Bridesmaid dresses

I don't really care for bridesmaid dresses. Whenever people try to choose a bridesmaid dress that is re-wearable the idea always falls flat for at least one (usually more) of a few key reasons:

1. Bridesmaid dresses are ugly
2. When five or more women are forced to wear the same dress, there is very little likelihood that all of those women will like the dress well enough to want to wear it the first time, let alone again.
3. Bridesmaid dresses just don't seem to fit quite right usually

Solution: don't buy bridesmaid dresses. This is a decision that I have already made, but now I must live with the consequences which are that I must come up with an alternate plan. Ideas:

1. Everyone wears dresses they already own
     + low cost, the girls certainly like their dresses, will wear again, illusion of no hassle
     - do not match at all, some girls may not already have one, hassle comes in when you have to choose all different dresses from your friends' closets
2. Everyone wears the same dress from a regular retail store 
     + not an ugly bridesmaid dress, no alterations needed, probably lower cost than a traditional bridesmaid dress
     - tough to find a springy dress in a retail store in December, may not look good on everyone, everyone may not like it, lots of shopping around required.
3. Everyone wears different, but coordinated dresses purchased from one or multiple regular retail stores
     + everyone gets input in their dress, everyone likes their dress, will wear again, dresses fit properly, no alterations needed, looks pretty
     - pain in the rear to pick out multiple dresses on one's own, don't want to burden bridesmaids by forcing them to go find a dress matching your stipulations, tough to find springy dresses in a retail store in December.

So, what is a girl to do? Oh geeze, I don't know, but here's what I am looking for in a bridesmaid dress:
1. my bridesmaids like it
2. does not cost my bridesmaids a bunch of money
3. coordinates with the style of my dress (lace, kinda vintage looking, deep v-neck)
4. has straps

From left to right, top to bottom:

1. Nylon-and-tulle wrap-top dress by Max and Cleo, $188- unfortunately this one is not locatable online. I think it is not for sale anymore. It is definitely my favorite!

2. Beaded waist shantung dress by JS Boutique, $188- not the right color, but whatever.

3. Rosette-trim taffeta dress by S.L. fashions, $78- too short.

4. Silk chiffon beaded dress by Adrianna Papell, $200- maybe its just because the girl looks so happy in the picture... I don't know. I just kinda liked it.

5. Glimmering Magnolia Dress from Anthropologie, $198- When I first saw this dress it was from the back, and I thought it was excellent... then I saw the huge pink sequined flower plastered across the chest...

6. Taffeta halter dress by Adriana Papell, $150- I like this one. 

Now actual bridesmaid dresses that I think are okay:

  

1. Mori Lee Affairs Style 831 in azure, $172.

2. Mori Lee Affairs Style 836 in azure, $156.

3. Mori Lee Affairs Style 732 in aubergine, $146

4. Eden Maids Style 7200 in cornflower, $150

5. David's Bridal Cotton Sateen Sleeveless Short Dress in Marine, $79.99

6. David's Bridal Short Crinkle Chiffon Dress in Mermaid

7. David's Bridal knockoff of no. 6 above in teal, $149

Do it yourself!: Centerpieces

I love antique blue glass. It is attractive and unique, and I love that everything antique comes with a back story. My ring is antique and my dress has an antique feel with all of the lace. Since we are going to have green and blue as our color scheme (green is my favorite color and blue is his), it makes great sense to incorporate these colors into the centerpieces, and what better way than with these little beauties? Here are some pictures of antique blue glass being used as vessels for flowers:

 First row: The knot, Bridella, Brides Second Row: Brides, JustJamie, Brides

As luck would have it I was helping my mom with a garage sale this weekend and one of her friends brought a box of antique blue glass pieces to sell. I didn't notice them until some people picked them up to buy, but have no fear as I quickly ran over to claim them. For 15$ I got 8 pieces, one of which has a date of 1838 on it! I am going to use the blue ones--hopefully I will find more for as cheap-- along with my own clear ones from bouquets Nick has bought me. The blue vases are so pretty they do not need many flowers, if any at all! If we can steer away from the huge ball of carnations and just go with the single stem idea, we will save a bundle and end up with lovely tables. Yay!

Do it yourself!: Music

To band or not to band? To DJ or not to DJ?

Although the first question may not have a clear and distinct answer, for me the second one does. Not to DJ is the answer. Although I have been to many a lovely wedding with a DJ, there is much to do in booking a DJ to make sure certain things do not occur- see photos below (click image for source). It is possible to have a DJ and not these things, but what it really comes down to is that I don't want to mess with that.

 the rave/first dance                                                                         the purple prom glow                                                        the mass dash for the door?        

Another DJ issue is the inevitability that pasa lo que pasa one of the following will be played: the Chicken Dance, the Macarena, the Cotton-Eyed-Joe, Don't Take the Girl, or I can Love you Like That. While I know that it is possible to make a do-not-play-if-you-want-your-money list, you never know what bombshell might fall down from the sky and break into a thousand tiny little notes from Can You Feel the Love Tonight. I am not an "average bride", and while dress shop ladies and priests and invitation people understand that and even find it refreshing at times, DJs may be harder a harder swing vote to capture based on my "do not play Shania Twain" reception platform. Also, The flashing rainbow lights and sweaty, focused look on the over-caffeinated purveyor-of-all-things-crappy's face also do not appeal. Okay, that last part was unfriendly, but you get what I'm saying. DJ is out. 'Nough said.

As far as a band goes I have a brother, sister, cousin and some friends who are quite musically talented and probably would not mind getting up and strumming a few notes to liven up the festivities if necessary. Just look at that brother! Aint he better than a DJ? He he. I do not want to ask my loved ones to forego the fiesta by playing the whole shindig, though. After all, the party is for them too! (Need more synonyms for party? Here ya go: soireé, bash, affair, function, celebration, reception, hoopla.)

Solution: play as you like, friends and family, and the i-pod will be ready and waiting. While some may scoff, just hear me out. This ipod thing is a highly advanced piece of technology, folks. We can use Nick's ipod touch as a remote control, connect a computer to speakers and have full and complete control without having to go to the ipod to push pause or skip a song. This will take some planning and play list making, but I think it just may work. Plus, Costco has itunes giftcards for reduced prices in case we do not already have all of the music we would like played. This just seems like the most budget and personality-friendly option for us. It will ensure that we keep a little change in our pocket and that while some boogieing will go down, it will be some boogie type other than Boot Scootin' (the number 2 country song for wedding DJs according to this site).