My wedding planning

I haven't done an update in a little while and did have a slight "OMG" moment when I looked at my wedding countdown the other day and saw this.....

 

 

when did this happen? was I sleeping??

 

Luckily I have still been doing some wedding planning.

 

 

Looks better with a flash, the white pops out more.

 

I FINALLY found black lace for the tablecloths at a suitable (aka not $20 per metre) price. I cannot tell you how difficult this was... everything was wayyy too expensive, as I needed 80 metres or just well, fugly. Thanks to aliexpress and a supplier from China I got the lace I wanted for only $2.7 per metre. I love globalisation and the internet :)

 

 

We also decided to go with the second bridesmaid's dress and I ordered the rest.

 

 

My mum ordered her dress, which will look a bit like this... I'm glad she went with something special, I want her to feel special on the big day too, after all she made me who I am.

 

I purchased part of my dad's wedding present.

 

I ordered my robe for the day, which I will post when I get it.

 

 

I FINALLY (most were booked out) managed to lock in a hair dresser - Mary Tannous.

 

We found some frames in the Reject Shop, which look to be perfect for the table names... we just need to find more than two now :S

 

and the best news of all.... we booked our over the water bungalow in the Maldives for our honeymoon!!

 

 

 

We aim to go for a five week honeymoon and go to Singapore, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.. I CANNOT WAIT!!

 

How are my fellow brides going? Some of you must be close to D day now!

OHHH and one other question - where do you usually put the daddy daughter dance into a wedding program? I can't think of a wedding I have been to where it has happened. Please help.

Making my Wedding Dress

A I don't think you read this anymore, but if you do... press the close screen button NOW!

 

Last Saturday I had my second wedding dress appointment, and I got to see my skirt and train for the first ever time!!

 

It was so exciting, but I must admit every time she asked, "how do you want this..." or "do you like it like that...." I freaked out a little before answering... if I thought it was nerve racking choosing THE DRESS it is even moreso deciding details on THE DRESS.

 

So here it is....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(blank space so A doesn't accidentally see)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The silk on the skirt is skill so new it is very crunchy and crinkly.

 

 

Getting pinned and pulled.

 

 

This is the "fake" (I forget the name of the material) bodice as it started out.

 

 

After reshaping the bodice and adjusting etc.

 

It still doesn't have anywhere near the amount of boning in it and it definitely wasn't pulled as tight as I would like my actual dress to fit, but I think the lower bust line is a lot more flattering.

 

 

Ignore stupid face.

 

We lowered the back, from the height on the right to that on the left. When she asked how low I wanted it, I replied with "as low as we can go" (without ruining the make of the dress.

 

My bridesmaid told me I have a sexy, fatless back. I guess if the wedding weight loss journey doesn't work out I can "back it up" the whole day lol..

 

 

 

 

and TAA DAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!

 

My over 2mtr train!! I love it and can't wait until the other layers and finishing touches are put on it.

 

I have always wanted a train it was a must have in my books.

 

 

I'm not sure you will get to see much more of this bad boy, because I think in my June appointment it will start looking a lot more real, but I'll see what sneak peeks I can provide.

 

Despite the stress I am really loving the dress making process and I would recommend it to any bride. I love the fact that the end product will be all my ideas.

 

Now I can't wait until June....



Who runs the world? Girls!

I love a good night/day out with my girls. The endless chatter about things your fiance only tries to seem interested in and the jokes that only you and your girls find funny.

 

I had a huge dose of female love last weekend.

 

On Friday night, I met a few girls that I use to work with for what my friend R described as a "cheap and nasty night". And that it was my friends!

 

 

Unfortunately it was pouring down rain in Sydney just before we were going to meet, and I had know jacket, but luckily R had a spare leather jacket in her office that I borrowed. She insisted that this jacket was made for me, hence the pose.

 

 

What I love about Friday night drinking is that because you start early, it is socially acceptable to finish early and still be able to get a train home, which is exactly what I did about 12.30am.

 

I felt fine just before we were leaving, so thought there was no harm in quickly downing my last glass of wine - Oh Sarah will you never learn?! After about 5 minutes on the train I realised I was intoxicated, legless, drunk, blind as a skunk.. you name it, I was probably it!

 

I looked at my phone and saw a message from A earlier asking me where I was, this was my response...

 

 

 

Poor guy must have freaked out!! I didn't mean to write that but I couldn't see my phone properly, let alone type and i'll also blame stupid autocorrect! I cleared it all up and then was very happy to see A at the train station waiting for me when I got off; such a sweetheart!

 

On Sunday I met up with my 3 bridesmaid's for a champagne (hmm starting to see a reoccurring theme here? ) brunch and a bridal expo.

 

 

We couldn't leave out my MOH who is currently living in Colombia, so we made sure she had a spot.

 

 

We ate at Cyren in Darling Harbour, and whilst our Waiter was lovely, the food took way too long to come out and then my poor girls who ordered eggs Benedict were faced with a long plate with 2 muffins sliding around it on top. There was no garnish, no prettiness, no nothing.

 

 

My Mediterranean breakfast was delicious, but I still don't think I would return.

 

Going to the bridal expo slightly tipsy, we had a ball!

 

 

Highlights: Of course the photo booths, the fondue freebies, cake testing, the awful awful drag queen at the fashion show, the ketut and rhonda lollies and the boys in the fashion show who cheekily decided to show what was under their kilt ;)

 

Ketut loves Rhonda

 

Cons: There was only one way in and out, which was really frustrating. Only one cake place out of 6 had samples - I need a cake, samples would have helped me! For our $20 each I didn't even get one free bridal magazine.

 

Cake pops cake

 

All in all it was such a fun day with lots of girly silliness and I can't wait for more adventures out with my bridesmaids all together.

 

 

 

 

What's something you always do with your girls?

 

Have you done movies and sleepovers recently? I know it is a bit cliche, but after typing the question, now I want to do it! hehe.

Pick a Dress

Do you remember way back HERE when I received the first bridesmaid gown? I loved it and was gushing over it and all the bridesmaid's loved it and felt like princesses, and aside from getting the sleeves fixed that was that.

 

Well.. that WAS that.

 

See I don't know if I actually told you this part, but when I picked the dress I was originally going to order it from thecelebritydresses.com, but then I heard all these horror stories and decided it was probably too cheap to be good, so I went with one in Australia - dress of your dreams.

 

I ordered samples and pinked the colour chiffon I wanted. When I received an email from Dress of Your Dreams I was told the dress was shipped and oh yeah btw we couldn't do the twisted bodice in chiffon, so we changed it to chemise satin (I think that's what it is called).

 

I freaked out initially, but loved the dress anyways as you can tell by my last post.

 

Now maybe I have had too much time to think about things, but as the rest of the wedding gets put together, that niggling feeling of "I never wanted shiny bridesmaid's dresses" was becoming stronger and stronger, until (with my mum encouraging me) I ordered the dress from thecelebritydresses.com for $165 including delivery. I figured if it is crap, it is my own fault for wasting money.

 

Is it crap? NOPE! It is beautiful and all of the bridesmaid's agree it is better! It is lighter, the sleeves are perfectly how I wanted them and the train is just beautiful.

 

I love the softer, non shiny fabric and I think on the day before summer the girls will be a lot more comfortable in this lighter fabric.

 

So now I want to ask you to.... pick a dress!

 

Which one do you think is better?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The pinks are different and I loved the dustiness of the first one, but this one is also soft and fairy floss like lol.

 

Only problem with the new dress is the the bodice sits slightly higher, but this could maybe be altered? I say maybe because I have no idea about the construction of dresses. 
 

The one that loses I think will have to go on ebay or something.

My First Dress Fitting

Remember how I found my dress in ahhhh like July last year?!!! Well last Thursday I went back to Couture by Francesca for my very first fitting!

 

To say I was excited is an understatement, I was giddy, a little nervous and felt like a little kid at Christmas time all over again.

 

See the excitement?

 

We actually didn't do that much for my dress, except talk about what I wanted again, have a quick sketch drawn up and take my measurements. Of course this was followed by the whole "what do you intend to do leading up to the wedding...", which was started by some comment I made about my sausage arms. Pretty standard in a wedding dress salon I am guessing.

 

 

Seen as it had been 6 months since I picked the dress, I asked if I could try on the sample gown again. I was so so nervous as she put me in it, I was scared I was going to become one of those girls on "Say Yes to the Dress", who argues it is not the same dress, or who knows it is the same one but hates it now and has to fork out thousands more dollars for a new one.

 

Luckily, I am not one of those girls. As soon as I was clipped into my dress, I fell in love all over again! I couldn't stop smiling, my bridesmaid and mum were taking pictures and I wanted to get married there and then!

 

I am so excited about my dress, I want to show you, and everyone else the photos... but for once I am going to keep my big mouth SHUT! SORRY!

 

At my next appointment, I will take photos of the construction and that should be okay to share.

 

I will show you one photo now though... my shoes underneath my dress.

 

 

The right show still has the cardboard under the flowers, but you get the idea.

 

Under 10 months to go now. YEYYYY!!!

 

P.S. Sorry for the poor photos, my iphone flash has broken.

Wedding Flowers

I did warn you that we have made a lot of decisions in the beginning of this year. As I write this post, exactly 10 months out from the big day, part of me is happy with all the decisions that have been made, while the other part is petrified that I will forget a lot of the smaller details.

 

I always really really wanted a wedding decorator/stylist for our wedding to give it that extra something special, but when I would look around a different ones I never found any that screamed out at me and with the help of my mum, I think I have worked out most things anyways.

 

A few weeks ago, Mum and I met with Elizabeth from Sydney Wedding Flowers to discuss my needs and the quote she had given me.

 

One thing I immediately liked about Elizabeth - her prices are on her website and regardless of what type of flowers you want, her price doesn't change. For someone like me, who wants Peonies and Hydrangeas this is very important!!

 

Elizabeth operates out of her home and I think (from my own home business experience) this is why she can keep her costs down.

 

I was super nervous about this appointment, because this was one that made it feel real, and this was one that could impact the look of my wedding in a major way.

 

From the start, Elizabeth made me feel very at ease, as she asked all the details of our wedding - my dress, BM's dress, locations and venues.

 

I then pulled out my StyleMePretty inspiration photos and showed her what I wanted. Straight away she told me "these are American photos, I know American Peonies because we don't get them like this here" - awwwww! ahahaha All I could do was laugh.

 

I showed her my ideas, and what I liked about her, which may actually shock you, is the fact that she didn't just agree with everything I imagined, she actually told me "no I don't think that would look good" and explained her point of view, which my mother (the trader) agreed with.

 

I am happy Elizabeth did this, because I don't have a stylist or decorator and when I am paying professionals, I want them to give me their professional opinion from their experience, I don't just want a "yes mam" and end up with a fugly wedding, that I look back on and cringe! haha

 

We decided on a mixture of mainly pink and some white peonies for myself, mainly white and some pink peonies for the girls, and 3/4 large peonies, tied with ribbon, for the flower girls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bridal table will have an arrangement of mixed vases - different types and sizes

 

(sorry for the blurry photo)

 

 

and the centrepieces will be balls of peonies and hydrangeas (whites and soft pinks, but mainly whites - due to the pink lighting in the place) on black baroque stands like the one below and a circle mirror underneath. On the mirror will also be our table numbers.

 

 

 

I have paid the deposit and Elizabeth is locked in. PHEW - one more major decision down!

 

How are my fellow brides coming along with your plans?

Wedding Car

Eh, the wedding cars were a pain in our backside!

 

Remember ages ago I told you that I didn't really care about the wedding cars? Like in my mind, people barely see them, neither A or I are big car people and so we just wanted to get out of it as cheaply as possible, while not getting our dad to drive us. Well maybe it was my "non-caring" that made it so difficult for us to lock in a car.

 

To begin with, it was finding the time on a weekday to see the cars, then we loved the first one we saw (on the Friday), sent them an email to book (on the Monday) and was told (on the Tuesday) that someone else had beaten us to it (on the Sunday) because we left it such a long time (3days) between seeing the limo and emailing them.

 

Argh.

 

We made a time to go and view another similar limo. When we arrived at the appointment, we were greeted with bags of dirty nappies on the front door step. Funnily enough, this didn't entirely put us off, what did it for us in the end was how small the limo was. It seems people's definition of 10 seater varies greatly and we need enough room for 10 people PLUS my dress!

 

The final group we spoke to, the guy over the phone told me he had the best cars and offered to price match my previous two offers, so in hope of finishing this car deal once and for all, A and I gave up our Wednesday night, trained and drove over to the other side of Sydney. The limo was great, we were impressed... now to pay a deposit.... ohhh yes and find out that the "lowest price" he could do was in fact the standard rate and $200 more than we were told over the phone.

 

Are you kidding me? I don't go out of my way to see things I cannot afford.

 

I know you are thinking $200 is not that much, but I have heard things creep up on you later in the planning process, so I am trying to stick to my guns now.

 

A few emails back and forth and we negotiated a rate in the middle.

 

A and I were so relieved. This is the first thing we have really had difficulty with since we started planning.

 

Finally - we have a super stretch Chrysler 300CC with Jet Door to take us all to the wedding! 

Wedding Update

Ok, so I wrote this post at the start of last week, but it wouldn't let me add pictures and I didn't want a post without pictures, so I kept trying every day until it let me! :)

I will do a life update shortly, but now that we are OFFICIALLY under the 12 month mark, I thought I would do a wedding update.

 

 

 

The dreaded 12 month mark, made me whip my bottom into action a little bit this week I think...

 

I sent out most of the save the dates, you can see here.

 

I finally got around to asking my friend Alessia to be my bridesmaid.

 

I told her to close her eyes, because I had a birthday present for her, I placed this in her hands and then told her to open. She did a double take at the card, then started to cry.. I was worried for a split second, until she started saying "OMG OMG OMG" and then squealed!hahaha

 

I spent the rest of the night speaking with her and showing her things only bridesmaid's can see e.g. my wedding dress. She was messaging me the next morning, still excited!

 

Unfortunately, Alessia has a trip planned to Italy next year for 6 months and will only get back a few days before our wedding, but this is just an awesome excuse for TWO hens parties if you ask me :)

 

I finally got around to paying the deposit for and locking in my Makeup Artist, who did my trial here.

 

We started to get a friend (travel agent) to help us plan our honeymoon, which when I originally started writing this post was going to be the carribean, but due to the time of the year.. I think it will be a lot of hassel and money, so now we are looking at the maldives... but not just the Maldives, because I want a year off so we are looking at also going to Malyasia, Macau,  Dubai and either Beijing or Singapore, as well as either Laos, Sri Lanka or somewhere lol.

What do you think? Do you have any tips about any of these places? I'd love to know!

 

And last, but not least we picked our wedding band.

 

We decided to go with Vibe wedding band, they had great reviews on wedding websites, sound good, have a good selection of songs and most importantly they promised they have never ever played celebration! haha A and I are not the corny wedding music type at all.

 

A is pretty happy now that all he has left to "decide" on is the wedding cars, cake, rings and his attire. The rest I am pretty sure he will be happy to let me take care of.

 

I know this year will fly and I am excited, nervous and in full wedding planning mode!