Can I get a hurrah!

Ok, so not only did I find out that the very nice lady can in fact make the dress idea I came up with, (huge happiness that I don't need to just make do with a standard dress)...

but I finally got hold of the location today and found out that yes, they can do any of the dates we want in July! (ie a Saturday lunch in July).

Unfortunately location person is now going on leave until the 15th of Feb, so we'll need to go down and take a look after that, discuss everything and pick a date.

"Go down?" You might ask? Yes, well our hopeful-it-will-be-perfect location is Karri Valley Resort in Pemberton. They have kid-friendly accommodation there, and there are loads of other places to stay in Pemberton, many of which have winter specials. And, for those who don't want to stay, we're having lunchtime wedding so people can drive down, do the wedding and drive back. (Though sensible me says you'd be better to stay... ;)
Adam and I both love the south west in Winter, so we're hopeful it will be perfect and cool and misty and everything.  <vbg>

And I get to go buy yarn tomorrow.. yay!

However in a moment of possible craziness am thinking... fingerless gloves.. I could totally carry fingerless lace gloves off... I could knit them... mmmm Maybe *after* I've finished the shawl?

Maybe like these? I could knock those out no problems... I'm sure...

I am showing my steampunk-loving self, I know, and I jus' dont care... ;)

Okay five months.. you can do this...

I'm torn between two shawl patterns. Swallowtail...

Swallowtail

And Icarus...

icarus

I've decided on Kidsilk Haze in Ghost, which is a pale grey...

 I'm thinking Icarus will be the low stress version, knit-able on the bus for the most part. Now to see if I can find a local stockist... (my usual online site is out of my colour..)

Decorative stuff... references for me later...

Pretty flowers as a belt...

More flower tutorials..

• Organza flowers
• Fabric rose and peony
• And decorating ones.. tulle blossoms

:)

So many pretties... so hard to choose... (Warning LONG)

Note: Those of you who know me well, know I am a researcher by inclination. Few purchases, and none of any significant value are made without significant research and analysis.

Okay, so me, my Lady of Awesome and her little Chickadee of Cute went dress shopping. (One of those titles may be honarary..)

We had the best time.  So, a round up of the dresses I tried on. None with me in them, obviously, since they never let you take photos and watch you like a hawk, which I can understand, but it does make choosing harder.

Overall comments... I am still torn betweem three different dress styles. I was hoping that one would be an obvious best fit on me, but no such like with nice examples of all three styles.

I have a budget, but it is somewhat arbitrary (its the amount I think I am willing to pay, rather than one of necessity... thus I *could* spend a lot more if I really, really wanted to... but... I just can't see the worth in spending several thousand on a dress..)
*warning* I'm having to go by recognition, so it might be a bit off.. if only they'd label things correctly so you could look at the right stuff on the website!! Nicole can correct me if I'm off.. my brain is going into white-out ;)
Part one: Bride's Selection
First place we went to was Brides Selection. Here, I liked this dress..

Portia, Brides Selection

This was nice and floaty, had a little bit of bling but not too much. Was on the upper end of my price range though, and I liked it a lot, but didn't love it.

Then there was this one...Um. Can't find it. It was strappless, with a very wide underbust band of beading (like about 4 inches) and a flowy skirt. It fitted, looked nice (but not amazing) and was half price (and therefore reasonable, but not a steal).

Finally there was another one that was perfect  for the top half, but totally wrong, very poofy and lots of overlays that just didn't suit. Top half was simple strapless with a detail below bust on one side of beautiful organza flowers & trailing leaf embroidery. Pretty but not over the top. That plus a floaty skirt and I would have considered handing over the cash...

-----

Part two : Dion for Brides (their sister store. We went mostly because they carry Maggie Sottero, and I heard they had a short wedding dress... and I was hunting that Isadora Ann again.. (gratuitous link)...

Okay, so they didn't have that in... but! They are getting in soon, and will call me.. yay! Except... it's going to be around $3k (double my nominted budget) .. awwwwwww.... everybody join me now.... awwwww....

Just for comparison purposes, I did try on this dress, Conchita Rose, which is tea length and poofy with nice flower detailing. (and $2k).

This I liked, It was too long by a couple of inches.. (that stumpification thing, Amanda? *Totally* makes sense now - it hit me at the fattest point of my calves, instead of below the knee and made my legs looks fat as a result, when they really aren't.) But that's what i get for being 5'4". Easily could be shortened, and I would totally rock with blue silk ballet flats *grin*
-------------
So that was that. Then it was getting near lunchtime, and I needed to pick up my own Flower Girl of Awesomest/Flower Girl of Cute (she'd can't decide on her title yet)... so we did that.. then... I was in such a good mood... and was around the corner from Tuscany Bridal and Bridal Affair with 2 hours to kill while she was at gymnastics... so I went and looked some more.

Tuscany Bridal was all looking down their nose at me and giving me the "oh you need an appointment, we don't have any room at all today".. which would have been fine... except I'd just watched her ask the girl and her two friends behind me if they wanted to try anything on, and they were clearly walk ins too.. *grumps*

So I went across the street to Bridal Affair, which is clearly a totally different market. Dresses from $400 to maybe $2500 max.

Here there was three gowns of interest. One, a basic chiffon thing that was so generic, it's almost not worth showing a photo.. but in case I need to remember it later... here. It's a bridesmaid dress, but they do it in white. Best feature (unsurprising) is it is cheap. And I can make some flowers etc. to detail it.

The next one I liked a lot, and if I was having a more formal/not outdoor wedding, would be rated very highly. Big train, not easily removed or bustled. Looked good though! Very elegant.

Then we had a suprise factor. A third dress style I hadnt been considering. The curvy corseted tight number in heavy fabric. They don't have a picture of that dress, but its much like this, but without beading and no train.

Best feature on this is that it makes me look very skinny, and the most hourglass figure I've seen in my life! Corset back for the win! Downside is... its very stiff, I'm not a fan of the heavy fabric. I'm also not sure if its the best fit for our casual wedding.
---

So... where does this leave me? I liked a number of the dresses, but I have to wonder if maybe my Lady of Awesome is right, and I need to consider getting something made by one of the excellent dressmakers we know. All the dresses are very mainstream, and I wonder if the lack of really getting into any of them is partly because they aren't really me.

I'm not suggesting I want to get married in a dark gothic fantasy with wings or anything, but maybe something a bit more arty/crafty/alternative-lite might better suit my personality.

I could wear several of these dresses, but I dont know that I really feel myself in any of them. Closest one was the tea length dress, but even that makes me wonder whether I'm just having a 'not-that' reaction to mainstream, and picking the "standard" alternative as a result. I think I need to go look at a bunch of different dresses, and work with one the the shapes we now know suits me...

Of course, I could be over thinking it. This may also be in character. *rolls eyes*

Opinions?

More pretty things..

I *love* this dress.. I love the draping fabric, the little floaty sleeves and the flowers and ribbon detailing...sigh..

I'm trying to remember every dress I like, to get some kind of idea about what i should be shopping for..

I've also noticed that a few of the bridal places seem to be having sales (end of summer I guess, heading into their low season.. let's hope I can benefit!


Oh.. and I love this too..

And more floaty sleeve things..

This one I really like too... yes, more draping ...

Oh and we have a lead on a venue... if it works, then it's a place we both really like and suits us.

Uhh.. yeah. So new plan. Ish.

Finally had a sort-of talk with his lordship.

Apparently, my idea of the wedding was not quite what he was expecting. 

So now we're headed for .. "non-formal but nicer.." I have some locations in mind, now I know the money is less of an issue (and we can afford it) .. He's going to look at webpages and stuff and get back to me...

I am re-framing my ideas... ;)

Pretty stuff I like

I like these shoes very much.

I like this too..

...

Looking at venues

So I've started the hunt for a venue, hoping for a June/July wedding.

Prices and venues vary from the reasonable to the "you're not serious?!" (e.g. $2k venue hire for basics, plus minimum $10k spend...) Ovbviously, some people can afford it and want to spend that much, but not me. Different priorities and all that.

Basically we're looking at nice-but-not-too-cheesy places from the sort of nice-cafe (not lunch bar :P) upwards, and at halls and the like that can take caterers.

I have both mums helpfully sending me links and such. Oh and I'm considering any and all people who might be able to donate-in-leui-of-gift time/services/whatever...

Wow. Wedding function fees can be insane.

Like... half my ideal budget insane. and well more than I planned for a dress or anything..

And that was before the cost of food or drink...yipes.

Can anyone recommend a cool old hall, or cafe that would do an awesome casual wedding maybe?

Surely I don't need to spend more than a $1k (!!) on just venue hire??

Shoe Design Specifications - Shoes of Prey

Shoe Design Specifications - Shoes of Prey

Pretty.. but not sure what colour I want..

Knitting for a wedding..

So, being a knitter geek that I am, I want to make something to wear for the wedding.

Since most of the dresses I am currently thinking about are strapless (well, there's lots out there and since I had all my moles removed I feel like I can wear strapless now).. I've been considering options.

Option one: Lace shawl of some kind. Probably floaty mohair-like. Example. Possibly in blue or pale grey.

Option two: heavier (but still thin) warm stays-on-by itself Faroese style shawl. Like this one.

Option three: pale blue coloured cardigan. Inspired by this, even though I won't be having  a larger-than-a-small-car tulle skirt. (I don't think so anyway, I reserve the right to change my mind.) Of course, the fatal flaw is that I am not going to turn into Kiera Knightley even if I wish hard, so this may not be quite as fetching on the heavier, busty, shorter, imperfect skin etc person I actually am.  (Note: If this is decided on it likely would be more of a fitted cardigan, in cashmere. Because how many excuses will I get to make a cashmere cardigan??)

There are pros and cons to each. I have also considered a large rectangular shawl, but they like 6+ months and I'm not sure I want one that badly when I don't know yet what sort of dress I'm going to have. They middle options is easily the most manageable, and practical-ish but i don't know its as pretty. The cardigan option can still be pretty and fit with the likely casual-ish vibe of the wedding.. and let me be comfortable and still feel like me.

I'm also considering if I want to knit the mum's (simple lacy) shawls. Downside to this is a possible lose-lose on one front. If I don't make my stepmother something, it may cause angst with my Dad. If I do, I can almost be certain my Mum will at least compare what she got to what the stepmother got. *sigh*

Stressing out.. and all self imposed.

Gah. I'd like to blame it on the wrong time of the month, only it isn't, and can only blame my own silly self.

I got all worked up today over money. Found out some of our bills were (a lot) higher this coming year and worked myself into a panic thinking the worst, including another delay of the wedding for an undefined period.

Adam was initially unsympathetic, then came in a pointed out all the ways that this was in fact fine (lower other bills expected, him working etc). And I calmed down and got myself together somewhat. Seriously, sometime he is exactly what my overstressing self needs.


But in the name of saving this from being a completely self-absorbed thing... pretties!!

I like these dresses. One is within the realms of affordable, the other really not. Unless I go and order the risky route of the chinese knockoff (which isnt off the table yet)...

Not affordable one...

And the more affordable one...
(I can't get a picture, you'll have to look at the link).

(Also, I'm warning little rhyme or reason to styles to be found in the interim, as I have little idea what sort of wedding we're having yet *grin*). I've done the big wedding, but I'm not going to stop Adam having one if that's what he wants.

I do know that I'm (at this stage at least) unlikely I think to go for a big ball gown-y thing. I want something that makes me feel good about my figure, and look pretty. Being able to move around without a assistance is also good ;) Other than that, I have little idea about what suits me.

I was heavier last time I got married and wore a edwardian riding habit. Which was beautiful. And very expensive. And not paid for entirely by me. ...
Oh! I have photo...
It's a photo of a photo, but you get the idea. I look at photos from back then I and keep thinking how weird I look. My face shape has changed, and thinned out and stuff... anyways..

Why I don't have much of a wedding plan.

So.. we've been intending to get married for you know a couple of years. We were going to get married at home, once the house was built, but then the local schools couldn't cope with a slightly bright child and Jasi has to go the private route.And  A. had no work for a long while and so a wedding was kind of out of any possible budget.

(He did offer more than once to do the 'just go get the bit of paper' thing, but.. err, no. Not what I was after.)

So anyway, when we sold our place, we agreed to put money aside to get married. The phrase "You know honey, I think I'm done waiting. Let's either do this, or not." may have been used. He took this remarkably well ;)

That said, those of you who've met/know him, may be aware that planning & decision making isn't really his strong suit. And he's stubborn enough that pushing is absolutely counter-productive.

So we agreed to 'this year'. A more recent conversation meant he agreed to consider what kind of wedding he was interested (i.e. casual, formal, day-time, etc.) and you know, a rough date..  and rough dollar value.. and what sort of stuff he'd like to do on the organising front. I suggested winter might be a good thing, as he's physically more comfortable in winter.

So we'll get there somehow. In the meantime. I shall be browsing wedding pron ;) for dresses and suchlike.
And considering what I want to knit for it. Important stuff like that.

Ha! Here it is...

Okay, so here it is.

It's a secret so I can whine/chat/etc about the wedding & wedding planning and you only need to read it if it interests you. Comments and chatter encouraged as long as it's positive.

Oh and don't tell my family. This needs to be a stress free zone...

Will post a wedding lack-of-planning update shortly.