Hello everyone! Hope y'all are having a good month. I have a few updates.
1. Guestbook: I had decided to do a guestbook for the wedding using some of our engagement pictures. I have used shutterfly for photobooks in the past, so this was my plan. I made it a few weeks ago when I thought I had a 40% off coupon that would work, but when the coupon didn't work, I blew it off. Finally another coupon came out (this one was 50%) so I got the guestbook as well as some Thank you notes I can send for the shower presents and some cool refrigerator magnets all for less than the original book was costing. Here's a couple of pictures of the book:
2. Bridesmaid dresses have been ordered. My MOH chose her dress back in June, so I'd made an appointment for July 12 for my Bridesmaid and JR. Bridesmaid to choose their dresses. Found out the night before that my Jr. Bridesmaid was actually out of town with her dad (she's 11) and wouldn't be at the appointment, so we made her decision for her
hopefully she'll like it. Basically, my concept was to choose the basic length and fabric (crinkle chiffon) but let them each choose which dress they wanted and in which color. My color choices were Oasis, Pool and Spa (David's Bridal) Here are what the three dresses will look like (pics are in the colors each girl will wear)
MOH
Bridesmaid--she's going to add straps
Jr. Bridesmaid
Found a coupon online for $20 off that my MOH and Bridesmaid used; they gave my mom $15 off on the Jr. Bridesmaid dress (my mom bought my niece's dress). At first, the store was saying they couldn't use the coupon since I didn't buy my dress from them, but the coupon didn't say it had anything to do with the bride...just save $20 on any regular priced bridesmaid dress. So we argued and they gave the discount thank goodness.
3. Surprise Shower!!! My MOH (the fabulous and awesome Tracy) and my cousin Amy threw the most amazing surprise wedding shower for DF and I at my mom's in Michigan over the fourth of July weekend. DF was in on it, so it was only a surprise for me. But I was SHOCKED. It was so sweet. Here's a few pictures:
I was so shocked...some of the family had come up to spend the weekend, so they capitalized on that and got my bridesmaid Cindy and her husband to drive up for the day...on a holiday weekend!!! I was so touched that they gave up a day on a holiday weekend to be there for us! And my whole family...normally they would have spent the day on the beach or going shopping in town...they all stayed home for our shower...it was really sweet!
4. We have ordered a veil. When I bought my dress, I'd tried on some veils with it that were really gorgeous but oh-so-pricey. I refused to spent half of what my dress cost on a veil! So I'd been shopping for a while and I had found a veil I fell in love with at house of brides but it was still too pricey. I loved it though...it had embroidered flowers along the edges with a little beading and sequins. Then there was some places throughout the veil where it sparkled...it was truly gorgeous...but it was still about $100 more than I wanted to spend. So I kept looking online trying to find something similar. Finally my mom found a place that had some options that look similar but didn't have as much sparkle, so she reached out to see how much it would cost to add some sparkle. It wasn't too bad, so we decided to go ahead and order. I don't think it will be as pretty as the one I loved at HOB, but it's good price and hopefully will be pretty and sparkly and will do the trick. Here's a picture of the basic veil:
5. My dress came in!! Exciting but traumatic, of course, because I haven't taken any weight off since I bought it. Bangs head against wall. I am so aggravated with myself! Fortunately, I have enough time as long as I eat clean and workout and get serious...which I have been doing since I tried the dress on...I just have to stick with it. But I'm annoyed that I won't look as good as I'd planned since at the most I'll probably be losing about half what I'd planned. But the dress WILL fit...it HAS to. So no more time to go easy on myself...playtime is OVER. I'm not posting pics of the dress as I don't want my guests or fiance to stumble upon this by accident. I am very happy with the color...I'd tried on a sample in white but ordered ivory...the ivory is really pretty and looks nice with my skin tone. I was disappointed that the dress was so wrinkled and crumpled...I guess they basically pulled it out of the box and gave it to me to try on. She recommended I do fittings 4-5 weeks before the wedding so I have the max time to get into shape for the dress...and it has a corset back so that gives me a little shrink room if I keep losing...So I have the dress in my closet until the first fitting. I confess I have unzipped the bag a few times to look at its gorgeousness (LOVE the beading) but I won't try it on again until I'm down at least 20 lbs as I suspect it will crush me. I do have some pictures for motivation though...rude awakening that was for sure. But I guess maybe I needed a kick in the a**. Well...got one...
6. Made an appointment to pick out and/or design our wedding bands. We are going to go see the jeweler that DF worked with to design my engagement ring because I want my wedding band to have a similar look and feel and to go with my ring. So we thought we'd start there and see what options they might have for DF's ring too. They did such a phenomenal job on my ring, I really love their work....so we're going next Saturday to meet with them and see if we can figure something out. Very excited about that...
7. My BLT waitlist for a studio for DF for the night before the wedding came through, so that is one less worry. This way, he'll be in the same hotel, just not in the same room. I think logistically that will make things much easier. We are going to do a first look somewhere around BLT or the Contemporary...
8. DF has (mostly) decided on tuxes...he likes the Vera Wang black ones at Men's Wearhouse and he wants to do a vest in the Oasis color we're using in the wedding with an Oasis tie. He wants to look super sharp, it's really cute. We don't need to order for awhile yet, but I think I'd like to nail it down in August some time, just to get it off the list...
Seems like there's been more going on, but I think that's it for right now. Have a great day everyone!!!
Brooke
I've got a small guest list (especially compared to yours), and I know I saw a difference when cost comparing the different times of day!
I hope you're never in any danger of that happening.
