Invitations

So my beloved has expressed a desire to design the wedding invitations himself. You see, he has a "vision" of the wedding - God bless him, because I don't. Said vision is "macabre elegance." I fully anticipate a lovely design including skeletons. Something along the lines of Edward Gorey, which is fine by me. If the wedding was in June it would be a bit weird, but since we'll wed in October, I say go for it.

As I am the more practical, I have once again turned to the trusty Internet to find an at-home paper printing source. I found this the other day and, once again, am profoundly humbled by the creativity of some people.

Aren't these simply beautiful? I'm in awe. I'd like to say I'm inspired, but really I'm intimidated.

The selection looks fantastic and it sure beats the quote I got from a local stationery store:
$285 for 75 invitations (flat printed w/return address on envelopes)
$80-152 for envelopes
$145 for 2-sided reply postcard

I will do my damndest to support small business for this event, but these people are high if they think I'm going to spend over $500 on paper products with I design I came up with myself.

Well, that's all I have to offer this evening. I just spent several hours preparing for a mid-term for my Quantitative Research Methodology class. I need a cocktail...

Winning Junior Bridesmaid Dress

So, frustrated, I turned to my aforementioned 10 year old niece and asked her (as she has a great sense of personal fashion) to select a dress for them to wear. Besides, it is her long gams that were bound to be the deciding factor.

I did a simple Google search for 'girls black dress' and came up with three options for her. She picked this little number. Stating - and I quote -

"Well my favoritest dress is the one from JCPenny's: Mesh baby doll dress. It is sooooooooooo cute!!!!"

To me, she is sooooooooooo cute!!!!

Little Leopard Bridesmaids

So I asked my sweet little nieces to be my bridesmaids. As you can imagine, this request was met with great enthusiasm, which melts my heart. My littlest niece has lamented on several occasions to her mother (my sister) that she has never been a flower girl. Well, kitten, now's your chance!

So, in looking for something fun for them to wear, I came across this saucy leopard number.

And as much as I love it, I'm afraid that my lovely, charming middle niece takes after her dad and uncles and is TALL. Something tells me this may expose too much leg.

Ah, to be young, blond, and leggy. (And good at math!)

Say Cheese!

My new favorite site is Offbeat Bride.

Not only is this site loaded with great ideas and reassurances that my wedding can be whatever I dream it to be, but it's a perfect distraction for those of us who should be writing a paper on Advertising Image Analysis and whipping up an annotated bibliography on The Heuristic-Systematic Model.

Anyway, I found this interview with Angie from Milestone Images and nearly plotzed. This woman sounded nuts (in the best possible way), so I called her and confirmed that she is certifiable. Just the kind of gal I want mingling with my family!

I think I'm going to roll with her - talent and snark combined. She's perfect!

Work?

Hmmm...this planning is starting feel suspiciously like work. I don't know how I feel about that, given that work and school already take up so much of my time.

I am a lazy bride. This is my mantra and I am sticking to it.

I'm in love...with Dolly.

I just found Dolly and I am in love.

Dress Dilemma

Can someone please tell me why brides must order their dresses so far in advance of the wedding? It seems absurd, but then I realize that for those women for whom "being the bride" has meant everything, they probably know exactly the style they want and have been appropriately dieting in preparation. I, on the other hand, a great lover of beer, am about 15 pounds away from zipping up anything suitable.

So, to begin my search, I have turned to the Internet. And subsequently, as I simply cannot bring myself to create an account on The Knot for myself, I snaked my soon-to-be sister-in-law's (henceforth to be known as "Boots") user name and password. There I found a charming little 1950s number by designer Justin Alexander (which I sadly cannot post for you as my fiance occasionally reads this blog) and was smitten. Until I realized: RK Bridal, for me, is akin to the third ring of hell and I would much rather purchase something from a local small business than feed the machine that is the bridal industry. I do have a hardcore crush on this dress, though. Is it cute enough for me to compromise my principles? Can't readily say...

So, turning to less obvious sources, I turned to trusty Google and found Kimera Design.

Located on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, this lovely store is high on my list to visit (yes, with Boots and another member of the Official Wedding Oversight Committee)...and after I lose a solid 10 pounds.

That said, I'm off to the gym!