The Dress
After making a few shopping trips to Davids Bridal and other Chicago-land bridal stores, I found my dress! I actually found a picture of a similar dress by another designer online and my MOH and I went on a search to find this dress so I could try it on. We looked around my hometown and the one shop that would carry it, did not but they had a similar style by another designer and asked if we were interested in seeing that. I looked up the style online and it didn't wow me but I thought it was worth a shot and boy am I glad I did! They didn't carry my original dress due to the cost--it was twice the price of the one I bought.
My dress is by Mori Lee and is style 4524, I bought it in Ivory Taffeta and the best part is it has pockets! It is considered either a full a-line or soft ballgown; I'm not going to add any crinoline to the gown and I may even take some away.
First Fitting!
I had my first fitting with Mary Catomy, who is highly sought after for alterations! She was incredibly nice and my fitting was awesome. I do not need the dress taken in at all or let out, she is just going to do the bustle, attach the belt to the dress, and add an extra hook-&-eye in the back for extra support.
Hair
I'm growing my long hair out more, at least the shorter layers. I am doing a off-centered low bun with a side part. My hair is almost all one length but to help get the volume I need, I will use clip-in extensions since my hair is fine.
Hair Trial!
I had my hair trial done the same day as my dress fitting so I got to see how my hair could look with my dress!
The bun will be moved lower more behind my ear at the nape of my neck and the flower clip will be right behind my ear. Also I don't like the separation of the piece on my left side so it will be smoothed out.
I like how it turned out, my hair will be tweaked as I mentioned above for the day of but overall I like the outcome and the hair flower. I have decided against wearing a veil now that I've had my trial.
Makeup
I normally don't wear much makeup day to day, always eyeshadow and mascara. I like Carrie Underwood's makeup style and Lauren Conrad's. I really want to accent my eyes with fake lashes, and nothing too dramatic. I still want to look like myself! Going for romantic, understated but still dramatic.
Makeup Trial!
I recently had my makeup trial-there is a girl at my regular salon who does makeup so I am going with her. She uses all MAC products which is not what I normally use but overall I liked the result. My foundation will need to be a litter lighter in color for the actual day of and I am adding in fake lashes but I liked everything else!
My bouquet
My bouquet will be all white made up of dahlia's, garden roses, sweet pea, lisianthus, open spray roses and ranunculus. It will be wrapped in navy ribbon as shown below.
This is my original inspiration for my bouquet. This bouquet is double tulips, sweet pea, and eucalyptus. I will have my bouquet wrapped like this with the flowers above.
Accessories
I'm really excited about these shoes!!! I bought these from Nordstroms, I just love the fact that I'll be wearing green shoes under my white dress!
I have these Havaianas which have Swarovski crystals on the straps that I am planning on changing into at the reception.
I bought these sandals from Nordstrom (BP Eve) to possibly change into for the reception. I can't beat the comfort of my Havaianas but I also didn't want to just be in flip flops and these are pretty cute and re-wearable!
I will be wearing 2 of these hair clips in Ivory. I found them at Nordstrom and they were $38 a piece. I am not wearing a veil so these will replace that; I think they are understated dramatic and will show from the front and back.
I just ordered these earrings and bracelets on Etsy. I wanted to do dramatic earrings and a bracelet instead of doing a necklace. The bracelet was listed as just one but I bought 2 for that extra pop. I recently went to a jewelry show and kept trying to top these 2 pieces. I did find a pair of earrings that I bought but I still like this pair better. These are by etsy seller designbykara.
I found a navy clutch at Macy's by Jessica McClintock.
The Rings!
Here is my engagement ring. We were lucky enough to get the main diamond passed down from K's mom--it was her fathers. We custom designed my ring and the wedding band will match my ring.
We found my wedding band at Rogers & Hollands on a random shopping trip, we ended up getting a great deal on the ring (1/2 off!) so we bought it. It is an almost-full eternity band and weighs in at 1 caret. I love that is doesn't match my engagement ring perfectly, that I can wear it alone if I wanted to.
We got K's band from Zales, it is a 14k white gold ring with a brushed satin finish and a milgrain edge. We shopped at several stores and this is the one he liked best!
Something to hang my dress with
I bought a personalized hanger on Etsy from Kara's Kloset to hang my dress on for the day of.
