Wedding Recaps- Portraits

Our Wedding Portrait

I decided to conclude the wedding recaps with a few of our wedding portraits. Our photographers used the photojournalist style, so the overwhelming majority of our pictures are candids. They did pose us for a couple of shots, but even then, some of the best pictures were taken when we did not realize that we were on camera. I asked the photographers to take full advantage of the architecture of the fort.  They did not disappoint.

Our families, believe it or not, this is mostly parents, with one uncle, a sister, a brother, and two nephews

Our wedding party, we almost got all three boys to look at the camera 

Three generations, my grandmother, me, and my mom

The groom, and his groomsmen (and groomswoman!)

A candid shot of my bridesmaids, I love this picture

Our fort

Kiss me!

All pictures copyright of Classic Photographers, used with permission.

Wedding Recaps- Getting Ready

The truth behind a well-laced wedding gown

The morning of our wedding day proved to be calm and relaxing. I woke up around 6:30, and just soaked the day in. My mom made bacon and eggs for breakfast, we packed up all the dresses into the back of the car, and made our way over to the spa.

Thanks to my bridesmaids for taking over the logistics of the wedding day for me, everything worked out like clockwork. I prepared a bridesmaid's tea of pastries, cheese and crackers, and fresh fruits; the spa provided a bottle of champagne. While we were getting our hair and make-up done, my mom picked up our flowers. She arrived back at the salon right as I finished up hair and make-up. My mom and bridesmaids got dressed while I looked over all the bouquets and corsages, and right as it was time for me to get dressed, the photographer arrived. A perfect start to a perfect day.

Matron of honor's hair

Lace the dress

Slip on the shoes

Add the bouquet

I love mirror shots

The bride!

And we are off!

All pictures copyright of Classic Photographers, used with permission.

Dress Fitting!

No pictures this time, but I had my first dress fitting yesterday. Many of you may remember that my seamstress recommended not having my first fitting until three weeks out. I am happy I listened to her, because if I would have had my alterations earlier, I would be needing more alterations last minute. Apparently, in the last month or so, I managed to lose a bit of weight.

Prior to my fitting, Tom helped me get into my long line bra. Usually it fits a bit snug. To the extent that usually the first column of hooks are hooked, and then everything is moved over to the second while I hold my breath. This time around, Tom just hooked in on at the tightest setting, and it was still quite comfortable. Once I got to my fitting, my seamstress laced up my dress, and pinned in the alterations. The dress fits me like a glove already, it just requires a half inch to be taken in at the bust, and a half inch hem. She is also putting the bustle in for me this time. Next time I go in will be my final fitting on September 6. That's only a few weeks before the wedding! Oh my goodness it's coming up fast!

The MOB (Mother-of-the-Bride)

I don't think it would be a stretch to refer to myself as crafty. I love to create, and the wedding has been my place to showcase that. My craftiness had to come from somewhere, right? Of course.

I introduce to you, my mom.

In this picture, she is showing off the dress that she will be wearing to the wedding. You might be asking, how does being crafty have anything to do with the dress she is wearing to the wedding?

She made it. 

My mom loves to sew. In all honesty, if it is crafty, she can do it, but specifically, for the wedding, my mom wanted a sewing project. So she made her gown. The color is a little off in the picture, the gown is celadon satin crepe, with an organza overcoat. I should also add this is the first gown she ever made. You would never be able to tell by looking at it.

My Dress, Headpiece, and Veil

Bridesmaids Dresses

As I mentioned before, my friend was in town for the Fourth of July holiday, and Tuesday became a wedding planning day. Before getting beautified at the spa, we spent some time at the bridal shop. The bridesmaids dresses arrived the week before, and my friend wanted to try her dress on. I was more than a little anxious to see the bridesmaids dresses, maybe even a little more anxious than I was to see my dress.

For a quick recap, my sister and I went shopping for bridesmaids dresses back in November over Thanksgiving. We found a dress that matches my wedding gown in that it has beaded accents and a split skirt. The sample was in a pink color.

My sister trying on the bridesmaid's dress sample

Then it was time to order the dresses. We wanted a purple shade to match the Victorian lilac on my wedding gown. The designer of the dress called the color "lavender." The only indication of what the dress would look like in lavender was on the website for the dress designer, and it was not detailed at all.

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Like I said, I was a little nervous with how the actual dresses would look. Once we got to the bridal salon, my concerns disappeared.

My friend in her dress

The "lavender" is a perfect match for the Victorian lilac sash on my dress, and the beading looks almost silver. The seamstress said that the color is flattering to any skin tone, and the dress works with any figure. I love it, and so do my girls by the sounds of things. 

I had a chance to try my dress on again, just to stand with it one next to the bridesmaids dress. Everything is really starting to come together. The next time I get to stand next to my friend in our dresses will be the wedding day!

Things are becoming real

My dress was shipped out on Friday and is due to arrive at the bridal shop any day now, my ring will be ready to come home on Thursday, and my best friend will be flying in from Florida in late June for her own dress fitting. Everything is definitely starting to look like a wedding is on the horizon. I cannot wait for my dress to come in. It was one thing to try on samples at the bridal shop, it is completely different to try on MY dress. I'm already getting teary eyed, just thinking about it.

I Finally Did It

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I interrupt this seemingly regularly scheduled snow storm for an important announcement. I ordered my dress. The dress. It should be at the bridal shop in between 12 and 18 weeks Alfred Angelo style 2086 in ivory with Victorian lilac trim. To say that I'm excited would be a bit of an understatement. The picture to the left does not do the dress justice. The jewels, the metallic embroidery, the flow, I love it.

I have been wanting to order my dress since Thanksgiving, but one thing after another came up and prevented me from doing so. Life does that. Fortunately, as Tom keeps telling me, everything works out in the end. I asked the seamstress back in November when I would have to have the dress ordered in order to have the alterations done in time. She told me the end of February. Tom and I then made it our goal to have the deposit by the end of January. Last week, my mom found out that she would be finished work an hour and a half early on Friday. We decided to use the extra time to our advantage and headed to the bridal shop to order my dress. I was ready. I had my purple shoes, my long-line bra, and my handmade veil in tow. We got to the bridal shop, and several minutes later they were lacing me into my dress.

No veil, but this is me in the sample of my dress

Did I mention that I made my veil? Ivory, bridal illusion, single-tiered and cathedral length. I put it together one evening. It is really quite simple to do. My goal was to have a veil that extended just beyond the train of my dress. When I tried the veil on at home, it seemed way too long, but I wanted to try it on with my dress before adjusting the length. Good thing I waited. The seamstress had my put my veil on, and it only needed to be trimmed a couple of inches. Then to my surprise, the seamstress pulled out a pair of scissors and trimmed my veil to perfectly match the curve of my dress. I was really impressed with her willingness to go above and beyond. I also appreciated the opportunity to see myself in my veil and dress. I wish I took a picture, but I guess everyone will just have to wait until my dress comes in. I'll post some pictures of just my veil in a later post. ;)

Anyways, I also want to thank everyone for the kind comments to my previous post. I am going to start allowing my personality, and life, to come out a bit in my posts. I will also continue to post my DIY projects as they come up.

Until next time!

Dress Shopping- The Bridesmaids

Introducing my sister, Laura. She is my maid of honor, and she happens to be in town from Tampa for Thanksgiving. We took full advantage of her visit, and spent all day Monday doing wedding stuff. Our first stop was at the bridal shop so that she could see me in my dress, and so that we could pick out the bridesmaid's dress. I picked out a couple of dresses when I went shopping with my mom back in August, but I held off on choosing one until my sister would be available to try them on. The first dress she tried on was this pink dress, which matches my dress perfectly. It is also very flattering on her figure. So without further ado, more dress pictures!

This was the second dress she tried on, it did not fit her as well, and it did not have the clean lines that the "pink" dress had.

So we ultimately decided on the pink dress. Here it is hanging next to my dress, the go together really well. Both dresses are A-line cut, with organza over satin. Both dresses also have the split-skirt detail, and the bridesmaids dress has just the right amount of beading to match my dress.

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The actual dresses will be made in "thistle" which is almost an identical match to Alfred Angelo's Victorian lilac. This is a better idea of what the actual dresses will look like. 

Dress Shopping- My Dress

Just like so many brides before me, I started looking at pictures of wedding dresses online shortly after Tom proposed. After a bit of searching, I discovered Alfred Angelo and I knew that I wanted to be an Alfred Angelo bride. In August, I called around to the local bridal shops to find one that carried Alfred Angelo dresses. I found this little shop in my home town, and booked an appointment with my mom. My original thoughts were that I wanted a simple, white dress, with a splash of color and a halter top. I didn't want something that was overly ornate, and I did not want lace. When we got to the store, the attendant insisted on having me try on several different styles of dresses just so that I could see how they looked on me. I went on to try on several dresses. The second dress stood out to me. It's ivory, strapless, satin with a layer of organza, with pearls and rhinestones. I thought it was ugly on the hanger, and I almost did not try it on. Then I did, and I was in love. But first, let's see some runners up.

This was the first dress I tried on, I loved the split skirt, but the beading was a bit much, and the dress did not have the splash of color I was looking for.

This is actually the dress I fell in love with online. But once I put it one, I discovered that white does not work with my skin tone, and I hated the dress. 

This is a another style of dress. It gave me an amazing figure, but (as you can see from my face) it just wasn't me.

Then I tried on a halter top dress. I liked this dress, I would even be willing to say it is my second choice. By this point in time, every dress was being compared to the second dress. Finally, the attendant asked if I wanted to put the second dress back on. I immediately obliged.

 

So, on it went. I'm in love. The dress is so elegant and flowy. They pinned a Victorian lilac sash over the champagne sash so that I could see how my dress would look. I got all the more excited. We also played with headpieces. This was before I opted against a tiara. 

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My mother was not able to get a full length picture of the dress. So here it is, Alfred Angelo style 2086 in ivory with Victorian lilac trim. 

And my favorite part, all the little details. The embroidery is a silver metallic, and the rhinestone and pearls add just the right amount of sparkle. It has a chapel length train that I will have bustled for the reception.