The countdown is on

People keep asking me how many days to my wedding. This is not something I really cared about but it felt odd to not know so, I wrote the days down in my calendar. -It is on the side of this blog but I never look at the public page. Anyway, 88 days.

Things are moving along. We have reservations, party plans, the cake is picked out, etc.

I have ordered all the things to go in the favors which I will post more about when the items come and I can take assembly pictures. Now it is time for more work on the clothes.

Chris has an appointment tomorrow at John H Daniel, a Tailor in Knoxville. They make some of the best suits in the US for the likes of Tiger Woods and Bill O'Reilly. I am sure some of their lines are very much out of our price range but if you live here in Knoxville and go right to their main tailoring site you can get a great deal on a pretty standard suit. Chris has such long arms that it is hard for him to find a suit that fits without lots of expensive tailoring. We have worked out that going to John H Daniel will cost him less than Mens Warehouse.

As for me, I had another superb dress fitting. I am going to be so gorgeous. I feel like a princess. I don't have any dress pictures since it is still not put together but here is a picture of the FINAL selection of shoes.

Random

First, congratulations to our friends Claudia and Willie who are getting married this Saturday. Claudia and I have been sharing ideas and resources through out our planning process.

Things are coming along. Chris and I finalized our choices for the ceremony and reception. I just sent them off to Royal Ocean Events. The clothes are being worked on.

There was mini-ring disaster. My ring came in as yellow gold due to a clerical error. Ann at Lamon's sent it back out and I will get my white gold on soon enough. Since I can't take a picture until the final payment is made, I found some look a likes on The Knot.

Chris's ring looks like this. The main part is Matte and the small stripe is polished.

I am a little shocked that he didn't pick just plain, but the line on this ring really suites him.

Now ignore the engagement ring. My band looks like this. It fits against the curve of my e-ring and will be set with all Sapphires.

One final picture. Here is an updated picture of the Crow's Nest where our ceremony will take place.

I don't really know how the furniture arranging will work. I assume they will use the smaller chairs (in the background at the table) to arrange ceremony seating and then just leave the usual lounge set up for the reception. I love that it is going to be cozy couches and chairs at the reception.

Hair, Hair, Everywhere Hair

My mom will tell you that my hair is my best feature. As an immodest child I had no problem telling everyone that I had move star hair like Julia Roberts. It is thick and luxurious. As an adult I wear it up in a clip almost everyday.

I am against wedding hair that doesn't look like your everyday hair. I don't want to look back at my pictures and think who is that woman at wedding.

So I have decided to go with my hair down and accentuate my natural waves and curls. They are unruly on their own so this involves blowing my hair straight and recurling it. My mother gets this dubious honor.

Next time she visits we are going to see the fabulous Janet at R & Co in Turkey Creek. (If you live in Knoxville go see her, she is fab-u-lous) Janet will help coach my mom and how to get the perfect curls.

Here is some inspiration:

Source: Unknown, The Knot

I am working on making a new barrette with a large flower and small bit of veil. I became dissatisfied with the first result and got some great new inspiration from etsy. That is on hold until I finish making a hot pink bra for my new dance costume.

Guest Book

When you only have 20 guests a guest book seems like a little much. I shopped around and of course by around I mean on etsy. I have seen the signature frames before and those are nice but I really liked these

signature platters by Serendipity Crafts. Chris and my mom took a vote and chose this design. I ordered it in Navy. Each plates comes with a special pen and after guests sign you bake it in the oven and then you can actually use it. I am sure I will just hang ours on the wall.

Clothes and Accesories Redux

I had my first fitting on Sunday and "Wow!". Even though it is only the pattern and made out of muslin, I am in love. Jillian made one strap and 1/2 the top out of satin to see how it lays. It looks stellar. She took my trim and cut around so the individual pieces can be laid in a different pattern, Then she put light blue crystals in with the gold. Since my trim is gold (and isn't it one of my colors) I had to go with a new necklace.

This one is from etsy seller Timelesstrinkets.

Jillian is going to try and incorporate some seed pearls into the trim too.

Since now we have gold, pearls and crystals - the shoes were just too much. I sent them back. Yay! for Zappos free shipping. I am now on the hunt for light blue strappy sandal.

I ordered the men's ties. Chris and his best man get the Victorian Gears tie in navy on baby blue and the dads get the Cliipership tie in white on navy.

I went with the lego cuff links and got these; baby blue which I hope to match the tie. From etsy seller cufflinks.

I know we are going with blues allover the spectrum but usually when you have enough shades they all come together as complimentary.

I still haven't decided if I should get the mom's something since the dads get ties. The parents as couples will get a traditional parents gift.

Something for the Boys

~Chris knows that he is not allowed to read this blog so don't worry.


As much time as I have spent accessorizing myself it is time to accessorize the groom. First his tie. I found this awesome tie on etsy from seller toybreaker. I think it fits a mechanical engineer perfectly.






Here is a small detail. Can you tell that the printing is actually pretty low so it may not show at all which is fine.

And what about this tie for the dads and maybe Chris's witness? I think the ship motif makes a good commemorative tie and it is not lame.

I haven't decided on the cuff links I am going to order Chris as his gift. What do you think? (leave a comment).

First, there are these which go with our birdie theme.

Then there are these Lego ones which kind of go with Chris's design side and I know he had much love for the Lego's.

Sex and the City

If you are expenting a post about how much I loved the movie then move on. I didn't see it. I don't want to. I liked the show but I have moved on to other shows and will spend my $8.50 on a mixed drink with my own girl friends.
Anyway, my bff Krissy did call to inform me that Carrie wears blue shoes in her wedding. You can see by the post date that I didn't rip the movie off, and if it becomes cliche by the time I get married then I won't care. My shoes are awesome cliche or not - and I still haven't decided between the two.

My Blue (not suede) Shoes

I am not a shoes person. I am a bag person. This is because I have oddly shaped feet. They are flat but wider st the toe than the middle. The left is an 8 1/2 the right is a 9 1/2. I was not uber-excited about my wedding shoes until I browsed around and found the new trend of wearing colored shoes. I think a splash of color is just what my ensemble needs.
I found 2 pair. One is exactly what I imagined, the other looks like shoes I would actually wear. They are both from Zappos.com and they have free shipping both ways so I thought, why not?

These are the shoes I dreamed of. Wouldn't I look very Marilyn in these babies with a short dress? These look more like my actual style. I prefer strappy and I think the little rhinestones are a nice touch.

Now I have to wait see which ones look best on and with my dress - and if either even fit. The Zappos returns department and I may become good friends.

My Dress Inspiration Board

So I haven't yet made my appointment with the dress maker. I have been busy dancing up a storm. We have a little break now and I hope to meet with her this week-end.

This is the inspiration board I made to take with me.

From left to right:

1. Jenny Packman - Elizabeth 2. Hairstyle from the the knot 3. Beach Braid from etsy seller LondonDemimonde 4. Mademoiselle from Joan Shum 5. Hairstyle from the knot

6. Bonny #734 7. Necklace from etsy seller LesChic 8. Lea-Ann Belter Bride - Natalie

9. Necklace from etsy seller GoMeagan 10. Veil from MyraKim