) breast implants and botox (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/fashion/24skin.html?_r=1&oref=slogin). This is in a different stratosphere than the normal mani/pedi with matching polish that many brides provide or even the more demanding requirement of spray tans. Oh no, this is life-altering, injecting yourself with poision and possibly fatal surgery. FOR A WEDDING! THAT'S NOT EVEN THERE'S!!!

While I'm sure there are some bridesmaids that may welcome the opportunity to do something they may have always wanted to do (especially if the bride is picking up the bill), I think I would be insulted. Being a bridesmaid is about the relationship between the bride and the girl; the friendship that bonds them together and makes the bride want her to be a part of her special day. While pictures obviously last forever, and you want everyone to look snazzy, the first thing you should notice about your wedding pictures is not the size of the bridesmaids' boobs. You should be able to look over your wedding portrait and see the natural, non-Botoxed smiles of your best girlfriends who are truly happy for you and don't resent you for the hell you've put them through the past year.

So, where do I fall in all of this? I admit that I've probably gone a little overboard in my own personal appearance "enhancements." I decided to get braces last year in anticipation of the wedding. I've always been somewhat embarrassed by my smile, and on a day when millions of pictures will be taken, I wanted to be able to smile with all the joy and happiness that I felt without worrying about my teeth. In this sense, the wedding was the catalyst for making me finally go to the orthodontist. I've also recently started seeing a dermatologist, and I still like to get a facial every now and then. Stress does crazy things to my skin (or maybe it's the Ben & Jerry's?), so I want to keep things in check well before the big day. As for that armpit fat and jiggly thighs, I recently went to the boxing gym with my fiance, and I'm even considering taking some yoga or ABT classes at school this fall. If I'm paying for a gym membership through my tuition, I might as well use it! Overall, though, nothing too crazy... right?

Oh, and for my bridesmaids, I think I'll stick with the mani/pedis... after all, most of them already have bigger ta-tas than me!

Twist & Shout

2008-08-14T17:34:00.013-04:00

To continue with the china and registry theme, I wanted to share another new obsession: the Nambe Twist Collection. Nambe, (pronounced na:m'bei), was named after an ancient village not far from Santa Fe. Today, Nambé is a company recognized worldwide for its award-winning designs and admired for its dedication to both artistic integrity and everyday functionality. They include both metal alloy and crystal pieces. Perhaps you'll recall "Nambe" from my previous "Bull Market" post -- it was a Nambe frame that MOH knocked over. The Nambe Twist Collection is very unique, and it blends contemporary and tradition in much the same way as our china pattern. From the Nambe website:

"The Twist Collection is poetry in motion, from airy wine glasses with twisty metal stems to heavy yet softly contoured metal bowls. Creations primarily of designer Fred Bould, these items of functional art take their design cue from his fascination with the spiraling helix. The sense of motion captured in the metal is palpable. Twist includes a fabulous cocktail shaker, votives, vases, candlesticks, napkin rings, and salt-and-pepper shakers, joined by a striking Neil Cohen tray, making this one of our most comprehensive collections. The flash of crystal and the warm wood on the salad servers add even more texture to this fluid metal tableware."

I think the entire collection is fabulous, and I've registered for many pieces, including the wine and martini glasses and flutes. Unfortunately, these crystal and alloy glasses are $75 a pop, so it's obviously going to be a collection that I have to build up over time. The collection includes a martini shaker, many vases, napkin rings, and several alloy and crystal bowls.

While there is no Nambe Twist silverware collection, I did find an amazingly similar collection by Oneida. The "Satin Aquarius" collection has intertwining "ropes" of satin and polished stainless steel. The result looks "twisted." Overall, I think it matches very well with the Nambe Twist pieces!

Do you think these pieces will go well with my china collection? Anyone want to make a bet on how long it will take me to actually get the whole Nambe Twist Collection? Maybe by the time I have grandkids...

All Roads Lead to China

2008-08-12T11:35:00.006-04:00

Since I'm currently obsessed with the Olympics in Beijing, and given my registry post a few days ago, I thought I should share my china pattern with everyone. FI and I wanted something more contemporary, which actually proved quite difficult. It seems that everyone is content with the white-on-white, platinum rim, $145 per 5-piece setting type stuff. While there are a few outrageous patterns out there, we wanted something "contemporary" not "hideous," and we wanted something that would "age" well. It's a difficult marriage between contemporary and classic in china. And, while it would have been nice to have bone china, I didn't want the hefty price tag that came along with it. Oddly enough, many of the "big name" china settings, like Kate Spade and some Vera Wang, which are also $120+/setting, are NOT bone china, but rather just "fine china." Honestly?!? Why would you spend the same amount on "fine china" as you do on "bone china"? You must REALLY like the pattern...

Anyhoo, back to my own situation. At first, I thought I was doomed to settle for a more classic and less contemporary pattern. I liked the Mikasa "Parchment," which is only "fine china" but is also only $49.99/5-piece setting at Macy's. They also had a 52-piece dinnerware set on sale for $259.99 (regularly $600.00). Not bad. I still really like this pattern, and at that price, it's almost cheap enough to use as "everyday" dinnerware.

The next pattern that caught my eye was the Waterford "Ballet Ribbon." It's white with a platinum rim, but it has black ribbon swirls on the side. There are colored 9" accent plates in the collection, but they only come in 4 pastel colors. It is $125/5-piece setting at Macy's, which is a little more than I would have liked, but at least it's bone china. It also has a TON of matching pieces, including silverware and table linens.

Finally, during our epic trip to Macy's last week, I saw the Noritake "Platinum Wave" china set. It actually looks similar to the Waterford, with platinum and silver swirls, but it's porcelain instead of bone china, and only $80/5-piece setting. It's also a good blend of contemporary and traditional. I especially liked the option of square accent plates. In fact, they have large and small square accent plates, as well as square bowls, so it's like having 2 different sets of china in one! The classic colors make it easily adaptable to any decor, and Noritake makes several different holiday accent plates that will look great with this pattern. Fortunately, FI also liked this pattern, so the hunt was over!

What do you think? Is it the perfect blending of contemporary and classic?

Bull Market

2008-08-09T18:05:00.004-04:00

I apologize for the long absence, but the past week and a half have been crazy busy. It was my last week in NYC, and while I loved the city and my fabulous internship, I was more than ready to come home to FI and my puppies. Traveling back and forth between Boston and NYC every weekend is NOT fun! If I never see another Greyhound bus again, it'll be too soon.

I did manage to get a lot accomplished last week, though. MOH and I went to Macy's on Monday to set up my registry there. Two kids in a candy store, we were not. More like two bulls in a china shop. First, I somehow managed to knock over an entire row of silverware that was hanging on a display case. MOH thought this was hilarious, of course, but karma came back to bite her in the a** when she knocked over a Nambe crystal vase. As I was looking over the Nambe silverware, I saw the whole thing happen. It was like watching a movie in slow motion -- I saw her ginormous red bag brush by the vase, her turn around with a look of shock and panic on her face, then came the loud crash (followed by her GASP!) and millions of pieces went flying everywhere. While she frantically looked for someone to explain the situation too, I was trying really hard not to burst out laughing. Fortunately, no one was made to pay for the vase, and everyone was very understanding. Somewhat humiliated, we left shortly after that.

My other registry experience was much more tame. FI and I established our Bed, Bath & Beyond registry last weekend, and the most interesting thing that happened there was FI "shooting" everything with the laser. It was quite the shock to see just exactly how much stuff he "shot" when I got home and looked at the registry online. It took almost as long to delete everything as it did to originally add it to the list. Somehow his idea of what we "need" and mine are very different (no, goldfish-shaped cracker holders are NOT a necessity).

Despite all of this, and my tinkering with them over the past week, I think I'm finally satisfied with both registries. It was actually a really stressful process. It's tough trying to balance what you want with what you need with what you think is reasonable for people. There's definitely a lot of "wish" items on the lists, but perhaps some people will go in together to buy a gift. Overall, I think that I have a good mix of items and prices between the two registries. Hopefully, my guests will feel the same way. At this point, though, I'm definitely making all changes online -- it's much safer for everyone (and everything) involved.

Traditions: Toss It

2008-07-30T19:25:00.011-04:00

Traditions have always been a big part of weddings, but it seems lately that more brides are choosing to forego some of the more common ones. For example, the bouquet and garter tosses are increasingly a thing of the past. But, why is that? And, where did these wedding traditions come from? CNN.com did a post recently on the "Bizarre origins of wedding traditions," which included the symbolism behind the bouquet/garter toss, the white wedding dress, and others. It seems the origin of the tosses is just as humiliating as the dreaded call for "all single ladies/gents" to come to the dance floor.

(At least one person seems excited...of course, this looks to be from approximately 1985, judging by the clothes.)

Here's what CNN said about it:

"It used to be that after the bride and groom said, "I do," they were to go immediately into a nearby room and consummate the marriage. Obviously, to really make it official, there would need to be witnesses, which basically led to hordes of wedding guests crowding around the bed, pushing and shoving to get a good view and hopefully to get their hands on a lucky piece of the bride's dress as it was ripped from her body.

Sometimes the greedy guests helped get the process going by grabbing at the bride's dress as she walked by, hoping for a few threads of good fortune. In time, it seems, people realized that this was all a bit, well... creepy, and it was decided that for modesty's sake the bride could toss her bouquet as a diversion as she made her getaway and the groom could simply remove an item of the bride's undergarments and then toss it back outside to the waiting throngs to prove that he was about to, uh, seal the deal."

Um, yeah, I knew there was a reason I didn't like those traditions. Plus, it's embarrassing for the bride and groom, too. I personally don't want FI "all up in my business" in front of 150+ people, including my grandmother. I'm sure my dad doesn't want to see that, either. Plus, unless they're in a relationship and counting the days until they get a ring, girls do NOT want a spot light shone on them or the fact that they're single.

(I'm sure my dad will welcome FI into the family with open arms after witnessing something like this...)

Perhaps the most uncomfortable part of the whole ordeal is having to watch (or God forbid, BE) the ones who catch these things. Now, there's some sick joke that the garter catcher must slowly push the garter up the leg of the bouquet catcher, while everyone's around watching and egging him on. For goodness sakes, these people may not even know each other! And, what if their significant other is there (and not the garter/bouquet catcher)?

It's the 21st century, and I don't see why humiliating yourself and your friends on your wedding day is still a "tradition" that needs to be followed. Personally, it seems like a barbaric tradition to start with, and personally not one that I condone or intend to follow. Of course, to all you traditionalists out there, there is something to be said for just having fun and enjoying it. If it's for you, then go get 'em, tiger! Just work on your throwing technique ahead of time...

Hello, Lover

2008-07-29T21:42:00.014-04:00

In the course of my seasonal stalking of the latest in designer shoes, I came across the Jimmy Choo fall/winter 2008 collection. Simply, divine! In particular, I found the most fabulous shoes ever, and quite possibly the most perfect bridal shoes. May I present "Grant":

This hot little silk satin peep toe is a cool 525 pounds, and I don't even want to think about how many dollars. It has a 4.7" heel and exquisite jewelled detail. They come in nude and black, and with the antique ivory of my dress, the nude would be PERFECT. *sigh* A girl can dream.

Some other fabu shoes:

Miss Carrie Bradshaw herself wore these little beauties as her "something blue" in the Sex & the City movie. The Manolo is always a good choice, even if he does carry a hefty price tag. Besides, why spend all that money on a dress and then wear $30 shoes?These new fall 2008 Christian Louboutin shoes are tres chic. They are multicolored watersnake peep-toe with a 5" heel. I think it would be so cute to have these non-traditional shoes underneath a traditional ballroom gown. Think of all the great photos! Of course, these beauties are also $995.

I love these shoes! Another great "something blue" shoe from Christian Louboutin's summer 2008 collection. These satin open toed shoes have a super cute "feather flower" on the toe and little ankle straps. They'd even fit in with our "peacock feather" theme. If I didn't think they'd clash with my dress, I'd definitely go for these shoes.

Of course, buying any shoe now is probably a bad idea. First, I'd never be able to wait until the wedding to wear them. I'd convince myself that I needed to "stretch them out" and thus wear them on any and every occasion. Secondly, I'd probably find something else I liked more later. I change my mind way too often to be locked into something now... well, except for my dress itself. So, who knows? If I still like the Jimmy Choo shoes in January, maybe they'll still be available and go on sale. A girl can hope.

TwoBirds Bridesmaid Recap

2008-07-22T20:42:00.020-04:00

Yesterday, MOH and I went to TwoBirds Bridesmaid to check out the "everything in one" dress. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. First off, Ariane (owner and creator) was wonderful to work with, and she was very patient with my questions and need for demonstrations. It's so great to know that, even though she's been on the Martha Stewart Show and the Tyra Banks Show (among others), she's still working face-to-face with customers.

Secondly, the dress was actually really cool. It truly is "one size fits all" for the most part (they do have a plus size dress, as well as an extra long one for those really tall girls). As it happened, the only floor length sample dress they had was extra long, which of course was xxxxtra long on my 5'2" MOH. We also tried on the shorter, butterfly hem dress, but quickly ruled it out. While it's a neat concept, it just looks unfinished to me. The hem is calf length, but then cuts to the knees in front, making it uneven. Plus, with the floor length dress, the girls can easily cut it off after the wedding since there is no "finished" hem.

Thirdly, there are indeed a multitude of ways to wrap the dress, and I think there is something for everyone. It would be fun to have a "wrapping party" the day before the wedding, perhaps at the bridesmaid luncheon, to see how everyone wants to wear it. I'm also thinking that I may have the girls wear it with the cap sleeves for the ceremony (a more conservative look) and then for the reception, they can wear it however they want. Not 100% on this, though, as part of what I like about the dress is having each girl look slightly different.

Fourthly, they now have a 2 toned dress that they're marketing as the MOH dress (to set her apart), but I think it would work for all the girls, if you wanted. Basically, you can pick any 2 colors available and the top portion (that which you tie) is one color and the skirt is another. She had an example in rosewater (top) and chocolate brown (bottom) that was really lovely. I think if those were my colors, I would go with that combination for all the girls. However, since I'm probably going with "deep ocean," the color pops on its own, and I don't think there's a good contrasting color for it. To set the MOH apart, or again maybe for all the girls, I may just get them brooches to place somewhere on the dress (depending on how they tie it).

Finally, since my bridesmaids are scattered across the country, this dress definitely makes sense. It's one size fits all, so no need to have the girls measure themselves. There's no need for alterations, which in addition to saving them money, also means that I can pick up the dresses and just hold onto them until the wedding date, if necessary. And, even though it's a bit pricey at $290, it is totally re-wearable and they're saving the $100 or so they'd probably end up paying in alterations. It seems like a win-win situation!

So, without further ado, here are the pictures. Please pardon my MOH's bright red bra (MOH's note: if you're going to try on bridesmaid dresses, probably best to wear a nude strapless bra).

Short Dress in Deep Ocean:

This color looked really good on MOH, with her blue eyes. I'm thinking of requiring all the girls to wear blue contacts to match. :) The color will also look good at our venue, which overlooks the ocean (after all, it is called "deep ocean").

Long Dress in Navy:

I actually really like the navy color, too. I'm still debating between it and the deep ocean. I think the navy has almost a dark purpleish tint to it, which would go well with our flowers. I'm definitely going with the floor length dress, though. It just looks so much more elegant than the shorter one.

Short Dress in Aubergine:

Initially, we looked at aubergine since it was the closest thing available to dark purple, but it's a little too wine-colored for me. I think it would look great for a fall or vineyard wedding, though. Also, Ariane is in the last picture. TwoBirds is run out of a cute little apartment in Midtown that she used to live in before she married. It's nice to be able to try on dresses there, instead of an impersonal store.

The Best for Last:

Clearly, MOH approves of this dress. She says it's very comfortable and light, and thus very easy to wear. Deep ocean was also her favorite color. So, what's the general consensus? Yay or nay?

Bunches of Bouquets

2008-07-17T18:57:00.014-04:00

As I've yet to meet with my florist to discuss arrangements, I'm continuing to scour the internet and wedding magazines for pictures of flowers, centerpieces, etc. to show her when we do actually meet. Here are some of my latest bouquet finds:

I particularly like #2, as it matches our colors perfectly. However, I'll have to wait until we actually decide on bridesmaids dresses before I can pick their flowers. As for me, I'm concerned it may be a little overpowering, since the colors are so vibrant. I'm not 100% sure yet, though. I've thought about doing a mixture of irises and orchids, using some of those pink and purple orchids pictured above, but also including white orchids with purple throats. I've also thought about using lighter flowers for the bouquets and in the ceremony overall, and saving the "darker" flowers for the reception. If I do that, then I may go with bouquets similar to those in #3 and #6. I'll have a better idea once I talk to my florist, Tricia, at Laurel Lane.

Two Birds, One dress?

2008-07-16T19:23:00.007-04:00

TwoBirds Bridesmaid, http://www.twobirdsbridesmaid.com/, is apparently the newest "It" thing in bridesmaid fashion. It's a relatively simple concept, but has wide reaching effects -- essentially, it's one dress (literally, as the dress is one size fits all) that can be tied a multitude of ways (at least 10 according to the website). Every major wedding magazine has written about them, all the blogs have covered it, and even the Today Show featured it on their wedding segment.

So, what exactly is a "twobirds bridesmaid" dress? It's a relatively simple dress made of a jersey spandex blend. It comes in 2 lengths, calf length with butterfly hem ($270) and floor length ($290). And they come in 13 different colors, each with matching groomsmen ties available. The idea behind the dress is found in the top of the dress, which consists of two long lengths of fabric that can be arranged and tied in a number of different styles. Each girl can choose the style that best suits them.

It's an interesting concept, but I'm curious as to how it "works" in real life. I can't imagine tying it is the easiest thing in the world (although there are instructions on their website). Plus, I've heard rumors that "less than busty" gals may have some trouble with it. And, it seems rather pricey considering the fabric. However, it is a way to give the girls options without worrying about sizing and matching colors. Plus, the fabric is very light and travels well, which is necessary considering most of bridesmaids are traveling from out of state.

Overall, it's worth a trip to the TwoBirds Bridesmaid salon to check it out. My MOH and I will be stopping by on Monday evening, and I'll give the full report then. Until then, what are your thoughts? Anyone seen this dress in action?

Be Our Guest!

2008-07-15T21:34:00.007-04:00

As I'm nearing the point in time when I actually need to do something "constructive," I've discovered yet another detail that I can obsess over to prolong the "creative" period. Our guest "book." As you may know, guest books are increasingly not books at all. There are lots of ideas floating around, including:

The ever popular photo-mat-in-frame:

This is a simple enough concept. You simply put a picture of the happy couple (usually an engagement picture) in a mat, and then let guests sign it. Afterwards, you frame it and, voila, you have an extremely large, framed guest book that you'll proudly hang... in your basement. Or, knowing FI, it'll stay leaning up against the wall of his closet for years.

Then, there's the newest wedding "must have" -- the photo booth guest book:

This is actually a neat idea, and one FBIL used for his wedding a few weeks ago. There are several different companies that do this now (kinda like the explosion of chocolate fountain dessert companies a few years ago when it was the "It" thing). Some photo booths digitally record the photos, and the bride and groom get a DVD of all the pictures. Others have a double print out, where the guests keep one copy and put the other in a photo guest book. Still others simply have the one print out, and the guests put them in the guest book and write messages around it.

The pre-photo booth idea was the Polaroid guest book, where someone would stand by the door with a Polaroid and snap pictures of guests as they came in. The picture went into a book, and then guests wrote messages. While cheaper than a photo booth, it's also not as "glamorous" and with Polaroid discontinuing their popular camera, it's not as easy to come by anymore either.

Another up and coming idea is the "wishing tree," where guests not only sign their names but also offer sage wisdom and advice to the newlyweds. However, knowing many of my friends as I do, it'd probably be more like an "opposite" tree -- do the opposite of whatever they say do.

And, finally, akin to the wishing tree, there's the "write on a rock that we'll place in a vase or in our garden" idea. Yes, I swear, it's an idea found on The Knot. Apparently, the guests are supposed to wish the newlyweds well as they place the rock in the vase.

So, as you may have noticed, I'm not particularly thrilled with any of these options. If you have any ideas, I'm all ears. At the moment, the best idea to me seems to be a "coffee table" book of our engagement pictures, and then have people sign it and write messages as they would normally. As with most coffee table books, it'll probably end up covered in dust somewhere and never looked at, but at least we'll have something to show the grandkids.

Unphotogenity (It's a Word)

2008-07-09T21:54:00.004-04:00

If it's not a word, it should be a word, because it's the only thing that properly describes me and FI. We are probably the most unphotogenic people on the planet. In the 2+ years we've been together, I think there's maybe 2 good pictures of us. Total. Either his eyes are closed or I'm squinting. Inevitably, one of us (and usually both of us) will hate the picture.

Case in point -- FI's brother got married a couple of weeks ago, and I was looking forward to using some of the photographs of me and FI for our wedding website and the blog. Unfortunately, despite the fact that he looked quite dashing in his custom suit, and I was actually having a decent hair and make-up day, we still didn't get one good shot! Not ONE!

This, of course, makes me worried about our own wedding day pictures. What if I'm squinting in all of them? It seems that whenever I smile, my eyes close of their own volition. If I try to keep them open, I look like I'm in a perpetual state of shock. And, I must be part vampire, because as soon as I go outside, my eyes become super sensitive to the sun and they immediately close. I pity our photographer. I think I need to write up a list of all our photogenic shortcomings and give them to Kristin now. She's obviously going to need all the time she can get to develop ways of combating our unphotogenity... afterall, we've had a combined 56 years of doing the ugly squinty shots.

Weekend Recap

2008-07-09T21:28:00.002-04:00

So, I'm a little late, but here's a recap from last Sunday's trip to Newport.

At approximately 10am, as we were leaving to head to St. Mary's, the worst thing in the world happened -- Fritz and Samantha escaped! It was truly horrifying. They ran past us, as the gate was open, and, as beagles do, they caught a scent and chased it. Unfortunately, for us, that meant we had to chase them, and just hoped they stopped. There was a little woodsy ravine near the house that they ran down into, and FI dutifully followed them down. About 20 mins later, although it felt like an eternity, he had them both! At that point, we were all sweaty and dirty, particularly FI, but we rushed around and be on the road by 10:30. We somehow even managed to be early for Mass.

The church is even grander than I had remembered it. It was a beautiful service, and definitely strengthened our resolve to get married there. It just felt right. The priest, Fr. Barry, seemed a nice man, with a good speaking voice, although we didn't get to talk to him for long because there was a christening right after Mass.

We then drove back to Newport to visit the Yankee Peddler Inn, which is a B&B that we were looking at. Although it is quite cheaper than other places, and holds 20 rooms, it wasn't quite up to snuff. We then headed over to Pearls of Newport, where we loved the rooms and the amenities, but worried about having enough space for everyone. Pearls, consisting of 3 adjacent buildings, only has 13 rooms. Of course, there are multitudes of B&B's in Newport, some of which are next door to Pearls. We could always have the wedding party stay at Pearls, and then guests elsewhere if necessary. For the moment, though, I think it's safe to say that we'll be booking Pearls for both accommodations and our morning after brunch. If you want to check it out, it's www.pearlsofnewport.com. Just know that we have dibs on Suite #15.

Going to the Chapel..

2008-07-05T22:02:00.005-04:00

FI and I are spending the 4th of July holiday weekend at his parents' place in Narragansett, RI. We're taking this opportunity to knock out some wedding related "chores," as well, including a trip to St. Mary's for Mass tomorrow. Since we've never actually met Fr. Barry or heard him speak, I'm very excited to meet the man who will be marrying us. FI's grandmother and FMIL will also be making the trip with us. Bristol is about an hour away from Narragansett, but we'll pass through Newport. On the way back, we're going to stop in at a couple of Bed & Breakfasts in Newport to see about guest accommodations. I'll keep you posted!

Fr. Barry Gamanche

Here Comes the Bridesmaid: Part II

2008-07-04T11:22:00.012-04:00

Welcome back to Part II of Here Comes the Bridesmaid! Here are the rest of the dresses, including the frontrunners:

Dress #6:

Watters. I like the halter top of this dress, as well as the back, but the silk charmeuse material is clingy and the "v" may be a little risque. http://www.watters.com/product.php?coll=watters&showid=479

Dress #7:

Jim Hjelm. Black chiffon. This dress is very elegant, but unique. It comes in several colors, but I actually like it in black. http://www.watters.com/product.php?coll=watters&showid=479

Dress #8:

Jim Hjelm, silk de chine gown. While I like the top of this dress, the bodice of it seems to be lacking something (perhaps a sash?). This was one of MOH's favorites, though. http://www.watters.com/product.php?coll=watters&showid=479

Dress #9:

Jim Hjelm, satin-faced taffeta. This is the frontrunner dress! Like Dress #3, it has an iridescent satin skirt. There is also a wide sash, which gives the "kimono" look and hides any insecurities. I also like the tri-colors, which can be made to match our colors (although I like these colors, too). http://www.watters.com/product.php?coll=watters&showid=479

So, this is the bunch. I particularly like #7 and #9. What's your favorite?

Here Comes the Bridesmaid: Part I

2008-07-04T09:52:00.014-04:00

Finally! MOH and I had a successful bridesmaid dress shopping trip on Wednesday at "Here Comes the Bridesmaid" in NYC. There were TONS of dresses available there, and unlike many places where the dresses are in the back and they bring out ones they "think" you'll like, at HCTB, all the dresses are out front for you to look through. I found many Jim Hjelm and Watters gowns that I loved, along with a few Bari Jay and Bill Levkoff ones, too. I've narrowed it down here to some of our favorites (just remember to focus on the styles and not the colors):

Dress #1:
Watters, Wtoo Collection. This dress was cute, but it was tea-length, which seemed to make my short MOH even shorter. Probably not the best length for my shorter bridesmaids (i.e. all of them). I think that either cocktail length or floor length is the best way to go, especially since it's more formal anyway. http://www.watters.com/product.php?coll=wtoo&showid=644

Dress #2: This Grecian-style dress was gorgeous! It was also very light and "flowy," but I'm also scared it's too billowy and full to stand next to my gown. As I look at it in the pictures, though, I think it's still a contender.

Dress #3:
Jim Hjelm, Fall 2008 Collection. I love the iridescent color of this Jim Hjelm dress, and MOH loved the kimono-style wrap sash. Although I think the color is too pinkish, they have several other iridescent colors that would work well. Oddly enough, this dress is "satin faced taffeta" which, as you may recall, was practically a dirty word to me. Taffeta, however, doesn't look so bad in pictures, and I think it works with everyone's body type. http://www.jimhjelmoccasions.com/dress_db_occ/display_dress.php?imageno=5878&multimatch=x

Dress #4:
This is the type of fabric and dress that I had initially envisioned. It's silk charmeuse, very elegant and classy, but with a touch of sexiness. I LOVE the back on this dress! However, I'm not sure all of my bridesmaids will like it and it's clingy fabric.

Dress #5:
Another Jim Hjelm dress, satin and lace. I think this one would be very complimentary to my gown, but I'm not completely in love with the straight A-line skirt. http://www.jimhjelmoccasions.com/dress_db_occ/display_dress.php?imageno=5810&multimatch=x

Stay tuned for Part II!

www.LBoogie-Procstylee.com

2008-07-01T22:27:00.001-04:00

Yay! Our website is up and running. Yes, there are still TONS of things that need to be added, and there are practically NO pictures (afterall, we haven't had our engagement photos yet), but I'm too excited about it to wait around any longer. So, for your viewing pleasure, I present: www.lboogie-procstylee.com -- our very own wedding website and URL!

STDs

2008-06-30T21:07:00.004-04:00

Unlike it's acronym-twin, Save the Dates ("STDs") are actually good -- they let all your guests know the date of your wedding well in advance for planning purposes. Although our wedding is in the States, it's still somewhat of a "destination" wedding, with Newport being a touristy seaport town. Many of our guests will be traveling from outside Rhode Island, and since it's the start of the "busy" season, they will need to make hotel arrangements ASAP. With this in mind, I'm hoping to send out our STDs in August, which is a good 9 months prior to our date.

I've been toying around with the "what" and the "how" of my STDs, though. At first, I was set on doing "messages in a bottle," which can actually be sent through the mail without utilizing boxes. Then, that seemed a little to kitschy, and the little scroll wouldn't be large enough to put all the information that I want to include on it.

My second idea was to do luggage tags. Ebay has some really cute chrome ones, shaped like planes or with hearts on them, that come in their own individual boxes. The problem with these though is the price. At almost $2/each, plus the cost of shipping them out to our guests, it would put us over budget.

Next, I was getting desperate and thought we'd just send postcards with our information. But, then I read an article on Weddingbee.com, which said that by the time many of the postcards arrived, they were damaged. I don't want our guests first "experience" with our wedding to be "damaged."

So, where does that leave us? I want something that gives our guests a taste of what our wedding will be like -- something modern, fun and, ultimately, very classy. I want to provide them with enough information to entice them to make the trek to Newport, RI, and I want to highlight the necessity of booking rooms early. What do I have in mind? You'll just have to wait and see....

MOH in NYC

2008-06-25T18:23:00.003-04:00

Yay! My BFF/MOH moved to NYC on Sunday! I have to admit that I was feeling a little lonely here without my FI and puppies with me, so I'm really glad that she's here now. Hopefully, we can take full advantage of all the free stuff that NYC offers in the summer -- movies, concerts, etc.

Our first order of business is attending a Priscilla of Boston Sample sale on Friday from 8am-8pm. Since I don't have to be into work until 9:30, she and I are going to head over there for the opening. Although I already have my dress, they have heavily discounted bridesmaid dresses and flower girls dresses, as well as bridal accessories. Who knows what we may find! But, since the sale is so early, and I live way out in Queens, I'm going to bunk with her and our friend Steph on Thursday night. It'll be just like old times -- a sleepover! As it turns out, Steph is also coming with us, since she's engaged, too. It's like an epidemic these days.

Wedding Website

2008-06-24T22:52:00.001-04:00

Since starting this blog, I've neglected to actually get our wedding website off the ground. However, that's all about to change soon! Stay tuned for the link to the most fabulous wedding website ever!

Piece of Cake

2008-06-22T19:33:00.010-04:00

As I continue to look for an affordable, yet unique wedding cake, I ran across these pictures from InStyle Weddings. Each of them has a quality (or two!) that I like, yet most of them seem as if they'd be cheaper to make than the Ben-Israel cake I originally posted about. I've come to realize that unless you consciously make the cake a focal point, then it's largely unnoticed. Even then, if there's a specialty groom's cake (as we will have), then the "bride's" cake is chalked up as "just another wedding cake" and the "oohs and ahhs" are reserved for the groom's. In light of this, I can't justify spending thousands on it, especially when it goes uneaten by many guests.

This is actually one of my favorites. It is simple, yet classy and, most importantly, there's some "pop" to it with the different flowers. I would use irises, orchids, lilies, lilac, etc in my color scheme in between the layers.

This is a really simple idea, but the unique cake plate and blueberries add some drama to it (the good kind of drama). As long as there's some type of blueberry filling, the blueberries wouldn't be out of place at our wedding. Since blueberries are also FI's favorite, I'm sure he'd have no problem with that.

I chose this picture not for the cake, but rather for the cake stand. I think that even a plain cake can be made outstanding with an elegant or unique cake stand. This plain white cake, with even just a few orchids or irises on top, would be an instant eye-catching on top of a tall glass cake stand.

This is a simple, yet classic cake that's made unique by it's square shape. If we use real flowers instead of sugar paste flowers, this shouldn't be terribly expensive to make.

Moving into the slightly more expensive designs, this cake is cute without being overly elaborate. I think it's too tall for us, but I like the "off-centerness" of the layers, and the winding flowers. These flowers are made of sugar paste, but I'm sure it's possible to get real flowers if they would be cheaper.

This design is deceptively simple. It's modeled after an Emilio Pucci design, and I think it's fabulous, especially given our water theme. However, I'm not sure how much it'd cost or even if a local bakery could replicate it.

Finally, I'm back to another elaborate design that's (shockingly) also Ron Ben-Israel. The tilt of the layers is particularly what I'm drawn to, as the design on the layers could be discarded and the flowers could be real instead of paste. Overall, I think a similar look could be replicated for less than I'm sure Mr. Israel charges.

What do you think? Should I stick with the original idea, or go with one of these?

Whole Lotta Wholesaling

2008-06-18T22:05:00.014-04:00

How did people function before the World Wide Web? More importantly, how did people plan a wedding without it? What did brides-to-be do before wedding blogs, planning sites, and The Knot were available? Personally, I think it's a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it'd be much harder to find vendors, hotels, etc without the internet. Plus, there are millions of great ideas floating around out there, just waiting to be plucked by the diligent web-surfing bride. On the other hand, there are millions of great ideas out there -- ideas from weddings that you want to implement (a fancy term for "copy") and of course, beautiful wedding ideas that you want to top. Ideas that you want to invent and share with the world via Grace Ormonde, and then have legions of brides copy you (that was probably a little too ambitious-sounding, wasn't it?). In any event, I digress...

My purpose in writing this post was to inform all those brides-to-be out there about the greatness of wholesale shops, especially for basic floral needs. Although many don't have their entire inventory online, some do and are willing to work with you over the phone and internet. Wholesale shops often boast better pricing than the rental fees quoted by your florist or venue. This is because your florist and venue are buying their products from wholesale shops themselves, and then marking up the price. So, why bother with the middle man when you can go straight to the source, especially when you'll come out on top?

One wholesale shop I've recently discovered is here in New York -- Jamali Floral & Garden Supply (http://www.jamaligarden.com/). While they have a large warehouse in Manhattan, they also post most of their products online, which are available for shipping. Here are some of the great deals that I've found, including things I'm thinking of purchasing:

Floating candles for the cocktail hour centerpieces, Set of 16: $16

Antique white lanterns, both 20" & 14," for lighting the outside lawn: $22 & $12.99, respectively. Or, a case of 6 20" lanterns is $108; case of 6 14" is $57. Since we'll need several, I may consider buying in cases to save more. The only problem with these, though, is that they are out of stock until "Spring 2009." I called the store, but they won't know an exact date until closer to the end of year.

Aquamarine Acrylic Sea Glass (many colors available), as vase filler or decorative accent, 2lb bag: $11

25in Peacock Feather Spray: $5

7x14 Glass Cylinder Vase, handblown in Poland: $25, or $84/case of 4

Metal Tulip Vases, 9", 12", 15", the unique modern style of these vases may go well with our contemporary theme: $17, $23, $28 respectively

There are TONS of other great ideas and products on Jamali's website, and plenty of other wholesalers out there. My basic advice is to never just accept the price quoted to you by your florist, venue or any other vendor. Take the time to research it -- use the internet! If you can buy it for the same price (or cheaper) than you can rent it, why wouldn't you?

The Pretty Side of Planning

2008-06-16T21:13:00.012-04:00

Planning lately hasn't been a barrel of laughs. In fact, it's mainly been a pain in my neck, consisting of choosing bridesmaid dresses, coordinating the day of coordinator, and finally securing a florist. This is the ugly side of planning. The "we need your 50% deposit immediately or we'll cancel your hold on that date" side of planning. Weddings are a cutthroat business; those aren't hearts and rainbows in your vendors' eyes, they're dollar signs -- and don't let anyone tell you differently.

Once you realize this, though, you can move past it to the prettier side of planning. It's the hearts and rainbows side, or rather the "oh I don't care how much it is, I just have to have an 5 ft swan heart ice sculpture!" What better symbol of our undying love and our intertwining lives than that of two blocks of ice carved into swans with their necks melded together in the shape of a heart?! (Insert the requisite "cold-hearted" jokes here). So, before my inherent sarcasm and skepticism ruin a perfectly good "pretty planning" post (how's that for alliteration?), here are some new inspirational pictures of flowers and reception centerpieces:

This is absolutely perfect, even down to the colors! I love the idea of using a single type of flower for some of the centerpieces, and I love the way this one cascades between the varying heights of vases.

Again, the colors are fabulous, and I like the idea of decorating the chiavari chairs without completely covering them in organza or sashes. This might be a cute way to distinguish the bride and groom's chairs.

I like the varying shades of purple and pink in these flowers, but I don't know if they'd clash with the darker blueish purple of the irises. It might be a nice contrast to have some centerpieces with this pinkish purple and others with the darker irises.

I love the uniqueness of this bouquet! Although not as prominent as I'd originally planned, I do still anticipate using peacock feathers in the overall design. I think the very few used here are charmingly unexpected, while still being elegant. The colors match perfectly, as well.

And that, folks, is the pretty side of planning. Now, if only we had a florist...

Block Heads

2008-06-11T22:36:00.003-04:00

Who knew it would be so difficult to get a hotel room block? Apparently, all the hotels have been scheming against unwitting brides, suckering them in and then blindsiding them. Hotels know you need them. It's a small thing, but as with most things in life, it's the small things that matter. What's the point in having a big shindig wedding if no one shows up? The guests won't make the trip without a place to stay, and in "destination" towns like Newport, you don't leave finding a room up to chance, especially during the "busy" season.

It's all a big racket, like a bad scene out of the Godfather. Before they do something for you, you must do something for them, and unfortunately guaranteeing at least 20 rooms of business isn't good enough. Oh no, you must also have some sort of "function" with them. A "food and beverage" function, to be exact, usually with a hefty minimum starting around $2000. Since we've already planned our rehearsal dinner and reception, that really only leaves the option of the day after brunch. Hotels know this, and they use it to their advantage. No regular continental breakfast will cover those fees. We're talking an elaborate "made-to-order" omelets and french toast brunch; one that will require at least one $65 chef attendant.

Having little choice, say we agree to this extortion. What then? We're guaranteeing 20 rooms of business, after all. That's worth something, right? Those rooms will be discounted significantly, right? And, we'll get a free room, a suite nonetheless, as the happy couple, I'm sure. Oh no! Think again. Our prize is the mere opportunity to stay there, the mere pleasure of being in their company. After all, it's their busy season. PLENTY of people would LOVE to have those rooms.

Well, fine then! Let other people have those $300/night rooms. You can take your fancy made-to-order omelets and shove them up that attendant's ... ok, a little over the top, perhaps, but you get the idea. We're not playing your game! We will not yield! I'm not exactly sure what we're going to do yet, but we'll think of something... I hope.

One Last Suggestion

2008-06-11T07:44:00.007-04:00

It occurred to me that I've become very close with my sales lady at POB lately, as I've been making regular trips there to look at bridesmaid dresses. In fact, I've been there looking for bridesmaid dresses more times than I went there looking for MY dress. I think I've pretty much memorized their catalogue by now. Thus, as my absolute LAST attempt to find a dress there, here are my final suggestions. If these don't work out, then I'm moving on to bigger and better things.

As I mentioned yesterday, I still like the "tip of the shoulder" dress (http://priscillaofboston.com/dress_detail.jsp?gid=230&sfid=50667&f=). I think the girls would too. However, I'm a little cautious about the peony color. The sales lady thinks 5 dresses in that color would be too "much," which I guess translates into too "bright." I think I disagree with her, but it's hard to know since there are ZERO sample dresses in that color. Since I've decided that she may be right, I decided to counterbalance that brightness with another dress. So, if I go with the peony dress for 3 girls, then 2 of my girls will be wearing this dress in the sweet pea color:

http://priscillaofboston.com/dress_detail.jsp?gid=230&sfid=50666&f=

While I don't think it's the exact same color as peony, I do think they would complement each other. What do you think? It's obviously going to be difficult to ever know for sure, since there aren't any peony samples. If we went with these, it'd be on a hope and prayer that they looked ok together. I'm not entirely sure it's a chance I want to take.

Bridesmaids do POB

2008-06-09T23:00:00.014-04:00

As I mentioned previously, two of my bridesmaids, Allyson and MOH Lauren, went to POB in Tyson's Corner, outside of DC, last week to try on dresses. Over the course of the afternoon, they tried on numerous dresses, including those that I'd selected and lots others (who can resist the call of an afternoon fashion show?). And, what my faithful bridesmaids returned to me was a full report of their findings, complete with pictures and documentation. Without further ado, I give you their scouting report:

Their favorite dress was one I had not originally picked out. It was very elegant, but I thought it was missing something. When I went back to POB last weekend with FMIL, I tried on this dress, and added a brooch in the middle of the empire, which added a lot, but I still think it may be too "bridesmaid-y" for me.

For the rest of the dresses, I'll present them to you in true runway shoot style. It's the First (and only) Annual LBGM Bridesmaid Fashion Shoot!

Allyson makes a perfect model. She's got perfect posture and a killer smile. Of course, by the looks of her clenching hands, I can't help but wonder if she's plotting my early demise. I swear I'll pick a dress soon, and I promise to keep the Bridezilla in check!

I'm pretty sure this is Lauren's diva pose, but it could just as easily her ghetto "I'm gonna beat yer a**" nature coming out. By the looks of things, I've decided against both of these dresses (for fear of my own safety).

You may recognize this as one of the dresses that I had originally chosen as possible bridesmaid dresses. Well, don't let their smiles and diva poses fool you... they hated it. Personally, I think they look great, but maybe I'm just biased towards the dress.

Unfortunately, they weren't able to try on the "tip of the shoulder" dress that I loved because it wasn't available at that POB location. So, I'm keeping it in the mix, but other than that, it's pretty much back to the drawing board.

It's too Late to Apologize (it's too laaaate)

2008-06-08T23:33:00.005-04:00

I apologize for my absence last week. As you know, I moved to New York last Sunday, and then I started my new job on Monday. Everything has been very hectic! Added to that, the internet in my apartment was on the fritz all last week, so I couldn't update!

Speaking of my apartment, you'll be happy to know that I did find a place to live, and it's in Middle Village, NY. Irony of ironies, Middle Village is the old "Little Italy" of New York, where all the mobsters used to live and hang out. I guess I just can't get away from the Italians! Many "notables" are buried in the St. John's Cemetary here, including John Gotti, Lucky Luciano (boss of the Genovese crime family), and Carlo Gambino (boss of the Gambino crime family).

Middle Village is located in between Brooklyn and Queens, so it's about a half hour commute on the subway to my job in the Lower East Side. Not too bad, all things considered. The best (worst?) thing about my subway ride is that I get out at the Canal Street stop every day to go to work. As you may know, Canal St is the infamous Chinatown street that carries VERY realistic knock-offs of every bag imaginable -- Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, and Fendi to name a few. While I've always been a fan of the "real thing," it's very tempting to buy a couple $30 knock-offs to diversify my collection! It'll be our secret. :P

New York, New York

2008-05-31T13:54:00.003-04:00

I'm making the big move to NYC tomorrow, although as of 2pm today, I still don't have a place to live. You'd think as anal as I am about planning my wedding (and pretty much every other aspect of my life) that I'd have found a place months ago. But, I think I've been living in a state of denial. As excited as I am about working at the Manhattan District Attorney's office, I'm devastated about having to leave FI and the pups. It's the little things that I'll miss the most -- coming home to licks and barks, Fritz showing me something he "caught" (i.e. usually a sock), Samantha doing whatever she wants and getting away with it (because she's a lemon beagle), and of course just having them there. I'll miss waking up and going to sleep with them. I'll miss being able to communicate with Rob with more than words... the kind of communication that you pick up from a look or posture ... the kind of communication that only comes after living with someone for so long that you know them as well as you know yourself.

Now, I will be back every weekend (or at least almost every weekend), but it's still going to be a "commuter" relationship. It's a regression to when we first started dating, and he was in Boston and I in DC. It's only for 10 weeks. We can do that, right? Plenty of people do that, especially between Boston and NYC. I'm sure it will fly by ... the summer always does. At least, that's what I'm telling myself.

Playing Bridesmaid

2008-05-29T22:36:00.013-04:00

Today, I went over to Priscilla of Boston to try on the dresses I previously mentioned. All in all, it was a productive trip, but I did hit a few snags. First of all, the material that the dresses are made out of (silk satin) makes them very staticy and easy to pick and pull. This is obviously not good. In fact, it's so "not good" that POB pulled all the dresses from the showroom and is no longer making them in that material. As of right now, POB is still making the dresses, but they're substituting silk charmeuse (which is basically the same thing only better). This is why we couldn't find the dresses to start with -- they were all in the back and not on the show floor.

Secondly, I really like both long styles of dresses, both the strapless and the "tip of the shoulder." But, I think I like the "tip of the shoulder dress" a little bit more. It looks a bit more elegant, and the ruching at the bust area provides more coverage. Additionally, I even like the chiffon sash bow. So, maybe I'll give the girls a choice between the two, or maybe I'll just pick the "tip of the shoulder dress."

Thirdly, I really like both the "spa blue" and "mint julep" colors. However, the "peony" color would probably match the best with my other colors. I'm a little worried, though, that it'll be too pink or too bright. They didn't have any dresses available in peony, so all I got to see was the fabric swatch. I'm slightly afraid that it's a great color in small doses, but overwhelming as a floor length dress. The "spa blue" and "mint julep" colors are rather complimentary, though, so again maybe the girls could choose which color they wanted. But, if I had to pick one, I'd go with "spa blue."

As a side note, these dresses were WAY too big on me, so it's a little hard to tell exactly how they'll look when they actually fit. Additionally, I apologize for the blurry pictures (that's what happens when a 65 year old saleswoman takes them).

Strapless in Mint Julep:

Tip of the Shoulder:

On Sunday, two of my bridesmaids are going to the POB outside Washington, DC to try on these dresses and maybe a few others. So, once I get those pictures, I'll have a better idea of what I want to go with (I hope). What's your favorite dress combination?

More Decor Ideas

2008-05-27T20:27:00.007-04:00

I recently found some great reception decor ideas at http://www.wildflowerlinens.com/, and I thought I'd share:

I love the colors and the monochromatic theme of the last two pictures! I want to incorporate bits and pieces from all the pictures into our reception decor. The hard part is deciding between them all!

Playing Tourist

2008-05-27T20:06:00.003-04:00

Last Friday, FI and I headed to Newport to finally use the bed and breakfast gift that his mother gave him for his birthday in April. It was for a fabulous night at The Hotel Viking, http://www.hotelviking.com/viking_home.aspx, which is one of the premier hotels in Newport. As soon as we walked in, I could understand why! It's absolutely gorgeous, with big comfy rooms, a friendly staff, an indoor pool and jacuzzi, and a state of the art spa ("Spa Terre").

After we checked in, we decided to walk down to the main street (Thames St... pronounced like it sounds and not like "Tims") for dinner. It was actually really fun and interesting. We got to play tourists in our own town, which is something we never would have done without FMIL's gift! Newport is a walking town, with only a couple main streets, yet it can be confusing as well. A good map will definitely be included in all of the OOT bags! FI and I ate dinner at H2O, a previously considered rehearsal dinner site, which is located right on the water. The food and the view were excellent, but perhaps most exciting was seeing "our" dinner yacht go by! I hope to be able to take it for a test drive before our rehearsal dinner, but it looks awesome on the water!

All in all, it was great to just relax and see Newport from the perspective of tourists (as our guests will be). It gave me a great idea of the types of things my guests will need and want to know while they're visiting. It was also great to try out the Hotel Viking as a potential hotel for our wedding night!

Have Your Cake... and eat it too!

2008-05-22T11:33:00.008-04:00

Originally, FI and I weren't going to have a cake, but rather a cupcake tower. Neither one of us are big cake eaters, and we're planning on having an extensive dessert selection and maybe even a candy/pastry bar. My mother, however, was horrified at the idea of not having an actual wedding cake. Apparently, it's not "really" a wedding without a cake. So, to appease her, we gave in and decided to get a cake.

It's really not been a top priority for me, though. At every wedding I've been to, very few people actually eat the cake (especially when there are other dessert options), and usually the cake looks better than it actually tastes. Fondant makes for a very smooth and decorative surface, but it's hard as a rock.

Enter Ron Ben-Israel (http://www.weddingcakes.com/). My mother's obsessed with him and his cakes, and with good reason. They're gorgeous, and supposedly, they're actually good to eat. He uses a very thin layer of fondant over buttercream icing, which makes it scrumptious and not hard. Of course, he's also a famous cake designer with famous cake designer prices. He's also based in NYC, and while this isn't entirely prohibitive, it does pose a few transportation problems. Recently, though, one of my college friends (and sorority sister!) began working as a pastry chef for Ron Ben-Israel! Hopefully, I'll be able to utilize her expertise in making a decision.

I'm not a big fan of traditional cakes, but at the same time I don't like those cakes that are WAY out there. I want something in the middle (something that reflects our "modern traditionalist" theme), and I think this cake ... takes the cake (sorry, bad pun):

Isn't the detail amazing? Everything on this cake is edible! This cake is "adorned with confectionery lace and a sugarpaste bow" and it is "vanilla-bean cake filled with strawberry cream and champagne-chocolate ganache." Yum! It serves 300, which is way more than we need, and it costs $4,500! Hopefully, we can work with Ron on both making it smaller and substantially decreasing the price. Otherwise, we may see if someone in RI can replicate it. I'm also thinking about using flowers instead of a bow. This is really the first cake I've found, though, that I really like. Here are some of the detail shots:

Bridesmaids' Dresses, Part II

2008-05-21T17:27:00.009-04:00

As I'm waiting for Janie over at The Bride's Cafe to get back to me with information about the teal and blue dress I previously wrote about, I've found a few other dresses that I like at Priscilla of Boston. Since I bought my dress from POB, my bridesmaids will get a discount on theirs (although I don't remember how much). The good thing about buying "conventional" bridesmaid dresses is the ease with which they can find matching styles, fabrics, and colors. There are also POB stores throughout the US, so my girls won't have a problem finding the dress.

The material for these gowns is silk satin chiffon, which is traditional but not taffeta (I HATE taffeta). I'm not sure which color I would want, since it's hard to tell the exact color online, but probably either "spa blue," "imperial," or "mint julep." The colors may even be complimentary, so that the girls could decide which color they wanted. I like that the colors are the pastel versions of my reception colors. It makes them seem more elegant and classic. Since my dress is very Grace Kelly-classic, these colors and dresses may coordinate the best.

Of the POB dresses, there's the option of strapless or sleeveless (actually "tip of the shoulder sleeves") in the long gowns, or cute little cap sleeves in the shorter one. As of now (which we all know how quickly that changes), I'm leaning towards floor length. However, I will probably still let the girls choose which style they want (although I have a feeling most of them are going to choose strapless).

Dress #1 in Mint Julep: http://priscillaofboston.com/dress_detail.jsp?gid=2&sfid=50674&f=

Dress #2: http://priscillaofboston.com/dress_detail.jsp?gid=2&sfid=50667&f= (note that I'm not actually considering yellow as a dress color, it's just here to show the style ... so don't worry, Allyson).

Dress #3 in Mint Julep: http://priscillaofboston.com/dress_detail.jsp?gid=2&sfid=50672&f=

After clicking on each link, you can select and view the different colors available. All 3 of these dresses come in the 3 colors listed above (and oddly enough, they look different in each picture). I am going to try and make a trip to POB next week to look at color swatches.

Which dress do you like best so far?

Sheer Genius, Part II

2008-05-20T16:56:00.008-04:00

So, forever ago, I posted on buying organza sheers for our tables. Well, I finally got around to taking some pictures of them, and I wanted to share! It's hard to really capture the color since they can look blue, pinkish, or purple depending on the light, but I have several shots from different angles.

What do you think? They're over my comforter, so not exactly the same as a satin tablecloth, but you get the idea. Also, they obviously need to be ironed before being used!

The Hunt for Bridesmaids' Dresses

2008-05-20T16:15:00.010-04:00

Bridesmaid dresses are proving to be a thorn in my side. I suppose it's my own fault for not really knowing what I want, whether it be color, cut or style. Every time I think I've found something I like, I change my mind a few days later. It's very frustrating (and driving my bridesmaids nuts). I do like the idea of having my bridesmaids were different styles or colors, though.

Our color scheme has become a little more purple than I had originally intended, but the blue and teal are still there! But, it can be difficult to find dresses that matches these colors (oddly enough). Here are some of the dresses that I have recently found:

I love the "ombre" effect of this Mary L Couture dress. Plus, it includes all of my colors! However, I'm scared that it may be too "beachy" for our formal affair. If we were having our wedding outdoors at Belle Mer, as opposed to in a church, then this would be perfect. The one more formal part of the dress, which isn't really noticeable in the picture, is that the bodice is covered in sequins. I think it would also look good if one or two of the girls wore this dress, and the others wore a similar style in solid blue/teal or purple.

Again, I love the color of this Aidan Mattox dress, but it may be too "beachy." Maybe FI and I should just move our ceremony outside!

Today, I found yet another dress that I love ... but this time, it may actually be the perfect dress! Of course, since nothing can ever be easy, I have no idea who makes this dress or if it's even still available. I saw it on The Bride's Cafe blog, http://www.thebridescafe.typepad.com/. It's not actually being worn as a bridesmaid dress, so the designer's name isn't listed. It's the long blue and teal dress on the right (looks to be chiffon):

If anyone knows who makes this dress, or has any ideas on how to find out, PLEASE let me know! Coincidently, I'd like to point out that this wedding took place in Newport, RI! It's at the NY Harbour Court Yacht club. FI and I looked at having our rehearsal dinner there, but nixed it in favor of actually having it on a yacht. :)

I'm Back!

2008-05-20T16:11:00.003-04:00

Yay! I'm back and officially a "2L" (although I do still have the writing competition to finish). Regardless, I can once again focus on my fabulous wedding. Today is also notable as being my and FI's anniversary. Exactly 2 years ago today, we met on a sidewalk in Washington, DC. Happy Anniversary hunny!

Also, 5 days ago was our "pre-versary" -- now, I no longer have to specify "2009" when I say our wedding date! When someone asks me when we're getting married, I can finally just say "May 15." It's the little things that matter. :)

Going on Hiatus

2008-04-07T18:25:00.003-04:00

Posting will be light for the next month, as I'm in the final weeks of my first year of law school! I will be finished with exams on May 14, so I'll pick everything back up then. Wish me luck!

My Famous Fiance

2008-04-04T18:35:00.004-04:00

I just have to brag on my famous fiance! He runs a wildly popular Yankees website, http://www.nomaas.org/, that he created several years ago out of frustration with the Yankees' management. The title is a play on words of sorts -- it means "no more" in Spanish, but the extra "a" comes from Kevin Maas, who was a forgettable Yankee player. Recently, he was interviewed for a Newsday article on fan blogs and websites. NoMaas, being the most popular Yankees website outside the official one, was the featured site! I am very proud of him!! You can read the article here: http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spyinsider0404,0,1804350.column He's "Sensei John Kreese."

Sheer Genius

2008-04-04T18:17:00.002-04:00

On Thursday, I had an interview for a summer legal internship in NYC. Instead of taking the super early train, I decided to go up Wednesday night this time. So glad that I did! I was much more refreshed and better prepared for my 10:30 am interview. I think it went well, but keep your fingers crossed!

After my interview, I headed over to Magnolia's Linens in the Upper East Side. I had seen a Craiglist posting that they were selling table linens for up to 50% off to make room for new stock. Since Belle Mer is charging us $25-30 per sheer overlay RENTAL, I wanted to see if I could find something cheaper. Sure enough, I did! I found a perfect organza sheer overlay for $25 each. The great news is -- we BOUGHT them. Thus, we can resell them after our wedding and recoup some of the expense. They're a vibrant, shimmery blue that changes color depending on the light/which way you look at it. They can look more purple or pink. It fits perfectly with our "peacock" color scheme.

As soon as I get my camera back, I'll take some pictures!

A Rose By Any Other Name...

2008-04-01T17:49:00.002-04:00

...would be just as expensive. I had originally thought our flower budget would remain small, due to my apathy towards flowers in general and distaste of huge "poofy" arrangements. Unfortunately, I was sorely mistaken. It seems that orchids (my flower of choice) are expensive, and beyond that, you have to rent all the vases, candles, stands, etc. to place said orchids in. Thus, my simple of dream of submerged orchid centerpieces are costing upwards of $200/table!

Another option would be to have FMIL's friend, Gig, do them. She has taken many floral classes, and I'm sure would do an excellent job. FI and I would only need to purchase the flowers and vases. This may be a good way for me to help out with the arrangements without stressing out about it the day before or day of the wedding.

Finally, maybe we should just forgo flowers altogether, or at least greatly reduce them. We could have all candle centerpieces, which is always a very elegant look. Or maybe even come up with something entirely different. Who knows? I'm open to suggestions...

Photographer Found!

2008-04-01T00:16:00.006-04:00

FI and I met with the fabulous Kristin Spencer of Kristin Spencer Photography (http://www.kristinspencer.com/) on Saturday, and we were smitten! She works with her husband Jared as a two person, all day photography team. They are both RIT graduates majoring in photography, and in addition to shooting weddings, they shoot all the big runway shows for national magazines, such as Bride & Bloom and Grace Ormonde's Wedding Style. While I was drawn to her upbeat personality and youthful outlook on wedding photography, FI was more drawn to the fact that Jared was a Yankees fan (in fact, we didn't get to meet him because he was in NY for Opening Day). FI was immediately sold.

In addition to taking fabulous, photo-journalistic photographs, Kristin provides each bride with a "unique frill" -- a full magazine spread of proofs. It's hard to describe, but basically instead of getting a puny proof book (complete with "proof" stamped in big gold letters), she and Jared create a magazine style book with all your proofs. Additionally, she gives you a high res DVD of your proofs immediately (no waiting a year or more!).

Kristin also maintains a blog for her brides (http://www.kristinspencer.com/blog/) that has pictures of her weddings and helpful hints. We are VERY excited to have her shoot our special day! I have no doubt the pictures will phenomenal!

Here are just a few of her pictures, which were shot at a wedding at Belle Mer:

Officially a Catholic Bride!

2008-03-26T23:48:00.015-04:00

As most of ya'll know, I have been taking RCIA classes since last September. These are the classes you take before converting to Catholicism. On Easter Sunday, I was officially confirmed! It was a really great day, as my mom was in town and FI's family also joined us. In fact, FMIL was my sponsor (along with my FSIL, who couldn't be there)! We had dinner at the Chart House, and then went to Marsh Chapel (on BU's campus) for the evening Mass. Here are some of the pictures:

Me and FMIL:

Mom and FI:

FMIL and Gram:

Me and Brother Sam (my RCIA teacher):

Me and FI outside Marsh Chapel:

Doesn't my Lilly Pulitzer dress scream "spring"? It was a little cold to be wearing it, but it was the perfect Easter dress! Also, you can't really see it in the pictures, but FI gave me a fabulous Coach bag as a confirmation gift! It's the brown monogram slouch bag, with lavender scarf print and patent leather down the middle. Very cute, and he picked it out all by himself!

On the more religious side of confirmation gifts, I received a very nice set of pearl rosary beads with a brass confirmation case from my mom, who has been very supportive of my decision to convert. I was very glad to have her at my confirmation! Additionally, I received a sweet card and token from Gram. Finally, FMIL surprised me with her mother's ("Ma" to FI) set of lovingly worn and cherished rosary beads. I was very touched by this gesture, and I hope that I can one day be the kind of Catholic, mother, and grandmother that she was.

HUGE news!

2008-03-25T23:00:00.002-04:00

I BOUGHT MY DRESS TODAY!! It's absolutely fabulously perfect, and I love it! I initally tried it on yesterday on a trip to Priscilla's of Boston with my mom. Although I really loved it, I just couldn't commit to it that day (I'm indecisive like that). I did make an appointment for today at 2:30 to go back and try it on again before mom left, though.

Unfortunately, I woke up this morning disgustingly sick. My mom and FI wouldn't even let me go to class, not that I could have made it anyway. I slept all morning, and contemplated cancelling my appointment. Fortunately, I was feeling a little better that afternoon, and we decided to go. So glad that I did!

It didn't take long at all after I put it on with its custom veil to know it was THE ONE. It's definitely "me" but it wasn't anything like I thought I wanted. FMIL made a surprise stop at Priscilla's to see the dress on me, and she loved it too! Everyone agrees that it's the classic, Grace Kelly look I was going for. Hopefully, FI will love it too!

Weekend Festivities

2008-03-21T23:50:00.003-04:00

We have a very busy weekend planned. My mother is flying in tomorrow morning, and then we're going to RI to meet with yet another florist (Flowers by Semia) and Ormonde Productions, a lighting company. We were also going to meet with a photographer, but I don't think we'll have time. FI is actually joining mom and me on this trip! I'm sure he's going to be very interested in what kinds of flowers we use.

On Sunday, I will officially be a Catholic! Yep, after months of RCIA classes, I am finally being confirmed on Easter Sunday. I'm very excited! FI's family, including his grandmother, and my mom will all be there to support me. Hopefully, I do anything too embarassing!

With This Ring...

2008-03-19T22:11:00.002-04:00

FI and I took advantage of Alpha Omega's Liquidation sale (60% off!) and bought him a wedding band! It's a very unique platinum band, with a subtle design. It's currently being sized, but I'll post a picture once we get it back. Unfortunately, I didn't find anything, but I have a year to keep looking!

Our Church?!

2008-03-16T19:20:00.012-04:00

Well, it seems we finally have a church! I am still a bit cautious, though, considering all the trouble we've had finding one. I don't want to jinx anything. It's not in Newport, but rather in Bristol, which is about 15 miles outside Newport. It's a pretty straight shot, though, so no complicated directions for guests.

It's St. Mary's Church (http://www.stmarybristolri.org/home.html), and it is really beautiful! The stain glass windows were actually created by the same guy who in the early 1900's cared for the Vatican's windows. Additionally, it's mauve pink inside with spectacularly high ceilings and a gorgeous marble altar.

Here is the altar:

The back of the church and organ:

Some of the beautiful windows:

We haven't paid the deposit yet, but we're well on our way to booking St. Mary's. This is the first positive step we've had in our search for a church, so maybe this is it!

Upcoming Schedule

2008-03-13T17:39:00.002-04:00

FI has a meeting in NYC tomorrow, so I decided to join him. MOH Lauren will also be in the city for an interview, so hopefully we can meet up for lunch. While FI is in his meeting, I'll be at Kleinfelds for my 2nd visit. They're having a Kenneth Pool trunk show this weekend, so I had to take advantage of it!

Then, on Saturday, I'm going to Priscilla's of Boston for my 2nd visit. The Platinum collection designer will be there for his trunk show, so I'll have the opportunity to try on one of my favorite dresses (again) with the designer there!

Who knows? Maybe this will be the weekend that I find my dress!

Cruise Control

2008-03-12T16:32:00.005-04:00

Given the current church fiasco, I decided to take a break from ceremony preparations and focus on the rehearsal dinner. As previously mentioned, we have been looking at several different places, including a couple of vineyards and a modern lounge restaurant on the harbor. As it turns out, though, we won't be using any of these.

I loved the idea of a vineyard because it provided something unique -- it was an experience rather than just a dinner. I wanted something that would give visitors a "taste" of Newport, and I also wanted to do something different. Everyone has their rehearsal dinner at a restaurant, but a vineyard was a meshing of dinner and experience. However, there were a couple of problems with Newport Vineyards. First, the tent looked shabby. They hung Christmas lights inside, but it just felt a little .... cheap. I loved the tasting room and the vineyard itself, but the tent (where the dinner would be held) did not live up to the rest of the experience. Additionally, most of my family would not participate in the tasting since they don't drink. So, in the end, it'd just be a dinner at a vineyard.

At that point, I was leaning towards H2O. If I was going to do a restaurant, at least it'd be a cool restaurant that fit with our overall lounge-y theme. But, then I thought "what would be a quintessential Newport experience?" Of course, that'd be boating! Newport is home to the America's Cup yacht race and numerous marinas. Enter the Majestic:

(http://bayqueen.com/majestic08/home.asp) Yep, we're chartering a YACHT! It doesn't get much more "Newport" than this. After the rehearsal, everyone will board the Majestic at Bowen's Ferry, and then we're off on a 3 hour sunset cruise around the harbor. Dinner will be served inside the "cabin," and there'll be music and dancing on the upper deck.

I think it'll be a great way for our out-of-town guests to see Newport, and it'll be a great experience for everyone! It's definitely unique!

Bad News

2008-03-11T18:38:00.005-04:00

As it turns out, I didn't have to wait long at all to get an answer from Salve Regina. It was a resounding "no." Even though there are NO commencement services at Ochre Court, and even though there aren't ANY commencement events AT ALL on Friday, I still can't have my wedding there on "commencement weekend." After a fit of hysterics and tears, I have finally calmed down enough to think about our (very few) options. Stay tuned.

Patience is a Virtue

2008-03-11T11:39:00.010-04:00

My trip to Newport yesterday was very hectic, but productive. I met with two florists, Trisha at Laurel Lane and Kristen at Stoneblossom. Stoneblossom's office is very high-tech, with plasma screen TV's and computer presentations. Kristen was very competent, but the whole experience felt a little impersonal or "corporate." Conversely, Trisha at Laurel Lane was a cute British lady who still took notes by hand. She had mounds of weddings magazines and lone computer tucked into a corner. She had great ideas and guaranteed me that I would be her only wedding that day (as opposed to Stoneblossom that books 10-15 weddings a weekend). Both places are getting back to me this week with an actual proposal, but of the two, I'm definitely leaning towards Laurel Lane.

Next, my MIL and I went to St. Thomas More in Narragansett to register me and FI. Since my MIL and FIL are registered members there, we were also allowed to register. St. Thomas More is a parish within the Providence diocese, so our registration is the first step in securing Salve Regina as our ceremony site.

We then went to Salve Regina to check out Ochre Court. It was breathtaking! It's absolutely stunning, and the pictures don't do it justice. Although Johanna, the events coordinator, was on vacation yesterday, I met with her assistant Mariann, who was less than helpful. She refused to give us any information, but she did haughtily mention that they "don't do weddings on commencement weekend." Uh-oh. I believe our wedding is on commencement weekend, but since it's on a Friday, maybe they'll make an exception. I emailed Johanna last night, and now I just have to wait for her response. Waiting is not my strong suit. If I haven't heard from her by tomorrow, I'll give her a call.

Finally, we went to H2O, which is another possible rehearsal dinner site. It was right on the water, and it had wrap around windows that opened up to the marina. The decor was very modern, with blue tiled walls and lounge seating and lighting. It's definitely right up FI's alley! It opens to the public in April, so FI and I will make a trip for lunch then. It's on the short list, though.

Flower Power

2008-03-09T22:54:00.012-04:00

Since I'm on spring break this week, I'm going to Newport tomorrow to meet with some vendors, venues and hopefully Ochre Court. Unfortunately, in order to do this, I need FI's car, which means taking him to work at 7am. It's not exactly how I envisioned spring break, but at least it'll be productive. I decided to just go straight to Newport after dropping him off, so my first appointment is at 9:30 at Stoneblossom. My first floral appointment! At 11, I'm meeting with Trisha (a very nice British woman) of Laurel Lane, another florist.

Although I don't anticipate having a lot of floral decorations, I do want to get an idea of how much they're going to cost. In addition to the normal bouquets and boutinneres, I need some sort of centerpiece for the tables. I do NOT want huge flower arrangements in tall, nondescript vases. In fact, I don't want to use many flowers at all. I envision using water, candles and a few orchids and irises. I like the idea of "sunken" flowers and floating candles, but I think I'd rather have shorter centerpieces rather than tall ones. Perhaps a mix of short and tall? What I would really like is some sort of short, glass rectangle filled with water and river rocks, with candles and orchids floating on top. The closest image I can find uses a wooden box and sand instead of a glass and water, but it gives you the idea.

Basically, I want something unique and beautiful, which is why I'm excited to meet with the floral designers tomorrow. I want to get a sense of their personalities and creativity through their portfolios. Hopefully, they'll be able to interpret my "visions" into a workable centerpiece.

Water Nymph

2008-03-08T23:36:00.006-05:00

Water is playing a very important role in our wedding. Belle Mer is surrounded by water, as it's on Goat Island. Our (possible) ceremony site, Ochre Court, looks out over the Cliff Walk and Atlantic Ocean. And our colors are shades of blue. So, it's only natural that I'd want a water wall, right?

Not only does this incorporate water, but it also includes awesome lighting and goes with our "lounge" vibe. Unfortunately, there's no place on the east coast to rent one. Every single water wall rental company is out west, with the closest one being in Wisconsin. Now, who, I ask, needs a water wall in Wisconsin?? However, the company is willing to travel to Newport, set it up, and even program our monogram or picture to display "in" the water wall. The cost? $17,000! For that much, I could BUY a water wall. It's too bad, though, because I was really looking forward to having one. If anyone wants to start a water wall business, please let me know. I'll be your first customer!

Maybe, Possibly??

2008-03-06T14:17:00.003-05:00

As I slave away at law school, my wonderful mother has been relentless in her search for a church. She actually just spoke with a lady at Salve Regina in Newport and was able to get some information for us. The lady said that as long as one of us is a member of a parish within the Providence diocese, we could have our ceremony there! Once we confirm FI's registration at his parents' parish, we're on our way! The last step, of course, is confirming that they have our date available and can accommodate 150 people. One step at a time though...

Here are some more pictures of Ochre Court at Salve Regina. The ceremony would be in the Great Hall, which looks out over the ocean and courtyard:

The Grand Hall is also 3 stories tall, with a handpainted mural on the ceiling:

Isn't it beautiful? I really hope everything falls into place, and we can hold our ceremony here. Keep those fingers (and toes!) crossed!

Saturday Recap

2008-03-03T20:21:00.004-05:00

We had a very productive day in Newport on Saturday. Although we awoke to snow, we were determined to make all of our appointments. Our first, at 41 North, was at 11:30. We met with Leslie at a restaurant called "Christy's" which is apparently part of the "41 North family." Christy's is a cute, casual restaurant, but definitely not something we'd book for our rehearsal dinner. Leslie walked us upstairs, above the restaurant to the 2 rooms they had available for booking. It was sorely disappointing. The rooms were smallish, and the decor was very plain. Although it did have a wrap-around deck, it wasn't directly waterfront, so views were only partial. It seems as though the outdoor, waterfront marina area is undergoing construction and will not be open until June 2009. Bummer. The final nail in this coffin was the lack of an elevator or handicap accessible ramp.

At noon, we met with the lovely event planners at Belle Mer. We had a very interactive discussion about our "vision" for the reception. They had some tablecloths, china, etc for us to look at, and I began to (finally!) solidify my color choices. I think things are coming along swimmingly! After Belle Mer, we met up with the in-laws for lunch at Christy's. They ended up joining us for the rest of the day, as we visited Newport Vineyards and St. Anthony's.

Newport Vineyards was very quaint, as it's a small tasting room with outdoor tent for events. It directly overlooks the vineyards, though, which are lit up at night. Our guests could participate in the tastings, if they wanted, and we would have the entire place to ourselves. FI wasn't too keen on this place, though, because he felt it didn't jive with our overall modern, chic theme. I, and the in-laws, however, thought it would be a good constrast to the following evening's reception. So, basicaly, Newport Vineyards is still in the running.

Finally, we visited St. Anthony's. I was highly anticipating this since it seemed to be our final hope of finding a Catholic church in the Newport area that would marry us. We were very disappointed, though. Although beautiful on the outside, the inside is very dated and the altar is in the middle of the church (i.e. there are pews/people on 3 sides facing the altar). This would make it difficult to choose which aisle to walk down. Disheartened, we left.

On the way back to Newport, we saw a sign for Salve Regina University, which is a Catholic university in Newport. It reminded me about when I was researching Catholic churches in Newport -- Salve Regina has a chapel! We decided to take a last minute detour and see the facilities at Salve Regina. The chapel is located in Ochre Court, which is a Newport Mansion. Needless to say, it is GORGEOUS! Unfortunately, the building was locked, but the outside is fabulous. It's right on the Cliff Walk and overlooks the ocean. It's a beautiful setting. So, now it's just a question of if we can get married there. Lets keep our fingers crossed!! You can see an aerial view of it here: http://www.corbettphotography.net/#mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=&p=0&a=0&at=0

Proud as a Peacock

2008-03-02T20:14:00.005-05:00

We met with Jennifer and Nicole (event planners) at Belle Mer on Saturday to discuss preliminary ideas (rentals, colors, etc). It was a very productive meeting! I told them my "vision" for the color scheme and showed them my inspiration picture:
I love the colors in this peacock feather -- deep blues, teals, aqua, and a hint of fuschia. Jennifer showed us several different tablecloths in the blue family, and I found one sheer that may be a possibility. We also looked at china and centerpiece ideas. Who knew there were so many details and options to consider? FI, of course, is solely concerned with the lighting. We want the event to have a NYC/Vegas nightclub/lounge feel, so lighting is crucial. We saw some lighted tables and even talked about a lighted dance floor. We'd love to have something similar to this:

or this:

Jennifer and Nicole are going to work on pulling our ideas together and creating a mock-up of table choices. We'll go back in about a month to view these and make adjustments, changes, etc. Who knows, by then my whole color scheme may be different. I do like the idea of incorporating peacock feathers into the decor, though. Very chic and modern!

Weekend Jaunt

2008-02-29T16:08:00.011-05:00

On Saturday, FI and I are trekking to Newport to meet with Belle Mer's event planner/consultant, Jennifer. Jennifer has been very helpful so far -- patiently listening to my ideas and working to gather the necessary items. She's bringing together several samples of tablecloths, rentals, etc for us to look at. My inspiration for the color can be found here: http://www.davidbeahm.com/#photo-album-f446a I love the dark aqua/teal color used for the chair covers and tablecloths, and Jennifer thinks she has a cloth very similar.

We're also looking at potential rehearsal dinner venues:

Newport Vineyards (http://www.newportvineyards.com/): Newport Vineyards is actually located in Middletown, RI, but it's about a 5 min drive to the Newport town limit. It is probably the most popular vineyard in the New England area, and it should be beautiful in mid-May. They do have a permanent tent structure, as well as a wine garden and a "barrel room." Given the smaller number of people at our rehearsal dinner, we'd probably opt for the wine garden or barrel room. The only real drawback to Newport Vineyards, though, is the need to hire outside caterers.

Forty-One North (http://www.41no.com/Default.aspx): 41 North is a "marina resort," meaning that it is a marina, hotel and restaurant in one. So, while you're dining you can look out at docked yachts. And if you're too tipsy to drive, you can crash there, too. The place seems very upscale and modern, and it's right on the water. The rooms that they have available for rehearsal dinners are actually on the 2nd floor, but they have wrap-around decks and lots of windows. I'm excited to meet with Leslie, the events manager, tomorrow and tour the space. It seems like a real possibility.

H2O (http://www.h2onewport.com/): We're not actually visiting this place tomorrow, but I wanted to include it in my list of possible rehearsal dinner venues. I spoke with Dottie, the owner, last week, and unfortunately it doesn't open for the season until April. It's a contemporary waterfront restaurant with live music many nights, including Thursdays. The pictures on the website look awesome. We may walk by and peek through the windows if we have time. If we don't use it as a rehearsal dinner site, it could definitely be an "after party" spot.

Finally, we're going to visit a Catholic church that actually agreed to marry non-parishoners (finally!). It's St. Anthony's in Portsmouth, RI, which is about 15 mins away from Newport. It seems very cute, and unlike many of the other "evil church ladies" I've talked to, the receptionist was very nice. That's a good sign. We may even meet with the priest! Keep your fingers crossed that he agrees to perform the ceremony.

Running of the Brides

2008-02-23T17:56:00.014-05:00

Now that I've partially recovered from the craziness that is "Running of the Brides," I think I can write about my experience. This was the first time that the semi-annual Filene's Basement sale was held somewhere other than the Downtown Crossing store. Hynes Convention Center proved to be a good replacement, though.

Preparations started on Thursday, when my mother flew in from NC to be a part of "Team L-Boogie." After picking her up from the airport, we made a Target run to get all the necessary supplies -- hats, shirts, blankets, and posterboard. Although I had initially anticipated getting everyone pink shirts, I couldn't resist the green "Everyone loves an Irish girl" shirts. So, green became our official color.

We were a small team -- just me, my mom, and bridesmaid Erica -- but it's all about quality, not quantity. We arrived bright and early at 6:15, and yet there were still about 50 people in front of us. As my mom held our place in line, I went in search of coffee and doughnuts. Thankfully, there was a Dunkin Donuts nearby. At 7:00, they allowed everyone inside, but not to the actual room of dresses. Although I think we lost a few spots in line due to the "dual" escalators up and a few weaseling cutters-in-line, we still managed to be in the first third of the line.

At 8:00, the doors open and we made a run for it. Erica and I managed to secure about 15 dresses between us (they're heavy!) and a space in front of a mirror. Unfortunately, in the process, we lost my mom. After trying on a few possibilities, I set out in my undies to trade the "no's" and find my mom. After about 10 mins of hunting, I located her by her tall green hat in the middle of the store. She had a few dresses and had been waiting on us to find her.

Reunited, we spent the next 2.5 hours trading dresses and holding onto our "maybes." Erica almost got into a fight after some "poachers" tried to take some of my dresses. She may be small, but she's fierce! Overall, though, it was just way too overwhelming to find anything. Since both Erica and I had class at 11:50, we decided to leave empty-handed, but with a great story!

As it turns out, my mom and I decided to go back in the afternoon. It was MUCH calmer, with all the dresses back on the rack and very few people milling about. And, I actually found a dress! Granted it's only a "maybe" dress, but a $4000 Henry Roth gown for $500 is hard to pass up. Even if I decide to go with another dress, I'm sure that I can sell it for at least that much.

In the end, I'm glad that I went to the actual "Running of the Brides" for the experience, but if you're actually looking to find a dress (a "the ONE" kind of dress, that is), then you should definitely wait and go after the crazy mad dash is over.

Wedding Dress Update

2008-02-21T16:05:00.005-05:00

After leaving a message for Josette at Saks on Tuesday, she finally called me back today. The conversation went something like this:

LegalBeagle: "Hi Josette, this is LegalBeagle, and I was calling to see if you'd talked to David (Reem Acra rep) about my dress."

Josette: "I'm sorry, what is this in regards to? Have I met with you already? I seem to have lost your paperwork..."

LB: "Yes, on SUNDAY, you were my salesperson. The Reem Acra dress, remember? The one that would have to be specially ordered, and David was going to check and see if Reem Acra could even do it?"

J: "Reem Acra? Oh, was it one of the trunk show dresses?"

LB: "Yes, I tried it on about 3 times and spent a good half hour talking to you and David about it."

J: "Oh, riiiight. Let me call David and get back in touch with you."

Can you believe her? This is a $8100 dress. This would be a HUGE commission for her, and she not only LOST my paperwork but apparently completely forgot about me. She is by far the WORST salesperson on earth. Then, she has the nerve to call me back and leave this message:

"Hi Laura, I just spoke with David at Reem Acra, and they can do the dress. It'd be a one of a kind original, off the runway JUST for YOU dress. They're holding the material and everything for YOU, so you need to call me back immediately and let me know."

Seriously?! First, she didn't remember me, and now I'm supposed to drop everything and cough up $10,000 on the spot. The nerve. I think I'm going to try and find David's number and call him myself. I just can't bear giving Josette the commission.

Wedding Dress Shopping: Part 2 in NYC

2008-02-18T12:43:00.008-05:00

BM Erica and I headed to NYC for the weekend to do a little wedding dress shopping. On Saturday, I went to Kleinfelds and Saks, and, on Sunday afternoon, I went to Bridal Reflections. Here is my rating guide:

Salesperson
1st -- Kleinfelds: Rene was so patient and super-sweet. She patiently held my hand as I walked through hundreds of racks. Since this was my first appointment, I didn't have as clear of an idea of what I wanted, but by the end, I had a distinct style that I gravitated toward. Rene also let me know prices (and those out of my range) before I tried on any of them.

2nd -- Bridal Reflections: Christina was very nice, but I felt a wee bit pressured by her. She was, however, extremely helpful and very accommodating to my changes and suggestions. However, Christina picked out gowns that were way out of my price range (even though I had explicitly written down that range on my profile sheet). How terrible it would have been to find THE dress, only to discover that it was $12,000!

3rd -- Saks: Josette seemed very rushed and basically flat out told me they didn't have what I was looking for. Fortunately, Reem Acra was having a trunk show, and I found my perfect gown on my own. And, I am the one who talked with the Reem Acra rep, David, about ordering it in a particular color and style.

Dress Selection
1st (Tie) -- Kleinfelds & Bridal Reflections: Although Kleinfelds probably has more dresses overall, Bridal Reflections' gowns are all out and easily looked through (unlike Kleinfelds which has most of them in a back room and in plastic). Additionally, many of the sample gowns at Kleinfelds had seen MUCH better days (the Monique Lhuillier "Scarlett" gown was practically falling apart). Those at Bridal Reflections were much cleaner and in better condition overall.

3rd -- Saks: As mentioned above, Saks had a very poor selection. In fact, the only gowns that were actually out were those associated with Reem Acra's trunk show. All other gowns were in the back, to be selected by the salesperson based on your descriptions.

Overall Experience
1st -- Bridal Reflections: Free champagne, big dressing rooms, and instead of those horrible clips, they actually pin the gown for you, giving you a much better fit. I loved the set-up of the gowns and the ability to easily walk through and find gowns that I liked.

2nd -- Kleinfelds: This is the quintessential bridal salon, but I did think that maybe it was a bit too large and too crowded. There were so many girls running around and trying on things that space was limited.

3rd -- Saks: Not only were the dressing rooms small, but the entire bridal salon was very cramped. We were not offered water or robes, and the salespeople were borderline rude.

I had a great, if exhausting, experience, but in the future, I think I'll stick to only one or two places per trip. By my third appointment, I was definitely getting tired, cranky and confused. In the end, I found two dresses that I really liked and are potentially THE ONE, but I wanted to give myself more time to think about it. Stay tuned as I participate in the Running of the Brides on Friday!

Happy Hallmark Holiday!

2008-02-14T18:10:00.006-05:00

Valentine's Day holds a special power over everyone, because even though we all know it's a "fake" holiday, we still go out to an expensive dinner and buy cards, flowers, and candy. It's quite the impressive advertising campaign. I'm sure the boys would be fine with by-passing it altogether, so it must be the girls who are perpetuating this holiday. Well, duh! It's Valentine's Day, it's the day of love, don't you loooove me? Ok, so maybe it's an acceptable, if fake, holiday.

With this said, FI demonstrated his love and affection to me by making reservations (a whole WEEK in advance!) at a new restaurant for tonight. We did, however, decide to forgo gifts this year (except for the requisite card, of course). This year, the puppies got their daddy a very cute card, as well. However, since the only cards I could find were "from the DOG" (singular), we had to do a little creative editing to make it from both of them. Let's just say that I'll leave it to Hallmark to do all the drawings in the future...

And, so I leave you with a cute puppy Valentine and a hearty "Happy Valentine's Day!"

A Win for Beagles Everywhere!!

2008-02-12T23:42:00.002-05:00

Uno the beagle was "numero uno" at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show tonight! He became the first beagle to EVER win Best in Show!

"Barking and baying up a storm, Uno lived up to his name Tuesday night by becoming the first beagle to win best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club. The nation’s new top dog was clearly the fan favorite, and drew a standing ovation from the sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden when he was picked." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23096596/site/21683474/

The Most Annoying Words ...

2008-02-12T19:08:00.000-05:00

... are "you have plenty of time!" Seriously, if one more person tells me "not to worry" and "you have more than enough time to plan," I'm going to scream. Apparently, whenever someone hears 200NINE, they automatically assume that planning really shouldn't start until 2009. Obviously, this is coming from people who haven't planned a wedding in a really, REALLY long time (if ever).

I can *maybe* understand it if you're planning a smaller wedding, in your hometown, and you work parttime. But, I am doing none of that. I'm a full time student in LAW school in my FIRST year. Most people can't even find the time to maintain a relationship during their first year, much less plan a wedding.

Secondly, this is a borderline destination wedding since FI and I live in Boston and the wedding is about 1.5 hours away in Newport, RI. It's not like planning a wedding in another country, but there are still logistical problems and timing issues, such as having to devote an entire day or weekend to visiting venues/vendors/etc. instead of only a few hours here and there.

Thirdly, only ONE member of my bridal party (a bridesmaid) actually lives in Boston. My entire family is in NC, my MOH and 2 other bridesmaids live in DC and the fifth bridesmaid lives in New Orleans. Thus, everything has to be coordinated and communicated through email, phone calls and frequent flyer miles. In fact, most wedding related shopping trips have occurred in NYC, since it's the midway point between DC and Boston.

Finally, we're having a rather large wedding that requires many vendors and planning. Although we have booked our reception venue, we still don't have a church or rehearsal dinner site. And, since Newport is a popular, touristy town, many places are booked over a year in advance! Newport is also a small town, and there are only so many places that fit our needs. Needless to say, we need to book these places ASAP!

The moral of the story is this: Don't tell a frantic bride that she has plenty of time to plan her wedding. There is never enough time, and it always manages to sneak up on you before you know it. Instead, just be supportive and feign interest in whatever wedding detail she is freaking out about that day. On behalf of brides everywhere, I thank you.

Wedding Dress Shopping: Part 1

2008-02-12T18:01:00.003-05:00

About a month ago, my mother, MOH, FMIL and I went on my very first wedding dress excursion. I had 2 appointments in Boston at L'Elite Bridal on Newbury Street and Priscilla of Boston. I had a fairly good idea of what I wanted -- something very simple and lacy with an open or elaborate back (after all, my back is what most people will be looking at during the ceremony). I particularly liked the Monique Lhuillier "Scarlett" dress, from her 2005 collection:

I love the mermaid style. It accentuates and hugs my curves (what few I have), but it still has a little "poof" that makes it actually look like a wedding dress. I'm also not a huge fan of beading or sequins, so I like dresses that feature lacey accents.

My first appointment at L'Elite was somewhat disappointing. The shop was small, and it didn't offer any of the "perks," such as free champagne and nice, big dressing rooms. They had all of their gowns out on racks, and they allowed you to choose which ones you liked and wanted to try on. Unfortunately, though, they didn't have a huge selection, and they didn't carry Monique Lhuillier. All in all, I gained some experience and became more knowledgeable about the styles and labels, but I didn't find anything that I loved. So, it was on to the next shop!

At Priscilla's, we had a much better experience. It was very lovely and spacious, and everyone was able watch me model dresses on a small stage and mirror area. However, they did have a rather strict policy of only allowing brides to try on 6 dresses. As it turned out, though, I found 2 dresses that I liked -- one that was mermaid, and more like the idea I went in with. However, the other was the exact opposite -- a big, poofy, heavily beaded ballgown! I guess I can't get away from the Grace Kelly/Princess Di fairytale look afterall. Who knew?

In the end, no purchases were made, but I'm definitely more open to trying on dresses outside my original style idea. The next shopping trip is scheduled for this weekend in NYC with my bridesmaid Erica. Kleinfelds, here we come!

Turks & Caicos Islands

2008-02-11T17:08:00.000-05:00

Since the weather is approximately -7 degrees here in Boston, I'm fondly reminiscing about the recent trip FI and I took to the Turks & Caicos Islands. Since most people have never heard of the Turks & Caicos, here's a geography lesson, courtesy of Wikipedia:

"The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory consisting of two groups of tropical islands in the West Indies . . . The two island groups are in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of the Bahamas, north of Hispaniola, and 914 kilometres (494 nmi) from Miami, at 21°45′N, 71°35′W. The territory is geographically contiguous to the Bahamas, but is politically a separate entity."

Both Bruce Willis and Dick Clark have homes in the Turks, and it was the honeymoon destination for both Ben Affleck & Jennifer Garner and Eva Longoria & Tony Parker. FI and I LOVED the Turks, and are considering returning there for our honeymoon. It was a quick and easy flight (direct flights are available from NYC), the weather was fantastic, and we often felt as if we had the entire island to ourselves. Everyone we met was extremely nice and welcoming,although I don't think we met a "native" Turk the entire trip! It was by far the most relaxing vacation I have ever taken, and I think FI would agree.

While there aren't as many activities as in Aruba or Jamaica, there's still a lot to see and do (or NOT do, if you so desire). First, the Turks are known for having the only conch farm in the world, where you can choose your own conch out of the ocean farm and have them cook it for you! Since FI isn't keen on seafood, I stepped up to the plate and tasted it, sushi-style! It actually doesn't taste like chicken... in fact, it doesn't have much of a taste at all. It's definitely chewy, though. The best part is taking home the huge conch shell as a souvenir!

The Turks also have some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling in the world, with a multitude of coral reefs, shipwrecks, and fish to discover. There are also many places for parasailing, wind surfing, and numerous other water sports. My personal favorite water activity is frolicking in the ocean! As a special treat, you may even meet JoJo the dolphin, a relatively tame "wild" dolphin who is often seen alongside swimmers. Unfortunately, I missed the one JoJo sighting while we were there, but FI saw him!

Between the aqua blue water, soft white sand, and peaceful, less touristy atmosphere, Turks and Caicos are definitely on our possible honeymoon location list! I have no doubt that we will be back at some point in the future, though, regardless!

Let's Go Back to the Beginning

2008-02-10T20:55:00.000-05:00

"Let's start at the very beginning; a very good place to start."

~Maria, The Sound of Music*

My fiance (FI) and I met on a sidewalk. He'd probably say that we met at a bar, but in actuality we met outside a bar on the sidewalk. I was living in Washington, DC at the time, and he was visiting the city with some friends from Boston. It was a Saturday night, and I was out with my girlfriends in Adams Morgan, bar-hopping. As we walked towards Tom-Toms, I could hear a couple of guys talking behind me. They were discussing how to get to a bar that was recommended to them ... some place called, Pom-Poms? Being the polite Southerner that I am, I turned to them and said "actually, it's called Tom-Toms and it's right down the street. We're going there now, if you want to follow us." And so, they did. I ended up talking to FI for the rest of the evening, and, at the end of the night, I gave him my real phone number (a statement unto itself). The rest, as they say, is history .... sorta.

This story is obviously complicated by the fact that we were living in two different cities and states, and I was moving to Michigan at the end of the summer to start law school. Not to be daunted, FI still called me the NEXT day (yay to no "3 day rule!"), and we talked every day after. We'd email each other long, grammatically correct emails about everything from sports to broadway shows. We were both sarcastic, with a dry sense of humor and a healthy respect for witty quips. We would talk on the phone until 2 or 3 am, or whenever he fell asleep. Our first "real" date wasn't until a few weeks later, in June, when we met in NYC for the weekend. After that though, we managed to see each other every other week until the end of summer. We spent an unbelievable week at the Bellagio in Vegas, and we (only half) jokingly pledged to get married if "Time to Say Goodbye" was the next song the fountains danced to...

And, it was at that point, about a week before I was to leave for Michigan, that I realized I didn't want to live a day without him by my side. So, instead of moving to Michigan, I moved to Boston. Then, not only did I get FI everyday, but I also gained 2 wonderful beagles -- Fritz and Samantha -- to love and cherish. I spent the year working for AmeriCorps and reapplied to all the Boston area law schools, ultimately choosing BUSL. I have never regretted my decision, and everyday my life is blessed.

*What's interesting about this line from The Sound of Music is that FI used to write and record rap songs (yes, my straight-edged stock brokering FI), and he reworked the lyrics in "Do-Re-Mi" for one of his raps.

A Modern Affair

2008-02-10T18:25:00.000-05:00

I love the idea of a Grace Kelly, princess bride affair. There must be something in girls' DNA that makes us long to be princesses, and except for proms or debutante balls, weddings are really the first (and only!) chance we get. For this dream, Newport, RI is definitely the place to find your "castle." There are a multitude of Newport Mansions along Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay that were the summer "cottages" of the Gilded Ages' rich and famous -- the Astors, Vanderbilts, and the "summer White House" of President Eisenhower to name a few. Rosecliff is famously the wedding mansion, since most people choose this one for their nupitals due to its white marble facade and dual, sweetheart staircase.

So, no problem, right? I should just pick a mansion, buy a big princess ballgown and channel Grace Kelly as I'm walking down the aisle. Of course, that wasn't going to happen. That would be too easy, too traditional, too "what everybody else is doing" ... and so, this Southern Belle, princess bride has gone "mod." Modern, contemporary chic in a Renaissance town? Now that's a challenge! That's unique! That's ... impossible?? Mais non! Enter Belle Mer.

Belle Mer is located on Goat Island, so it has fantastic views of the water and the Newport Bridge (just like many of the mansions). But, it was recently renovated and redecorated to reflect a "simple chic" design -- HUGE french doors/windows that open onto the waterfront lawn, all white interior with modern fireplaces and gorgeous chandeliers. As soon as we walked in, we knew it was THE place. After looking over the available dates, we picked a Friday night in May 2009, and paid our deposit. Our reception venue was set!