Not Your Mother's Wire Hanger . . .

You pay special attention to every little "detail" of your wedding day.  Your hair and makeup are perfection, your nails and toes are impeccably painted as are your bridesmaides.  Extra special care has been taken to ensure your dress is pressed, spotless and wrinke free.  But what kind of hanger is your Wedding Dress on?  How about those special photos you want the photographer to capture of your Wedding dress hanging in anticipation of the big moment.  Wouldn't you like to show it off in style?  Here are some fabulous options compliments of etsy.

all of the above can be found on etsy

another etsy favorite

Here's To You . . .

Kelli

Happy Valentines Day !!!!

{Courtesy of Bella Cupcake Couture}

Hair Accessories and Styles

Once you have found the dress, it's important to choose the perfect "crowning touch". Your hair and hair accesories complete the overall look.  Flowers, feathers, and of course bling are all the rage and can coordinate with most any style.  Don't be afraid to use a punch of color!  Braids are making a comeback as well.  Oh how I wish I had hair long enough to wear these styles . . . . a girl can dream.  I hope you enjoy and perhaps find your own inspiration from these looks.  All flowers are from Hair Comes the Bride.  Visit their website for many more ideas and accessories.



Here are a few samples of how braids can be worn on your wedding day


Happy Planning!

Kelli

Your Dress Shopping Survival Kit

Modern Trousseau {Dress - Almond}

Let's go shopping!  Well this may be what friends and family are saying to you.  Perhaps you have a little more apprehension than you were expecting.  Rightfully so!!  After all, you are the one that is going to be center stage, the one everyone can't wait to see walk down the aisle, the star of the show.  That's alot of pressure to put on a girl.  This is also not the time to bring your entire entourage to the bridal salon.  Take a few special people with you who you can trust and that understand your vision for the wedding.  And thanks to TLC's "Say Yes To The Dress"" don't forget these items as well . . .

Strapless bra - With strapless gowns being as popular as ever a strapless bra is a must to have in your shopping arsenal.  It's not attractive to have the girls hanging around (and we're not talking Bridesmaids here)  just as much as it's not attractive to have straps showing.  You want to get a "true vision" of what your dress is going to look like.

Thong or seamless undies  - Yes, you guessed it, panty lines are a no, no as well.  So preferably bring along nude or beige to help you out.

Headache reliever - No matter how hard you try, there will be stress involved, not to mention those pesky fluorescent lights.  Help yourself out and bring some Motrin or Ibuprofen with you.

Sunglasses - I know this sounds funny, however, a pair of shades will help you get a better understanding of what your dress will truly look like.  Once again the fluorescent lights are not your friend.

Hair clip - Unless you have time for a trial run of your wedding hairstyle prior to your appointment, a hair clip will get your hair off your shoulders so you can focus on the dress and not your hair.

 Protein-rich snack - There will no doubt be running from one appointment to the next and before your know it your tummy is growling and your cranky and hungry.  Pack a protein bar, fruit or nuts to snack on.  After all is said and done, you can grab a bite with the girls and swoon over all the beautiful dresses you tried on.

Notebook and pen - Your mind will be boggled by all the dresses you try on and at the end of the day you won't remember dress#5 from dress #15.  Have your maid of honor, sister or mother jot down key details, the designer and style number of all your favorites so at the end of the day you can zero in on "The" dress for you.

I hope this helps you on your journey to finding the wedding dress of your dreams!


Happy Shopping!

Kelli 

Congratulations on your engagement! Now what do you do?????

It's that time of year where many couples are getting engaged.  You now have the man of your dreams, the ring is on your finger, you have shared the exciting news with family and friends, now what?  I understand how daunting the wedding planning process is, so here are a few pointers to get you headed in the right direction and feeling good about checking things off that long, long to do list.

1. Pick A Date - Perhaps you have dreamed of a romantic summer beach wedding or an intimate soiree at a vineyard in the fall with all the warm romantic jewel tones.  Maybe a destination wedding in the Rockies with skiing, snowmobiling and a romantic rehearsal dinner by the fires as part of the weekend wedding festivities for your out of town guests.  Whatever your dream is make this your first priority.  To help you out, please check this list provided by The Knot of Wedding Dates to Avoid.  

Chapel On The Rock - Estes Park, CO

2. Find A Location - The most sought after venues book out 12  - 24 months ahead of time (sometimes further).  So if you have that special location that you have always had your eye on - make that phone call and schedule your site visit to make sure it fits into your overall vision.

 

Courtesy of hellolucky.com


3. Send out Save-The-Date Cards - It's important to inform your intended guests of your upcoming wedding.  This is especially important if your guests will be coming from other states, even countries.  This is your first "impression" of your wedding day so choose your cards wisely.  Here are a few ideas.

4. Choose your Attendants - This can be a bit challenging.  However, don't let anyone influence your choices out of "obligation".  You want the person(s) standing with you to be the friends that know you best and will be there 10 years from now celebrating your future anniversaries.

5. Set A Budget - And stick to it!!!!  Remember the wedding is about you and your sweetheart vowing to love, honor and cherish each other, not trying to out do the last wedding you attended, or start off your life deep in debt.  Yes, you want to ensure your guests have a memorable time and this CAN be done while remaining within the budget you pre-determine for yourself. 

6. Select your Wedding Vendors -  Florist, DJ, Officiant, Caterer, Bakery, etc.  Your vendor selection can make or break your wedding.  Try to work off of referrals of friends or do your due diligence and research thoroughly.  If you don't know where to start and need help, hiring a Wedding Planner can be a lifesaver.  They have a network of reliable vendors that they have worked with and can help you select the vendors that fit your budget.

7. Choose Theme and/or Color Scheme - This will play out in various ways throughout your day.  From your wedding dress, the bridesmaid's style, the flowers, the table decor, etc.  Start looking through wedding magazines and blogs to get some fabulous ideas and start those creative juices flowing.


These images courtesy of Snippet & Ink.  Please visit their website for more inspiration

I hope these pointers have helped you.  Of course this is not a hard and fast list by any means and the order you choose to go about it is up to you.  I wish you all the happiness and happy planning!

Kelli

Fabulous Wedding Shoes

Who said you can't wear beautiful accessories on your feet.  What Bride wouldn't dream of having a pair of these designer shoes peeking out from beneath the gown of her dreams.  Whether they be understated with a little peep toe, over the top with feather's and bows or show stopping drop dead gorgeous dripping with Swarovski crystals.  Let your feet feel special too.  After all, they have carried you to where you are today and they will be carrying you off into the sunset with the man of your dreams tonight!   



Photo One (PERCY by PARIS HILTON) Photo Two (CARLTON by SOMETHING BLEU)
Photo Three (DREAMY by BADGLEY MISCHKA) Photo Four (E10079 by Giuseppe Zanotti ) All shoes available at myglassslipper.com

This is a first for me . . .

I am excited to unveil my very own blog!  Wow, I feel so official now I just can't stand it, not to mention a whiz (so I think) at this computer stuff.  I hope to offer some exciting things on my blog for brides, grooms and anyone else who is IN LOVE with weddings and all the details that go into planning such an important day.  I would love to hear feedback on what you think.  Thanks for dropping in and I hope to see you again soon!