Angie and Estee

I picked up my dress from Angie today and it is amazing and I love it! I know some people have asked for their contact information. I have worked with Angie since January and she is fantastic. I have heard the same goes for Estee.

Here is the article that was posted a few months back here on DCNearlyweds and on the Washington Express paper. It has their contact information for you ladies who are looking for two great seamstresses for your alterations. They do wonders with bridesmaids dresses as well and may be a good alternative to having them done at the bridal salon (and cheaper too!)

Update: Filene's is having their annual "Running of the Brides" this FRIDAY, JULY 31st! This is where I bought my dress, which only needed to be hemmed because it a) was the perfect size b) was the perfect dress, but since I got it for a fraction of what I would have paid for at a salon, I wanted to get creative, hence the new neckline and pockets:-) I went with friends and my sister at 3 a.m., complete with matching team tshirts I made the day before and we had a blast. I also know people who went after the rush around lunchtime and still found a ton of dresses at the most insanely discounted prices. Hope you make it and let us know if you find the dress!!!

"What are You Going to Do About That?"

I'm going to let you all in a well known secret - I have a tattoo. The tattoo is on my right shoulder blade, a small shooting star. My friends in college used to laugh and call it "the more you know" star because it resembles the logo of the PSA often seen on NBC -


The other week, after telling the FMIL about the bridesmaids dresses (she likes to be kept in the loop and to keep drama at bay, I give her updates on a need to know basis which I'm fine with) she asked about my tattoo. She hasn't approved of it since she saw it at a wedding where I wore a strapless dress and quickly asked if I was going to cover it up with a cardigan, which because it was the ceremony, I did. Since then, it's been a non-issue for the most part, my own mother was slightly disappointed when I got it, but I think a large part of that stemmed from the fact that I had talked about it for weeks and she didn't think I'd go through with it (which I did) because of my large fear of needles. Fortunately, I've never been one to chicken out of something because of fears (with an exception of my fear of bees).

I hadn't really thought of what I was going to do with it. I don't really want to go through the hassle of covering it up and risking getting make up all over my dress, but is it really something I want in my wedding photos for years to come?

But then again, it is a part of me, it represents for me, my youth, the fun I had in college and the friends I had. Of course back then, I also had a nose piercing, belly button, and two holes in each ear with a cartilage piercing to boot. I rarely wear earrings anymore, and if I do it's usually only in one hole. The belly piercing is only there because I'm too lazy to have it removed and I've never changed the hoop since I got it my freshman year of college; my nose stud fell out on my twenty-third birthday and because I was so close to my college graduation, I figured it was for the best.

But my tattoo was a decision I thought long and hard over for weeks. I ended up getting it at place in Burlington, VT when I was at home just before my twenty-first birthday. It's just there. I don't think about it often. It's small, tactful, and well, out of the way. I never actively try to cover it up, I don't wear a lot of clothes to work in the summer where it's shown so it's really only visible on the weekends.



I think I'm going to end up leaving it uncovered. I don't want the extra hassle and it's me. I can't remove it. It's there for good and I? Am okay with that. The people who may not be? Well, that's their problem, not mine.

Do you have any body art? How did you deal with it on your wedding day? Did anyone give you a hard time about covering it up?

Finding THE dress

So I found the dress this weekend. Mama GP and FMIL were in town for the weekend and I included them in on the dress shopping experience - I kind of had to include Mama GP since she was buying!

I went to the David's Bridal up in White Flint where I had had a not-so-pleasant experience one other time, not horrible but just not the type of treatment you imagine when shopping for your wedding gown. The experience was replicated on Saturday afternoon with a twenty minute wait upon arrival and then definitely not the one-on-one attention that I should have received. It's funny though, because a pal of mine had a GREAT experience at David's Bridal, so I think mine was one of those that you hear about, but honestly, aside from the fact that the woman helping me was helping at least one other person and wasn't there when I needed her (often leaving me stranded unziped, untied, or just confused) I wouldn't advise people against David's Bridal - they have great dresses at reasonable prices, a great option for the bride on a budget.

So after trying on seven or so dresses - all of which were pretty, but left me feeling lukewarm, we headed up to I Do, I Do in Gaithersburg.

I was pretty excited since I had heard rave reviews - it's a bridal consignment shop, but they don't just carry used wedding gowns, they also sell new ones. It's one of the few places in the DC area you can find Alfred Angelo dresses. These were the dresses I've been swooning over since I got engaged back in June so I was pretty excited to finally make it up there.

The service we received at I Do, I Do was WORLDS difference than David's Bridal. I was the only bride in the store, I picked out four dresses. One was a dress that the woman helping me felt I should try on. So I did. Just for giggles.

No dice. I know what looks good on me and what doesn't. I know I have womanly curves, a slightly bigger bust than I had seven or so years ago. I don't deny this, so I know that certain dresses make my hips look about ten sizes bigger than they are and I know that spaghetti straps make me look like a linebacker. It's okay. I know this all.

Dress number 2. I come out and it's perfect. It's absolutely perfect. I admire myself in the mirror. No pictures allowed till you order but I knew, I just KNEW that that was THE dress. So I look over at my mom who's eyes are teary and red, and I start tearing up and it confirmed everything. So the cameras come out, the pictures are taken. They put a veil on and the woman takes me in to get my measurements.


I take a look at some more veils - still very undecided on that front, and Mama GP pays for the gown. It's ordered. It'll be in in January. Oh my God. I'm getting married and I have a wedding gown. Funny how little things like that just make it all sink in a little bit deeper.

They say that when you find THE dress, you just know. I didn't understand this until I tried on this gown, and I knew. It was the faster beating of my heart, the tears in my eyes and my mothers and the fact that as I looked in the mirror I saw myself on my wedding day in that dress, waiting at the end of the aisle with my father and mother looking down at Mr. GP.

I can not wait till September 12, 2009.

Miss Capitol Hill Wedding Recap - Posed Photos

Once we had the big reveal it was time to take the posed family photos. Don't worry, though, I'm not going to post most of those...I always found it kind of boring when people posted family photos cause nobody besides myself knows those people so it's not very helpful for other brides. But I will post some with the bridesmaids/groomsmen.

All photos below the work of Linda Wallace

^Before we went for photos we had to get the flowers! This is my calla lily bouquet from Blue Ridge Floral Design and my purse! I looooved my purse. I don't know why I even wanted one, but I did, and I searched high and low and never really found anything that I liked that wasn't insanely expensive. I ended up buying something that was "o.k." Then the day before the wedding I had a last minute errand to run and ended up at the Charlottesville shopping mall (which is tiny) and the only real department store they had was a Belk. Which is a pretty inadequate department store...but there on a sales rack marked down half off was my no name brand purse. It matched my dress perfectly and was only $25!

^Here is one of the groomsmen's bouts, also from Blue Ridge Floral Design

^Here we are with all the groomsmen. Navy Blue, three button suits from Men's Wearhouse, navy blue ties with green shamrocks and groom's kelly green tie with navy blue shamrocks from Wild Ties.

^Socks from The Gap

^Bridesmaid dresses from Maggy London at Nordstrom. Flowers from Blue Ridge Floral. Bridesmaid hair from Daphne Latham.

^My cutie flower girl in her Rare Editions dress from Dillards.

^Once photos were over we all began to leave for the church. Linda captured this great photo of my Dad looking on as fiance and I shared a moment.

Vendors So Far:

Video- Monachetti

Photography - Linda Wallace

Hair/Makeup- Daphne Latham

Dress Designer - Vwidon

Dress Salon - Promise for the Saavy Bride

Shoes - Vera Wang new from Ebay

Bracelet- Carolee

Veil- Occansey Design

Purse - Belk

Flowers - Blue Ridge Floral

Suits - Men's Wearhouse

Ties - Wild Ties

Socks - The Gap

Bridesmaid Dresses - Maggy London from Nordstrom

Flower Girl Dress- Rare Editions from Dillards

Miss Capitol Hill Wedding Recap - The Big Reveal

Like many couples, fiance and I chose to see each other before the wedding so we could have more time for pictures and not take time away from being with our guests. For us this was a good decision and I really like the moment we had to ourselves before we started out.

All photos below the work of Linda Wallace

^Fiance came and I got me in my room

^He looks impressed enough I think ;)

^Time for the twril

^Gotta check out the back

^This is my "i have on lipstick so don't mess it up" kiss

^Wow, we're actually getting married

^Time to go meet our families for pictures

^Here we come down the stairs to see our families

^Look how happy everyone is! This was as good as walking into the church for the first time

Vendors So Far:

Video- Monachetti

Photography - Linda Wallace

Hair/Makeup- Daphne Latham

Dress Designer - Vwidon

Dress Salon - Promise for the Saavy Bride

Shoes - Vera Wang new from Ebay

Bracelet- Carolee

Veil- Occansey Design

Miss Capitol Hill Wedding Recap - Getting Ready

Now that you guys have already seen my awesome wedding video, I'll start the recap of the day in photos. All the photos below are the work of our wonderful photographer, Linda Wallace. I've spoken before about how I chose my photographer and we were really happy with Linda's work. We got over 1,000 photos! And for the price...I feel like we got the steal of a century.

Much like my preferences with video, I really wanted a more photojournalistic style. Not that I don't love all those photos of brides jumping in the air (actually I hate those) or everyone standing in a wheat field (yes I do like these), but I wanted more of a journal of the day as it actually happened. I just feel that these photos will stand the test of time better.

That's not to say we don't have posed photos...just not a ton.

Of course it all begins with the getting ready....

Remember you can click to enlarge!

^Here I am with my great and incredibly affordable Charlottesville based hair & makeup artist, Daphne Latham. She was so much fun to have around.

^Daphne's kick-a$$ tattoo

^Talking with bridesmaids/family as I get ready

^I wanted a lot of curl since it's the opposite of how I normally wear my hair. Daphne made the curls very tight so that they would loosen the closer we got to the ceremony.

^I had a room all my own to get ready in that was next to my bridesmaid's room, my sister's room, and my sister-in-law's room. I liked this cause people could come in and out and chat but everyone had their own space to go back to and get ready.

^Here I am checking out the makeup in natural light. That's my dress behind me!

^There is my beautiful Vwidon dress from Promise for the Savvy Bride that I blogged about forever ago. To my knowledge this is now the only picture of this particular style anywhere online.

^And here are my awesome Red Satin Vera Wang shoes (if you remember, I got these brand new on Ebay for a steal)

^ I got so many compliments on my shoes all night long. If you are on the fence about colored shoes then all I can say is "DO IT!" It was so much fun. And remember, your guests don't read wedding blogs all day, so they have no idea that this is a huge trend. So many friends and family members thought I was so "original." Ha...if only they knew how un-original I really was!

^Now I've slipped into my dress. And I got into my dress all by myself! I never really understood why it takes 8 bridesmaids to put on a wedding dress. Mine was easy to get in and out of.

^Here I am putting on my wedding bracelet from Carolee that I loved.

^Getting ready to put on my shoes.

^ Look! I could put my shoes on all by myself too! Though I did have proper bridesmaid supervision.

^And now it's time to put the veil on

^Daphne getting things just right

^I wouldn't say all that fretting I did over veil length was worth it, but I was pretty happy with the length of my Occansey Designs veil. It was long, but not so long I felt like I had to keep up with it.

^I must not look too shabby if I got looks like this from my bridesmaids.

^Here I am...all done....ready for the big reveal.

Next up: the total look and seeing soon-to-be husband for the first time.

The Hunt for the Dress: The End (Seriously)

When I decided I would check out a few bridal salons, I asked a few girlfriends for salons recommendations. One of the suggestions I received was to visit Blush Gowns. Blush is a bridal consignment boutique in Newport News (similar to I Do! I Do! in Gaithersburg) owned by Holly Yaskowsky. Holly opened Blush a few years ago after she had trouble finding a consignment boutique to accept her own gown from her 2003 wedding.

Since I was headed that direction anyway to visit my mom, I made an appointment to stop and see Holly and see some of the dresses at Blush. As I mentioned in my last dress post, sometimes you just have to find the salon that is the right fit for you, and Blush was the perfect fit for me.

Blush has set policies on the types of dresses they accept, so the gowns in the shop are currently in style and in excellent condition. Many of the dresses haven't even been worn (ever hear of the two dress bride?? Blush is familiar with quite a few). According to the website, there are generally about 400+ dresses in stock in sizes ranging from 2 to 24.

Blush Boutique from www.blushgowns.com

I started off my appointment discussing with Holly my budget and style of dress I wanted. We pulled about 10 dresses off the rack in several styles, most of them in my budget, a few above and even one below! I tried on all the dresses and ended up going back to the very first one I tried. After dancing about the store a bit (yes, I knew I had found a great dress and I had to celebrate), I put the dress on hold to think it over and be sure. I called back the next day knowing I had found my perfect dress (good looking dress+great price=Miss Fairfax's perfect dress).

Inside the boutique where I did my victory dance (pic from www.blushgowns.com).

I had a great shopping experience at Blush and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great dress at a great price, while still getting the bridal salon experience. I have not personally shopped at I Do~ Do, but if you don't want to drive down to Newport News, I would check it out. I Do~I Do also carry some retail gowns (Blush is exclusively consignment).

I plan to return to Blush after my wedding to hopefully consign my dress back. It would certainly be great to recoup some of the costs and also hopefully help out another bride!

The Hunt for the Dress: Part Dos

**Ok, blogger and I made up. See the pictures below!**

My first stop on my Non-Bridal Salon Bridal Gown Search was my perennial source for all formal dress needs: Macy's!

The great thing about department stores is that most actually HAVE a bridal shop, so you can hunt through there and then you've still got the whole evening gown section to peruse. Some sites, Nordstrom comes to mind, will even allow you to search by color so you can really zero in on what you're looking for. As Miss Westend noted in her post below, there are quite a few lovely and inexpensive white dresses out there in Department Store Land.

Check this one out from Macy's, the light champagne color is really flattering. I can totally see myself in this at an intimate, candle-lit evening ceremony.

From the Macy's website I progressed to Nordstrom (tons of great finds!), I even checked out my favorite department store down home where my mama lives, Dillards. I EVEN checked Sears and JC Penney. Hey, my mama mail-ordered her dress from Penney's in 1981 for $300, how awesome would it be if I did the same? I'm an equal opportunity shopper. I discriminate against no deal.

One shoulder gowns are quite the thing right now, I've seen this
element pop on more than one bridal gown trend list.

And what's this? Does Tia Mowrey shop at Dillards?!
(From InStyle Weddings)

While I was perusing the department store websites, I was also clicking on every "How to Save Money on Your Wedding Dress" and "Brides On A Budget" article the internets had to offer. One name I kept seeing over and over in reference to inexpensive dresses was Nicole Miller. I must confess, I'm only familiar with Nicole Miller because my favorite Lilly Store over in Old Town (Hey there, Tickled Pink) carries a few of her pieces.

Boy, was I blown away the first time I went to the Nicole Miller website! I mean, just gorgeous [sigh]. Some of the dresses are pricey, but there are a several reasonable options. There's a Nicole Miller store in the Tysons Galleria.

I was really loving on this one for awhile
(from www.nicolemiller.com via partypop.com)

Some other makers that are worth checking our for lower cost white dresses are BCBG and Jessica McClintock. BCBG has quite a few unique white gowns out right now and they have outlet locations in Williamsburg, Leesburg, and Rehobeth. There is a Jessica McClintock shop in Tysons Mall and it's absolutely worth a look if you're looking for something with a lot of glamor or more of a ball-gown style dress.
BCBG

BCBG


Jessica McClintock

Jessica McClintock

Oh, and to leave no stone unturned, I checked out Target too. I'm very thorough, what can I say.

So I had all these gorgeous white dresses whirring around in my head, occupying my dreams at night and totally preventing me from being productive at work (shhh, don't tell my boss!), but I wasn't done yet. I had a few more avenues to traverse before I would meet the one. :)