Tag Archives: weddings

All Hail Monique.

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So it’s a known fact that Monique Lhuillier and Vera Wang are like, the first ladies of wedding gowns, right? Well, for my purposes I am going to assume this is a given. Today let’s talk about Monique and how she can make dresses do unnatural and incredible things to womens’ bodies. She can make a demure lace gown look positively sexy, where there are no hips, she creates them!

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No spanks required! This thing is like armor.

I have a few friends who are currently engaged and my most annoying refrain is “Let’s go try on dresses!” (I don’t mean we should all try on dresses, I mean they should but I should get to come) It’s surprising and exciting and a little stressful and the event itself demands hours of recovery over cocktails, so obviously I am a fan. It’s always good to have a plan but so important to go out of your comfort zone, too. If for no other reason than it’s ridiculous fun.

This is a different look that was pulled out for me at Bergdorf’s. It certainly felt unique and special, and made my figure look like someone else’s. My straight line body was practically hourglass (Maybe not but I’m letting my imagination go here) and though it was a touch modern and racy for my mom’s taste, it was surprisingly comfortable for how sexy it felt. My boobs! My hips! The detail on the bodice demanded a close-up. Of my boobs. I’ve decided to incorporate bridal wear into my every day life.

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My Baby B’s have never looked better.

I remember reading in a bridal magazine an article titled something like, “Wear it Again,” that tried to convince women that it would be totally normal to throw a party in your apartment and invite your girlfriends to wear their wedding gowns as you sit around drinking wine. Let me tell you what I look like when my friends come over to drink wine … dirty hair. no make up. leggings. old stretched out ribbed tank top and flip flops. If they’re bringing their boyfriends I’ll put on a bra. I get it now, wanting to look like the best version of myself every single day in an expensive and beautiful gown. I’m still never hosting a party like that, but if someone else invited me to that sort of shindig I would absolutely wear this dress and I would drink only clear liquids, possibly be so bold as to sip white wine.

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I’m coming over!!

Mainstream, and Other Lesbian Descriptors.

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I started this blog for two reasons, really. First, though I knew nothing about planning a lesbian wedding, friends and family were asking me questions like I was the spokeswoman for gay brides. Second, I like doing lame girly wedding stuff like staying up late perusing wedding blogs, and I was finding little to no lesbian content. So here we are, all of us (that means me and you, Mom) discovering together that planning my wedding with Sam the girl is basically the same as if I were planning this wedding with Sam, the boy, except there will be two dresses and two father/daughter dances. Still, imagine my surprise when the newest New York Magazine Wedding Guide went live on the web and there were lesbos everywhere. Here are some featured in Real New York Weddings, and another right here in this slideshow. Stop it. There is another lesbian couple in this same slideshow. That makes three featured lesbian couples in one issue. Three.

I’m already trying to pick the pieces of my mind up off the floor when I sign onto StyleMePretty and find this, another lesbian wedding on a mainstream wedding blog. While it’s happened before, it’s not often, and when I saw it I peed my chinos a little. I’m lying. I don’t even own chinos … but Sam does. And I was jealous (of the stylish ladies, not the chinos).

Turns out Sam and I are just bandwagon girls planning an average wedding … No I’m totally lying again. Our wedding is going to kick ass. Or it will be a disaster. We’ll see.

Shower Invites.

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As I wrote earlier, our bridal shower will be at a vineyard, so when I found these adorable invitations on Zazzle by Marlene’s Market I was so excited to customize them.

To be honest Sam didn’t love them as much as I did, but I think the wine glasses are cute and zazzle has never let us down. Their paper goods are affordable and cute. I won this battle.

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There’s one more thing. These invitations just happen to be our sorority colors … a silent nod to our beginning ;-)

Wedding Salon Showcase

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Yesterday afternoon Sam and I headed downtown to The Metropolitan Pavilion on West 18th Street to check out a bridal showcase by The Wedding Salon. The place was packed and I was twice referred to as Sam’s “assistant.” We couldn’t figure out why, as we were both wearing our required entry stickers, which read “I’m a Bride.” Sam swore she wouldn’t wear her sticker outside but as we left I slapped mine on her chest and we made it all the way to Sixth Avenue before she peeled them off.

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Sam near the entrance.

 Upon entry there were rows of bridal gowns by various designers. If this showcase is any indication of this year’s bridal trends some of these dresses were wild and over the top. Lots of tulle, shiny beading and sequins in unexpected places.  The models in the gowns were stunning, of course, but most of the dresses were just a bit much for simple gals like us. There was a row of elegant dresses on display from Michelle New York that I kept eyeing, with feminine lace and figure-flattering cuts, I gave them a long, final glance on our way out the door.

Some of what we tasted: Yummy Cakes by Kevaughn, custom colored black & white cookies (Sam’s favorite) by Nussbaum & Wu and gorgeous & tasty chocolate covered pretzels by Fatty Sundays & Co.

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Don’t mind if I do.

There were plenty of spirits there too. I sipped on some Seagram’s Escapes malt beverages, tasted various champagnes and was introduced to Mercy Hangover Prevention, a canned beverage packed with vitamins that we were told  prevents hangovers. Currently our cans of Mercy are in our fridge. I will get some real answers after my next night of drinking, but I’m skeptical.

There were vendors everywhere, and tables showcasing varying décor. Some of the centerpieces were opulent, others understated, and our favorite was the elegantly rustic table of wildflowers in mason jars. I took a look at some lovely jewelry by Merry Alchemy and signed up for all kinds of raffles.

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Rustic elegance.

I think the showcase was a success. Not only did we get to taste plenty of baked goods, and I do so love a baked good, but we are surer than ever that our own wedding will truly reflect our style. Seeing all the different gowns and centerpieces was a real reminder how different each couple’s tastes are, and the endless options when it comes to designing your own wedding.

We had a great time, and I’m looking forward to putting my can of Mercy to the test.

On Trial.

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This past weekend we had our hair & make-up trials, set up by our wedding planner Cheryl. We took the bus downtown to the East Village to meet with hair stylist Jill Hammelman and make-up artist Sharon Becker.

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Top of the Mornin’

We arrived with bare faces and unkept hair, and as if they’d known us forever, the ladies offered us mimosas. Green mimosas, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.

Then we got down to business. I talked hair extensions with Jill as she set my hair and Sharon did Sam’s make-up, then I snapped a close-up of myself before we switched spots.

photo-60I spent most of my make-up application telling Sharon that I am positively not going to cry at our wedding. “I’m just not like that,” I said. Then Jill finished Sam’s hair, and she looked incredible. Then something happened. When Sam’s mom married Sam’s dad, she wore a very cool headpiece at the wedding. Sam always planned to wear it someday for her own wedding. In the wake of her death, honoring her mother feels more imperative than ever. Jill and Sam played around with the headpiece until they got it just right, and as I looked over at Sam I caught a glimpse of her mother Penny. Sam looked so beautiful, and she looked just like her mom. In that brief moment I totally lost my cool, and as I harnessed my emotions I said, to no one in particular, “Well, okay, I might cry at our wedding.”

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Close-up, pre-hair.

That headpiece, however, will just have to be a surprise.

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Nothing like a full face of make-up on a Saturday afternoon.
Will I master control of that wonky eye before the wedding? Probably not.

The end results will, of course, be tweaked for our wedding day, but we loved Sharon and Jill and more importantly, we loved their work. We had a blast and we can’t wait until September 7th when they transform us into glamazons for our special day.

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Jill and Sharon, who worked some real magic on us.

Alter Egos

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My Favorite. People were staring as we crossed the street because our dogs Luda and Winston are adorable, we looked ridiculous, and we had photographers following us.

Remember how I told you that Grazia, a British women’s magazine, wanted to do an interview with us, as well as a photo shoot? Well that happened, and we did it, cause why not?! I asked to proof read the final draft, which they agreed to, and when I did I mentioned a few mistakes (Sam is originally from New Jersey, for instance, not the Midwest. I realize the difference means nothing to the Brits, but it does to Americans) I was assured these tweaks would be made. They weren’t. Is it the end of the world? Absolutely not, especially since this is a British magazine and I don’t know anyone who will ever read it. When I read it, the article actually sounds like a British girl telling a similar story to my own, rather than me telling my story, or us telling our story… Oh well. (I apparently had a boyfriend when I met Sam, and when we weren’t together I slept with other women – both false)

The good news; the amazing photographer Circe sent us some of the best images from the shoot. They’re pretty wild, but definitely entertaining. We’re wearing ridiculous outfits, the oddest mixes of our own clothes. It was really fun though, So I thought I’d share a few.

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Cutie pie!

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We didn’t know how to pose so we spent most of the day laughing nervously.

Ceremony Questionnaire Due March 1st!!

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We are getting down to the wire with some of our ceremony decisions.

For starters, I don’t plan to have my vows written until ohh, September 6th. We have narrowed down most of the other elements of the ceremony, like the readings (Yes, of course I want an Irish blessing) and rituals. (Yes, of course Samantha will be stomping on a glass.) 

We may even use some lyrics to one of our all-time favorite songs as a wedding reading. No, you’ll never guess the song … 

Now we just need to finalize our plans for walking down the aisle … 

There’s always more to do!

Bloomies.

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on Sunday we went to Bloomingdale’s with Sam’s Aunt Faith, who offered to help us on our first venture into registration territory. Three hours later, I was ready to go straight to bed. Boy, was it overwhelming. How on earth are you supposed to A) Assume you know what you’re going to need in your future home and B) make a wish list of things you expect other people to buy for you?!?!

I think we did okay for our first try, and it was kind of fun to find something pretty and ZAP! it was on my wish list. Too bad I couldn’t have done this as a child with my Christmas lists. Sam is desperate for a waffle maker, so I held in my veto and if someone feels the need to make the purchase, then so be it.

I learned that we cannot do it all at once. I have about two hours in me at a time. We also get great perks at Bloomingdale’s, like 20% off of dresses! I’ve already got my eye on one for the shower … I never thought I would spend so much time learning about knives. I never knew how badly I wanted a zester or a food processor. I never realized how many options you have when choosing towels.

Our next stop will be Crate & Barrel, and I’m excited to tackle this again!