"With this ring...

...I thee wed: with my body I thee worship: and with all my worldly goods I thee endow. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."

So here's the scoop on the rings!  As mentioned before, they are from iWeddingBand.com, purchased with a sweet little 10% off (and free shipping).  They arrived in double envelope-bags and in these velvety red boxes:

They're so smooth... I could sit and pet them all day  {pet pet}

With the rings inside!  My ring is on the left, Tim's on the right!

My ring is 3mm while my engagement ring is 2mm.  So we thought that maybe I should get a 2mm band so it would match with my e-ring a little better.  However, iWeddingBand doesn't carry anything thinner than 3mm in palladium.  :(  We've discussed getting platinum or even with diamonds all around. hehe.  But I think I will probably just keep it as is and I will get used to the look in time!  (Not that it looks bad to begin with.)  I orginally wanted the band to sit on the outside (who cares about them "traditions"!) to ensure that my "more expensive" e-ring would not accidently slip off!  But the band looks nicer on the inside with the bling sitting on top, so I guess I'll be traditional anyway.  :oP  The palladium is surprisingly light, and the comfort-fit is very comfortable.  :]  I appreciate that since I think my platinum e-ring has enough heft to it.

They are nice!  But I don't know if either of us love them.  Tim says his is "fine."  :-P  I don't know if "fine" is good enough for forever!  I guess we can talk about it some more.

Do you think we should just keep them?  Or keep looking/discussing?  Do you have any interesting jewelry stories? 

Like this:

(Source)

I bought this ring that said "When you have faith..." on the outside and "anything is possible" on the inside, and I thought it was the coolest ring ever. However, one time, I wore it to Bible study at Crossroads and then when I went home, it was no longer on my finger! Tim had the key to the place then, so we went back the next day (since I kept insisting that it wasn't important to go back the same night) to look for it, especially around the couch where I sat. But we could not find it. They of course sell this ring everywhere, so I could've gotten a replacement, but I got it on sale at Macy's for $10 and I haven't seen such a good deal on it anyway. :oP

                                           

(Source)

I seem to be good at losing rings since I've lost TWO wave rings, the first, that I got from Australia was "suppose to be" my True Love Waits ring, and the second one a replacement for the first.)

 Ok, now you go.  :]

     

I've been a busy "beezy" bee!

In my absence this week...

I spent 4 woooonderful days with my Tim  (I miss him already!);

Celebrated Christmas with Tim and my family!  Happy Birthday Jesus;

and took a spontaneous trip to LA for 2.5 days to hang out with my girlies

While...

our rings arrived and we tried them on and all that good stuff

we got gifts from our registry!  (as... Christmas presents.  hehe)

we took more engagement pictures (they were fun! can't wait to see them.)

my custom dress from Chinar arrived!  :-D

I bought wedding day earrings (in LA)!
  

candy canes!

I am currently refraining from yelling hateful things about the Philly airport and refreshing my US Airways flight status page over and over to see if Tim's 2nd leg (out of 3, dangit!) might decide to fly a little faster (since it was delayed) so that he won't miss his 3rd leg and get here TONIGHT.  I do not want him sleeping overnight in the Vegas airport, and lessen the little time he has here!  But it's looking like the Vegas -> SF plane (which is coming from Chicago to Vegas) is delayed, so hopefully that will mean he'll have enough time to catch the flight.

Our rings have arrived!!!  Eee!  (Ahhh UPS man left it by the side of the door because it took me 30 seconds to get to the door!  Gosh!  Do you even know what is inside that package?!  Our PRECIOUS rings!!  RWAR!  :oP)  I'm gonna wait until Tim gets here to open it though.  It'll be like Christmas.  hehe.

I entered 98% of our guests into our website's guest list, so that people can RSVP online!  I RSVP-ed Tim and myself (hehe).  I told Tim and he was like, "Oh yeah that's good... we're going right?"  :)  Then I also discovered the seating chart feature and starting playing around with that, and even seated some people!  There are still a handful of people I am still on the fence about inviting.  I think we could accomodate them, since we're nowhere near an exploding guest list, but... I think we're at a good number.  I guess I'll see!

And here are more Ithaca engagement pics since I've got no other interesting picture(s) today  :-P  All photos courtesy of KK Yu (and Zoe!), our nice friends who lent us their time, fancy pants camera, and photo skillz to take these for us.  Not pro, but a few turned out quite nice, I think.  hehe.  :)  (Click on picture to make bigger!)

Always a thinker!

Can't you just hear his smooth talking?  ;)

Sharon's comment was, "Who stands like that?!"  haha.

Aite!  Enjoy.  There may be another e-pics session SOON.  :-D  Details when I find out myself.  haha.  Tis dinner time and more waiting on Mr Tim.  Commooooon' US Airways.  Deliver my Tim to me!

What are you waiting on in your life?

          

concrete jungle

Compiled inspirations.

Cityscape cake: how cool is that?!  This city girl likies.  (Source)

Maybe we can have a design to represent the both of us like this Threadless tee!

City for me, trees for the Oregon boy.  :)  (Source)

Another candle/light idea I found!  Again, thank you Martha. 

"Rubber stamp, white ink, and glass candleholders -- frosted glass holds ink best."  Sounds simple enough yeah?  Not as easy as printing on vellum paper and wrapping it around, but close enough!  It would be so easy to personalize these!  (Source)

Coming up next!  Dessert bar.  Centerpieces.  (The basic idea of them was one of the first wedding ideas conceived!)  Bout inspiration.  (Oh... maybe it's time to try again.  I bought some leaves!).  I can't WAIT for our rings to arrive on Tuesday, along with Tim, so we can try them on togeher.  :-D  (Is it Tues yeeeeet???)  I think you really don't realize all the small, simple tasks that that easy to take for granted when you live in the same city!  I was thinking of getting him to get measured for a suit but... I don't know if I want to waste precious time with him being within breathing distance doing that.  Or having to fight pre or post Christmas crowds!  Though I don't know if suit shops are actually Christmas crowd magnets.  Though parking at the mall (it was soooo crowded on Satuarday!) will still be a pain.  I guess we'll see.

Exhausted.  Long, long day.  Must go to bed now.  Happy Sunday!
     

waiting

{slinky mysterious pink panther music}

Relevance?  None.  :-P

(Source)

Anyway.  Tis a time of waiting.  I emailed makers of my dress and they said it will probably be finished next week and shipped off soon after that!  :]  Our rings are scheduled to arrive next Tuesday!  (Omgoodness, ground shipping is soooo sloooow.)  Tim is coming next Tuesday!  (Yay x5000!)  Christmas is next week!  (Whoo baby Jesus!)


So today there was 10% off at Kohls and free shipping, so I went browsing.  I [unfortunately] found these two dresses and contemplated buying them, but didn't because I don't need them and I dropped too much money on Christmas gifts.  (Going all out for Tim!  :oP)

Kohls $30.60 (before 10% off)  Maybe not bridesmaid status but it would make for a very pretty dress otherwise!  (Source)

Kohls $30.60.  I really contemplated buying this one, but wasn't sold on the big bow.  :o\  This one also doesn't have quite the bridesmaid status but I've been oddly really into plaid lately, so I thought this one was particularly cute.  (Source)

Twice at Target I saw these SUPER cute and bridesmaid status holiday party dresses but they were all  in winter or holiday colors!  Black!  Brown!  Purple!  Teal!  Red!  Green!  Ah!  I can't seem to find the exact ones I saw in the store online... but here are a few I think are bridesmaid status worthy... and very, very budget friendly:

Target $31.99. (Purple Source; Red Source)

Target $31.99.  (Source)

You gotta agree those two Target ones are bridesmaid status yeah?  And I WISH they came in our shade of green cause $32 would be. a. steal.

I actually almost purchased bridesmaid dresses two nights ago.  But... I hestitated cause it turned out it wasn't the shade of green I was going for.  Not a wrong shade... just not the right shade.  They were a sweet deal on After Six/Dress dresses (cute, classy styles!) but I mostly hesitated because... spring colors are gonna be coming out soon!  I mean... they're selling swimsuits in stores already!  So... I'm gonna sit on it for just now.  I rather wait and deal, than buy and regret.  (Or wait and then regret that I passed up the deal!  haha jk.  Hopefully no regrets on this wedding!)

Also, if you haven't notice there is a lot of purple and I've been wishing purple was a color in our color scheme.  :-P  This is probably also due to the fact that purple (dark or plum) is like my new favorite color (well, after orange).  :)  I've been trying to incorporate more color into my wardrobe!

Find any good deals for dresses?  Did you have to compromise on your color scheme to snag a good deal?
   

Proverbs 31

I think this sums up why I studied City Planning pretty well:

Proverbs 31:8-9

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy."


I read through Proverbs the last few weeks and closed it out with a good passage on how to be a good wife.  I think they are fitting virtues of a wife -- like my favorite verses 25-30 say, being able to laugh through the times, being hardworking, taking care of your family, speaking with wisdom and faithful instruction, and being a blessing to her family:

Proverbs 31:10-31

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.

12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.

15 She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.

16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.

18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.

19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.

21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.


25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.


26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.


27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.


28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."


30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

(Source)
   

sing me a soooong

WHEEEEEEEE. Hello friends. :) How are you? I've been keeping busy with maximum shopping efforts and minimal job searching. A baaaad combo. :-P But I think I'm shopping smart... and it's Christmas, right? It's getting tougher and tougher since I've only got 5 months here in the Bay and... that's not helpful for finding a "steady" job and it seems I am overqualified for retail. :( *Shakes fist at higher education!* Oh, don't get me wrong, I don't think I'm "too good" for any job... it's just that so far, nobody has wanted to hire me! (Just a fact for the current situation, not a boo-hoo-to-me.) But Imma keep on trying! I heard somewhere in the news that the recession is ending (hah, we shall see) and my chances for... anything that pays... might be more favorable after the holiday season and perhaps some of them seasonal workers will go back to whatever they usually do (and let me have a crack at being employed!) It's kind of not encouraging that a masters from Cornell hasn't done much for me... (and the current economy and my timeframe doesn't help I suppose)... but forge on, I must!

Anyway... some more updates/progress:

1) SO. As you already know, we are going to Kauai for our honeymoon... but now we are adding HONOLULU! Whoo! My dad's friend couldn't book us a flight together (who wants to be separated on their honeymoon?) from Kauai back to SF on the 10th, so... we're hoppin' over to Honolulu for ~3 more days.  And my pops is gifting us with our hotel stay in Honolulu, most likely at the place where we usually stay.  Which is oceanside and super nice.  :-D  SAAA-WEET!

2) I got 1 out of X of the bridesmaid gifts DONE. I REALLY wish I could show them to you cause I'm pretty happy with how they turned out. BUT. I think some of them bridesmaids actually read this so that will have to wait. (Soooo long. Is it May yet?) It involved Alvina's design skills (kind of), some sort of craftiness, and homemaker skills. I cannot say moooore! :-P But I even made one for our little flower girl... and hers is the cutest. :] (And probably too big for her. haha)

3) 7 more days until Tim is heeeeeeeeere!!!  :-D

(Source)

And a friend recently shared with me this 10-man a cappella group called "Straight No Chaser" who are AMAZING.  :]  Cheeeeck them out!

Have there been tough situations before your wedding that got you worried? Like UNEMPLOYMENT? Or being able to financially pay for your wedding (if you weren't receiving assistance from elsewhere)? How did you deal?
   

reggiereggieregistry!

More fun things I wish we could register for  :-P

Half Pint Creamer!!  So cute.  :)  (Source)

Drummer <3  (Though the banging would probably annoy me more than how cute it is.  haha.)  (Source)

Circle Kabob.  Somebody used their brains!!  So smart.  :)  (Source)

Say I Love You pillowcases. Pillow talk? :) I love.  (Source)

Catch My Love coffee mugs.  And the cuteness comes in cups!  (And body pillowcases as well...)  (Source)

I love that Say I Love You pillowcase.  :)  hehe.  Super cute graphics/concepts from that website!  But terribly expensive for pillowcases and mugs.

Solve for x and y:

3x + 5y = 10

7x + 4y = 12

    

chuggachuggachuggachugga toot toot!

Another fantastic centerpiece idea from Steven Curtis Chapman's assistant Grace's blog! (The other idea was the butterflies.)

If we were having a December wedding, I'd totally use these as our centerpieces! Charlie Brown trees! How simple (aka mostly easy and cheap to make) and cute is that. :) (Source)

Sooooo. More progress has been made! We sort of decided on the invitation design! I made all the drafts and sometimes I feel like I don't love the one we chose, but then I did make it, so it's like... ok. hahah. I will have to whip up some RSVP/info/map/accessory cards to go with the invitations, and then get some price quotes on printing, which is the next big hill cause that sounds like an annoying task. You'll have to wait until I send them out to see them though!

My dad will also be gifting us with air travel (no, not freebie tickets,* but NOT stand by! Yay! haha) and select accommodations becauseeeeee after chillaxing in Kauai... we might be hanging out in Hawaii a little longer. ;) More details on that when it all actually is booked, cause I'd hate to give incorrect information. :-P But hallelujah! God is so gracious. It wasn't too big of a deal, but it is a relief to not stare at my Excel sheet wondering where we could gonna squeeze money out for the honeymoon.

It's super early but I'm already trying to work through the ceremony program, so I can figure out how many songs I need so I can pick songs, because my brother's been buggin' me for the set list!  Already.  I suppose I could pick songs now and figure out the program later but... stuff's gotta match, right? :) There have been a few wedding songs I've collected over the years (aka have heard and decided I must have that at my wedding!), but... most if not all have words to them! And I'm looking more for 90% instrumental and maybe one song that Alvin might sing.  So I guess we will see.


* All my life I've had to combat the assumption that I can fly everywhere for free! We don't. Or it's "free" with a price of... possibly not getting on. And the assumption that a geography major must know where every country is and is good with maps. :oP  Silly assumptions!


Find any seasonal inspiration you wish you could use in your wedding?
    

rings. ordered.

[I'm pretty sure I have the lamest post titles ever.  I used to like my post titles, esp in the LiveJournal days.  But I suppose those were the days when the title didn't have to have anything to do with the post.  :-P]

Anyway, after debating over whether we wanted 14k wedding bands or palladium, we made a decision!  We are going with the palladium!  Tim was good with both, and I wanted my band to mostly somewhat match my engagement ring, so palladium it was!  And, I found out that you can engrave palladium, it's just that iweddingband.com doesn't offer that service.  So, if we really really want engraving, we can get it done elsewhere.  :]  They say they'll ship in a week (whyyy so looong) and estimated delivery is Dec 24th!  Eeks!  I hope they make it here in time for Tim to try his ring on.  If not, it'll be a pain in the butt to send it to him and have him send it back (which will be difficult for him to get around to doing because of his impending doom, I mean conference paper deadline).  So.  Yes Lord, please get it here on time.  Or earlier.

Palladium half round comfort fit 3mm (top or left), and 4mm (bottom or right).

Whoooot.  Another thing done.  Wow, we're just really checking things off here, aren't we?  :-P  Now if only I can decide on bridesmaids dresses and get the invtations finished off, we're basically ready to get married, yeah?  :)

An interesting post the other day from Miss Guinea Pig about a surprise wedding where this couple turned their engagement party into their actual wedding!  Since we're checking off all these big items, I think it's easy to get a little anxious.  Like we're reeeeeady, common' common', is it time yet?  Prettttty much a grown up, "ARE WE THERE YET?"  We only had a year long engagement which seems not too short or too long, though sometimes it seems longer than necessary!  I used to make fun of um.... the white folks (I'm marrying a white guy, I can say that right?) and how they have short engagements!  But now I realize... the white folks got it right!  I'm sure I could have gotten everything done in 6 months, and maybe it would've been good cause then you don't worry about stupid, unimportant things like the details (haha).  I have taken my time with some things, since I could.  We seriously considered the idea of moving the wedding to February but we decided it would be easier to keep it as it is... for logistical reasons... academic reasons... and really, I'm not all that excited to be moving back to Ithaca IN FEBRUARY.  :-P  (Which is like one of the coldest months there.)  It was more of a "we want to and we could..." but we don't have to.  And besides... our green and orange color scheme might be a little weird in February.  :]

Do you ever feel like you are just ready to go, even though it's months before your wedding?  Do you think short or long engagements are better?  Has being engaged or married changed your perspective on how long you thought engagements should be?
     

aloooooha!

After finding out Tahiti was waaay out of our budget and I didn't want to go to the Bahamas, we considered a cruise since those include lodging AND food and entertainment and transportation kind of, but... while I like cruises it wasn't my first choice.  I wanted to dig my toes in some sand.  :)  So a month or so ago, we decided on Hawaii for our honeymoon. (Hooooooneymoon. :-P I feel like I'm not old enough to go on a honeymoon. haha.)  Since I always go to Oahu and find it rather touristy and city-like, I voted for Maui!  Tim's never been and didn't have much of an opinion on anywhere specific for Hawaii.  So Hawaii was good.  :)

Honeymoon planning and logistics is Tim's responsibility, since he can research and book things online, but a few days ago I started browsing online for airplane tickets and hotels just to get a feel for prices.  My heart kind of sank when I realized how expensive Maui would be... and how much our budget for our honeymoon might not be enough.  Or at least it would get us there and put a roof over our heads, but then... we wouldn't be able to eat, drive around, or do activities.

I quickly looked up cruises to Mexico and those are awesomely priced at about $550 a person and like I mentioned before, it covers pretty much everything you need!  I've been on 2-3 cruises to Mexico and I can't say I'm a big fan of Mexico, but it could be that I was like 12 when I went.  But we could afford it!  And I would be with my honey!  That's what important right?

But the story does not end in Mexico!

Relatives I don't know who give you awesome wedding presents are GREAT!  heheh.  Last night, Tim's cousin offered us a week's stay at his timeshare condo in HAWAII!  :-D  And we took him up on it!  There were three options and we chose Kauai.  So we'll be chillaxing at the Kauai Coast Resort.

I've been to Kauai before briefly (a port on a cruise) and I just remembered there being lots of greenery.  :)  I suppose it IS called the Garden Isle.  We weren't there for very long and we did a really really awesome (but expensive) helicopter ride over the Nā Pali Coast, which is where Jurassic Park was filmed.  I've also heard there isn't much to do there.  haha.  But I'm sure we'll find something to do and find ways to entertain ourselves.  I guess Tim will be bringing his board games.  haha.

Na Pali Coast (Source)

It's okay if it's super green there as long as I get some beach.

(Source)

Purrrraise God!  What a gift!  Especially when I thought we were not gonna be able to go to Hawaii.  :)  I am also in the works of securing plane tickets w/o having to, um, pay.  haha.  Will let you know how that comes along.  ;)  The condo comes w/ a kitchen so we don't have to eat all our meals out!  (Not that there looks like there are a lot of options, at least listed on the website for nearby resutarants.)  And there is a Costco 17 mins away!  Yay Costco!  :-D

Any crazy relatives/friends gift you w/ something you didn't expect?  Any crazy what-good-timing stories?

   

cutesy whewtsy

So. If you didn't know this already. And if you aren't a pretentious, snobby shopper. Ross. Is. Awesome. haha. So a month or two ago... close to when I announced we had a cutie flowergirl, I found this cute little dress at Ross. (And it was also the same time I decided I wanted to have daughter(s) so I could dress them in these cutesy dresses. All the time.)

It's ivory, with a poofy skirt. It's $13. CAN you BELIEVE it? But I think I bought it too big at 3T, and our flowergirl will be younger than 2 years old come next May. AND... it was ivory... and if I wanted a mini me (hehe), we'd get her a white dress. So after talking with her mommy, we decided to keep looking. So I returned it.

Then this past weekend when coat hunting with Steph, I happened upon the cute little girls dress section at the Ross downtown. And found TWO super cute dresses. :-D

Very bridal, dontchathink? It's white and has that tulle stuff on the bottom, so I think it'd sort of match mine. I think the sparklies on the front are super cute. But for some reason, it seems VERY big (for a 2T). I guess we'll have to have her try it on and see. And oh, this was $15. :)

I think this one is very spring like. The embroidery and little flowers are delightful. :] Can't you picture a cute little girl skipping on the grass? :-P This is one is smaller (than the white dress) though it says it's a 2T and I think will actually fit her better. And this one was only $10. :D I also considered replacing the pink flowers with orange ones but I decided that might make the dress not cute anymore. :-P

So. You may be wondering why I have two dresses and why they are so different? Well, when I found both of them, I couldn't (and still haven't) decide(d) on whether I want our flowergirl to match me, in a poofy white dress, or whether to be a little more casual and match the bridesmaids. So I don't know what the bridesmaids are wearing yet, but seriously... she'll be so cute, no one will care whether her dress is the same shade of green as the bridesmaids.  I also think she might be able to rewear the green one a little more often than the white one.  (Thinking of rewear-able-ness for our flowergirl!  How considerate of me.  :oP)

I think it's just fabulous that these gorgeous dresses are SO cheap. Since kids grow up so fast and don't wear poofy white dresses very often, it'd be silly to pay so much money for a fancy dress.

Which dress do you like better?  Do you think it'd be cuter if the flower girl matched me or the bridesmaids?
   

banding together!

Ring a ling ling. I didn't think wedding bands could be so complicated. I guess they're not but... then why aren't we decided and purchased?!

So I've been browsing iWeddingBand.com since a few Bees have recommended it. The prices seem very reasonable and we're not looking for anything fancy, so their selection seems to suffice. They also have free engraving, free 30 day returns, and free shipping to you and back. On the weekends, I always see a 5% off deal posted on the front page and I JUST received an email for 10% off. :-D  Seems like a sound plan, yeah?

Our current dilemmna, which we plan to solve tonight, is this: 14k white gold or palladium?

14k white gold
Pros: Both rings together = $100 less than palladium, engravable
Cons: It become yellow over time and having to replate them

Palladium
Pros: Color of platinum but roughly the price of gold, won't become yellow and won't have to replate
Cons: Not engravable! :(

I think we've decided to get MATCHING bands. :-D I think it's cute. :) I think I'd like the half round comfort fit, though I'm thinking we could order the milgrain one too to see if Tim likes that since he does not have shiny bling to park his against. :)

This is the 3mm half round comfort fit palladium, though the picture on the website for the palladium and 14k white gold look exactly the same. If we get matching bands, I'd get a 3mm and Tim would get a 4mm. (Source)

I was orginally thinking of palladium for myself since my engagement ring is platinum, and palladium is naturally white and will also develop that hazy, brushed texture like platinum. If I got white gold, it might be slightly unsightly for one ring to yellow while the other doesn't. However, I didn't realize early on that they do not engrave palladium and I think I've always thought I'd get an engraved ring! (Like before I even met Tim  :oP I always thought it was a very sweet thing.) But as many things with this wedding, they are not always as I've pictured. :) But I don't know if this is one of those things we'd have to give up, since we do have the option of white gold.  But then I think I like palladium better.  Hmm.

So, 14k white gold or palladium? What do you think of our pros and cons list? Have you gotten white gold replated? Is it a hassel? Should I get palladium to match my e-ring, and forgo sweet words written for forrrrever?  :-P
 

beezy beezy

Slow posting since bridesmaid Steph! was in town this weekend. :]  (Don't be jealous Nate  :oP)

And I suppose it was a busy weekend in general.  Did I make any wedding progress last week?  Not enough!  But the things I did do...

I made a few more paper flowers while watching Made of Honor (starring Patrick Dempsey).  (Source)

I took votes on our invitation designs.  Mentally stressed over finishing them and preparing a mock up so I can potentially send it to a HK printing place as a sample.  Got a new aspect/idea I want to add to the invitation.

Picked up two [more] potential flowergirl dresses.  Will post about that later this week I suppose.

Need to put up the Christmas tree!  Wrap my presents (and rid my room of the mess)!  The weeks are going by pretty quickly and blurring together.  Good and bad.  Bad for productivity but good.... cause Tim is coming in 16 days!!!!  :-D

  

the dress!

Here's an updated picture on my bouquet progress!

Left: Front view; Right: Back view -- that darker pink one was the style I had trouble with. But that was my third try and it's progressively gotten a lot better. :)  And you can't really see it but I wrapped some pretty ribbon around my glass bottle.

oo O ------------------------------------- O oo

And now... finally gettin' around to posting about the dress. The dress! Except. So. I don't know how or if it's even possible to "zip" up posts on Blogger here and Tim comes around once in a blue moon and I don't want him to see it! So.  There won't be any pictures and you will just have to click on the links.

So long story short, I went to David's Bridal with my cousin back in August. I went in armed with a few catalog numbers of dresses I liked. But of course, they all seemed to look better in the catalog/online/on the models.  :(  I had a REALLY enthusiastic wedding consultant lady, and she brought one I didn't expect to like... but it was my favorite from all the dresses I tried on! The V9409 from David's Bridal. (If you are NOT Tim Condon, please click on the link to view.)  I wasn't so sure about strapless cause I'd like to be worry free that day, but I did not know they make strapless wedding dresses all sturdy like with little risk of slippage. :)

It's simply looking but it's A-line and it's got a lace up back and this asymmetrical split of chiffon down the left side that you can't really see in the picture. There are also some nice not-too-obvious (I think the word I'm looking for is discreet.  haha)  flowers on the bust area.

Now. It is $500. A decent, if not even modest price, in the world of wedding dresses that can go into the thousands and beyond. But. I am not made of thousands. Or even hundreds. My dress budget was ~$300. So it wasn't terribly out of budget if I REALLY wanted it. And Tim, sweet Tim, said... "We're getitng married once, if you really like it, get it. We'll make the money work." *Awww*  haha. But. Since there were so many other expenses, I didn't want to justify the $500 on a dress I'd wear for 8 hours.

So I thought. And browsed online. And thought some more.  There was that big boo-hoo time when I missed a bid on Ebay for the original dress, new for $250. I continued to stalk Ebay and OnceWed and PreOwnedWeddingDress, and even Craigslist. Then I gave up for awhile. But before I gave up, when I searched everyday... on Ebay, this custom dress from China listing, based on/inspired by my orginal V9409 dress would pop up.

Now. China and bad customer service and possibly getting screwed over are risks with ordering from a far away country that might not care if your dress doesn't fit or if they use bad materials. I've done a lot of reading of reviews! Some good, some bad. But then... after I gave up for awhile and got a rest from thinking about it -- I decided that the $160 was worth the risk! Yes, $160 compared to $500 for "basically" the same dress. Same style anyway. (David Bridal dresses are from China anyway. They might have slightly better quality control and you have a brick and mortar store to complain to. But really. They're from the same place.)

So. Here. (TIM, DO NOT CLICK) Here is what my dress is supposed to look like, at least. :-P It is slightly different from the orginal V9409 -- which I'm totally fine with and it doesn't have a train. I did do custom measurements, but it's a-line and has a lace up back, so it should be easily adjustable if they didn't get the exact measurements right. And since it was ONLY $160, I can spend a few dollars getting alterations here (locally) if need be.

They say it takes a month to make and a week to ship, soooo end of December ish?  Maybe a little later if they're busy around Christmas or something.  I'll report back when I get it. :)  It's like a surprise. hehe.

I'll talk about plan C dress in the future if this dress doesn't work out and I decide that I still don't want to buy the orginal one. :-P


Would you have taken the risk for $160? Do you think Chinese custom dresses are risky business?  How important was your dress in consideration of your budget?