BlueBongo

well... I've got a little less than 4 months and can use all the advice anyone can give

I am very excited and looking forward to this.. but I never realized how much work goes into putting together such an event. The wonder people seemed stressed at weddings sometimes.

Sat. July 24th. Have the church reserved and the time... now just need to get everything else together. Invites, food, clothing, gust lists, wedding party, etc etc etc.

I wish I were a bit more talented.. and I think I'm going to try to make my own dress possibly. I REALLY like this one...








Given those two options.. which do you think would be better?
The first dress is close to $600 (I wont get this dress.. but try to replicate it much less).. and the second I found on ebay by a chick that makes dress for $250 (which I think is an awesome deal) and is what I'm looking for in a dress... but I wanted some opinions on this. Let me know.

__________________
"Things can only get so bad before they have no choice but to get better.."

fallenangel

My only two cents worth is that make sure in all the planning, you keep an eye on the 'big picture' and don't get too swept away with small details...

__________________
all I wanna do is - give the best of me to you

sapphire

Just wanted to say congratulations and that dress is very pretty. fallenangel is right keep your eye on the big picture and have fun after all its your big day!!!!

Nancy

that dress is really stunning!

Planning a wedding is a big task indeed! I found a really great "to do list" in a wedding magazine once; it showed dates in a calender of when to send out invitations, when to buy the clothes, when to order the flowers etc. It was of course put in such an order that it would all get done in proper time for the wedding day.
In my case I would definitely go after such a list because I'm a huge perfectionist and organizer of everything and such a list would make it less stressing and more easy to take in. If you got a list to follow then you won't forget certain (and maybe very important) things and you'll be able to enjoy yourself during the planning which you should!

I hope it'll be smooth sailing during the planning and of course in your marriage!

You'll be sure to post the wedding picture of the two of you, right??

__________________
I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy.
I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

lurkette

Making your wedding dress is a really special idea - makes it meaningful - but keep in mind what you're getting into. It's not an insignificant project, and if you're already stressed by planning the rest of the wedding, this is just going to add to it. If the reason for making the dress is cutting costs, you might consider looking at ebay - no joke! I was looking for a wedding dress for a costume and I got a gorgeous, brand spanking new $400 dress for $27. There's plenty of selection, and you can probably get away with paying less than you'd pay for the fabric, not to mention to aggravation of sewing and sewing and sewing.

__________________
"If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing."

- Anatole France

sillygirl

You want a gorgeous dress? PM me.

Remember that this is YOUR wedding, and it should be done the way YOU want it done. Don't let people sway you one way or the other. Have fun with it, don't sweat the small stuff.

__________________

Anyone can be passionate, but it takes real lovers to be silly-Rose Franken
....absence makes me miss him more...

:::OshnSoul:::

That dress is gorgeous,
and congratulations!

My long-time friend is getting married this fall, I'm excited!


Advice- think things through slowly, make sure you're getting exactly what you want. Pay attention to details, don't wait on the last minute for ANYTHING.
My parents are professional photographers. My dad takes the pics while my mother organizes & arranges poses and helps aleviate the bride & grooms' nerves as much as possible. She also sells invitations. I work with her.
Invitations to be sent out 4-6 weeks before the wedding. Get response cards if you are having a buffet-style reception. They will need a head-count. And it's totally ettiquette to designate someone who's good on the phone to call those who did not respond by the requested date and ask if they will be able to attend and how many people.
Make sure you have a wonderful, non-anonymous professional photographer who will hold your negatives for you so that you will be assured a) a place to have them developed, b) quality photo prints made. No offense to the amateurs out there, but they will give you the 35mm negs, not as nice quality and you will have to go somewhere professional anyways to get decent quality pics made. Might as well do professional from the get-go. Trust me, my brother had his wife's friend take the pics and just gave them the negs to develop. They dropped them off at a drug store and the quality was really poor (e.i. shadows on faces), also the lighting and posing were not very well planned out, but decent. I give the friend props.
Don't sweat the small stuff, it will all come together in the end.
It is your day and it will be perfect. ENJOY!

BlueBongo

yeah... I was into photography when I was in phoenix. I shot many weddings in High School.. helped pay my bills. It can be nerve wracking.. but at the same time great fun.

I miss having the equipment I did, though I'd get back into doing that out here in Richmond if I could. Though I give the negatives to them and explain pricing with reprints and where to get the best quality work done. ( I worked also in a mini lab.. so I was able to print all of my own work for free...) was very nice. I miss that more and more.

Thanks for the advice seems my other half has decided to go ahead and let me put things together... so we'll see how I do. Just gotta save money and do what I can, when I can.

One step at a time.... and less than 4 months to go.

__________________
"Things can only get so bad before they have no choice but to get better.."

sexymama

Congrats BlueBongo.

My first wedding was my dream wedding.
Now I'm building my dream marriage with the man I will marry this July.

Enjoy the wedding -- it is very special (as ours will be too); but, imho, it is more important to invest in the marriage then the wedding day. I highly recommend an honest engagement encounter (in other words, go ready to be totally upfront and vulnerable) and/or pre-marriage counseling.

Best of luck!

(The dress is beautiful, btw.)

__________________
If you can go deeply into lovemaking, the ego disappears. That is the beauty of lovemaking, that it is another source of a glimpse of god

It's not about being perfect; it's about developing some skill at managing imperfection.

BlueBongo

Now I need advice on "the dress"... kinda want to see what everyone thinks of the two. I edited my first post.. so scroll up and then let me know.. thanks

__________________
"Things can only get so bad before they have no choice but to get better.."

lurkette

I really like the 2nd one - it's gorgeous! The first one is pretty, but kind of unremarkable. The 2nd one has style.

__________________
"If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing."

- Anatole France

sexymama

I vote for number 2 also! Love the sleaves.

__________________
If you can go deeply into lovemaking, the ego disappears. That is the beauty of lovemaking, that it is another source of a glimpse of god

It's not about being perfect; it's about developing some skill at managing imperfection.

amonkie

#2 gets my vote as well- it adds a little shimmer of elegance that is hardly seen on most dresses

__________________
Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

BlueBongo

Yeah... I'm gonna go ahead and get the second one. I really think it is great... never ordered anything like this off ebay, but the seller has had many many many happy customers. SO I need to figure out my measurements exactly and send them to her so I can get my dress.

I'm so excited that this part is taken care of... need to concentrate on Phred when he gets home from work now

Thanks for all the input ladies.. I REALLY appreciate it.

__________________
"Things can only get so bad before they have no choice but to get better.."

SexyCat

I really like the second one, too, it is more unique.

sapphire

Yeah I have to agree the second one is better, I love the sleaves and its more elegant. Good choice!

slimpi66y

//Edit: Oopsie, I forgot to look in my pants before posting.

sexymama

I hope we get to, please, see a picture of you in it once you are married!

__________________
If you can go deeply into lovemaking, the ego disappears. That is the beauty of lovemaking, that it is another source of a glimpse of god

It's not about being perfect; it's about developing some skill at managing imperfection.

BlueBongo

We're going to put up an open invite on the tfp for anyone that would want to go once we get some pictures back and get some more stuff together.

But I'll definently post some pics afterward... it's good to have some connections

__________________
"Things can only get so bad before they have no choice but to get better.."

jRuntlets

I vote for #2, it's got the classy glam. The other one is pretty but just doesn't have the style and flair! Good luck with everything!

__________________
Horses come and go, but some leave permanent hoof prints on your life.

BlueBongo

K... the dress..


My family has been awesome about getting things together for me and put together these flowers which I think will be great.. it's much easier since they're in Arizona already to help me out with all this jazz..
Flowers..





And so far... I've got just about everything I need together and I'm very excited... though between now and when I actually get out to AZ I'll just be working non-stop and trying to save up some money.

Just wanted to see what everyone thought We went with silk flowers because they will last and we're tying to keep things as simple and inexpensive as possible. But I know everything will be wonderful no matter what

__________________
"Things can only get so bad before they have no choice but to get better.."

pinkie

I love your dress. It’s so beautiful, I’m getting all misty here. The cut is very similar to my dress. I'm late, but congratulations! I had a year to plan my wedding, and I really agree with whoever said don't stress the small stuff. Something always goes wrong, and will, but don't let it change your perfect day for the two of you. Silk flowers are a good idea. I went with real, and spent way too much money.

Best wishes to you both.

hunnychile

I'm late too, but the second choice (and final it seems) is a dress that is so pretty - -you'll look wonderful. Good luck and best wishes! My advice to you is to keep the guest list to people You really care about, not people both 'sets of parents' want you to invite. There were 200 guests at my wedding and I maybe knew about 65 of them! Also, don't let your receiving line last too long or you will be so exhausted at the end of the night! And wear comfortable dance shoes, mine were gorgeous...but too hign of a heel (I'm short!) and ouch at the end of the night! And enjoy every minute. Happy Days to you & your groom!

__________________
"I need compassion, understanding and chocolate." - NJB