Saying "Yes" to Your Dress

 This weekend I had the privilege of going wedding gown shopping with a bride. Before our excursion we talked over the phone and I reminded her of all the things to remember when she decided to go shopping. So here are my tips for dress shopping:

1) BRING YOUR OWN UNDERGARMENTS! If you do not come prepared then they will put you in store undergarments that other people have worn...recently! I suggest wearing a nude colored strapless bra and nude or white underwear. Remember: the salespeople will be helping you dress so they will see exactly what you are working with. Wear a thong at your own risk. If you are planning to wear any shapewear on your wedding day then it is a good idea to wear that as well. I highly recommend Spanx http://www.spanx.com (can be purchased at Coldwater Creek, Torrid, Freudian Slip, and Sports Authority?) or Assets which is also a Spanx brand (can be purchased at Target).

2) Request to try 1 of every style. Common styles include:
Sheath: this dress is very fitted and follows the lines of the body.
Empire: this dress has a high waistline that cuts just below the bust with a slim skirt.
A-Line or Princess: this dress is cut close to the hips and then flares out at the hem making it have the shape of an uppercase "A"
Ball Gown: this dress has a fitted bodice and waistline that lead into a full skirt.
Drop Waist: this dress has a fitted bodice with literally a "dropped" waistline which elongates the torso with a skirt that flairs just below the dropped waistline.
Trumpet: this dress has a fitted bodice with a skirt that flairs at mid-thigh level.
Mermaid: this dress has a fitted bodice with a skirt that flairs below the knee.

3) Try dresses you actually don't want to.
When I went dress shopping I went to a dress shop that made you try 1 of each style. The saleslady took me around to each dress section and helped me pick. She walked me over to the these A-line lace only dresses. I told her they were too plain and I didn't even want to try one on. She picked one out anyways and I told her no again. My mom then stepped in and told me to just try it. So I did... and I refused to take it off. That dress that I threw a mini fit over became MY dress. It is true what they say: You don't pick the dress, the dress picks you.

4) Look at no more than 7 dresses per visit.
People can only handle so many choices before their decision making skills fall apart. Limit yourself to just 7 dress options so that you do not become overwhelmed. This will also make it easier for you to actually remember the dresses you tried on so you can think about them more at home.

5) Don't bring an entourage.
Have you ever heard the saying, "Too many cooks in the kitchen"? Well, you do not want that when dress shopping. Take just 1, 2, or 3 people that know you well and who you trust to be honest with you (yet kind). Once you actually decide on your dress then bring your entourage to ooh and aah.

6) Trust that you will find "the one".
When I went for my first wedding dress excursion I found some nice dresses but none that made me act like those girls on TV who just seem to KNOW. I was almost in tears that night talking to my fiance telling him that I wasn't sure I would ever find the right dress. As mentioned in tip number 3 I did find my dress, or actually, it found me. Trust that it WILL happen. Relax and enjoy playing dress-up until the right one comes along.

Local Vendor Spotlight: Reflections Salon

I have been getting my hair cut at Reflections Salon (http://www.reflectionscoburg.com/) in Coburg, Oregon for about 4 years now and it took me only about 3 seconds to decide that this was where I wanted to get ready on my big day. Reflections is a small salon that is filled with everything you could need: there are 8 hair stations, a makeup artist, an area for nails and even waxing. The staff at Reflections is amazing! They are patient, thoughtful, and really want you to look your best. Shout out to Erica, the best hair stylist I've ever had the pleasure of meeting (ask for her!) Leading up to the wedding I was able to go in and have a trial run of my day-of do, get my eyebrows waxed, and even do a makeup trial. By the end of the trials I was confident and relaxed about my look for the big day.
Okay, let's get to the fun stuff, here was how getting ready for the big day went: We arrived about 11:00am and stayed until about 1:30pm. Our party included me, my mother, and my 3 bridesmaids. The staff even told us that we could bring food to munch on during our stay (they provided the mimosas though :). My step-dad brought some meats, cheeses, and chocolates for all of us. I had always noticed an iPod dock that they played background music through whenever I got my hair done. I had made an iPod mix of wedding music (http://sunshine-bride.blogspot.com/2012/01/wedding-music-brides-playlist.html) and so I had brought along my iPod that day. I asked the staff if I could play some music and they were more than happy to. I spent my morning getting glamorous while even having time to do a little dancing around the salon with my mimosa in hand. It was so relaxing!

Me and my bridesmaids at the beginning of the morning

My step-dad and his spread

Colby helping me get glamorous!

 Monica doing my Mama's makeup

 My sister, me, and my Mama

DIY: Bubbles

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When we began to plan our exit from the church we wanted something that was different from birdseed. Rice obviously used to be traditional but is not allowed most placed because of the danger to animals as well as the fact that it can be slippery to walk on. Another factor for us was the fact that St. Paul has a rule that you must pick up whatever you throw. Had we chosen birdseed we would have needed to have people who would be willing to stay after and sweep it all up. Other choices that were tossed out included flower petals, kind words, and my favorite: Scrabble pieces. We eventually decided to ask our photographer what would photograph the best. He told us bubbles. We decided to go with bubbles but we did not want to look like we just ordered something last minute, so we decided to do a little DIY. So here it is:

We ordered Heart Wedding Bubble Tubes- White from theknot.com (http://weddingshop.theknot.com/heart-wedding-bubble-tubes-white.aspx). If you want to order these make sure to give yourself enough time because they often go on sale. We purchased 5 packs of 48 bubble tubes at $4.99 a piece for a total of $24.95 with Shipping costing $11.77 for a grand total of $36.72 for 240 bubble tubes.

We then went to Michael Craft Store and purchased spools of ribbon in the colors: pink, orange, and yellow. We purchased "Spool O' Ribbon" spools which were 10 yards each which cost about 50 cents a piece. (Again, if you have enough time it is smart to wait for a sale and get them even cheaper.) Each ribbon tied around the top of the bubble tube was approximately 8 inches long. This means that you can get 45 ribbons out of each spool. You must remember though that each tube had all 3 colors though so that must be factored in. For each color 6 spools must be purchased in order to wrap all 240 bubble tubes.
For our 240 bubble tubes we purchased 18 (6 spools x 3 colors) spools for 50 cents a piece.
Coming to a total of $9.00.

Do not forget to consider what your bubbles will be held in to be given out to your guests. We found these orange baskets at Big Lots for only $2.00 Keep your eye out for deals.

The total cost of our 240 bubbles came to: $36.72 (bubbles) + $9.00 (ribbon) + $4.00 (baskets) = $49.72

E and I put the ribbons on the bubbles together and came up with a little bit of a system. He would take 3 spools (1 of each color) and cut them all at once so that all 3 were the same length, then hand me the ribbons, I would grab a tube and tie the ribbon. It felt like it flew by but we also chose not to do them all in one sitting. We split up our ribbon tying into 3 sessions. I would estimate that it took us close to 2 hours in all.

*Note: When you purchase your bubble tubes make sure to check that they are full when you tie the ribbon. Some of our bubble tubes came dried up and so we just purchased some cheap bubble solution and filled them back up. You do not want one of your guests to go to blow bubbles for you only to find they have been given an empty tube.

Wedding Music: Bride's Playlist

One of the things that I am most thankful that I took the time to do was make my own personal wedding playlist. It is a small playlist and only includes a few songs but I made it while we were planning the wedding and I continue to play it even today as my favorite playlist. I filled it with songs that made me dream of the wedding to come and I now play it to remember all the time planning, getting ready, and memories of the special day. I would play it while I researched wedding details online, while I worked out, and finally as I got ready the day of. I had my hair and makeup done at a local salon where I have gone for years. Whenever I would get my hair cut I always noticed that the salon had a wall insert where they kept an iPod to play background music. The day of our wedding I took my iPod with me and asked if I could play some music. They were happy to let me and I spent the rest of the morning relaxing and dancing around the salon. After the wedding they told me that they had never had a bride bring their own wedding mix and that they now suggest it to brides. So here is my wedding playlist.

Marry Me Train

Something in the Water Brooke Fraser

Someone Like You Matt Wertz 

(these first 3 songs are the order in which they appeared in our wedding video montage)

I Do Colbie Caillat

New Romance Miles Fisher

Chapel of Love The Dixie Cups

Always (1958) Ella Fitzgerald

Marry You Glee Cast

Love Like Crazy Lee Brice

Chicken Fried Zac Brown Band

Friday Rebecca Black

Honey Bee Blake Shelton

Wedding Music: Traditional Dances

Entrance of Bridal Party

Love Train The O'Jays

Forever Christ Brown

First Dance

Always Ella Fitzgerald

Father Dances

I Loved Her First Heartland

Just Fishin' Trace Adkins

My Little Girl Tim McGraw

Mother Dances

In My Life The Beatles

My Wish Rascal Flatts

I Turn To You Christina Aguilera

Other Parent Dance (Step-Parent, Mother-Daughter, etc)

I Hope You Dance Lee Ann Womack

Cake Cutting

When I'm 64 The Beatles

  Bouquet Toss

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Cyndi Lauper

All The Single Ladies Beyonce

Eye of the Tiger Survivor

Garter Toss

Are You Gonna Be My Girl Jet

Back Down South Kings of Leon

Drop Dead Legs Van Halen

Wedding Music: Reception

 Dinner Music

Rhythm of Love   Plain White T's
Better Together    Jack Johnson
Do You Remember?    Jack Johnson
I Thought I Loved You Then    Brad Paisley
Ain't No Mountain High Enough    Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
Marry You    Glee
Lucky    Jason Mraz and Colby Caillat
I'm Yours    Jason Mraz
The Way You Look Tonight    Harry Connick Jr.
Come Away With Me    Norah Jones
L-O-V-E     Nat King Cole
What a Wonderful World    Louis Armstrong
Honey Bee    Blake Shelton
Marry Me    Train
I Do    Colbie Caillat
All Summer Long    Kid Rock
Precious Love    James Morrison
Best of My Love    The Emotions
Hey Baby    Bruce Channel and Delbert McClinton
I Can't Wait    Runner Runner
Your Love Keeps Lifting Me (Higher and Higher)    Jackie Wilson
Loving You Tonight    Andrew Allen
"Glow"    Donavon Frankenreiter
I love you this big    Scotty McCreery
Good Life    One Republic
Return to Pooh Corner    Kenny Loggins
Here for a Good Time    George Strait
Just a Kiss    Lady Antebellum
It Takes Two    Marvin Gaye
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)    Marvin Gaye
Toes    Zac Brown Band
History In The Making    Darius Rucker
Love Like Crazy    Lee Brice
Something In The Water    Brooke Fraser
Oh Darling Plug in Stereo (featuring Cady Groves)
Wanna Make You Love Me Andy Gibson
Faster Matt Nathanson
Brighter Than The Sun Colbie Caillat

Dance Music

Sway    Michael Buble
Brick House    The Commodores
I Like Big Butts    Sir Mix A Lot (my grandmother totally got on the dance floor for this one)
Time Warp    Rocky Horror Picture Show (better than the chicken dance)
Macarena    Los Del Rio
September    Earth, Wind, and Fire
Chicken Fried    Zac Brown Band
New Romance    Miles Fischer
Baby    Justin Bieber & Ludacris
Party in the USA    Miley Cyrus
Love in America JTX
Friday    Rebecca Black (especially if you get married on a Friday)
Friday is Forever We The Kings (also for Friday weddings)

*any of the hits from when you were growing up (we played N'Sync and LFO and Britney Spears)*

 

 

 

Organization: Google Docs

We were so blessed to be planning our wedding during the same time that Google Docs decided to release their wedding planning tools. I HIGHLY suggest you take a look: http://www.google.com/weddings/ We used the Google Docs to plan our guest list, wedding music, and seating arrangement. There are also tools for an address book, budget planner, to-do list, and reception menu.