My Dress!
It's from David's Bridal. I will look up the item number, but it is beautiful, lightweight dress from the DB Studio line with an art deco inspired faux belt. It was hell making this decision! My first trip to David's Bridal, with just my Mom, didn't go very well. I didn't know what I would look good in, and let me mom push me into thinking a dress looked good on me. I had severe doubts about it, so of course I showed Nathan the pics of me in it when I got home (and also emailed them to my MOH/bff). They both did NOT like it, and confirmed what I felt about it. So I decided to go on a diet, because I knew I wouldn't find a dress in the style I liked at that size.
20 pounds later, I make another appointment, but at a store further away. It was a crappy day, I got lost in a big city I'd never been in (in the ghetto!) and cried my eyes out because I didn't have a GPS. Then when I got to the store, it was the wrong one, and had to drive across town and was late. I met my sister, mom, and my sister's boss & friend there. I'm glad I had more people than my mom, because our tastes are so different! She kept pulling the most terrible dresses for me, and would get irritated I wouldn't try them on! Oh the drama.
I tried on similar styles to this dress, for double the price because I liked the way they fit me. The consultant said they didn't have this one in store to try on. I didn't make a decision, because I wanted to think about whether I wanted to spend twice as much on a *similar* dress or take my chances ordering this one online. Then, on the way out the door, I spotted it! (My consultant said she'd only been there a week, so I guess she didn't know the stock as well as she thought). She had already put away my undergarments so I tried it on over my regular bra. The fit wasn't great and it was too small in the waist because the highest size is a 14, and I'm about a 16. But It was so lightweight, and hit my waist at the perfect spot, and the sweetheart neckline really helps my (lack of) boobs :) So I ordered it online that night! I used a 10% off code that DB had sent to my email (Hint: before purchasing *anything* online, make an account, place it in your cart, and leave it for a day or two. Most companies email a coupon code to entice you to checkout!) The discount covered the shipping and taxes, so that was nice! Total it was $235 (the dress is $229). It's supposed to arrive tomorrow via UPS. Now I have to be extra-strict on my diet (no more little cheats) to stay on track losing weight so I can fit in it!
20 pounds later, I make another appointment, but at a store further away. It was a crappy day, I got lost in a big city I'd never been in (in the ghetto!) and cried my eyes out because I didn't have a GPS. Then when I got to the store, it was the wrong one, and had to drive across town and was late. I met my sister, mom, and my sister's boss & friend there. I'm glad I had more people than my mom, because our tastes are so different! She kept pulling the most terrible dresses for me, and would get irritated I wouldn't try them on! Oh the drama.
I tried on similar styles to this dress, for double the price because I liked the way they fit me. The consultant said they didn't have this one in store to try on. I didn't make a decision, because I wanted to think about whether I wanted to spend twice as much on a *similar* dress or take my chances ordering this one online. Then, on the way out the door, I spotted it! (My consultant said she'd only been there a week, so I guess she didn't know the stock as well as she thought). She had already put away my undergarments so I tried it on over my regular bra. The fit wasn't great and it was too small in the waist because the highest size is a 14, and I'm about a 16. But It was so lightweight, and hit my waist at the perfect spot, and the sweetheart neckline really helps my (lack of) boobs :) So I ordered it online that night! I used a 10% off code that DB had sent to my email (Hint: before purchasing *anything* online, make an account, place it in your cart, and leave it for a day or two. Most companies email a coupon code to entice you to checkout!) The discount covered the shipping and taxes, so that was nice! Total it was $235 (the dress is $229). It's supposed to arrive tomorrow via UPS. Now I have to be extra-strict on my diet (no more little cheats) to stay on track losing weight so I can fit in it!
Our Invitations
Since our wedding is barely three months away, of course our invites have already been purchased, addressed, stamped, and are ready to be mailed this week!
We purchased them from Minted.com, and I absolutely love them (both the invitations and Minted!) Their customer service is excellent. I also got a great deal on them - I purchased a deal from Gilt City for $100, which gave me $200 at Minted.com. The total for my invitations & RSVPs was $250, but I only spent $150! Yay! I also purchased business cards from VistaPrint with a matching design, with information for our wedding website on them (check out the VistaPrint tab under DIY Projects).
Here is the link to my invites, which I had customized (for free) in green instead:
Under the Tree Wedding Invitations
We purchased them from Minted.com, and I absolutely love them (both the invitations and Minted!) Their customer service is excellent. I also got a great deal on them - I purchased a deal from Gilt City for $100, which gave me $200 at Minted.com. The total for my invitations & RSVPs was $250, but I only spent $150! Yay! I also purchased business cards from VistaPrint with a matching design, with information for our wedding website on them (check out the VistaPrint tab under DIY Projects).
Here is the link to my invites, which I had customized (for free) in green instead:
Under the Tree Wedding Invitations
Milk Glass Vases
I have been dropping into to a large local thrift store about once or twice a week for a couple of months now, hoarding all the milk glass vases I can find! I've gotten great deals so far. Most of the vases were about .50 or $1, the most expensive was $3 but it was a large one.
I have 31 so far in my collection (some pictured here with the tub I'm using for our favors).
I have 31 so far in my collection (some pictured here with the tub I'm using for our favors).
Chocolate Lollipop Favors
I plan on making chocolate lollipops in lips & mustaches as our favors (you can see a pic of them on the Inspiration page, I bought the exact same molds). The molds were about $5 a piece on Amazon, including shipping. I need to buy some candy melts and have a delicious practice run with them first!
Nathan was a little disappointed in the mustaches at first, because he is a huge beard enthusiast (he has a local beard & mustache club, actually) but no one makes beard candy molds, so he's out of luck!
For the favor tags, I bought more "free" business cards from VistaPrint (about $6 shipping), with a message on them and bought a corner rounder punch to round the edges, and will use a hold punch to string ribbon to attach them.
Nathan was a little disappointed in the mustaches at first, because he is a huge beard enthusiast (he has a local beard & mustache club, actually) but no one makes beard candy molds, so he's out of luck!
For the favor tags, I bought more "free" business cards from VistaPrint (about $6 shipping), with a message on them and bought a corner rounder punch to round the edges, and will use a hold punch to string ribbon to attach them.