White Dress No. 1

My first Haute Look dress came in the mail on Thursday!!



It is so pretty and even has pockets. I LOVE LOVE LOVE dresses with pockets plus there is a lot of padding in the top so it's not see through at all. BUT it does make my boobs do a weird squishy thing. I haven't decided if I am going to keep it yet... I'm leaning towards keeping it but we'll see..

I think I've become over-saturated by wedding ideas, and decisions. Every decision feels both meaningful and meaningless but most importantly nothing feels authentic this week. On that note I think it's time I take a small wedding planning break :)

eff U-P-S

I hate UPS! It turns out that I am on the 2-5 segment of the UPS route, which is actually perfect because I ONLY have class from 250 - 630 and work from 230-5. Argh! Even better, the UPS guy NEVER gets here between 2-230 its always like 2:37. Just late enough that I don't seem him on the street but close enough to 230 to drive me INSANE!

I've been waiting quite impatiently for my Piperlime order (Badgley Miscka Shoes) and my bridesmaids' dresses. I am not entirely sure why I wait when I know that I won't get them. So I finally decided to make the hike up to the Bronx to pick up the packages on my own.

Luckily I don't live that far from the Bronx but it still required a cross town bus into East Harlem, and a train ride up into the Bronx. Then I wondered aimless around until a kind gentleman said, "UPS? Down that way."



So after numerous angry emails, stern phone calls and one trip to the UPS Customer "Service" Center in the Bronx, I finally have my shoes and the bridesmaids' dress!




I am not entirely sure I love these shoes more than the other ones. I don't know, what do you think? I may have built them up to much in my mind. Plus I have never been a huge strappy shoe person, I love they way they look on other people but I think they make my ankles look huge, my feet look wide and my toes are all splayed out over the edge.



I have not opened the bridesmaids dresses because I wanted to ask permission first! Once I talk to them I'll be sure to post an update.

Bridesmaids' dresses!!

{ModCloth}
I stumbled across this gorgeous dress on ModCloth last week. I kind of fell in love with it and although I decided awhile ago to let my bridesmaids pick their own dresses, I decided we should try to get this one instead! So I recognize that its pretty low in the front and pretty low in the back but is so super cute and all my bridesmaids could definitely pull it off! Plus I think it will look great on a beach with no shoes and hot with good jewelry and a pair of hot heels for the evening reception.

I ordered a few so that they can try them on and we'll see how it goes! Keeping my fingers crossed!

A Woman's Prerogative...

So I know I JUST decided last night that I would let my bridesmaids choose their own dresses but... how adorable would this dress be!

{Ruche: $38.99}

Inspiration: Bridesmaids Dresses {ModCloth}

Another great site for bridesmaid dresses, ModCloth is a vintage inspired online clothing, accessories, and decor retailer. Plus, shipping is only $7 on every order!

Here are some of my very favorites:
{Source: ModCloth}
1. You Were Mint for Me Dress ($49.99)
2. Jasmine Flowers Dress ($64.99)
3. Kennebunkport Dress in Wake ($62.99)
4. A Little Bit Indie Rock Dress ($69.99)

Happy Shopping!

Immune to White Blindness

So I've been reading Offbeat Bride every morning on the train and yesterday I read the section called "Vanity, Fashion & Other Things We Shouldn't Care About"... anyone who knows me (or has read my credit card statement) knows that this chapter almost certainly doesn't apply to me. Her chapter on wedding dresses titled "Clothes for her: On Poufy Dresses and Barefootedness" ended with a story about a bride who got "white blindness" pretty quickly and eventually gave up "in disgust convinced that every single dress looked exactly the same: hideous!"

(!!!!!!!!)

Now, I recognize that everyone is entitled to their opinion (even if it is wrong..) but this made my stomach turn. I L.O.V.E. WEDDING DRESSES!

The first time I went to look at dresses I went with my college roommate (and MOH)and learned that: (1) I look A-MAZING in wedding dresses (2)I could try on wedding dresses forever.... and (3)Did I mention that I look A-MAZING in wedding dresses? (This is actually not a sign of my vanity... I swear!).

That being said, I have pretty much picked my dress, but I can't seem to pull the trigger because I don't want the dress trying to stop. (Does it have to?)


Yesterday, I got this email from Kleinfelds about their Summer Sale... the thing is, I am really torn about Kleinfeld. People seem to love it. I use to love the show but after my horrible experience there I haven't been able to watch the show. More importantly, I don't want to spend my money there.

In better and much more exciting news, I also got this email this morning!


I am a little lukewarm about living in NY but things like this make is so worth it!

To see more click here.

To make an appointment email kate@jcrew.com!

Dress Love

I've started thinking about where in Costa Rica I would like to get married. At first I tried to look up general information about different regions/beaches but didn't find that very inspirational so I decided to check out other Costa Rican weddings. While I was checking out Costa Rican photographers and found this amazing photographer named Julie Comfort. While going through her portfolio I fell in love with this gorgeous dress. How amazing is the last image... sigh.



{more images from this wedding}

Lovely Bridal Shop

In a move away from cakes and back to wedding dresses, I found this lovely (pun intended bridal shop in New York.

From their website:
Lovely is a bridal shop that feels like your best friend. You’ll feel cozy and at home, play dress up with our bridal stylists, and leave feeling like you had the best time and bought the best dress. Because we know the experience AND the dress should both be Lovely.
{Elizabeth Dye}
{Heidi Elnora}
{Lea Ann Belter}
{Samuelle}

With prices on bridal gowns that range from $500 – $5000 (average price at $2000), Lovely seems to have So whether you are on a budget or buying that reception gown, the have something for everyone! Don't forget to check out their inspirational blog!

Retail heartbreak

I fell in love with these ASOS dresses but they don't carry US SIZE 2!!!!


I am so heartbroken...This was the shortest love affair of my life. I am not sure what to do. I suppose I could put on some weight.

** Edit they DO in fact carry a US size 2! I am an idiot an misread their size conversion chart! I apologize for the drama!

Inspiration: Bridesmaids Dresses {Ruche}

If you haven't heard of Ruche, you should certainly check it out. I recently made my first purchase and can't wait until it gets here!! The best thing about Ruche is that it provides vintage inspired dresses at an affordable price.

Take a look...which one is your favorite?

Kleinfield Appointment

My sister (who is my very best friend and an amazing college volleyball player) is going to Ireland for a volleyball tournament of some sort at the end of the month. The point is, she leaves from NY so she's coming in for the night and we are going dress shopping!! I made an appointment at Kleinfeld and now I need to pick my top 5 dresses. Here are my top choices:

{ALVINA VALENTA Style No: 31653041}

{CHRISTOS Style No: 31642572}
{DAVID FIELDEN Style No: 31644024}
{JIM HJELM Style No: 31574783}
{JUDD WADDELL Style No: 31318082}
{LAZARO Style No: 31490295}
{LAZARO Style No: 31644230}
{MELISSA SWEET Style No: 31693054}
{MONIQUE LHUILLIER Style No: 31791692}
{PATTIS Style No: 31652936}
Which ones should I try????

Bridal on the Brain

J. Crew may be the fan favorite when it comes to retail wedding dresses, but some of my other retail favorites are also scheduled to put out bridal lines this summer!!!

White House/Black Market has just released it first limited edition bridal gown.
{White House Black Market $498}
The Limited's bridal collection is scheduled to debut this June. Following in line are both Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters. Urban Outfitters will be retailing bridal gowns designed by the team at Anthropologie, set to come out later this year. And to round out this budget bridal craze, you can now get your gown at select Costco stores. Yep, you read right – Costco is retailing a select number of gowns from the Disney bridal line.

Budget Dress

Call me crazy but I think this dress is kind of amazing. The model isn't doing much for me but I think this could be an amazing wedding dress for a small vintage wedding with a modern twist. (whatever that means) I like it.
{etsy}

Project Wedding

There was a time when I was obsessed with Project Runway. I haven't watched it in awhile but recently I stumbled on the etsy store of Season 6 designer Carol Hannah! On the show she was always criticized for only making dresses but her dresses were so amazing that I certainly wasn't complaining.

Here are some of my favorites from the show! I especially love this little black cocktail dress.





Now Carol Hannah is making wedding dresses!! Yay! Her dresses were recently featured on ruffled.

Here are some of my personal favorites.





She even makes bridesmaids' dresses :)

{For more from her collection or her lovely blog}

Definitely Not Short on Style

One of my very first blogs was about short wedding dresses. Since then I've noticed numerous short numbers that kind of make me drool.

Here's a New York wedding which was recently featured on SMP. I kind of love the bride's tattoos. I think the veil is perfection.

{Lovingly borrowed from Style Me Pretty}


I adore this wedding. The moment I saw it, I fell in love. I love the succulents! Also check out the bride's shoes! A-mazing!

{Lovingly borrowed from the wedding chicks}


This next wedding is just so precious. It was featured on GWS last week and it definitely made me smile

The couple just looks so happy and so in love. I especially love the photo with the bride walking a few steps behind the groom.
*Don't forget to check out the bride's bouquet. It's gorgeous-ness!


{Lovingly borrowed from green wedding shoes}