A Bride's Gripe

I went to a wedding show a few months ago and while it wasn't very helpful or informative, it was fine. People were nice even though it was crowded. I felt there wasn't anything there that I didn't already know about and it mostly seemed like the ads in a bride magazine...you know, the ones you flip right over to get to the good stuff. Only at this bridal show, there wasn't much of the good stuff.

My gripe is in the aftermath. I didn't give my email or phone number to many vendors (maybe one), but my info was supplied upon check in. I have received an email or phone call almost every day regarding something bridal that I am not interested in and I have to say it's very annoying. I am unsubscribing each time, but there is always a new one from a new company popping in my inbox. The last call I received was from a huge bridal store. I told the person I wasn't interested and then he starts asking a ton of questions:

Him: Well, where did you buy your dress?
Me: Kleinfeld
Him: What style was it?
Me: I'm sorry but I am not interested in answering these questions.
Him: Well, can you tell me if it was a mermaid dress, an A-line...
Me: Sorry, no, not interested. Thank you.

My wedding is two months away and I really hope these calls and emails do not continue beyond the honeymoon. Beware of giving out your info if you go to a bridal show.

To Have And To Hold

For a rustic outdoor wedding, flowers in pails are a beautiful touch.

Or you could go with wood flower holders instead of a vase. They are great to bring a little outdoors inside, too.

Very Vintage

I found this bouquet while searching The Knot and it's just the most beautiful arrangement. It carries it's own fantasy...for the bride walking out of the woods, to a clearing where her groom is waiting.

Monkey Do

I love Monkey Tail boutonnieres!

KT Jean Is Chic

I've been kind of obsessed with Etsy.com lately. It's important to me not to have a "catalog" kind of wedding. I don't want mass produced run-of-the-mill favors; I won't get a French mani; I want to add a unique charm to every detail. Granted, it can get expensive, but it also can save a lot if you go with designers with a DIY ethic.

Which leads me to my dress fitting story. I went for my first fitting and it wasn't as fairytale as I wanted it to be. I am in love with my dress...don't get me wrong...I am just concerned with the length. I've never wore a floor length gown before and I, a girl who lives in heels, had a hard time walking the length of the fitting room. I thought, How am I supposed to dance? I can't show you the dress here since my soon-to-be husband checks this page out every now and again, but it's a vintage-like Melissa Sweet that my friend Steph said had a touch of "rock and roll and country." It's very me, but being me includes wearing heels, and while I can weather trekking around the snow in three-inchers, I fear of falling down in this gown.

Solution? Etsy! Namely KT Jean Designs. I just ordered the mini and in case I feel like I can't shake it on the dance floor as much as I would like to, I can slip into this. Katie Jean also makes full length gowns that are a steal and absolutely gorgeous!

For The Birds

Birdcage veils bring out old Hollywood glamour. They look chic with shorter wedding dresses, but also add major style to long vintage looks, and also can take a simple modern gown and give your look even more elegance. I love these by CastleBride. Designer Kirstin Fox handcrafts these delicate beauties to your specifications. See more of her designs here.

Luck Of The Irish

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Go green for your wedding with these lovely lime colored blooms.

From top: Green Orchids, Echinacea Purpurea, Zinnia Dahlias, Clematis Forsteri

Abbreviated Versions

Want to show off a sexy, yet still sweet, pair of heels? Go short! Oscar de la Renta (top) and Chanel showcase these darling dresses.

Found on MarthaStewart.com.

Amsale Is Chic

From Amsale Blue Label
Spring 2008

She's Tops

Ah, the cake topper. What to grace the top of your confection is a minor detail, but still a very important one. It's something that you can keep with you long after every bite of the cake is gone (or the top tier is just too freezer burned to eat). Nicole W. Clark makes five-inch replicas of you and your groom! These polymer clay renditions can feature anything you'd like—from the groom's facial hair to adding in your pet. Check out some of her work here.

Rami Kashou Is Chic

"Project Runway" spoiler alert!

For those of you who didn't see the finale yet...stop reading!

So...Rami didn't win (I am so happy for the fierce Christian!), but he did craft a gorgeous deep champagne dress that would make your wedding day...well, totally fierce!

Stylish Celebrity Wedding: Nicole and Keith

June 25, 2006
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban get married.

H&M—The Results!

I wrote about having portraits drawn from a photo last month, but didn't have the original photo to show you what Leslie, the artist behind the shop on Etsy, Unless Someone Like You, creates from...until now. She made this incredible portrait from this photo taken when Hans and I first started dating. It's better than an engagement photo! It's an 8x10 size print and looks fantastic in a black frame—and it's only $75. She asked what kind of colors I wanted and if anything should be called out. I told her to just capture the blue of Hans' eyes and she sure did. I surprised my man with it...he did give me the ring—it's the least I could do. Love it!