top 5 things you can cut from your wedding decor!

ah...the case of the rich bride/poor bride. As a wedding decorator, I see this happen to a lot of brides.

She gets engaged and heads straight to The Knot, full of ideas, champagne dreams and caviar expectations.

But then the little things that she's been buying on etsy and ebay that only cost $XX start adding up and next thing you know - BLAM. Budget blown because of blinged out "Future MRS." accessories - panties, hoodie, velour suit , matching towel set, iphone jewel case, gym bag, slippers, robe and on and on and on.

Seemed like a good idea.... at the time.

So what's a bride to do? She still wants her wedding to look "fabulous", but now only has an "it looks okay..." budget. That's where your wedding decorator or even your wedding planner comes in handy. She should be the first person to advise you on what you could cut without putting a serious dent in your overall look and feel.

In the next few weeks, I'll list 5 things you can cut from your decor budget without feeling like you made a huge sacrifice and still look good!

1. Chair sashes
Don't get me wrong- I like chair sashes! Sashes are like, the best thing since...chair covers. Some of my best rented items are chair covers!

They add so much to a room and makes you say "Oh so pretty!" when you walk into a room....

Then, your guests sit down...then they go get a drink at the bar...then people keep getting up to go to the bathroom...then they get up again to go talk to people at other tables...then they go to get ANOTHER drink at your consumption bar (you're watching them out of the corner of your eye...LOL)...then the kids start pulling them off the chair...then its around the best man's head like a head band and he's doing the flash dance/sprinkler/strip tease.

My point is that it's nice to see how pretty it is at the beginning of the night, but by the end of the night, a good number of sashes are AWOL from where they were tied and look a bit sloppy.

Here's a great alternative - go for the chair covers with attached ties. They normally cost a teensy bit more than a plain chair cover, but cost less than getting both the plain chair cover and coloured organza sash. They are already attached to the chair and stay tied up in the fancy bow! Technology, huh?!

Word to the wise - stay away from putting organza bows on satin chair covers. Not.A.Good.Idea. trust me!

If you MUST have chair sashes, then I would recommend using taffeta sashes. A bit more pricier, but its a more sturdier material than organza, so the likelihood of your beautiful bows staying put is greater. And it's pretty!

stay tuned for #2 - it has to do with a table, chocolate and your money box! Till then, stay fabulous and blessed!

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I Gotta Be Me!

I was thinking today about what I should post about next and realized that one of the sad things about me starting this blog so late into my planning (let’s be honest, I started posting about a month before my wedding day!) is that you haven’t been able to read about my planning, my decisions and my purchases for the wedding, so I thought I would take the time to tell you about my wedding shoes.

*sigh*

Oh how I love my shoes…

Like most brides, once I found “the dress”, I began to hunt for all the little bits that go along with it. This being the veil, the headpiece/tiara, jewellery and of course, the most important accessory of them all – the shoes.

Now people, these aren’t just shoes. They are THE shoes. The shoes that you will wear as you take the first step into your new life as a wife. The shoes that you will be dancing in (hopefully, if you haven’t changed into flip flops!) with your husband for the first time. The shoes that all your friends and family will ooooh and aaaaah over as the ‘gem’ that made your outfit “perfect”.



So yeah, this is pretty huge.

I think I hit every shoe store in every mall in Mississauga. I looked on websites, scouring over bridal shoes and white shoes. Open-toed or closed toed. High heel, kitten heel, or ballet flats. Simple and sleek, or covered in bling. The options are endless!

I’m 5’10 and my fiancé is 6’1, and his only request for the wedding day is that he be taller than me. So that meant high heels were out.

Eventually I threw my hands in the air, out of frustration (Ha! No bride ever does that!) and voiced my concerns to my bridal party. Throw the word “Wedding” or “Bridal” in front of any product or service and you can pretty much guarantee that the price will increase by 25 – 50%. I just could not rationalize paying $100 (or more!) for a pair of white shoes that I will never wear again. I was told to look at satin dyeable shoes, but being completely honest with myself, I knew I would never wear satin shoes in the future.

I had continually toyed with the idea of wearing coloured shoes because a) I'm just not a white shoe person, b) they’ll be under my dress and honestly, how many people will be looking at my feet? And c) I’m being practical (which is who I am as a Virgo!) because I can wear them again! Besides, blue is my favourite colour! After much debate about tradition and my personal comfort, I finally decided “I gotta be me!” and went on the hunt for blue shoes.

Then, one day, as I was walking through Square One with my girlfriends, I came across the most perfect pairs of shoes I have ever laid my eyes on. I was drawn into the store by a magnetic force and saw them. Closed-toe, kitten heeled, blue leather. Not only would these be the perfect wedding shoes for me, but they would look so hot with a pair of jeans at a later date. After asking for a pair in my size, I slipped them on my feet and I was instantly in heaven. These were the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn, and they were absolutely stunning. I knew I had to have them, and within minutes I walked out of the store with my coveted Steve Maddens in hand.



I got home and began to panic ever so slightly because I remembered how traditional my fiancé is about our wedding. My girlfriends have told him over the last year that my wedding gown is blue (again, my favourite colour) and he jokingly pumps his fist at me, with a smile on his face, saying “It better be white.” So you could say I was a little worried about what he would say about my beautiful bright blue shoes. When he came home, I pulled them out to show him and the look on his face was priceless.

Him: “Wow. Those are really bright. You’re kidding about wearing them for the wedding, right?”

Me: “No.”

*pause*

Him: “Well, they’re definitely you.”

And that's how it was finalized that I would wear my beautiful bright blue, kitten heel Steve Maddens as I walk down the aisle.

Oh, and as an aside, my one girlfriends (after finding out that I would definitely be wearing my blue shoes at the wedding) said that while everybody else took pictures of my face as I walked down the aisle, she will be taking pictures of the little peeps of blue that will poke out under the hem of my dress. I can't wait!

Only 11 more days to go!

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Reindeer games?

A-line, trumpet, mermaid, empire. Full skirt or figure hugging skirt? Chiffon or taffeta, satin or silk? And do I want beads? Lace? Embroidery? Appliques? Sweetheart? V-neck? Strapless? Halter? A train? How long?

The dress shopping has begun.

Now I knew there were lots of options out there. The wedding biz is big biz after all. I’ve seen the magazines and their ads, drooled over various designers’ websites, checked out the real brides’ dresses on various websites, and boned up on the lingo and prices.

I figured I knew what I wanted… the colour had to look good against my fair skin and as a backdrop for my crazy curly red hair. The cut and shape had to make my stocky Scotch/Irish frame look as hourglass as possible. The bodice had to lock and load my generous bust, keeping it firmly under wraps and hidden. Ideally I wanted a corset back to accommodate weight fluctuations and possible overeating on The Day. The skirt had to be full length and not at all ballerina-esque and needed a small train if any at all. I’m not a fan of chiffon so I knew I wanted satin or soft taffeta. Finally, I didn’t want the whole thing to look too plain but nor did I want to look like I’d stepped out of an 80s wedding. Elegant, glamourous, sexy, distinctive yet still me.

Seemed obvious and doable.

So, armed with that knowledge and an apparently respectable budget, I made appointments during this last week with a few salons that are nearish to my home town. I say nearish because apparently my town is the city that weddings forgot and there are very very few boutiques actually in the city itself. I resigned myself to driving up to two hours for one store that was doing a trunk show for Maggie Sottero gowns.

Upon departing said trunk show, I must humbly report that I don’t think anything quite prepared me for the sheer quantity of options overall however or incredulous attitude I’d meet upon politely informing the store attendant of my wishes and hopes.

Nor did all the advance research prepare me for the continuous crushing disappointment of being told that the 6 pretty dresses I wanted to try on did not come in Madame’s necessary size, or in fact in any size close enough to allow me to get it anywhere past one thick thigh. Apparently, a trunk show is industry lingo for “you must be Kate Moss to try these on”. I am not a size 0 (size 4 in wedding dresses) so I could not try on the trunk show samples.

I felt a little like poor Rudolph, who couldn’t join in the reindeer games.

I kept at it though and after 5 stores, I’ve found 5 decent possible dresses that bear little resemblance to one another other than the fact that they’re strapless and have ruching on the front.

None has jumped out at me though as The Dress. There have been no tears, no glow, no fast-beating heart or happy smile. All five would work for me, in five different ways.

But none has me saying “That’s it. That’s My Dress”.

So the search continues.
.

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You Don't Want To See Me Angry.....

I think there’s a huge misconception out there about what is defined as a bridezilla.

Most brides are afraid of being called a bridezilla, and the majority of people involved in a wedding are afraid that the bride will become one! As defined by www.dictionary.com, a bridezilla is “a bride-to-be who focuses so much on the event that she becomes difficult and obnoxious.” Now let’s break this down even further :)



Every bride out there will lose it at some point. Trust me on this. (At this point in time, I could probably be the poster child for this phenomenon.) But does make me, or any other bride for that matter, a bridezilla? I’d like to think not. Stress does funny things to you, but it doesn’t necessarily turn you into a monster. But a lot of people out there immediately categorize a stressed out or crying bride as a bridezilla. In fact, I believe a lot of people relish the idea of this and sit back, rubbing their hands together in glee, so they can gossip about the latest “incident” with the bride.

I’d like to break down hypothetical situations as that what I think is a stressed out (ie., normal) bride versus a bridezilla.

A bride who is crying because she realizes her bridesmaid has yet to alter her dress and it’s just a couple weeks to the wedding. Normal bride.

A bride who is yelling because her bridesmaid refuses to go exactly where SHE wants her to go to get her dress altered, months before the wedding. Bridezilla.

A bride who gives ideas of how she’d prefer her bridesmaids to wear their hair. Normal bride.

A bride who demands that her bridesmaids have their hair done THIS way, with THIS stylist, and refuses to pay for her demands. Bridezilla.

A bride who becomes frustrated with the constant change of a seating plan (hard work!) and vents to a friend or bridesmaid. Normal bride.

A bride to becomes frustrated with her seating plan and then demands that people will just have to “deal with” where their sitting, because she just “doesn’t care anymore” because it’s “her day”, not theirs. Bridezilla.

Starting to see a pattern here? Every bride (myself included) is going to stress out at some point, but that doesn’t mean that she’s turning into some green monster, rearing its ugly head, taking out everything (and everyone!) in its path. Although… that would make for a fun movie, wouldn’t it? ;)



So, my dear readers, I ask that you take pity on the poor brides-to-be out there. If you’ve gone through a wedding, you know how difficult it is for us and how stressful it is to organize everything, everyone, trying to make as many people happy as possible. If you haven’t experienced your own wedding, well, hopefully this entry will help you understand what we go through and how difficult it is to deal with the stress of planning a wedding.

Only 16 more days for me, then I can go back to being the quiet, lovely girl that I used to be :) (I hope!)

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See That Girl, Watch That Scene ...

Coolest. Shoes. Ever.

Seriously. They're on my wish list for next spring (only because I think it would be cruel to myself to have them sit in a closet for the whole rain/snow seasons). Originally I found them because I was looking for earth-friendly shoes in my area (stop groaning). Take out the fact that .: Mohop sandals :. are environmentally friendly ... they are a dream!!!

First you decide on the base (wedge or bent ply) then you move on to the height. The whole process reminds me of Build-A-Bear except for shoe addicts. The next thing you decide on is the most fun ... each pair of shoes comes with five sets of ribbon. These are for you to weave to your heart's delight!

Also, if you check out the site carefully, Mohop has been kind enough to put together instructions on how to .: tie the ribbons differently :. That means not only do you have a bunch of different colours but a bunch if different ways to display them. What else could a shoe whore want? ;)

Based in Chicago and available online, Mohops are also found in various retailers worldwide. They're right here in Toronto at .: Left Feet :.

Let me know what you think!

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All the Light in Your Eyes

For quite some time I've been vigilantly reading a blog I came across when clicking on link after link. I'm not exactly sure how I found it or what was posted to make me click on the RSS feed ... some mysteries shouldn't be answered ;)

The blog in question is by Jennifer S. called .: Earth Friendly Weddings :. I absolutely love how Jennifer keeps things light, humourous and so educational!!! Her aim is to help her readers find new and exciting green ways of life and showcasing funky new products they should look out for. From that quick description you may come to the conclusion that Jennifer's business is planning, something to do with research, maybe even teaching ... nope! Her main love is actually invitations. Beautiful invitations, I might add. Please visit her main site called .: Earthly Affair :. for details on how she's saving the planet one step at a time :)

There's another reason I wanted to give Jennifer a shout out ... she's agreed to pop over here to be a guest author! We're hoping it will turn into a recurring piece so give her a warm welcome and encourage her to keep writing!

Thanks Jennifer ... looking forward to your reads ...

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Let’s Go Shopping Baby Then We’ll Go To A Café

You may have noticed that I don't often cruise Etsy for jewelry. It's not that I don't like what there is ... far from it! I just don't look at it very often as I make my own (.: old samples :.).

Some designs have been catching my eyes though so I thought I would do an accessory-themed Etsy week!

Love this idea. Vintage pieces aredefinitely all the rage but how about jewelry made from vintage china? These 'matching' necklaces are by .: TheBrokenPlate :.


Mayan numerology is a system of lines and dots that can be used to commemorate a special day. .: naturalezanica :. has incorporated this art into gorgeous rings!


.: BridalEmunique :. has this spectacular piece made with organic pearls ...


This vintage hand-etched necklace by .: found11objects :. is a favourite of mine. There's something so timeless and romantic about the locket ...


Are you looking for a wedding band outside of the traditional gold or silver? .: ShadeJewelry :. may have what you're looking for ...


Recycled vintage jewelry makes up this bracelet by .: jewelrybyallison :.


More vintage! This starburst brooch by .: jdziurznska :. is such a stunning accent piece ... and affordable, too!


How about something for the men? These cuff links by .: dedalo :. add a great touch of class!


Not quite jewelry but an accessory just the same! This colourful headband from .: houseoftelsa :. is great for everyone from the bride to the bridal party to guests!


And my favourite of the week is completely frivolous ... but so me ...

Being a computer geek, this CTRL-ALT-DEL necklace by .: capitolagirl :. is perfect for me. Gift time ;)

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Before You Buy Fall Makeup......

Clean Our Your Shoebox!


This fall, I'm amazed at how many different shade statements the cosmetic companies are showing.

For the eyes, I've seen everything from reds, golds and burgundys, to smudgy shades of slate, pewter, and concrete. Soft, earthy tones never go out, and some manufacturers are creating "the smokey eye" with emeralds, coppers and gun metals.

With all these different color stories, how does any woman know which ones are best for her.

Before you go off buying the latest and greatest trends, you may want to go back to basics and see exactly what you have, what you need and what you're not using. Whether you keep your makeup in a cosmetic bag or opt for the ever popular shoebox, think of the fall and spring seasons as ideal times to clean out, throw out and freshen up. Yup...PURGE YOUR MAKEUP BAG!

If you're like many women, you have a vast assortment of cosmetics you've collected over the years when "Dallas" was the top rated show and frosty, blue eyes were in. It's old, outdate and definitely not hygienic. Broken items, especially powders, will only cause you grief as they will inevitably sprinkle over your freshly laundered blouse forcing a wardrobe change you weren't prepared for. Unused things in our lives....whether they are big or small....are always clutter.

Your very first step is to overcome your separation anxiety and set aside one hour to pull out and inspect your cosmetic items.

Start with your mascara. If you've had it for 3 months, it must go. Mascara tubes harbor bacteria and should always be replaced every 3 months whether you use it daily or not.

Then, get rid of the antiques and the colors you just won't wear anymore. Remember ladies....we must age adjust our makeup so if you're 30+ and have nothing but glitter filled makeup, you need to update and introduce some mattes into your arsenal.

Work your way into lipsticks and smell each and everyone. You will know if it's off simply by a funny smell. Or, feel the texture....if it's dry, gummy, or streaky when you apply it to your hand, then it's no good. Wand glosses can also harbor bacteria, especially if a person gets cold sores or sun blisters. Again, three months maximum for these.

I could go on and on, but you get the point....out with the old and battered first.

Your next step would be to book an hour with me to go through what's left. I'll help you with items you're unsure about purging, try to maximize the use of what you already have.....as long as it's suitable, and recommend the best items to fill in what you're missing.

You'll get a full makeup application, using yours and mine, that gives you an updated look and some fresh new items to work with. This service is complimentary every fall and spring when you purchase Wink Cosmetics.

And, if you find yourself wanting to toss it all and start from scratch, then allow me to customize a full face for you with the 10 cosmetic items that will take you from day to night, from season to season and from outfit to outfit.

So ladies, think about this. What would you rather have.....a shoebox filled with years worth of cosmetics that's cost you way more than you think....OR....the ten essential makeup items.....which is all you need....customized and demonstrated just for you for under $200?

For more tips, tune into Lifestyles With Rita Nave on Tuesday Sept 30 on Channel 12 CHEX TV at 5:30 for Makeup In Motion's segment on "Purging Your Cosmetic Bag".

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I Love Your Crazy Heart

Stumbled upon some funky centrepiece ideas today so I thought I'd pass them along. You absolutely don't have to keep your table with just flowers (it's nice when you don't, actually!) or if you do want flowers, there are some great ways to display them ...



Creative use of a placemat ...


Single vases with single stems ...


Not-so-real flowers ...


How about fruit?



Getting ready for the holidays ...


And my favourite centrepieces at the moment ... plants!


So get out there and use your imaginations, folks. This can be the perfect project to show off your personalities :)

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I am slowly going crazy... 1, 2 ,3, 4, 5, 6, switch!

Last night was my first official night of minimal sleep, due to thinking about my upcoming wedding. Today marks 22 days from the “Big Day”! I kept tossing and turning, waking up, and having a difficult time falling back to sleep. When I was sleeping, I was dreaming about the wedding, but don’t ask me what I dreamt about, because I honestly cannot remember.

Every bride out there dreams about her wedding. Hmmm, let me rephrase that. Every bride out there dreams about what can go wrong with her wedding. Yes, that’s more accurate. And every bride out there can confirm that we call these dreams “Weddingmares”! I thought today I would share some of mine with you :)




Weddingmare #1
I’m at the church, fully dressed, waiting for the day to start. I realize that I am not wearing my veil and begin to panic because I don’t know where it is and the ceremony is about to start. I’m scrambling, running around, looking for someone (anyone!!) to help me, and no one is to be found. Then, I turn, and there’s my fiancé. I immediately begin to cry because a) I’m not wearing my veil, which was part of my attire and b) he saw me before the ceremony.

Weddingmare #2
The ceremony begins and everything is going as planned. Beautiful! My fiancé and I are at the foot of the alter, and our priest is saying the more beautiful words I’ve ever heard. Then, he pauses, looks behind us and I turn to see what he’s looking at. I see my future mother-in-law trying to quietly sneak out of the church. The priest questions her, and her reply was “Oh…. Well, Square One is having a side-walk sale today, and I don’t want to miss it!”

Weddingmare #3
I’m in a room before the ceremony and my dress is falling off. Literally. I’m standing there physically holding it up. In my dream, the dress was a corset back, and whoever did me up that morning, didn’t tie it up properly. Holding my ta-ta’s, I begin to run down the hall, looking for my matron of honour, or a bridesmaid to help me fix the error, but no one is to be found. The only person I could find was my young niece who has no idea what to do to fix it. I immediately start to cry. Then, suddenly, I’m surrounded by all the women in my life, who begin mocking me, calling me a “bridezilla” for crying over something so trivial.

I’m not the only one who suffers from these weddingmares. Oh no. In fact, my fiancé has had several himself. I’ll share two of them with you.

Fiancé Weddingmare #1 (in fact, this is a recurring one)
Fiance wakes up, it’s the morning of the wedding and he has not written his speech yet. He begins to panic. (NOTE: I’ve told him that this is his subconscious warning him to start writing his speech!!)

Fiancé Weddingmare #2 (this one made me laugh!)
We’re all at the church, and fiancé is waiting at the front, like all grooms do. The ceremony begins, but it’s turned into a Broadway musical, where the groomsmen are dancing with jazz hands, and the bridesmaids are sashaying down the aisle. Fiancé is looking around confused, not knowing what’s going on, and not sure what to do himself.

*sigh*

I keep reminding myself that we’re just 3 weeks away, then all the weddingmares will be over and we can begin to enjoy our lives (and hopefully a good night’s sleep!) as husband and wife!

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Oh, Let's Go Back To The Start

Somehow, this one blog entry (my first ever) has taken me about a month to write. I just could not figure out what I could blog about first, but I realized the best thing would be an introduction!
So here I am.

My name is Nicole and I am a second year student at the University of Guelph. I am in commerce, for Tourism Management. No, I'm not going to be a travel agent. I am (as of now) going to be an event planner.
I know that you can take courses, or specificaly take "event planning" at college, but I am a pretty indecisive girl, and thought my best bet would be to get a BCOMM to at least keep my options open and learn all about business. And I REALLY want my work to include travel, so I think it fits perfectly.
So how did I decide on this? It was a huge step for me, and if I decided when most of my friends did, I would be going to OCAD for art design. But I decided to take a year off after high school, and ended up planning my prom. And I realized that I can put my creativity and organizational skills together perfectly through event planning. The more I researched it, the more I loved it.
I finished my first year, and found out how great the field of hospitality and tourism is. Just imagine having about 200 students and teachers who are dedicated to making other people happy and comfortable. How jealous are you now?

When summer came, I started looking for a job. I really wanted experience, but I didn't think there would be much available in the Durham area. But after a search on google, I found some great hits. The company I was most impressed by was Moments That Shine.
After looking through the site and the stunning portfolio, I contacted Susan who agreed to meet with me. We really hit it off and she (and Sophie and James) let me shadow at their wedding. It was an amazing experience and I was luckily asked back to continue to work with Susan. My summer with Moments That Shine confirmed my thoughts about event planning, and I'm even more excited to be back at school working towards my goals.
And that takes us to about now (however, leaving all those great weddings out). Before I left for Guelph, Susan asked if I would be interested in blogging and I thought it would be a great idea. This is a field that is slowly becoming more popular, but still needs some exposure. So as I learn more about it, I would like to help others learn too. So for my time here, I'll be the "rookie" and hopefully I will be able to pass on my new-found-knowledge about this wonderful industry!

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I'm Thinking About Eternity

Registering for your wedding gifts can be daunting. Many couples head of to HBC (no offense), grab the scanner and start aimlessly picking objects just to get it done. Fear not ... there are options out there! I'm talking about other big department stores, either. In fact, I'm going to completely shift the focus over to eco-conscious ways to register.

There are many stores in the GTA where you can register for linens, bath items, candles and even furniture and they're environmentally friendly. A great one is called .: Organic Lifestyle :. located in the heart of Yorkville.
They have bamboo towels, hemp shower curtains ... even clothing if you feel so inclined!

This isn't the only green store in the area though. Try doing a Google Search or use a great directory like .: Ecosource's Green Guide :.

A few other favourites of mine are placing a note on your invitation (or good old-fashioned word-of-mouth) saying you would be honoured if people donated to a specific charity in your name. It will make your guests feel good and you'd be contributing to cause near and dear to you.

For those who are budget conscious, set up a registry with your travel agency. Most agents are experienced in this now and are only too happy to accommodate. The great part for you is your honeymoon is a lot easier on the wallet. Do something special for your guests though. Designate each thing as something Jane or Bob contributed to an snap a photo. When you get home, tuck that in your thank you note.

And lastly, if you have everything you need and really don't wish for your guests to give anything, say so. This isn't easy for everyone but it's worth a shot!

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Belles, bubbles and...ballet?

As I said last week, guys can surprise you. They will have opinions on things that you’d never expect and then be completely unconcerned about other issues.

The wedding dress is one of those things. I never expected MM to care much about what I’d wear, short of seeing me in some sort of dress on The Day. Being a typical Canadian guy, I didn’t think MM would really have many opinions one way or another of how I should look.

Yet again, I was wrong.

He caught a glimpse of my computer screen the day after our wedding planning chat. I was browsing a few of the big Internet bridal dress retailers, and had one dress in particular zoomed up on my browser window.

MM: “what IS that?”

Me: “Um.. it’s a wedding dress?”

MM: “What? Really? Where is the rest of it?”

Me: “Rest of it? What do you mean?”

MM: “There is no top on it!”

Now, this dress I was looking at was no Vegas-themed cut-down-to-there and slit-up-to-there sexy backless and short number. By today’s bridal dress standards, it was pretty normal. Done in pale gold silk taffeta, it had a strapless sweetheart beaded bodice, shirred waist, trumpet skirt with swirls of embroidery at one hip and along the hem and a lace-up corset back with chapel length train.

Somehow though, this fairly standard and current wedding dress style bothered MM. His “no top” comment was my key to understanding this newly perplexed man.

Me: “No top? Oh… you mean it’s strapless?”

MM: “Yeah. Strapless is slutty. Whatever happened to modesty at weddings?”

MM then looked directly at my face, down to my chest, then back to my face, ending up staring once again at the dress on my computer screen.

I got the confusion. Given that I’m busty, I too have worried about how I’d keep the girls “locked and loaded” as they say on one of my fave TV shows, What Not To Wear) in a strapless gown. But I’d seen plenty of wedding pics online by then to know that somehow women manage. I’d also read the stats in the wedding magazines that said something around 80% of gowns made today for brides were strapless. But, while I, too, found it a bit odd, I don’t think I found it as scandalous as MM apparently did.

Since then, he’s looked at dozens of dresses with me, online and in magazines. He’s commented on many of them, in very vocal terms, and he apparently has a whole repertoire of ways to describe female bridal fashion.

For a silky slinky charmeuse number:
“Too nightgown-y”.

For a full skirt confection made of multiple layers of tulle:
“Wow! ballet princess”.

Upon assessing a gown with gathered pickups all over the skirt:
“Why is the skirt torn up like that? Or … dented? Yeah, dented… it looks like iron kept getting caught in all that material. What is the deal with that?”

For a very lacey A-line with full crinolines underneath:
“Looks like a knitted toilet roll cover, like grandmas make”.

While I laughed at more than a few of these observations of his, they also stuck with me. Now, as I head out today to try on wedding dresses for the first time at a Maggie Sottero trunk show, I’m going to have a little MM devil on my shoulder, giving me a running guy commentary on each dress as they show it to me or try to coax me into it.

And I’m going to be worried about straplessness and whether anyone will notice the colour of my eyes or my earrings if I wear a strapless gown.

Thanks luv.

Photo credit: Toilet doll by Etsy seller lkscraftcreations

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Take a Walk When Autumn Comes to Town

It's my favourite season! Minus the havoc it wreaks on my sinuses, that is.
With the chill in the air, I was inspired to find Etsy goodies all about material. Some won't keep you warm all day but they're sure to delight just the same :)

This shawl by .: Ellita :. may be for summer but what a great colour for all of you autumn brides!


Also from .: Ellita :. is this 'Ghost Bride Veil' ... eek! ;)


This may not be material but because but because of the woven look, I had to include it! Love this ring by .: galit :. ... love the price, too!


How about this completely hand-knit dress by .: thesorceress770 :.? It comes with a matching shrug ... great alternative for off-beat brides!


This will *not* keep you warm. Not during the wedding anyhow ;) This garter is by the appropriately named, .: GarterLady :.


Do you need gift ideas for your bridal party? These clutches from .: keykalou :. are colourful and funky!


And my favourites this week?

First is a very simple, yet warm idea. A knit tie! Can be worn on a man or woman and it's also made from 100% recycled yarn. Yay .: littlepurls :.


I also LOVE this shrug wrap by .: luxe :. It's warm, soft and so delicate!

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The Brain of a Bride-To-Be

Yesterday was my 30th birthday, and I have to admit, it was probably my best yet! It was a smaller celebration than usual, but much more meaningful. If you’re keen on your astrology knowledge, you’d realize that I’m a Virgo, which brings me to the topic of today’s post.

I’m a Virgo, through and through. Just to give you an idea, let’s analyze the traits of a Virgo.



The Pro’s
Modest and shy
Meticulous and reliable
Practical and diligent
Intelligent and analytical

The Con’s
Fussy and a worrier
Overcritical and harsh
Perfectionist and conservative

I pride myself on my perfectionist ways, my organized planning and even though it’s not a very nice word, I openly admit that I’m quite anal when it comes to planning and details. I also have an unbelievable memory that all my girlfriends envy, and my fiancé fears. Heh ;) I can recite, word for word, conversations that I’ve had with people, I can tell you what you were wearing the first time I’ve met you, and I can give you teeny tiny minute details to events that have happened in the past. So yes, it’s something my fiancé fears.

As a bride-to-be however, some external force takes over your body and even the most anal Virgo (*ahem*, me) loses some of her abilities. This, my friends, is what brides-to-be affectionately refer to as “Wedding Brain”. And I, unfortunately, am suffering from it.

I’ve forgotten to hand in my invoices at work (which is huge because without it, I don’t get paid!), I have the same 2 envelopes sitting by my front door to be mailed (for about 2 weeks now!), I’ve borrowed a friends book and have finished it but continually forget to bring it back to her, I keep telling my friend the same story over and over because I cannot remember that I’ve already told her (how embarrassing!) and I cannot count the number of times I’ve turned to someone and said “Shoot… I was going to tell you something but I completely forget what I was going to say!”

Needless to say, given my normally infallible memory, my friends are all testing my forehead for fever while asking “What’s wrong with you?!”

I always said that I wouldn’t be one of those brides that continually talks about her wedding, or who vacates all other areas of her life to focus on her wedding, but I have to be 100% honest with you…. It’s truly difficult to prevent this from happening when something so huge consumes your life. I’m just one of those lucky girls who has lovingly patient friends who smile and pat me on the head while I stare blankly at them because I’ve forgotten something else.

Hmmm… maybe this is why us brides have bridesmaids? So they can be our brains during our planning process ;)

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I am a Beauty ... It Just Takes Me Four, Five Hours a Day

Pretty much every woman wears makeup. And I'm going to take a really big risk and say most will want makeup worn on their wedding day. Well, whether you're doing it yourself or hiring a makeup artist, you should be educated about what's touching your skin.

I'm not a saint (stop gasping). I've worn makeup and makeup with chemicals for years. I've been wanting to change to something more organic for a while now but as far as priorities go, it wasn't #1 on my list. Then my eye happened. Let me explain. To any of you who haven't had the 'pleasure' of seeing me in the past little while, it looks like someone clocked me in the right eye. It honestly looks like a fresh punch. I've been to the doctor a couple of times and he chalked it up to allergies. I was told to stop wearing makeup until it clears up (which it STILL hasn't). Perfect opportunity to get rid of my old makeup and look for something more natural! It wasn't easy but it was done.

My first stop was actually the place for me ... Pure + simple spa. They carry two lines of organic cosmetics that I ended up sampling. And I have to give a shout out to the ladies working there ... amazing customer service!


There are really only a couple of things I use regularly ... concealer and eye shadow. According to staff, I don't need concealer (did I mention I love them?) but I picked some up because I like to have it handy. .: Jane Iredale :. has a luscious line I've fallen in love with. Some benefits:
* Non-comedogenic, will not block pores.
* Virtually no allergy risk. All products have been sensitivity tested.
* Broad-spectrum UVB and UVA protection - up to SPF 20.
* Anti-inflammatory, helps to calm and soothe irritated skin.
* Very water resistant rating by an approved FDA lab.
* Complete coverage for skin conditions like acne, rosacea and redness following treatments like chemical peels and laser resurfacing.
* Contains no talc or parabens.
* Composed of inert minerals that cannot support bacteria.
* Environmentally aware.
* No products have been tested on animals

Over to eyeshadow. I'm an eyeshadow junkie. I could have bought every colour in the store. I decided to switch from the Jane Iredale line and take a look at .: Pure + simple's own line :.
So many shades and so little time! I particularly liked how light everything felt on my face. And how much fun is this ... the colours can be used on lips and cheeks as well! Did I mention the prices are less than Sephora? Yes ladies ... check it out. Pure + simple has four locations in Toronto but if you don't live here, don't despair ... you can buy their products online!

Happy shopping :)

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