Well, with 2011 fast approaching it seems like the wedding will be here before I know it. In a few days I'll be in the same calendar year as Andy and I's wedding!!!

I still have yet to pin down a photographer or DJ which are two high priorities. I have a DJ I like so far but, once again, I'm nervous to go with my gut. I have talked to a few other DJs. Some are waaaaaaaay to cheese ball for me to even want to consider. The guy I'm looking at is very nice and offers some other things like lighting and a slideshow projector. I need to talk to him more and make a decision.

Over the holiday I'm going to take my sister to try on bridesmaid dresses. As she pointed out, this is the only part of the wedding "all about her". haha. She wishes. I'll pick a dress she hates on purpose. (I kid!)

I really am hoping to find 2-3 dresses and let my ladies choose their own. I don't need them as identical twins, just similar. I'm going to start with two places. I'm going to look at dresses at David's Bridal since there's one I really like. As much as I hate it, David's is convenient... I'm also going to find salon's that carry Mori Lee bridesmaid dresses.

My bridal shop carries Mori Lee and gives a small discount on the dresses since I purchased my wedding gown from them. Surprisingly, floor length gowns are in the same price range as David's Bridal?!?!!? Hopefully, one of these two options will turn something up. I'm still a little reluctant to do the bridal shop bridesmaid dresses because you have to order them and wait. David's is off the rack and a little more like a regular store which is comforting. I'm going to wait until I see what dresses they have before I stress about how to obtain the dresses!

And, that's where I stand. Things are going really well. On a side note, take my poll. I just read a post about a bride telling her ladies they couldn't wear their own engagement rings with the bridesmaid ensembles?! I've never heard of such a thing. Just curious where most brides fall on the spectrum!
 
If these don't get my bridesmaids excited for the wedding, I don't know what will!!!!
 
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I guess her fiance got to pick the wedding theme?
I once again present you with some truly uninspiring dresses.

Once you look through 15 pages of a bridal magazine, you've pretty much seen it all. There seems  like there are only so many allowable wedding poses for models. You know, woodlands, draped on antique furniture or staring off while pondering love. But, in my search for alternative wedding gear I found this! Now, if pro-football is your theme, Matthew Christopher has a dress for you. If fireman or fighter pilot is more your style, that's covered too!

But, I don't get it! I don't get it at all. I mean, I watch E!. I know pro athletes are all the rage but do you really need that in an ad? I'm so confused. Also, I don't like football. Not at all. In fact, watching football with football fans is about as fun for me as hanging out with completely drunk people when I'm sober. Needless to say, Matthew Christopher, your silly football player ad has no power over me.

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'I've always wondered what Easter Bunny vomit looks like!'
Since white dresses are frustrating me so much I decided to switch to looking at bridesmaid dresses. And big surprise, there is no shortage for bad decisions here either. The funny thing is that even if the dresses themselves aren't bad, so many lend themselves to such absurdity. The dress above isn't bad at all!

Same goes for these dresses. The dresses are pretty. But, geeze, every pastel color seriously looks like Easter gone wild! Less is more, especially when it comes to pastels!

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Ah, another multicolor wedding but this one is definitely more Skittles inspired! Now, I'm in love with the idea of being quirky and having fun with your wedding, that's pretty much my mantra, but yikes!

Is her theme rainbow?

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Because, honestly, this is what I start to think of when I see all those dresses!

I just can't picture how ALL those dresses fit into one wedding! Unless of course its this one I've just designed. But, at least it doesn't look like Easter Bunny vomit. I think these colors are a lot more flattering.

If you're wondering why I'm spending all this time trash talking bridal apparel, its really just me trying to find the line between unique & personal and looking like a lunatic :) Fortunately, the internet proves to be a wealth of knowledge! But, I think a lot of ideas don't end up translating as well as intended. I love teal and I love breaking tradition to create something personal but I still want my wedding to look nice. And, I don't want my bridesmaid to hate me.

Ahh, I LOVE wedding planning! This is going to be a fun year!

 
Seriously, how on earth are there so many hideously tacky things in bridal magazines. First is every dress I've ever seen in a Mary's Bridal ad. Why on earth would you pay $798 for this dress? (I wish I could post a picture here, you'll just have to follow the link. Trust me, its worth it.) This one is in the ads all the time. I finally decided to take a look on their website.

 Lucky for me I learned that they make even uglier dresses! I love that the collection is called "unspoken romance". I can't even imagine who buys these things. Also, I don't understand why there are so many white and red bridal gowns. I don't really get where that fad is coming from but it seems pretty common.

In other good news, Mary's
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I've also found the perfect champagne flutes to go with those dresses. For $75 bucks I can own those bedazzled keepsakes. Again, with the names, these are Park Avenue Flutes. I am willing to bet no one on Park Avenue would be caught dead with these things.

And, of course, there's a coordinating cake serving set. Monograms and engraving are nice but putting personalization on everything is just insanity. When are you ever going to use those things again? I dare you to find me one person who uses a bedazzled engraved cake server. Please, I beg you people to stop wasting $75 and buy an Amazon.com gift certificate. Trust me, they'll like it better.

In addition to ugly things, I'm having one of those days when I'm just generally appalled over how much brides are willing to dish out for small useless things. Modern Bride told me a trend is to "Belt it out. Brides are customizing their wedding dresses with bold belts, from obi-style designs to glittery version..." There example, a crystal encrusted $545 example.

In all seriousness, I just spent the last two evenings ripping out my favorite ideas from magazines so I'm pretty excited. I'm all concerned, some of my favorite dresses and bridesmaid dresses are from David's Bridal. I finished my Bridal Bargains book and learned along with The Knot, I'm supposed to despise David's Bridal. If I want itchy fabric and crappy service then I can go there, otherwise I'm supposed to avoid them at all costs. Apparently, David's new trend is buying out other more famous designers to create new lines for David's only. I guess this is sort of akin to Target's new cheap designer lines. Whatever, I hate Walmart and I still go there. I'll at least make a trip to David's... I want to see these flowery bridesmaid dresses in all their ads.


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