Change

I like most brides spent hours looking for my dress, I spent a fair bit of money purchasing "the dress" so when I say "I think I want to change into something else when we leave the reception" Mr TMF's jaw hits the floor.

What are your thoughts on changing dresses? I love the idea, my mum did it, all my aunties did it and I just think it's time to bring back the 70s/80s tradition. I have seen a lot of costume changes happening on various wedding blogs and it looks great. But, then a domino of issues arise... I have this amazing dress, that I will only wear ONCE (let's not mention the cost per wear) and there's only one time I'll be a bride so why not embrace it and keep the same dress on?

So I ignored my concerns and went researching for outfits here's some I love.

Cameo, from Johanna Johnson

Eliza, from Johanna Johnson

Ginger, from Johanna Johnson

But my favourite has to be this Elizabeth Filmore number

Isn't she perfect? Her name is Belle! I love the headdress too!

So, what are you thoughts? To change or not to change, that is the question!

Time goes by

And we are two months away from the big day! Where did the time go? I actually don't even know what's been happening. The wedding has been under control - I think. Is it just me or is the only thing that is stressful about weddings are family? I've planned 1000s of events so this is just another, but my family (i.e. DAD) has never been involved in those, hence why they all go ahead smoothly... I mean, I know they (he) are (is) excited and the European in them (him) is worried that people will be upset if they aren't invited or if my fancy food will make them leave hungry. I can't even type without shaking my head and rolling my eyes. Other than that, all is well.

In terms of events, I dyed my hair brown to get ready for the wedding. I had expensive re-growth (balayage) previously and thought I should try go al'natural. People keep telling me it "suits me", um duh it's my natural colour...

I had my last birthday before I get married, the last birthday as Miss V... (ah changing my name - that's a topic for another blog post) We celebrated with my bestest friends and a magnum of Moet, delicious!

After hours of drinking we re-fuelled and had some pizza. The wedding diet is going swimmingly. (I'm starting body trim next week - does anyone have any feedback?) I'm feeling the pressure, people keep saying "you can't have that, you're getting married"...  I didn't realise everyone sees themselves as walking nutritionists these days.

The day after my birthday I was surprised with a lovely bunch of flowers from my client - made my hungover Monday all that more enjoyable.

And back to the daily grind I go. Until yesterday when none other than the ice-cream man with his ice-cream truck came around the corner. I heard it from my desk and was running around like a dog trying to catch my tail... I haven't heard or seen one in years. I came back to my desk with a delicious cone. Wedding diet still going amazingly.

My final dress measurements have been sent off (before the ice-cream) and I tried my dress on with my shoes and jewellery. I still love it -thankfully. I say "thankfully" because I have been having doubts about some of the decisions I made for the wedding early on in the piece, including some vendors... . Has this happened to any other brides? Or am I just an over thinker? The only thing stopping me from cancelling things is the 1000s of dollars in deposits...

Comeback Kid

I feel like I've had more 'come backs' than Madonna... I keep on falling off the radar and then I say I'm back to stay... then I go. But I really truly hope this is my final comeback (we'll see).

Wedding planning has been going swimmingly, the diet not so much (I won't dwell on that one). I think I have everything under control, the invites are being pressed, photographer, videographer, hair, flowers are all sorted!  Oh and I have my dress! The craziness that surrounded that dress makes laugh, how we get caught up on one dress is so funny - I know it's probably the most important dress I will ever wear but, the hours I spent annoying my MOH (thanks Laws) could have been 1/16th if there wasn't SO much pressure! It took me 5 months to find "the dress"... I knew what I wanted and I just couldn't find it. Sticking to my guns paid off. Hrmm 'paid' isn't the best word  to use as it wasn't the cheapest dress...

Speaking of money, brides-to-be, make sure you look into buying your dress from the designers country of origin, this was one of my options, but I didn't have the opportunity to try on the dress prior to buying. The cost with shipping, taxes and import taxes would have come in $1,500 cheaper then a dress available in Australia - I want to say 'can you believe it?!' but, I kind of can.

I won't show you the dress but here is a little swatch of the fabric!

Yeah, I don't think that photo gives it justice, it's the most amazing French Chantilly lace.

So how long did it take you to find our dress??

hanging on the edge

So all these websites and magazines tell us how to make our weddings look amazing, but they never tell us just how muc it will cost. Being the first of many friends to get married I don't really have much to go off, prices go up every year so it's hard to get a good idea. So you can imagine my confused face when a recent quote came through for my flowers... I stared at the screen and asked; how much do they normally cost? Is this a good price? So I sent the quote to Mr TMF, which is invalid, he thinks anything that costs under $10,000 is "cheap"... Any brides or recently married girls that can shed some light? Anyways enough of the blabber, I have decided I really want a floral chandelier to sit over our bridal table. We're not doing the long table, but a rectangular one that sits in the middle of the venue. I first fell in love with the floral chandelier when I saw them at Donna Hay Magazine's 10th Birthday bash... The pic I have is terrible so, here are a few I have looked at for inspiration...

I like the all while feel of this one, not sure about how low it sits, it would stop you from seeing the people sitting across from you.

Splash! I love the colour in this but I dont like that it doesn't have much length on it.

Similar to the first one, but how amazing would this be on a high ceiling venue? Unfortunately the ceiling on ours is a little too low for this dramatic effect.

I really love this one, I love the use of ribbons and the colourful flowers... I suppose I could get a mixture of all of them to create my own design, I wouldn't want too much happening on the bridal table as I want the central focus on the chandelier... So, what's you wedding statement?

shoe-wall

So I have hit a 'shoe-wall'... I really love shoes, I love browsing and buying all kinds of shoes, but if you look at my shoe collection, they are all so very safe... I promised myself that on my wedding day I would not be 'safe' shoes are fun... Your wedding day should be fun... So it goes without saying. I haven't even gone dress shopping (with 9 months to go... Ekk) but don't you worry I have been shoe shopping. I won't be going for that Carrie Bradshaw MB shoe, or even the 'something blue' category. I Want FUN, FUN FUN! I can't decide on which ones want... Maybe you can help?

First time saw these I was stalking Kate Spade's page for pretty rings... Then this disco ball popped up out of no where and yelled "pick me! Wear me!"... I'm a sucker! I love them, I shopped around trying to find a place to buy them in Sydney and then last night my gorgeous friend in NYC said she would send them over for me... I think I heard them dong a little dance, excited that they would have a home real soon ... But then... I found these... I posted two pairs in the same design, as I don't know which colour I love more... Both are Vivienne Westwood for Melissa. Yes I do like them more seeing as we share the same name...

I love the Red heart, so so so sweet...

These are cute and look more wedding-like... I asked the boy what he thought... He says "buy them all and alternate throughout the night"... Oh God I love him, and i want to say YES, but we will never have any money with that attitude (I can't believe I even said that-slap me!)... Is the boy allowed see the things I'm going to wear on the day? (other than the dress)... What shopping "wall" have you hit this week?