I have mentioned the search for my dress in a past post, and I have talked about the crazy reasons for not wanting to reveal her identity on the world wide web. But that doesn't mean that I can't write about our dress buying adventures, does it?
As mentioned, my sister and I spent a lot of time narrowing down the search for dresses. After an extensive search in the Toronto area, we visited some boutiques in Kitchener and Waterloo. We were very pleasantly surprised by the amount of bridal salons that are found in these tiny cities just west of Toronto. The prices of the dresses were also significantly lower than what we were able to find elsewhere.
We knew that I'd never be able to pick a dress without my Mama present, so we made a mantle note to bring her back to the stores we visited. We returned to the area shortly before our trip to Poland this summer. My Mama was going to Poland with us, and she was planning on staying for a couple of months, so it was kind of crunch time. We visited our favourite of the Kitchener stores, and found the dress that we felt was "the one". It was a San Patrick gown that my mom swears was "made for me". We went to a couple of other stores, but found nothing that even compared to the San Patrick.
Upon returning to the original store and trying the dress on again, we were sold. But this isn't where the adventure ends. We also began to have a little bit of cold feet. The dress was on the expensive side of the dresses we were looking at and the standard length was too long (at my height, this is a surprise) and would need to be ordered in a custom length which was an extra fee. I asked the sales women to measure me so that they would have the information on file, and told them that we would sleep on it and call them in the morning. We didn't want to drive all the way back to Kitchener (about an hour's drive), but the staff assured us that we could put in the order over the phone.
When we got home, my Mama and I decided to visit just one more bridal salon. We had recently moved, and there was a bridal store just down the street. We walked in, and the sales lady put me in a beautiful, fit and flare, tulle gown. The dress fit me like a glove, and they were having a sample sale. I could have this dress for about 1/4th of the cost of my original pick. We asked the staff to put the dress on hold, and we went home with a big decision to make...
Did you pick a more expensive dream dress, or did you pick a stunning bargain dress?
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
A New Family
I was inspired by a Weddingbee board thread yesterday to write a post about my living situation. For the last 2 months, Matthew and I have been living with his parents. Initially, we were planning on making this a temporary situation, but are now thinking of staying until after our wedding in July.
I have always been 100% behind the idea of living with his family. Matthew, on the other hand, has been more hesitant. When we lived apart, I lived with my dad, and Matthew lived with his parents. It just didn't make much sense for us to be renting two separate apartments, one in Toronto and one in Vermont, when we knew that our living situation was temporary. I was never ashamed of telling people that I lived with my dad, but I was extremely proud of the fact that I was able to pay off my student debt in a year and a half. Matthew, however, has admitted to purposefully omitting his living situation from conversation for fear that he would be judged as a slacker. I think the fact that I have moved in puts even more pressure on him. He promised to provide for me if I moved here, and I think that he feels like he is not doing that as long as we are living with his parents.
In the Polish culture, it is very common for a young married couple to live with their parents. Many households contain several generations. This is a simple way to help each other out: the grandparents provide shelter for the young couple, and in return, the young couple takes care of the grandparents as they age. It's a loving way for families to work together.
It seems that in North America, this living situation is looked upon differently. Many people have the false belief that living with your parents means that you are either irresponsible or broke. This is not the case for us: we can afford an apartment, but want to buy a house. We want to be debt free, and are taking this opportunity to save as much money as possible. We are very, very lucky to have people who love us and want to help us. I know that not everyone is in the same boat.
I think that it is more mature to accept help when you need it, than to drown in your pride. I see many people our age take on more than they can chew with school loans, mortgage payments, and credit card debt. We are sacrificing some luxuries, to make sure that our life together is started on the right foot.
Another positive side of living with Matthew's family is the fact that you get to know your in laws very well! I really appreciate and love my new family, even though I still can't call Matthew's parents by their first names. I hope that they won't mind me calling them "mom" and "dad" after the wedding.
Anyone else in my boat? Do you live with your parents or in laws?
P. S. I've been struggling with the STD's all morning. Hopefully I'll be able to show you the finished product tomorrow.
I have always been 100% behind the idea of living with his family. Matthew, on the other hand, has been more hesitant. When we lived apart, I lived with my dad, and Matthew lived with his parents. It just didn't make much sense for us to be renting two separate apartments, one in Toronto and one in Vermont, when we knew that our living situation was temporary. I was never ashamed of telling people that I lived with my dad, but I was extremely proud of the fact that I was able to pay off my student debt in a year and a half. Matthew, however, has admitted to purposefully omitting his living situation from conversation for fear that he would be judged as a slacker. I think the fact that I have moved in puts even more pressure on him. He promised to provide for me if I moved here, and I think that he feels like he is not doing that as long as we are living with his parents.
In the Polish culture, it is very common for a young married couple to live with their parents. Many households contain several generations. This is a simple way to help each other out: the grandparents provide shelter for the young couple, and in return, the young couple takes care of the grandparents as they age. It's a loving way for families to work together.
It seems that in North America, this living situation is looked upon differently. Many people have the false belief that living with your parents means that you are either irresponsible or broke. This is not the case for us: we can afford an apartment, but want to buy a house. We want to be debt free, and are taking this opportunity to save as much money as possible. We are very, very lucky to have people who love us and want to help us. I know that not everyone is in the same boat.
I think that it is more mature to accept help when you need it, than to drown in your pride. I see many people our age take on more than they can chew with school loans, mortgage payments, and credit card debt. We are sacrificing some luxuries, to make sure that our life together is started on the right foot.
Another positive side of living with Matthew's family is the fact that you get to know your in laws very well! I really appreciate and love my new family, even though I still can't call Matthew's parents by their first names. I hope that they won't mind me calling them "mom" and "dad" after the wedding.
Anyone else in my boat? Do you live with your parents or in laws?
P. S. I've been struggling with the STD's all morning. Hopefully I'll be able to show you the finished product tomorrow.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The Struggle of the Modern Woman
A couple of weeks ago, we received the latest issue of "Time" magazine (thanks to Matthew's parents....if it was up to me, we'd just be getting Martha and maybe some US Weekly). Anyway, Time has conducted a survey on "The State of the American Women", which was summarized in an article by Nancy Gibbs. The results were overwhelmingly positive. According to the author, "it's expected that by the end of the year, for the first time in history the majority of workers in the U.S. will be women". Furthermore, "more and more women are the primary breadwinner in their household (almost 40%)". Gibbs also notes that the notion that "women's rise comes at men's expense" is all but forgotten.
As a person who is extremely interested in the issues of equality, I started reading this article with a smile on my face, proud of how much the women of my generation have contributed to the movement. As I kept reading, however, my smile began to diminish. By the end of the article, Gibbs concludes that "as women have gained more freedom, more education and more economic power, they have become less happy". She attributes this to several different issues, one of which was that women are "working longer hours while playing quarterback at home".
When I closely studied the survey, I became even more concerned. Even though 76% of the people polled said that the fact that women now compose nearly half of the workforce is positive for society, 65% of these same peeps thought that our society has been negatively impacted by the decrease in the amount of children who grow up with a stay at home parent (only 30%). Is it just me, or do these statistics seem to clash? The reason that most children do not grow up with a stay at home parent is precisely the fact that women now work. Even though a father is just as capable of taking care of children as a mother, the reality is that it is mostly women who choose to stay home. Indeed, if our family had the option of a stay at home parent, I would certainly want it to be me!
As I prepare to create a family of my own, I can't help but think about the fact that I am exactly the type of woman that will struggle with these decisions. I love my career: I find it meaningful and fulfilling. But I also want to have a family, and want to do what's best for my kiddies. I wonder if there is some kind of magical equation for balancing home and career as far as women are concerned.
Have you ever thought about how your role at home and your professional career will merge, and what effect this might have on you, your husband, and/or your future children?
P.S. If you are interested in reading the article, or in studying the survey, you can find it here.
As a person who is extremely interested in the issues of equality, I started reading this article with a smile on my face, proud of how much the women of my generation have contributed to the movement. As I kept reading, however, my smile began to diminish. By the end of the article, Gibbs concludes that "as women have gained more freedom, more education and more economic power, they have become less happy". She attributes this to several different issues, one of which was that women are "working longer hours while playing quarterback at home".
When I closely studied the survey, I became even more concerned. Even though 76% of the people polled said that the fact that women now compose nearly half of the workforce is positive for society, 65% of these same peeps thought that our society has been negatively impacted by the decrease in the amount of children who grow up with a stay at home parent (only 30%). Is it just me, or do these statistics seem to clash? The reason that most children do not grow up with a stay at home parent is precisely the fact that women now work. Even though a father is just as capable of taking care of children as a mother, the reality is that it is mostly women who choose to stay home. Indeed, if our family had the option of a stay at home parent, I would certainly want it to be me!
As I prepare to create a family of my own, I can't help but think about the fact that I am exactly the type of woman that will struggle with these decisions. I love my career: I find it meaningful and fulfilling. But I also want to have a family, and want to do what's best for my kiddies. I wonder if there is some kind of magical equation for balancing home and career as far as women are concerned.
Have you ever thought about how your role at home and your professional career will merge, and what effect this might have on you, your husband, and/or your future children?
P.S. If you are interested in reading the article, or in studying the survey, you can find it here.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Missin my Peeps
Yesterday I went on a blind date with a woman. Matthew set me up with the wife of a coworker to get me out of the house. We went for lunch. It was magical.
One of the unfortunate consequences of following your heart to a different country to be with your sweety, is the fact that you have to leave all of your hard earned friendships behind. I am a person who takes some time to warm up to people, so trying to build relationships under pressure is torture. So, today's post is about all of the lovely people that I have left behind in Canada.
Let's start with my lovely housemates. From left to right that's Rhiannon, Jessica, me, and Holly. Sadly, we are currently scattered across the world, in Australia, England, the US, and Bahrain. I hope that they are all able to make it to our wedding for a little reunion.
Next, we have "the core" (yes, we actually called ourselves that....we even had t-shirts made). You can see my back in this picture, Rebecca is the deliriously happy one, Steph is facing the camera, and Rob is sadly hidden.
Here we are dressed up for a "villains" party....we're the ghosts from Pacman! You've already met Rebecca and Rhiannon, and my high school friend Rachel is on the right.
Mary has been my friend for the shortest amount of time, but has nevertheless made an impact on my life. Matthew and I attended her wedding in March, and she was a beautiful bride.
Myself, Rob, Rebecca, and Rhiannon at graduation (man I have a lot of friends whose names start with "R").
I can only hope that I am lucky enough to meet such wonderful friends here in Vermont. Did you have to leave your social circle and start a new one to be with your fiance?
One of the unfortunate consequences of following your heart to a different country to be with your sweety, is the fact that you have to leave all of your hard earned friendships behind. I am a person who takes some time to warm up to people, so trying to build relationships under pressure is torture. So, today's post is about all of the lovely people that I have left behind in Canada.
Let's start with my lovely housemates. From left to right that's Rhiannon, Jessica, me, and Holly. Sadly, we are currently scattered across the world, in Australia, England, the US, and Bahrain. I hope that they are all able to make it to our wedding for a little reunion.
Next, we have "the core" (yes, we actually called ourselves that....we even had t-shirts made). You can see my back in this picture, Rebecca is the deliriously happy one, Steph is facing the camera, and Rob is sadly hidden.
Here we are dressed up for a "villains" party....we're the ghosts from Pacman! You've already met Rebecca and Rhiannon, and my high school friend Rachel is on the right.
Mary has been my friend for the shortest amount of time, but has nevertheless made an impact on my life. Matthew and I attended her wedding in March, and she was a beautiful bride.
Myself, Rob, Rebecca, and Rhiannon at graduation (man I have a lot of friends whose names start with "R").I can only hope that I am lucky enough to meet such wonderful friends here in Vermont. Did you have to leave your social circle and start a new one to be with your fiance?
Monday, October 26, 2009
I am Marrying a Renaissance Man
On Saturday, Matthew decided that we couldn't go another minute without a coffee table in our "hang out" room. I was stacking coffee cups, etc. on this wooden crate that Matthew had lying around, and he was terrified that I would spill a beverage on the brand new, beige carpet (and honestly, with my clutsy history, it was a definite possibility).
We are really trying to save as much money as possible right now, and have decided that we wouldn't buy any furniture in fear that it wouldn't "match" the starter home that we are planning on buying with all of the money we saved. So, buying a coffee table was out.
During the renovations, we ripped out some old pine shelves that Matthew had in his walk in closet. The wood was in good condition, so we stored it in the garage for the time being. Matthew decided that he would make use of the wood to make our table.
Now, I must be honest, I had little hope for this table. Not only was the wood in pieces, but I have never known Matthew to be a carpenter. He was in the basement for a couple of hours, and came up with this:
I don't know about you, but I think that this is pretty fabulous for 2 hours of work on a Saturday! Because this was supposed to be a temporary piece of furniture, he didn't stain the wood, but I am thinking that this baby might be worth keeping! This is just like the time I challenged him to a tennis match just to find out that he has a serious back hand, or when after six years of dating, I learned that my honey's drumming skills go beyond tapping on a desk. His skills never cease to amaze me!
Now that I know about his secret talents, I plan to put him to work on wedding projects.....any ideas?
We are really trying to save as much money as possible right now, and have decided that we wouldn't buy any furniture in fear that it wouldn't "match" the starter home that we are planning on buying with all of the money we saved. So, buying a coffee table was out.
During the renovations, we ripped out some old pine shelves that Matthew had in his walk in closet. The wood was in good condition, so we stored it in the garage for the time being. Matthew decided that he would make use of the wood to make our table.
Now, I must be honest, I had little hope for this table. Not only was the wood in pieces, but I have never known Matthew to be a carpenter. He was in the basement for a couple of hours, and came up with this:
I don't know about you, but I think that this is pretty fabulous for 2 hours of work on a Saturday! Because this was supposed to be a temporary piece of furniture, he didn't stain the wood, but I am thinking that this baby might be worth keeping! This is just like the time I challenged him to a tennis match just to find out that he has a serious back hand, or when after six years of dating, I learned that my honey's drumming skills go beyond tapping on a desk. His skills never cease to amaze me!
Now that I know about his secret talents, I plan to put him to work on wedding projects.....any ideas?
Friday, October 23, 2009
My First Date with Craig
The gals on weddingbee.com have been raving lately about Craigslist. Before last night, I was a Craigslist virgin. I had never even been to the site! Come to think of it, although I've certainly explored sites such as Ebay, I've never actually bought anything from these online sources! I guess I'm just a little bit weirded out by used stuff....the snob in me says, "well, if it's not good enough for you, it's certainly not good enough for me!" (my how far I've come from my Polish-Communist-food stamp childhood).
Anyway, after all of the wonderful and cheap things that the bees (on Weddingbee, keep up!) have found on Craigslist, I decided to just take a look and see what was available in my area. And, can you believe it, I found something that I loved. I found something that I loved, for peanuts.
Now, usually, when I find something I love, I hmmmm and huhhhh, and ask my sister what she thinks (she usually loves it), and ask my mama what she thinks (she usually hates it), and by the time I actually decide that I must have it, it's no longer available. This is exactly what happened to the beautiful and cheap candlesticks.
But this time, I did something very out of character. I immediately emailed the seller, who wrote me back with a phone number. This morning, as if possessed by the spirit of my take charge little sis, I called her. And at 2:30pm, I was the proud owner of my very own free standing antique aluminum mailbox!!!!!
.......You bought a what?........a mailbox.........
......Wanna see???
How amazing will this be as a card box? I think that I might have Matthew paint it. I'm thinking white, with a navy blue "Letters" flap and yellow "Letters". Here's a little close up:
Anyone know how to paint aluminum???
Anyway, after all of the wonderful and cheap things that the bees (on Weddingbee, keep up!) have found on Craigslist, I decided to just take a look and see what was available in my area. And, can you believe it, I found something that I loved. I found something that I loved, for peanuts.
Now, usually, when I find something I love, I hmmmm and huhhhh, and ask my sister what she thinks (she usually loves it), and ask my mama what she thinks (she usually hates it), and by the time I actually decide that I must have it, it's no longer available. This is exactly what happened to the beautiful and cheap candlesticks.
But this time, I did something very out of character. I immediately emailed the seller, who wrote me back with a phone number. This morning, as if possessed by the spirit of my take charge little sis, I called her. And at 2:30pm, I was the proud owner of my very own free standing antique aluminum mailbox!!!!!
.......You bought a what?........a mailbox.........
......Wanna see???
How amazing will this be as a card box? I think that I might have Matthew paint it. I'm thinking white, with a navy blue "Letters" flap and yellow "Letters". Here's a little close up:
Anyone know how to paint aluminum???
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Videography.......Sigh.....
It seems like a pretty common thing. When wedding planning starts, it seems like the first thing that many modern brides do is book an excellent photographer that is out of their budget. After all, the photos are the only part of the wedding day that will survive for years to come. The bride-to-be calmly rationalizes the added expense to her fiance, mother, and anyone who will listen: "We will just scrimp on the videography.....or better yet, have a friend tape the wedding".
Of course, I was no different. And, like most naive brides, I forgot about my plan to save money on videography and started day dreaming about our day being captured by the likes of Still Motion (they are fellow Canadians, after all). I just couldn't bring myself to trust an uncle or a college roommate with something that I'll likely use to relive the day when the Post Wedding Trauma hits. However, considering that Still Motion's commissions range from about 1/4th - 3/4ths of our budget, I knew that there was no amount of rationalizing that could get Matthew to agree to hire them.
Thus I began my search for a great videographer that would fit into our measly budget. I searched and searched, but all I found were either decent but over priced professionals, or people whose editing "tastes" did not match my own. I even tried to find someone who would video tape the wedding without editing it for a discount (no editing is better than bad editing, in my opinion). However, when I was quoted over $700 for raw footage of 6 hours of our wedding, I decided that I didn't want to pay someone over $100 an hour to stand there with a camera. If we was going to have a videographer, it was going to be someone who cared about capturing our memories in a beautiful way. Maybe I would pay a couple of hundred dollars more, but the person would spend countless hours editing our video to ensure that it was a good representation of us.
After a long search, I stumbled across Digistudio. I had my sister meet with them, and she absolutely loved them. A couple of weeks later my mama met them, and she adored them as well (which, if you know my mama, does not happen often).
I am so happy to have found videographers that fit within our budget! I know that Byron, Joseph and their team will do a fabulous job capturing our happy day!
Since I am still a little new to the whole blogging thing, I don't know how to post a video off of their website here. Instead, you can see a wedding highlight on their blog, just in case you're interested.
Did you find a videographer that didn't cost you an arm and a leg, but was definitely worth every penny?
Of course, I was no different. And, like most naive brides, I forgot about my plan to save money on videography and started day dreaming about our day being captured by the likes of Still Motion (they are fellow Canadians, after all). I just couldn't bring myself to trust an uncle or a college roommate with something that I'll likely use to relive the day when the Post Wedding Trauma hits. However, considering that Still Motion's commissions range from about 1/4th - 3/4ths of our budget, I knew that there was no amount of rationalizing that could get Matthew to agree to hire them.
Thus I began my search for a great videographer that would fit into our measly budget. I searched and searched, but all I found were either decent but over priced professionals, or people whose editing "tastes" did not match my own. I even tried to find someone who would video tape the wedding without editing it for a discount (no editing is better than bad editing, in my opinion). However, when I was quoted over $700 for raw footage of 6 hours of our wedding, I decided that I didn't want to pay someone over $100 an hour to stand there with a camera. If we was going to have a videographer, it was going to be someone who cared about capturing our memories in a beautiful way. Maybe I would pay a couple of hundred dollars more, but the person would spend countless hours editing our video to ensure that it was a good representation of us.
After a long search, I stumbled across Digistudio. I had my sister meet with them, and she absolutely loved them. A couple of weeks later my mama met them, and she adored them as well (which, if you know my mama, does not happen often).
I am so happy to have found videographers that fit within our budget! I know that Byron, Joseph and their team will do a fabulous job capturing our happy day!
Since I am still a little new to the whole blogging thing, I don't know how to post a video off of their website here. Instead, you can see a wedding highlight on their blog, just in case you're interested.
Did you find a videographer that didn't cost you an arm and a leg, but was definitely worth every penny?
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Happy Birthday Birthday Boy!
Today is Matthew's birthday. Twenty six years ago today, a baby boy was born in Vermont, USA. Across the ocean, a baby girl stirred in her sleep unknowing that her other half just joined her on this planet.
As cheesy as this sounds, I feel so happy today to be celebrating the birthday of my soul mate. It is the first birthday that we get to spend together in a while, and there is no where that I would rather be than by his side.
Happy Birthday Birthday Boy!
As cheesy as this sounds, I feel so happy today to be celebrating the birthday of my soul mate. It is the first birthday that we get to spend together in a while, and there is no where that I would rather be than by his side.
Happy Birthday Birthday Boy!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Getting Distracted
Trying to find an affordable yet extremely elegant dress for my BMs online is proving to be quite a challenge. I have explored all of the usual suspects: Macy's, Nordstrom, Nieman Marcus, Lords and Ladies, Ann Taylor, and countless other websites. While my search for BM dresses has not been fruitful, I have found a few really cute dresses that I am considering for myself! I mean, apart from the wedding dress, I'm going to need a rehearsal dress, and a shower dress, and a bachelorette party dress, and who knows how many others!
I am super excited about wearing as many white/cream/ivory dresses as I can for the pre-wedding events, since these are the only events when wearing white is not frowned upon, but encouraged!
So in a world where I could buy as many dresses as I wanted without worrying about our ballooning budget, here is what I would wear:
(All of the dresses below are from www.shop.nordstrom.com)
This dress would be an adorable party dress for after the ceremony. I just love the feathers! However, the price tag is a little steep, and my football player shoulders do not approve of anything strapless. Also, I think that I love my gown too much to change out of it!
I am not 100% sure about this dress. In the picture, it looks a little too dressy to be anything but a real wedding dress. I can't help but wonder though if it could be dressed down with some metallic flats, bed-head waves, and chunky jewellery (a la Nicole Richie maxi dress). Perhaps for a shower or the rehearsal dinner?
I love the modesty of this dress, and think that it would be perfect for a daytime shower. The silhouette is a tried and true one for my body type.
I've saved the best for last. I LOVE the one shoulder pouf thing on this dress. I could definitely see myself wearing this to my bachelorette party or shower. It is a little on the fancy side, but luckily, my family and friends love to dress up, so I think that this dress wouldn't phase them.
I am seriously debating purchasing the last one, just to try it on and see what it looks like. One shoulder dresses are a good option for me, and I would totally rock that pouf. I'm not sure about how the silk material would sit on my hips (love handles), but since the dress is 40% off, I feel like maybe I should risk it. The problem? They don't have the dress in my size. I would have to buy it bigger and than alter it. It looks like this might be quite easy, but I'm not sure....what do you think? Would any of the above dresses work for me? Which dress(es) would you choose?
I am super excited about wearing as many white/cream/ivory dresses as I can for the pre-wedding events, since these are the only events when wearing white is not frowned upon, but encouraged!
So in a world where I could buy as many dresses as I wanted without worrying about our ballooning budget, here is what I would wear:
(All of the dresses below are from www.shop.nordstrom.com)
This dress would be an adorable party dress for after the ceremony. I just love the feathers! However, the price tag is a little steep, and my football player shoulders do not approve of anything strapless. Also, I think that I love my gown too much to change out of it!
I am not 100% sure about this dress. In the picture, it looks a little too dressy to be anything but a real wedding dress. I can't help but wonder though if it could be dressed down with some metallic flats, bed-head waves, and chunky jewellery (a la Nicole Richie maxi dress). Perhaps for a shower or the rehearsal dinner?
I love the modesty of this dress, and think that it would be perfect for a daytime shower. The silhouette is a tried and true one for my body type.
I've saved the best for last. I LOVE the one shoulder pouf thing on this dress. I could definitely see myself wearing this to my bachelorette party or shower. It is a little on the fancy side, but luckily, my family and friends love to dress up, so I think that this dress wouldn't phase them.I am seriously debating purchasing the last one, just to try it on and see what it looks like. One shoulder dresses are a good option for me, and I would totally rock that pouf. I'm not sure about how the silk material would sit on my hips (love handles), but since the dress is 40% off, I feel like maybe I should risk it. The problem? They don't have the dress in my size. I would have to buy it bigger and than alter it. It looks like this might be quite easy, but I'm not sure....what do you think? Would any of the above dresses work for me? Which dress(es) would you choose?
Friday, October 16, 2009
MILdor?
Wedding lingo is quite extensive. From FI, to MOH, to STDs, you can really get lost in all of the acronyms! Recently, I have made an important addition to my bride-to-be vocabulary: friendor.
Now, from my understanding, a friendor is a friend or acquaintance who agrees to "work" at your wedding for a minimum or no fee. I plan on fully taking advantage (uhm....exploiting) the talents of my family and friends at our wedding, and will post about this in the future.
So here is a question for you: what do you call a future Mother in Law that agrees to replace an important vendor for your wedding? A MILdor? Is it just me, or does that sound too much like Frodo's destination?
I am extremely lucky to have a Mother in Law who is a wedding cake expert. She has made the wedding cakes of all the brides and grooms in her family (and the fact that she has 10 siblings makes this quite a feat!). She is not a professional baker, but her work is definitely professional. Here are some examples:
FMIL, FBIL, and future aunt (FA?) with a cake made for Matthew's cousin's wedding in Chicago - Summer 2009
Cake made for Matthew's aunt and uncle's wedding in New Hampshire - Summer 2006
I was thrilled when FMIL volunteered to make our cake. I was hoping that she would offer, but didn't want to pressure her into it, since it will add extra stress to an already stressful (although joyous) day. Despite this, FMIL was up to the challenge, and I was thrilled that my cake would be beautiful, full of sentimental value, and, as awful as it sounds, free!
I am envisioning something inspired by the crispness of a well tailored dress shirt. I am a major fan of the white dress shirt with an unexpected ruffle, bow, or tuck, so this aesthetic seems fitting. This is the Martha cake inspiration:
I LOVE everything about this cake. I would not change a thing. The problem? The frosting is made with gum paste and fondant. Matthew, FMIL, and I all agree that fondant is, well, not the most appetizing option for our cake. My "baker" makes fantastic butter cream and cheese cream frostings, and I want our cake to taste as good as it looks. I am hoping that she can figure out a way to replicate this cake without sacrificing flavor.....perhaps only use fondant for the bows and flourishes, and butter cream for the rest of the design? I'm not sure how easy this would be, or if it's even possible, but I sure hope that we can, as Tim Gunn would say, "make it work".
Now, from my understanding, a friendor is a friend or acquaintance who agrees to "work" at your wedding for a minimum or no fee. I plan on fully taking advantage (uhm....exploiting) the talents of my family and friends at our wedding, and will post about this in the future.
So here is a question for you: what do you call a future Mother in Law that agrees to replace an important vendor for your wedding? A MILdor? Is it just me, or does that sound too much like Frodo's destination?
I am extremely lucky to have a Mother in Law who is a wedding cake expert. She has made the wedding cakes of all the brides and grooms in her family (and the fact that she has 10 siblings makes this quite a feat!). She is not a professional baker, but her work is definitely professional. Here are some examples:
FMIL, FBIL, and future aunt (FA?) with a cake made for Matthew's cousin's wedding in Chicago - Summer 2009
Cake made for Matthew's aunt and uncle's wedding in New Hampshire - Summer 2006I was thrilled when FMIL volunteered to make our cake. I was hoping that she would offer, but didn't want to pressure her into it, since it will add extra stress to an already stressful (although joyous) day. Despite this, FMIL was up to the challenge, and I was thrilled that my cake would be beautiful, full of sentimental value, and, as awful as it sounds, free!
I am envisioning something inspired by the crispness of a well tailored dress shirt. I am a major fan of the white dress shirt with an unexpected ruffle, bow, or tuck, so this aesthetic seems fitting. This is the Martha cake inspiration:
I LOVE everything about this cake. I would not change a thing. The problem? The frosting is made with gum paste and fondant. Matthew, FMIL, and I all agree that fondant is, well, not the most appetizing option for our cake. My "baker" makes fantastic butter cream and cheese cream frostings, and I want our cake to taste as good as it looks. I am hoping that she can figure out a way to replicate this cake without sacrificing flavor.....perhaps only use fondant for the bows and flourishes, and butter cream for the rest of the design? I'm not sure how easy this would be, or if it's even possible, but I sure hope that we can, as Tim Gunn would say, "make it work".
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Babcia
Today is my Babcia's birthday. Happy Birthday Babcia!
My Babcia is the most wonderful, courageous, and inspiring woman that I have ever met. She survived WWII in Poland, where she was imprisoned in a Nazi work camp. After the war, she walked home from the camp....it took her several weeks. Despite that, she managed to raise 6 kids, 4 of which would eventually move to Canada. Despite the distance, and the fact that most women her age would be terrified to get on a plane, she has traveled to Canada more than a dozen times.
This is a picture of my aunt, my Babcia and me taken when I visited Poland this summer:
I am ashamed to say that this is the only picture that I took with my dear Babcia. I only saw her for one weekend and was too busy listening to family stories to think about grabbing my camera.
Anyway, my Babcia has promised to make it to Canada for our wedding next year. Nothing would make me happier than to have her with me on that day. We have a very special relationship, and along with my mama and sister, she is one of the most important women in my life.
Nevertheless, my Babcia is 86 today, and even though she is in very good health, I realize that at her age things could change by next summer. She might not be able to make the long and exhausting journey to Canada. She also realizes this, and so when we said good bye this summer, she gave both Matthew and me a wedding present, "just in case". My Babcia is very religious, so she gave both of us rosaries. Here is mine:
I would like to carry this rosary with me on my wedding day, and I think wrapping it around the stems of my flowers would be the perfect way to do that. I'm thinking something like this image on the left:
Since I plan on wearing gold and pearl jewelry, I think that this will be a perfect little detail for my flowers.
How are you planning to ensure that long distance loved ones are a part of your wedding?
My Babcia is the most wonderful, courageous, and inspiring woman that I have ever met. She survived WWII in Poland, where she was imprisoned in a Nazi work camp. After the war, she walked home from the camp....it took her several weeks. Despite that, she managed to raise 6 kids, 4 of which would eventually move to Canada. Despite the distance, and the fact that most women her age would be terrified to get on a plane, she has traveled to Canada more than a dozen times.
This is a picture of my aunt, my Babcia and me taken when I visited Poland this summer:
I am ashamed to say that this is the only picture that I took with my dear Babcia. I only saw her for one weekend and was too busy listening to family stories to think about grabbing my camera.
Anyway, my Babcia has promised to make it to Canada for our wedding next year. Nothing would make me happier than to have her with me on that day. We have a very special relationship, and along with my mama and sister, she is one of the most important women in my life.
Nevertheless, my Babcia is 86 today, and even though she is in very good health, I realize that at her age things could change by next summer. She might not be able to make the long and exhausting journey to Canada. She also realizes this, and so when we said good bye this summer, she gave both Matthew and me a wedding present, "just in case". My Babcia is very religious, so she gave both of us rosaries. Here is mine:
I would like to carry this rosary with me on my wedding day, and I think wrapping it around the stems of my flowers would be the perfect way to do that. I'm thinking something like this image on the left:
Since I plan on wearing gold and pearl jewelry, I think that this will be a perfect little detail for my flowers.
How are you planning to ensure that long distance loved ones are a part of your wedding?
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Hair Guilt
Since getting engaged, I have felt horribly guilty every time I entered a salon and watched even a centimeter fall off of my long locks. I think that most brides-to-be feel the pressure to grow out their hair before the wedding. The difference is that most girls do not spend almost two years planning their big day. I got my last hair cut before going to Poland in early August. I plan on getting one or two trims before getting a final hair cut before the wedding, but for the most part, it's grow, grow, grow!
Unfortunately, that also means fairly limp hair, and lots and lots of ponytails. I've been pinning up my bangs with hair pins and head bands, and mostly wearing my hair in messy up dos. I was sure that I would give in and get a cut soon....how long can a girl go without letting down her hair?!?
Today, Matthew suggested that we go out on the town. He believes that date night is important for us, since I am cooped up inside the house all day. Also, it gives us a chance to distance ourselves from the house and have some alone time. Since Matthew has been seeing a make up less, sweat pants wearing me for the last month or so, I decided to get a little dolled up for him. I put on make up and my favorite sweater (as well as my booty-hugging jeans). I started working on my hair, but instead of going to my default ponytail, I decided to actually blow dry and style.
Turns out that the only thing wrong with my hair is the fact that I am too lazy to style it. It took about 5 minutes to blow dry my (thin) hair, and another 10 to wrap it in velcro rollers. I think that it looks fabulous, and definitely encourages me keep it growing!
Unfortunately, that also means fairly limp hair, and lots and lots of ponytails. I've been pinning up my bangs with hair pins and head bands, and mostly wearing my hair in messy up dos. I was sure that I would give in and get a cut soon....how long can a girl go without letting down her hair?!?
Today, Matthew suggested that we go out on the town. He believes that date night is important for us, since I am cooped up inside the house all day. Also, it gives us a chance to distance ourselves from the house and have some alone time. Since Matthew has been seeing a make up less, sweat pants wearing me for the last month or so, I decided to get a little dolled up for him. I put on make up and my favorite sweater (as well as my booty-hugging jeans). I started working on my hair, but instead of going to my default ponytail, I decided to actually blow dry and style.
Turns out that the only thing wrong with my hair is the fact that I am too lazy to style it. It took about 5 minutes to blow dry my (thin) hair, and another 10 to wrap it in velcro rollers. I think that it looks fabulous, and definitely encourages me keep it growing!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Water, Water Everywhere!
And all of it to drink! (Sorry for the English teacher title)
During my practice teaching term in college, I started drinking lots of water. As a teacher, I HAVE to constantly hold something in my hand to ease the awkward moments when I ask a question, and my students don't know the answer. Instead of standing at the front of the room feeling like an idiot during the longest silence ever, I would take a sip of water. Coffee works too, but I was too lazy to get up in the morning to make it, and it cost like $1.25 in the cafeteria. Hey, I needed that money for shoes!
Anyway, my Nalgene bottle (BPA and all) became my prop of choice. I was thrilled to discover that there were other benefits to the habit! Mostly, my usually acne-prone-when-stressed-or-about-to-get-a-visit-from-that-certain-aunt skin had never looked better!
Since than, I have dropped the water habit, and picked up a very nasty caffeine addiction. My skin has also gotten a lot worse. I always thought that people grew out of acne, but at 26, I feel like that is just not in the cards for me. I have the typical adult acne on my chin and cheeks, and this will not do for my wedding day! I am determined to do something about it.
Currently, I am trying out different combinations of cleansers, toners/astringents, and moisturizers hoping that something will work. I am also drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day. Now, upon doing some research, I have found that there is actually little scientific proof that drinking lots of water aids in the curing of acne. However, drinking water has a lot of added benefits, since it:
During my practice teaching term in college, I started drinking lots of water. As a teacher, I HAVE to constantly hold something in my hand to ease the awkward moments when I ask a question, and my students don't know the answer. Instead of standing at the front of the room feeling like an idiot during the longest silence ever, I would take a sip of water. Coffee works too, but I was too lazy to get up in the morning to make it, and it cost like $1.25 in the cafeteria. Hey, I needed that money for shoes!
Anyway, my Nalgene bottle (BPA and all) became my prop of choice. I was thrilled to discover that there were other benefits to the habit! Mostly, my usually acne-prone-when-stressed-or-about-to-get-a-visit-from-that-certain-aunt skin had never looked better!
Since than, I have dropped the water habit, and picked up a very nasty caffeine addiction. My skin has also gotten a lot worse. I always thought that people grew out of acne, but at 26, I feel like that is just not in the cards for me. I have the typical adult acne on my chin and cheeks, and this will not do for my wedding day! I am determined to do something about it.
Currently, I am trying out different combinations of cleansers, toners/astringents, and moisturizers hoping that something will work. I am also drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day. Now, upon doing some research, I have found that there is actually little scientific proof that drinking lots of water aids in the curing of acne. However, drinking water has a lot of added benefits, since it:
-
regulates appetite
-
increases metabolism
-
boosts energy levels
-
helps reduce blood pressure
-
helps reduce high cholesterol
-
eases joint pain
Friday, October 9, 2009
The Dress that Almost Made Me Change my Mind
I spoke about my vision of having my bridesmaids wear long flowing dresses. I am still 100% behind this idea. However, I did have a bit of a wavering moment when my sister (MOH) and her boyfriend came to visit a couple of weeks ago. We were enjoying lunch on a patio on Church Street in Burlington when we noticed a cute, short, navy blue dress in the window of a store across the street. Much to the dismay of my sister's beau, we decided to drop in and try it on. They only had two dresses available, and even though the one on the floor was too small, the dress on the mannequin was in my sister's size! We had the sales girl take it out of the window, and my sister put it on.
Oh my gosh, how cute is that! It fit my sister so well and had so many cute folds and details (not really visible with this cell-phone-quality picture). And the too small dress? Just in bridesmaid A's size! Two perfect dresses that would fit my two perfect bridesmaids? How perfect! Perfect, that is, until we looked at the price tag. The dresses were by Soshanna and cost $410.00 each! That is way too steep for my two student bridesmaids. I promised my sister that I would look the dresses up online, and see if I could find them for a better price. I did end up finding the dress on the Neiman Marcus website. Did I find a great deal on the dress? Umm....No. The dress was more expensive at the department store, costing $440.00. Apparently, at $410.00, the dress was a steal!
So, we moved on, but I still check the Neiman Marcus website from time to time to see if this adorable dress is on sale.
Oh my gosh, how cute is that! It fit my sister so well and had so many cute folds and details (not really visible with this cell-phone-quality picture). And the too small dress? Just in bridesmaid A's size! Two perfect dresses that would fit my two perfect bridesmaids? How perfect! Perfect, that is, until we looked at the price tag. The dresses were by Soshanna and cost $410.00 each! That is way too steep for my two student bridesmaids. I promised my sister that I would look the dresses up online, and see if I could find them for a better price. I did end up finding the dress on the Neiman Marcus website. Did I find a great deal on the dress? Umm....No. The dress was more expensive at the department store, costing $440.00. Apparently, at $410.00, the dress was a steal!
So, we moved on, but I still check the Neiman Marcus website from time to time to see if this adorable dress is on sale.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Fall is Here
This is a picture of what is going on outside of my window today. For the most part, I hate fall. I hate the rain, I hate the gloominess, and most of all, I hate the cold that the season brings. Today is one of those days that I just want to curl up in bed and read a good book. I am one of those people whose mood is influenced by the weather, so I am not feeling too chipper right now.
Nevertheless, I can't help but to think about all of the good things that happened to me in the fall. Matthew and I met in the fall of 2003, when we were introduced by friends.
This is actually the first picture that the two of us took together. I remember thinking that he was so incredibly cute with that beautiful curly hair. He was so shy when we met, and our first steps toward becoming a couple were not very graceful. Still, there was something about his sincerity that I just found irresistible.
Fall also signals the start of a new school year. Even though we went to school in Kingston, Ontario, we spent the summers apart. Matthew's family lives in Vermont, and he would go home for the summer. The fall signified the end of about 4 months of long distance dating.
This is us at the infamous Homecoming at Queen's University in Kingston. Looking back at these pictures makes me laugh because Matthew looks so young compared to me. We are the same age, but in this pic I look like I have at least 2 or 3 years on him.
Finally, Matthew's birthday is in the fall, and I am very happy to celebrate the birth of my man. Also, we had our civil marriage in the fall of last year. So, on days like today, it really helps to remember that apart from awful weather, the fall brings with it many wonderful memories. I feel better already!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Addressing the Dress
Alternate Title: How Growing up in Communist Poland is Influencing our Wedding
My friend Rhi called me out on the fact that in my last dress post I simply published some pictures of dresses that I tried on months and months (almost a year) ago without adding anything new. It is true....I totally did it to appease my faithful readers (all 4 of you). I did it because this is a wedding blog, and you are supposed to post pictures of yourself trying on dresses on a wedding blog. I am so ashamed of being pressured by the big, bad, wedding blog world, and trying to fit into the "mould".
There is another reason that I have been hesitant about talking about my dress here, and like the alternate title of my post suggests, it has to do with communist Poland. Huh? What does the political state of a central European country between the years of 1945 to 1989 have to do with my wedding dress? Stay with me, while I explain:
I was born in Poland in 1983. Without giving you a history lesson that would take hours to write (and read), I will just say that Poland in 1983 was not a very happy place. If you have the interest and the time, you can read all about it here. The soviet government did it's best to instill an atmosphere of fear in the country. Basically, especially for the years before my birthday, the government supported a major witch hunt during which being against socialism could have deadly consequences. All it would take was for a neighbour or a (bad) friend to suggest that you were anti-communist and you could be in grave danger. As you can imagine, this caused major paranoia. People were afraid to trust anyone outside of the family (or in it for that matter, as children were encouraged to snitch on their parents).
Umm.....again, what does this have to do with my wedding dress? Well, as my closest friends know, my upbringing in Poland (I lived there until I was 9) has had a huge impact on my life. The fact that my mother's adult life was spent in such an atmosphere has made her very distrustful of, well, people in general. And well, I have inherited very many positive traits from my Mama, but some negative ones, like this one, have managed to peak through. My Mama has me convinced that the second I post a picture of my dress, in fact, the second that I breath a word of my selection to anyone, that person will immediately go out and purchase the exact same dress. But Agni, some of your friends are already married? Doesn't matter....what if they get divorced and remarried, or decide to renew their vows? But what about the cousins that are simply too young to be married? Or the friends that are very unlikely to be getting married by next July? Well, I am sure that those girls would love to wear the same dress that I will be wearing to my wedding. All very logical right?
Nevertheless, for now, I will not be posting pictures of my dress on here. Perhaps my paranoia will wear off eventually, but honestly, I'm 26 years old and don't imagine that I will change now :P
(Just as a side note, I want to say that I poke light of my childhood often, and it's simply my way of dealing with some painful memories, as well as underlying the irony of how different my life is now than it was then. I hope that any of you out there with similar experiences are not offended by my light hearted remarks).
My friend Rhi called me out on the fact that in my last dress post I simply published some pictures of dresses that I tried on months and months (almost a year) ago without adding anything new. It is true....I totally did it to appease my faithful readers (all 4 of you). I did it because this is a wedding blog, and you are supposed to post pictures of yourself trying on dresses on a wedding blog. I am so ashamed of being pressured by the big, bad, wedding blog world, and trying to fit into the "mould".
There is another reason that I have been hesitant about talking about my dress here, and like the alternate title of my post suggests, it has to do with communist Poland. Huh? What does the political state of a central European country between the years of 1945 to 1989 have to do with my wedding dress? Stay with me, while I explain:
I was born in Poland in 1983. Without giving you a history lesson that would take hours to write (and read), I will just say that Poland in 1983 was not a very happy place. If you have the interest and the time, you can read all about it here. The soviet government did it's best to instill an atmosphere of fear in the country. Basically, especially for the years before my birthday, the government supported a major witch hunt during which being against socialism could have deadly consequences. All it would take was for a neighbour or a (bad) friend to suggest that you were anti-communist and you could be in grave danger. As you can imagine, this caused major paranoia. People were afraid to trust anyone outside of the family (or in it for that matter, as children were encouraged to snitch on their parents).
Umm.....again, what does this have to do with my wedding dress? Well, as my closest friends know, my upbringing in Poland (I lived there until I was 9) has had a huge impact on my life. The fact that my mother's adult life was spent in such an atmosphere has made her very distrustful of, well, people in general. And well, I have inherited very many positive traits from my Mama, but some negative ones, like this one, have managed to peak through. My Mama has me convinced that the second I post a picture of my dress, in fact, the second that I breath a word of my selection to anyone, that person will immediately go out and purchase the exact same dress. But Agni, some of your friends are already married? Doesn't matter....what if they get divorced and remarried, or decide to renew their vows? But what about the cousins that are simply too young to be married? Or the friends that are very unlikely to be getting married by next July? Well, I am sure that those girls would love to wear the same dress that I will be wearing to my wedding. All very logical right?
Nevertheless, for now, I will not be posting pictures of my dress on here. Perhaps my paranoia will wear off eventually, but honestly, I'm 26 years old and don't imagine that I will change now :P
(Just as a side note, I want to say that I poke light of my childhood often, and it's simply my way of dealing with some painful memories, as well as underlying the irony of how different my life is now than it was then. I hope that any of you out there with similar experiences are not offended by my light hearted remarks).
Monday, October 5, 2009
I am indecisive and have too much free time on my hands
I may have crossed the line to becoming unhealthily obsessed with our wedding. The STDs are all that I have been able to think about! Even though I liked the ones that I made (and I agree with you, the navy backing is best), I was still so in love with the fabric idea. I knew that the yellow pattern stood in the way of the fabric backing, so I reworked the design completely to compliment and not compete with the fabric. Here is what I came up with:
Now, as Rhi pointed out, the fabric design is not the most breathtaking (it looks bandanna-ish, no?). Please keep in mind that this is just a prototype. I would find a fabric with a nicer design. Also, I must be honest and say that the fabric std was a lot more work. The backing must be neatly covered with fabric, and I would have to cut out the shape of the paper by hand (oh, what I wouldn't do for a Cricut!). Do you think that it's worth it? Or is the idea better than the reality?
Edit: Please imagine that the border around our names on the fabric std is navy....I think that the yellow is a bit washed out.
Now, as Rhi pointed out, the fabric design is not the most breathtaking (it looks bandanna-ish, no?). Please keep in mind that this is just a prototype. I would find a fabric with a nicer design. Also, I must be honest and say that the fabric std was a lot more work. The backing must be neatly covered with fabric, and I would have to cut out the shape of the paper by hand (oh, what I wouldn't do for a Cricut!). Do you think that it's worth it? Or is the idea better than the reality?
Edit: Please imagine that the border around our names on the fabric std is navy....I think that the yellow is a bit washed out.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
I love trying on big, white dresses!
I started looking for my gown about a month after getting engaged; a whole year and a half before the wedding. I had no intentions of buying a dress......it was just too early!......what if I fell out of love with it?......what if something new became fashionable?.....what if I found something better?!?!?!?
Nevertheless, there was no harm in looking :P Here are some of the first dresses that I tried on, and than rejected:
Here is dress #1. As you can see, there is nothing wrong with this dress. This dress is perfectly fine. In fact, this dress makes my waist and shoulders look pretty tiny. But, alas, this dress is "meh". Far from perfection.
Number 2: Definitely another in the "meh" category. I really don't like taffeta....I know that it's one of "the" bridal fabrics, but I think it looks wrinkled and heavy.
Number 4: This dress actually made my sister mad at me. The sales lady suggested that I try it on, because I had the "stature" for it. Being that I'm excited to put on anything poofy and white, I told her, "why not"! Renata gave me a lecture in the change room asking me why I agreed to try on things that I knew I would never buy. She was right...I would never buy this dress.
Number 5: This dress was a serious contender when I put it on in the store. In theory, it has everything that I love. The neckline is very unique, the dress was made from an intricate lace, and the back was stunning:
But looking at it in pictures, I think that it makes me look a bit "hippie", and not in the flower power and free love way, but in the giant love handles way.
Number 6: Now this was the dress that made me feel like a bride for the first time. It is really too bad that my camera phone sucks, and that the spotlight on me was so bright, as you can't really see the top of the dress in this picture. It was strapless, which is one of my no-nos, but made out of this absolutely delicious fabric, and the intricate detailing was breathtaking. Not to mention that it fit me like a glove. Here is the beautiful train:
This was also the first time a San Patrick dress caught my attention. That love affair would continue for quite some time. In fact, the fire is burning still! I tried on many more dresses, but some shops didn't allow cameras, and sometimes I forgot to take one. Non of these dresses were "it", but they did make me feel that the right dress (like the right guy) was out there!
Nevertheless, there was no harm in looking :P Here are some of the first dresses that I tried on, and than rejected:
Here is dress #1. As you can see, there is nothing wrong with this dress. This dress is perfectly fine. In fact, this dress makes my waist and shoulders look pretty tiny. But, alas, this dress is "meh". Far from perfection.
Number 2: Definitely another in the "meh" category. I really don't like taffeta....I know that it's one of "the" bridal fabrics, but I think it looks wrinkled and heavy.
Number 3: This dress was at least different. The ruffles were very fun, and very much "of the moment". However, the straps hit me in a very awkward spot on the shoulder, and the dress was just overall too much "senorita" for me. Next!
Number 4: This dress actually made my sister mad at me. The sales lady suggested that I try it on, because I had the "stature" for it. Being that I'm excited to put on anything poofy and white, I told her, "why not"! Renata gave me a lecture in the change room asking me why I agreed to try on things that I knew I would never buy. She was right...I would never buy this dress.
Number 5: This dress was a serious contender when I put it on in the store. In theory, it has everything that I love. The neckline is very unique, the dress was made from an intricate lace, and the back was stunning:
But looking at it in pictures, I think that it makes me look a bit "hippie", and not in the flower power and free love way, but in the giant love handles way.
Number 6: Now this was the dress that made me feel like a bride for the first time. It is really too bad that my camera phone sucks, and that the spotlight on me was so bright, as you can't really see the top of the dress in this picture. It was strapless, which is one of my no-nos, but made out of this absolutely delicious fabric, and the intricate detailing was breathtaking. Not to mention that it fit me like a glove. Here is the beautiful train:
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