The Bridesmaids

Allegria Bridal in Belmont had a trunk sale of my favorite designer, Jim Hjelm, today, so we went over to check out some dresses. I had already fallen in love online with JH5935 (pictured left) but was nervous about what I would think of it in person.

It was the first dress the girls tried on and it was stunning! They are beautiful girls to begin with, but in that dress it was like they had stepped off a runway. We tried on many (many) more, because all of the Hjelm dresses are just so beautiful. For a moment, we were torn between this dress and another, but chose this in the end. I'm so happy - the girls couldn't be more beautiful and they love the gown. I think it's a wonderful complement to my dress, and also to the "vintage-modern" vibe we're going for.

I also want to add that the girls at Allegria were wonderful - so nice and helpful (we particularly loved our associate). If you haven't purchased a gown (they were having a Rivani bridal gown trunk show as well - spectacular dresses) or gowns for your maids, I highly recommend checking this salon out. The 15% discount on trunk show gowns didn't hurt either!

The Save-the-Dates

My Save-the-Dates (STD's) are finally finished and ready to mail! These things were a true labor of love, and I learned a lot  in making them (and some of my current knowledge was confirmed, like the fact that I really can't do math and my measurements weren't exactly correct...).

I can't take complete credit for these, since I was really inspired by Mrs. Pomegranate's Save-the-Dates at Weddingbee. She was also a damask, modern-vintage bride - I just added my own touches.

The cards fit in a standard #10 envelope, that has a side opening. The labels wrap all the way around with the recipient's address on the front, and our return address securing the flap.

How I Made Them:

The damask image was purchased from fotolia, and modified in Photoshop. The invite was laid out, 3-up, in InDesign. My fantastic brother let me use is HP laser printer to print the invitations (since my HP laser is into ghosting lately). They were hand duplexed with a polka-dot pattern on the reverse. Everything was trimmed using (again, my brother's - he rocks!) a laser cutter. I then rounded the corners with a corner punch, punched holes in one side and slipped through a miniature tassel.

Supplies:

• Paper - Mohawk Via Vellum 80# cover in Warm White, from the Papermill Store
  
• Tassels - Black, 1" mini tassels from Trims & Tassels
• Envelopes - Black, #10 envelopes from Envelope Mall
• Labels - 8.5 x 11" label paper from Staples
• Laser trimmer
• Standard hole punch
• Rounded corner punch

The Makeup

This month's Glamour featured Katie Holmes on the cover. When I saw it - I knew right away that it was the makeup I wanted for the wedding.

If you've been following my blog so far, you've probably figured I'm not very gung-ho girly. I agonized over the shoes. I complained about the dress. You probably figure that makeup would also be on the list of laments.

Not so! I'm a self-professed makeup junkie. I love it. Can't get enough. I routinely have to cull my collection, even joining a makeup site online where you can swap makeup with other girls. I used to twitter around makeup counters like a hummingbird looking for a fix. Then God created Sephora, and all was right with the world.

I was chomping at the bit to shop for wedding day makeup. I knew as soon as I found something I liked, I had to get it (colors are discontinued seasonally). When I saw KH on the Glamour cover, I was nervous - I don't routinely read fashion magazines (my mom gave me this one, since she mysteriously receives a copy) - I wasn't sure if they would list all the makeup used in the shoot, and if so, if I'd be able to get it. I envisioned harassing some poor young intern at the magazine until I got the name of every product...

But all the makeup was listed right inside and - score! - it was all by Estée Lauder. So I booked it over to Bloomingdales and was able to find (with help - Bloomingdales has the nicest makeup people ever) every product except the lip gloss. But the manager was super nice, and poured some into a sample jar for me to take home to try out. Of course, I also had to stop by Sephora as well for some DiorShow waterproof mascara (a bride's best friend) and some Laura Mercier oil-free primer. I can't wait to experiment this weekend!

I'm a little nervous, since I have wacky allergies and I've never really used Estée Lauder products before. But thankfully they have a fantastic return policy if I end up covered in hives. The manager mentioned that the lip gloss would be coming in in a couple of weeks, and when I come back in to buy it, if I bring my makeup she'll show me how they did it in the KH photo. So nice! I'm planning on having my wedding makeup done by a pro for the big day - but, as I mentioned - my allergies prohibit me from using any of the spa's makeup, I have to bring my own.

Here are all the products if you want to get this look!

Automatic Eye Pencil Duo in Plum Grey

Pure Color EyeShadow in Plum Pop

High Gloss in Pearl

Signature Satin Creme Blush in Berry Light

The Dress

So after trying on nearly 100 dresses (I wish I was kidding) I finally got my dress! It's "Magnolia" by La Sposa for Pronovias.

I was having a real hard time dress shopping. I just couldn't find anything that was "me." I tried on dress after dress and was getting really discouraged. My mom told me, "when you put on the one, you'll know." I was skeptical. 

But she was right. The dress came in on Monday and the second I saw it I loved it. It was everything I liked in other dresses all rolled into one dress. The picture above doesn't do it justice - it doesn't even look like the same dress! (And it looks completely different on me).

After all the hunting we did in stores and even the Running of the Brides - I actually found this dress online. I had called every store in the Boston area, but no one had it. Of course, I had to have a dress that had just been discontinued. Thankfully, we found a place in California that had one left in my size. Five days later it was mine!

I'm still a little self-conscious about wearing a big white dress in front of a large group of people. This dress doesn't hide anything, and with my Casper-hued skin, you'll likely be able to see me from space. It's ironic because in college I was an actress, spending hours of time on stage in front of hundreds of people, and I loved it. Not sure when I started running from spotlights... I'm trying to relate the situations - after all, it'll be Halloween, I'll be in the ultimate costume, and learn vows just like learning lines. I'll even have the JP as a prompt :). 

To Manolo or Not to Manolo?

I recently became aware of a growing trend among brides: the designer shoe. I admit to being completely ignorant of this new ritual. Mostly because, well, I hate shoes. I know, as a woman, that sounds sacrilegious somehow, but it's true. I see women's shoes as dangerous, like some kind of weapon that could potentially hurt someone, especially me. I find them overpriced and uncomfortable and I dread shopping for them. My mother picked out the last pair I bought.

Maybe it's because I grew up on the South Shore with my feet in the sand for at least a third of the year. As soon as school let out, the shoes came off and didn't make their way back onto my feet until the fall. Like most Marshfieldians, I kept flip-flops in my car or bag, necessary for entering the occasional "no shirt, no shoes, no service" establishment.

So when it came to finding shoes for the wedding, I didn't know where to start. I began polling, by which I discovered the aforementioned bridal movement. One friend spent $1,000 on a pair of Manolo's. Yes, they were THE shoe from "Sex and the City." I had no idea what that meant - so I Googled it. They are blue. Other gals I polled ranged across the board from Prada to Kate Spade.

Now, I'm a girl who knows my designers, and I have no problem plunking down a chunk of change on quality merchandise - but shoes? That I would wear once? One of the reasons FI is marrying me is because I'm not that girl. You know the one. They even made a movie about her recently (something with "Confessions" in the title...) Not that being that girl is a bad thing - I completely support spending your money on what you want to spend it on - I just spend mine on different things - like big screen televisions and a Sephora addiction. We all have our vices.

But all the talk about designer shoes started me thinking - should I be doing this? It's a common question I've been asking myself lately while planning my unconventional wedding. So I started searching, and really loved a pair of Stuart Weitzman shoes. But I just couldn't stomach the price. So...

I found these great shoes by Coloriffics, the style is "Anne." Stuart Weitzman Lingere = $350. The Anne shoes? $46.50 with shipping - can't beat that. And the style works much better for me, I hate backs on shoes, and this is the closest to barefoot I'm going to get in October.

I'm just glad the great shoe debate is settled. In many ways, I was dreading the shoes more than the dress. Speaking of said dress, it will be here tomorrow - updates to come!