The Makings of a Dress...

A preview of the top of my dress before it is all sewed up! :)

All Dressed Up!

Two of my favorite clients have become 2 super sweet friends and I am so thankful for them! Natalie reffered me to Julie who is now my sewing teacher. Julie has agreed to make my wedding dress! YAY! I sketched an idea of what I want and have found a few patterns to combine to create it! On Valentines Day (my birthday) I bought the material! I was having a hard time deciding between white and ivory when Nate's Mom and I found a beautiful shade in between the two. It reminds me of pearls and the lady at Hancock Fabrics called it "Candle light." I bought Satin for the base layer and chiffon for the overlay, and embellishments. Sigh... the material is so, so beautiful... and it was on sale! I can't wait to see it finished!... The photo shows the shape I want for the bottom. The bodice will be ruched.
I found this adorable bird's nest necklace on ETSY and I just love it. The artist saves scraps of wire from failed projects and past mistakes to weave together into a nest - just the way birds do - using peices of anything they have to create a home. Inside the nest are 3 little eggs. That is so symbolic to me of our story. I will probably wear the pendant on a sheer ribbon instead of the chain.


My sister doesn't wear women's clothes so a bridesmaid dress is not an option for her. She is a casual person and I want my wedding day to be a beautiful, comfortable day for everyone... a celebration of life and love... and completely... real. So in that spirit I think my sister will wear something like this... Khaki pants, a button up shirt... maybe pink?... chocolate brown converse shoes, and a tie in keeping with my birds and branches theme. Nate will probably wear converse, khakis, and the tree tie too. I'm not sure if Nate's Dad would want to wear converse, but he'll wear khaki pants and tree tie too.

Defining Style

Natural, Vintage, Shabby Chic, Rustic, Eco chic... Imagine vintage, elegant, simplistic, and worn elements all combined in a natural environment. That's my wedding style. :)

Here is my plan for my hair & veil...

Floral swags

3 vintage swags. a local thrift store. $2/each.

My Priorities...

I admit it. I love this wedding planning process. But I want to make sure I keep my priorities straight. So I took a moment to jot them down in a digi layout. (taylormade uncluttered template available at oscraps.com)

Decoration Inspiration

I love shabby chic! The combination of fancy/elegant/luxurious elements paired with faded/worn/distressed ones leaves me breathless. I hope to create a casually elegant atmosphere. My plan is to use ivory candles, crystal glasses, clear vases, delicate linens, and my bouquet for decor. I'll make candle chandaliers, string flowers to hang from above, sprinkle flower petals on the table tops & make a canopy for over the dining table. (template: taylormade uncluttered V1 & brush: paislee press inkblotV all available at oscraps.com)

Fashion Inspiration

I am an internet browsing junkie. I have a "Wedding Inspiration" folder in my pictures that I use to collect anything I find of interest to me. I then sort through them and determine what it is I am drawn to in each picture and attempt to incorporate it in my wedding plans. I am a total digital scrapbooking addict. So, of course, after weeding through my pics I arrange my favorites into layouts with words and phrases describing the elements I have chosen to use.

The dress... I'd like a fitted, ruched bodice with a light, flowy skirt. Maybe something in champagne... possibly ivory or the most faded of blush pink... I am not a fan of my upper arms, so I would like something to hide them...
The Suit - Nate likes double breasted jackets and as much as I am vintage he is modern. So I'm going to send him off to pick out any chocolate brown suit he likes. And I'm such a good wife... I won't even make him tie the legs together! ;)