Wedding 08: Countdown!

The ceremony location, the Italian Gardens in Maymont Park

I don't know how many more posts you'll see from me this week. The wedding is only two days away, but I think I may have a few more wedding-related posts in me.

I have also been doing a little sewing so I'll get back to writing about that next week too. I made a teal blue petticoat!!

Wish us* luck!

Photo by diana.penn on Flickr

*The bridal couple and me, their friend and event coordinator

Wedding 08: The Look

C(oi)n Purse led me to a bride who bought a bridesmaid dress in ivory to wear as her dress.



Well, I've been suggesting this next thing to people for years. Have you seen some of these bridesmaid dresses from Watters and Watters, Alvina Valenta, and Jim Hjelm? Gorgeous! No excess ruffles, sequins, or colored iridescent lace, just beautiful dresses with elegant simple lines, and best of all, many times cheaper than dresses especially marketed as WEDDING dresses. Just imagine them in white or cream. Perfect, right?

Don't forget the budget savings of making your own dress too. Villain Extraordinaire has made an incredible red dress for her upcoming wedding that makes me think "steam-punk" for some reason and check out this slinky slip dress by Sweet Sassafras that has a prohibition-era speakeasy vibe to it. You should also check out her photographer, Jillian Kay.

Another wedding blogger whose archives were just combed over by me is Perfect Bound. I found so many beautiful inspiration photos there, like this beautiful birdcage veil and natural hairpiece.


Also look at the loveliness that is at the UK's Peonies and Polaroids; the images of dresses she has found on the web (like this vintage lovely), her DIY projects for her upcoming wedding (some already seen in the DIY contest from an earlier post), and her actual dress, which is a dream.

Images: Project Subrosa, Saraicat; Nicole Polk (via Perfect Bound), Perfect Bound; Peonies and Polaroids

Oh no, they didn't...

During my daily Bloglines check, I clicked over to one of my favorite sites, Go Fug Yourself and saw this:

I can now say I've been fugged...by proxy!

Four years ago, I bought an almost identical "jumpsuit" at my very first Forever 21 store while on business in Portland. Though the draping on my top is far superior, (it really is, it was the selling point for the outfit) mine has straps, and my top stops at mid-thigh; I still admit that this was a questionable purchase. I was on business trip, miserable, and it was on sale. That's all I can say. This is one of those outfits that was recently exiled to the hall closet. It has never been worn.


Update:

I think this is the same outfit; except for the straps, the fit is exactly the same and my pants are also semi-bell-bottomed. if only the pants had been straight from the hip down or tapered from the hip down; however, the bell-bottom look just isn't flattering. I will probably separate the top from the pants, because it really is flattering and draped well.

Wedding 08: DIY

Designer extraordinaire Matthew Mead's great website, with seasonal DIY ideas for entertaining could definitely help a handy bride out.

At the end of last year, wedding website, Style Me Pretty held a DIY Wedding Projects contest. This one has some incredible ideas!

I already directed you to the C(oi)n Purse site a few days ago, but that was before I checked out her DIY projects! She gives the production and price breakdown for the centerpieces she is going to use for her tea ceremony-themed reception. Also check out the beautiful jewelry she made for herself.



Beau Coup is a company that makes favors, for weddings and parties of all sorts. Just look at this adorable bubble gum dispenser one for $2.95, great if you're having a small wedding.

Images: Matthew Mead, Style Me Pretty (also seen here!), Style Me Pretty, C(oi)n Purse, Beau Coup

Wedding 08: Words of wisdom and some whimsy

Here, I found a kindred spirit when it comes to using event-planning experience to produce a beautiful, meaningful, and yet still affordable wedding. I spent one night reading almost her entire archives. You must check out A Practical Wedding.

Here are other blogs that also preach substance, sensibility, and style:

A $10,000 Wedding
C(oi)n: Purse
Absolutely Gorgeous
Peonies and Polaroids
Offbeat Bride

Check out this great Etsy wedding gift guide!

For inspiration:

If you're carrying around an old creased and folded image from an old issue of Martha Stewart Weddings for inspiration there is a good chance that this woman, Rebecca Thuss, is responsible. She styled images for them, Blueprint, and the mother-ship, MS Living for years. The great news is that you can still view those images through her work portfolio here.