My Wedding Swank Has Arrived

[Disneyphile]

Hee-hee! My dress finally arrived!!! Got the box about an hour ago. Here's a crappy pic of it in the meantime:

http://pics.livejournal.com/disneyphile/pic/0007ezcr

I am SO beyond excited. :D

[Not Afraid]

OMG! I cannot WAIT to see it. It looks SOOOOO beautiful!!!! And, Scoundrel is being locked up for the viewing. Actually, they all are.

Does Ken get a preview or is it secret?

[Ponine]

Oh how cool DP.. it looks gorgeous!!!
I want to know the same thing, is it a surprise?

Hooray!!! It must feel great to have one thing checked off. :snap:

[Disneyphile]

I'll let him see photos of it, but not of me in it, and he can't see the actual dress. He's on his own whether or not he'll unzip the bag. I doubt he would though. He'd rather wait. :)

It actually has plenty of crystals already on it, so I don't need to add a thing to it, but I'm still bringing it to show off at the next stitch & bitch. :D I've got some plastic sheeting to tote with it, so when I try it on, or take it out of the bag, it doesn't touch dust, cat hair, etc. :) (It'll be a miracle to come out of our home without a single cat hair on it, but I'm going to try! LOL!!)

It's just gorgeous. I can't stop looking at it. And, it's mine!!! YAY!!! :)

And, it has an awesome built-in "tummy-tuck" feature that consists of a reinforced front bodice panel, with wide elastic straps that hook in the back, before the dress zips up, so it holds everything in for that perfect "hourglass" shape. It's totally "figure-friendly" without me having to do 10,000 crunches per day until the wedding. ;)

[Ponine]

It's totally "figure-friendly" without me having to do 10,000 crunches per day until the wedding. ;)
so, you can cut back to????? 9,999? :p

But seriously, I cant wait to see it, and to see this "feature" you describe. I volunteer to vaccum after NA puts the cats under house arrest, and before the dress comes out.

[libraryvixen]

Congrats on the arrival of the dress!! :D

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Hehe, I remember being totally amazed at how bullet-proof most wedding dresses were. :) I was so picky I had a friend make the dress for me.

Speaking of which, I'm rather surprised that you allowed someone else to make yours! I'm sure it would have been a huge pain to do though. You've got plenty else to worry about :D

I'm so excited for you! :) :) :)

[Prudence]

Yay! Just promise me you won't eventually store it in one of those evil boxes with the plastic window that most dry cleaners push. It makes my inner archivist hurt! And your dress is way too pretty for that.

[Kevy Baby]

Wait... you're getting married?!?

How come nobody told me?

[Not Afraid]

I volunteer to vaccum after NA puts the cats under house arrest, and before the dress comes out.

Can you come over every other day????;)

[Ponine]

Can you come over every other day????;)
:coffee:
Let's think on this... an hour and half + commute... three hours each time.... hmm...
No


but a lovely offer, that aside. ;)

[Disneyphile]

I was browsing online and saw this dress through designer Bonny. Then I went through Netbride.com to get a quote, and I ended up paying $350 for a dress that normally retails for $750-$800. (Saw that price when I went to try it on at a local boutique.) That website saved me a ton of money, and I wouldn't have been able to make it for that even. And the embroidery and beadwork is just amazing. The website orders directly from the manufacturer, just like a store does, but they don't have rent to pay, etc., so they only do a slight mark-up on the stuff. I'm glad I went through them. :D I figured it saved me some money and a lot of time, which is now ticking away really quickly, and I only have one centerpiece only 1/4 done. (I need to make 14 of 'em - all different.) :eek:

And I sure as hell am not about to put it in one of those large-sized 1970's "plastic and cardboard halloween costume boxes" after the wedding. Bleh. (Remember those? A little plastic jumpsuit with a plastic mask that "stared" through the plastic window on the small box. Eeeeek, I'm old. And gods, those things scared me on the store shelves.) ;) In the aftermath, I'm going to have it altered to fit Kevy so he can wear it for a photo shoot of more disturbing avatars for LoT. ;)

[Ponine]

....and a lot of time, which is now ticking away really quickly, and I only have one centerpiece only 1/4 done. (I need to make 14 of 'em - all different.) :eek:

Why are we not having centerpiece assembling meets? We could knock them out in NO time.

Hmm.. I could save all these questions for next weekend, couldn't I? :p

[Moonliner]

In the aftermath, I'm going to have it altered to fit Kevy so he can wear it for a photo shoot of more disturbing avatars for LoT. ;)


Ewwwwwww!!

On just so many levels.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Hmm.. I could save all these questions for next weekend, couldn't I? :pPlease save that question for the weekend.

T, you're going to look fantabulous in that. Still so happy for you guys over here.

[Prudence]

I never would have made it through my wedding without my mom. Her work makes Martha Stewart's creations look like grade school art projects. And now I have more centerpiece ideas than could ever be used. And favors, and decorations, and so forth and so on. Let me know if you need ideas! (Actually, you probably have gobs of ideas. What would more helpful is the list of Things To Avoid.)

Which reminds me that I need to get more acid-free tissue for my dress.

[Disneyphile]

Sorry, gang. The reception and all components of it are a surprise. :p I have two designated helpers on the centerpieces, and they ain't talkin' either. ;) Just wait until you see the place "cards" too.

I will only say this though -

The centerpieces match perfectly yet also clash with each other. (Each one is VERY unique.) The contrasting tablecloths match each centerpiece, yet would look horrible if all draped over the same table. And, the place "cards" are not paper, and are very recognizable if placed at your feet. :p This is something that has probably never been done for a wedding or party, or at least not to this "scale". (And that applies to the centerpieces and place "cards".)

Although, I do need recommendations on how to decorate the front of the square gazebo for the ceremony. It's brown, and it's a fall wedding, and the only "designated" color is navy blue, just like my dress. (We're having no attendants - not even flower girl or ring bearer.) So, any suggestions on gazebo decor without the use of frilly tulle?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

We had a traditional Jewish chuppah (canopy over the bride and groom) and I went with small-leaf ivy twisted around the supports. Ivy was kind of my theme - it was in the centerpieces and bouquet as well. It was real potted ivy. My mom planted it in her garden afterwards.

[Ponine]

Although, I do need recommendations on how to decorate the front of the square gazebo for the ceremony. It's brown, and it's a fall wedding, and the only "designated" color is navy blue, just like my dress. (We're having no attendants - not even flower girl or ring bearer.) So, any suggestions on gazebo decor without the use of frilly tulle?
DP, do you have a picture of the gazebo?
I like the ivy idea, but I'd like to see what it looks like too... There are options to the tulle certainly.
And tulle really donest have to be frilly.
Let me think on this... at the very least I'll have some thoughts next weekend.

Are you doing favors, or are the incorporated into your placecards?
I could get you some navy foiled choc hearts..... or such... (yeah, I'd get the hearts, but I'd foil them... its the ex-chocolatier in me)

hmmm....

[Not Afraid]

Yeah, we need a pic of the Gazebo. I can't do a floral arrangement for the life of me but I work well with spaces.

[Disneyphile]

Ugh. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to visit the site again to take good photos, but here's one on their site, albeit from afar: http://greenmountainranch.net/MountainsideGazebo.html

It's a rectangular gazebo that has an all open front (only posts are on the front 2 corners). I'd like to dress up the front of it - maybe a swag across the top and along the front sides or something. I like the ivy idea - but maybe in fall leaf colors. I bought a few silk fall leaf swags and vines last fall, and haven't figured what to do with them. Maybe I'll bring 'em to the stitch and bitch, along with the dress. :D

[Ponine]

oooooh... a nice fall color swag all the way across the top front....
holding up the swags with the ivy, and some flowers from your boquet... Nice long drapey sides... could we find some fall colored raw silk at the fabric district???

oh NA, we gotta talk!

[Not Afraid]

Hmmmm. Fall Fruits in blues, purples and related rich colors come to mind. Instead of Ivy, how about Grape vines and grapes along with some wild plums, crab apples, clementines, berries, perhaps walnuts. The list could go on and there are plenty of fall fruits that would only make the deep blue of your trimmings stand out.

You could do all of this with dried and silk flowers then add fresh flower highlights to pull together your bouquet and arrangements.

Damn, this is much more fun than cleaning the cat box and mopping the floor!


Edit to add:

Oh, and as for blue flowers - Dahliah and Hydrangeas come to mind in addition to the traditional available in any color roses.

[Prudence]

Oh yeah, I was totally going to suggest hydrangeas. And allegedly they dry very well. (So, in theory, if dried in advance, guests could take bits home with them - leaving you and yours with less cleanup and disposal!)

[BarTopDancer]

All this fruit talk made me hungry.

DP your dress is beautiful! Your center peices sound intreguing. I really like Lisa's idea of the various fruits. I must say I love vines around gazebos.

[Kevy Baby]

Why not take sunflowers and spray paint them blue?

[Disneyphile]

Why not take sunflowers and spray paint them blue?Did you design the Light Magic floats or something? :p

Heh, heh.

I like the fruit idea, as I wanted to have a few fake cranberry sprigs in my bouquet too.

Oh, this is going to be SO much fun!!!! :snap:

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Pretty, pretty, pretty!

And vines are always a tasteful decoration... if note vines, silk or satin ribbon along with those spiral-style branches might make for tasteful decoration.

Or what about lights? Not Christmas lights, per se, but what about hanging sconces?

[Disneyphile]

Tried it on finally!!! And it fits perfectly!!! :D

Here's a teaser photo of the bodice:

http://pics.livejournal.com/disneyphile/pic/0007gh2t/s640x480

[Not Afraid]

Wait! We're missing a shot over here!!!!! ;)

Come on! Kevy's not THAT bad! :)

[Mousey Girl]

In a word: WOW!

[Not Afraid]

Havine seen the dress in person and on the bride.....WOW is a great word! It's is an incredibly beautiful creation and looks perfect on our bride to be. It is simply stunning!

[tracilicious]

That is one awesome dress!!! I can't wait for pics of the wedding!

[Disneyphile]

Went to the district yesterday and found the most GORGEOUS fabric for draping the gazebo. And, it's also 10-feet in length (actual drapery material), and I bought 3 yards, so we'll have plenty for each side and one across the top. It's a beige chiffon, with an irridescent fall orange wide satin finished bottom, and embroidered vines in the same color. It's hard to describe, so I'll try to get some photos of it soon. And, I'll bring it to the next stitch and bitch so we can play with it. (I'll get the gazebo measurements before then too.) I also bought like 300 yards of navy blue organza ribbon in various widths, so that would be great to drape along with it. :D