A Très Chic Wedding: Our Colors

The Mister is cool with whatever I decided on for our wedding colors and theme. Don't get me wrong, he is so helpful with tastings, menus, the cake design, the music and giving his input on flowers. But he will admit that he doesn't have an eye for colors of seeing the "big picture."

When we first got engaged, I was focused on having spring green (his favorite color) and shades of white (my favorite) with black and silver as our accents. I was into the clean and simple look.

Kind of like this...

source: http://www.snippetandink.blogspot.com/

I still LOVE this look! If I could host a second wedding with the Mister, I would go with this. I mean, look at that table... the couches... the cake... ~swoon~

But I felt the romantic element wasn't there. I wanted to soften the look to match the dresses I was stalking (lots of lace) and I felt we needed to add some of the pale, peachy-pinks that I have been drooling over.

With that, I present our color combination:

source: www.valspar.com

Add some shades of cream to that pallet and you have our wedding colors!
~sigh~... I love this color combination. And I think I have the perfect theme that tie in the colors with the romantic, elegant, semi-casual ambiance we want to create.

What is that theme you ask? Back in a tic-toc to tell you! (can you name that musical?)

How did you come up with your wedding colors? Do you have several colors or "shades of" to get it all just right?

The Dress - Part Une

I am curvy. Curvy is the bridal world can be a death sentence. It is almost impossible to find a plus-size sample dress in the boutique stores I had dreamed of shopping in. I also thought the sales women would be popping champagne, carrying out silk dresses that would be perfect for me, a separate room for me and my girls with antique couches and a mirror and pedestal just for me!

Needless to say, I had high expectations (which is a nasty-little habit, unfortunately).

The first place was THE bridal boutique in my area. I called ahead of time to confirm they could accommodate my size and schedule a try-on for just me. I planned it with the receptionist that I would come in to try on one dress to see how much weight I needed to lose or if I would even fit into any of their sample dresses. I would not be buying that day.

I went. I tried on. I cried. I left.

There was one dress that I was able to try on and it was an ivory nightmare!

The saleswomen was trying to pressure me in to purchasing that dress and that moment since it fit. But I wanted my mom and my girls with me. And this was not that moment or the dress.

After I left, I called my mom to tell her what I did. She understood my concerns but insisted not to give up hope.

But how couldn't I?

Our STDs

I was all over the place with our save-the-date (STD... love me some bride-speak) design. I wanted something different yet cheap, fun yet classic, fridge worthy yet not annoying (you know the ones I am talking about. With a HUGE picture of the happy couple that stares at you while you grab that gallon of ice cream).

I had LOVED these...

source: http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/

And these...

source: http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/

And even something simple, like these...

source: http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/

But I wanted to be realistic. I didn't want to spend more than $1.00 per piece, including postage. With that, option two was out. And since I don't have a Cricut (envious swoon!), option one was out.

This leaving us with option three. There was something lacking in option three; US! It was just too plain.

After I tried my hand at learning Indesign, I recruited my good friend's stepson - the design genius!

The Mister and I came up with a spring design that would work with our wedding theme and went through a slew of pictures from our four years of dating. We sent everything over to the design genius and got back this...

We have a few more edits to make and I think we are going to use an engagement photo for the main photo but it's almost where we want it!

Did you catch the clothesline effect? We thought it was a fun "spring" design and a cool way to show the pics of us over the years.

And see that background design? Yeah, if see a monogram in the near future!

How was your STD process? Did you know what you wanted? Was budget a factor?

How Time Flies

I can't believe it has been over A MONTH since I posted last. There has been a lot going on with the wedding, job hunting and life in general.

So let's break it down and catch everyone up shall we.

First life in general has been busy and sprinkled with hardships. I had been borrowing a laptop from my VERY generous friend and her husband. He likes to rebuild and sell laptops and computer... to each his own. Since he had a surplus, he let me borrow one for about 2 months!! But a few weeks ago it was time to give it back. But the Mister and I had been saving for a new computer in preparation for this day so a few weeks later, we purchased our first, brand-spanking-new laptop!

Then there is job hunting. I am getting discouraged on this front but I just keep telling myself it will all work out and anything is better than where I was. Yes, this layoff, though crappy timing, was a blessing in disguise. I was really not happy at work... dreading everyday, every project, every group lunch was not typical of me; it was time to go.

And now the wedding! Oh, the thing that makes me most happy and is only second to the Mister! We have almost completed our save-the-dates, started our cake tastings and the girls and I went dress shopping.

You want the details? Well you will just have to wait... but not long!

A Très Chic Wedding: Comparison Weddings

I have a bunch of cousins. And by bunch, I mean about 16 on my mom's side and 13 on my dad's side.

I am the fifth to get married on my mom's side but the first on my dad's side.

My dad's family is thrilled and excited for us. They love the Mister and everyone is always offering to help without offering their opinion.

My mom's family is completely obsessed with the Mister! He won them over at my cousin's wedding when he busted out the entire Thriller dance. It was priceless!

As I said, I am the fifth to get married on my mom's side but I am only the second girl.

Duh-da-dum-dum! And the comparison weddings start.

My family is competitive over everything; birthday parties, holiday parties, vacations, weight loss, degrees obtained, babies made... just everything!

This competitive nature has crossed over to our weddings as well, especially my female cousin's wedding to mine. "Cousin did this, this, that and those," I am told immediately after announcing a plan.

Her wedding was beautiful! The flowers, the food, the white tent, the absolute most perfect weather- just beautiful!

Source: Both were taken by me.

But ours will be too. And it will be all ours! Cousin didn't have the theme, the projects or the personal touches ours will have.

Source: http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/ - http://www.brides.com/ - http://www.theknot.com/

Not bad, right?

I mean, obviously this is just the tip-of-the-DIY-ice burg but I am sure you can see where I am going with this.

Whether it is with family or friends, is anyone else experience the "comparison wedding" syndrome?

p.s.- the Cousin has been so supportive and reminds me to do what I want and not letting anyone in the family spoil this special time for us. THANKS COUSIN :)