The Bridal Trousseau

In the beginning of the process of being engaged and planning a wedding, I just didn't realize how many outfits one must have for the purpose of  getting married. I'm not saying you have to, just that most girls I've known want to wear cute, new things in celebration of the upcoming nuptials. As in, you buy a wedding dress. You buy a "going away" outfit or second wedding dress. Oh wait, gotta have a new dress for my bridal shower. And rehearsal dinner! Shit. Better get some clothes for the honeymoon, too.

I'm attempting to strike a balance between new clothes and my some cherished clothes for the above mentioned purposes. I do have several other weddings, showers and events to attend this year, so almost everything will be doing double duty. I have a red Mad Men-esk dress from our engagement trip that I will probably wear to my bridal shower. I have yet to find a "going away outfit" and I just purchased a black, strapless party dress on clearance at David's Bridal for our civil ceremony/rehearsal day. Yes, I said black. 

I shouldn't feel bad about buying new clothes for the wedding stuff (sometimes I do), but my question is ... did any of you budget these expenses into your wedding budget? I certainly didn't think to and of course, I will re-wear almost all of it as mentioned above (obvious exception being the wedding dress.)


Of course, in times past, these clothes, the gifts from bridal showers and items one would have sewn in anticipation of  being married and running a household were referred to as the bride's trousseau and were considered part of the bride's dowry. It helped that fashion didn't go in and out of style as quickly as it does today. Then again, those ladies didn't always have careers either, did they? My, how some things change will other traditions stay the same. 


trousseau |ˈtroōˌsō; ˌtroōˈsō|noun ( pl. -seaux pronunc. same, or -seaus )the clothes, household linen, and other belongings collected by a bride for her marriage.
Here's some interesting information about the history of the trousseau.
The Bridal Trousseau
Timeline of Trousseau
The Vanishing Trousseau

Bridesmaids' Dresses? Check.

I can't begin to tell you how excited I am that my little sister and Matron of Honor purchased this dress yesterday for our wedding! She went out of her way to get the only one of her size left in Tennessee as this dress cannot be ordered through the store (nor are DB dresses returnable). Now, we just have to get our other sister/bridesmaid down to DB to one on! MOH is thinking black jewelry instead of pearls. What do you all think?

Wedding Bands: Part 1 - Little Spoon

We are less than five months from our wedding day and the time has come to consider wedding bands. Let me preface this post by saying that I have been looking for several weeks now. Big Spoon suggested that we wait until late summer to shop for bands, mostly so I didn't drive him crazy and also so that I would have more time to consider the budget and my current "wants". The two don't always coincide. Instead of scaring you with revealing the budget we set for bands (here's a hint, we forgot to put it in the original budget), I'll make sure to put it in the breakdowns after the big day :)

See that little pink arrow? Little did I know, my "unique" setting would be so difficult to pair with a band of any sort. The two beveled diamonds on the side prevent me from buying a plain 'ol round band. After shopping online, in major chains and a few hometown jewelry stores, we've come to the conclusion that I need to a) have a plain band "notched" to fit the beveled diamond on the side of my solitaire, b) buy a contoured band and weld it to my engagement ring or c) have a ring custom made ($$$).

Yeah ... anyway, after Big Spoon humored me several times now and went band shopping anyway, I had an "ah ha!" moment yesterday. Hold on to your seats, folks. I bought my wedding band for a grand total of $52.93 (without sizing). Whoa wa-what? YES. I am the queen of bargains ... for today, at least.

Really though, here's how it went down: ultradiamonds.com is an online jewelry retailer I became aware of through my Discover card. I luv my Discover card* and have been saving my Rewards cash back credit for our wedding. While shopping online, I checked my Discover card's rewards retailers and found Ultra Diamonds. I went to their website and found the band above for $299.00 (which is already a steal compared to other places). It's almost exactly like ones I have tried on at the major retail stores, but for much less. Combine the already great price with their current $100 off promo code and my Discover e-certificates redeemed specifically for Ultra Diamonds and voila! A $260 savings! 

I ordered the ring un-sized so that if it doesn't work out, I can return it within 30 days. They have a fair return policy and good customer service. I just couldn't wait for it to come in before I blogged about it! I'm hoping it can save someone out there some money. Specifically, if the quality of the diamonds in your band are less important to you than those in your engagement ring. 

Stay tuned for Part 2 when we reveal Big Spoon's wedding band! 

*We were in no way compensated for this blog post by either Discover Card or Ultra Diamonds. We like a good deal and we're telling our readers about it. Good day to you.

Merry Christmas to Me Via Rue La La!

Have you heard of Rue La La? No? well, then ... let me introduce you to your new vice. Rue La La is an online shopping resource where Members get their most wanted designers at private sale prices. And if you sign up by December 24, they'll start you off with a $10 credit!

This week, I opened an email from them that contained a $25 credit for the holidays! I didn't have to do anything but shop for this beauty. It was sale priced $29.00 and with my credit and shipping, I paid less than $14 for a sterling silver Argento Vivo necklace:

But, Rue La La is by invitation only. So click here to get started today through my personal invitation! They currently have a Vera Wang Wedgewood boutique open for you brides to be.

* edit: Rue La La did not in any way, shape or form, ask me to post this, pay me to post this or give me free goods for posting this. I'm simply sharing a cool website. The end.

Wedding Shoes ... the search continues

I've had many ideas about shoes and I've decided that it ultimately does not matter. Really. I've never had $200 shoes and I don't plan on starting now.*

Several months ago, I jumped the gun and ordered some adorable RSVP brand shoes from Zappos.com. I love their website and the ease of returning an order at no charge to me, which I had to do because those lovelies didn't fit. Sniffle.

Somewhere along the way, possibly after actually purchasing a wedding dress, it occured to me that "tea dying" shoes to closely match my dress color and adding my fabulous vintage clip earrings would do quite nicely. The earrings are my "something(s) blue" and my first wedding-related purchase (from Etsy, of course!)

Tonight, I ordered these Touch Ups dyeable shoes in Flash. Fingers crossed!

*trivia for you: $1.00 donated to Second Harvest Food Bank will purchase 5 lbs of food that is distributed to needy families. A pair of $100 shoes would provide 500 lbs of food. That's pretty incredible. Not saying you should give your money away and go bare footed down the aisle. We are having a food drive at work and I've been giving it a lot of thought.


**EDIT: The shoes came on Monday 14. They didn't work. I'll try again! :)

The Dress - Part 3

I HAVE A WEDDING DRESS!



It is much sooner than I had anticipated, but I found "the dress" at the Elegance Bridal Gala in mid-August. I tried it on while I was there and loved it. I made a few appointments and planned to put a deposit down at a trunk show and order the dress later, however, Cherished Memories Bridal and Formal is closing its doors in October.

My parents came down today to go with me and after I was laced up, we determined that the sample actually does fit ... but a few more pounds won't hurt me. It wasn't dirty or worn, so I felt comfortable buying the sample. The dress seems quite easy to alter and I'm confident that my mother or aunt can do the alterations for me for free!

Hoping to get the dress for a bit more than 30% off, I asked about the Elegance Bridal Bucks card, which she will not honor now that her dresses are clearance priced. Just wanted to throw that out there for anyone going out to the shop to look around.

All of the above aside, Lisa is very nice and reasonable. I ended up offering her a cash payment in exchange for a small additional discount and took my dress home with me. However, she is still offering deposits/payments and short term garment housing.

Now my dress is hanging in an upstairs closet, waiting for our wedding day. Next year. 58 weeks. 407 days.

The Dress - Part 2

Elegance Bridal Gala was held in Mt. Juliet on August 13. It was my first bridal show (the big ones scare me) and I was invited as one of Ashley's (of Ashley's Bride Guide) Fab Five VIP brides.

I arrived early with my friend, JT. We went into the Cherished Memories Bridal and Formal room/booth first to look at the pretty dresses. All the dresses were lovely, but one caught my eye immediately. I told JT that it looked like a cross between the Pronovias and the Allure I liked at The White Room.

Throughout the night, I kept going into the room to look at this dress and before leaving for a quick bite before the fashion show, I asked the store owner about it. I found out that it is a little known brand called "Ella" out of Australia and it was $$$. Ouch. Not super ouch, just ouch.

I scheduled two appointments with them - once to try it on with my Mom and for their trunk show in September, at which I would purchase the dress for 15% off and order it closer to our wedding date.

And then, I put it on. And I loved it even more. Great! I was super excited about this dress, even though it was a bit more than I had budgeted for. It is a combination of all the things I loved about the others, but definitely more "me" than the one Mom & Dad liked.

And then, I got a hair up my arse today to check the bridal events on Ashley's Bride Guide. Thank goodness she is on top of everything in Nashville! The store is CLOSING.

CLOSING!?!

O-M-G. I called them immediately and they confirmed this, but they still have my sample and she has put my name on it. Not really sure if that's insurance, but its all I've got. The sample *almost* fit and the dress is a lace up, so I think even if I buy the sample, I'm in the clear.

Big gulp. Stay tuned for the next installment of "If the Dress Fits".

The Dress: Part 1

I tried on my first ever wedding dress on July 15 at David's Bridal in Madison, TN. I posted about the dress I hoped would be the one here.

It wasn't.

Nor were any of the other half dozen or more dresses I tried on that day. I hated them all ... except one that I felt mildly interested in and when I got the snap shots home, I almost cried. It's not that the sales associate was bad or that anything was wrong with the dresses, per se, but I felt very foolish in most of them ... and fat. The florescent lights are not flattering and to say the least, I came home quite discouraged that day.

Fast forward to today ... I planned an entire day of dress shopping with my parents. I made two appointments and planned to visit four shops. We began our second shopping excursion at the White Room in Lebanon, TN. The consultants there were lovely, attentive and intuitive. I liked almost everything I tried on.

Yes, the opposite problem than I had had previously. To make matters more confusing, I liked two different styles in Lebanon - this ethereal, beaded beauty and a lovely, minimally embellished A-line.

After stopping in at a consignment bridal shop and having lunch, we realized that the third store had already closed for the day. We called to get directions to the White Room's sister store in Murfreesboro.

Another great experience, the consultants were again attentive and helpful. I walked in without an appointment and they saw me right away. I tried on a few more dresses before realizing that they had this one in a much much larger size. I tried it on and did the clamps in the back to help me see how it would actually look on me. I even tried on two birdcage veils and a "bubble" veil with the dress, both of which look fine.

I then tried this dress. Now I was torn again. Three dresses, all equally flattering - and all different. In total, I've had on the first dress five times today.

At this point, it was time to wrap up our shopping for the day and I headed over to David's Bridal with my parents. I had set up the appointment several weeks ago after discussing with a sales associate that I was looking for specific style numbers that the Madison store did not have in stock. She assured me that they would have anything I wanted from the Fall 2009 line.

They had two. Out of six dresses on my list (that Madison did not have), they had TWO.

So I tried on the Galina dress again. I felt more comfortable in it this time, but I'm still very undecided. I think it will be best for me to actually secure the venue we have been "penciled in" at and then make a decision.

PS. I forgot to mention that I ran into Little Miss Southern trying on wedding dresses at the White Room on Saturday morning. Check out her lovely blog! I can't wait to see what dress she picks!

Ah! *Squeek*

I'm going shopping for a wedding dress tomorrow! My mother, grandmother, little sister (bridesmaid) and one of my best friends (the genius designer turned flower expert) are all going with me.

First up: David's Bridal. I kinda have my heart set on this one.

Wedding Shoes Update

Alas, it is not meant to be. My shoes arrived today and my excitement was quickly snuffed out by the fact that my foot is too wide for the shape of the shoes. This happens sometimes. I'm disappointed, but at least I know now that they are not for me and that I should only consider a medium height heel ... after I find my dress.

Too Cute Wedding Shoes

I ordered these lovely shoes this morning from Zappos.com. I love their free shipping! I’ve had my eye on these for quite some time now, and while they are on sale, I couldn’t resist. I have nothing to loose with a 365-day return policy. I hope the combination of the frill and my shoe clips aren’t too much.

Gown Shopping

I have been asked more than a few times now when I am going gown shopping. The short answer is "I don't know." For as much as I have enjoyed the pre-planning and detailing thus far, the gown freaks me out just a little. I've never been an easy fit (and I recall with a shutter the hours and days and tears of prom dress shopping) and I'm more than a little afraid that all the dress I think I like will look terrible on me.

From what I have learned through research, most boutique bridal shops place their samples on sale in March and/or August. I also have read that November/December is the best time to buy because everyone is looking to make a sale during the "down" months and there will be sales.

Firstly, I'm not sure I can wait until November to look, but it probably wouldn't kill me considering our wedding isn't for another 17 months. Secondly, I'm waiting for the fall lines to come out (David's Bridal gets their newbies in June).

In light of all of this, I am posting my current favorite dresses. Feel free to leave comments and tell me which is your favorites!


"Sophia" from {J. Crew}


{Mori Lee} #2201


{David's Bridal}

The Ring, Part II: You'd better shop around

We visited at least three different stores after dispensing quickly with the mall-based jewelers, whose diamonds were far too pricey and whose relatively simplistic or excessively gaudy settings and bands failed to please either of our eyes. We first went to Wiggins' Jewelers, whose staff was very helpful and gave us a number of wedding-related publications. They had one nice cathedral setting solitaire and a good vintage setting that we liked...somewhat. However, the cathedral solitaire felt a bit too plain, and the vintage looked too gaudy when actually on her hand.

Our next stop was Wholesale Jewelers, which had a number of attractive pieces. One that really caught both our eyes was a one-of-a-kind princess cut diamond with some small inset diamonds and subtle filigree on the setting. Alas, it was more than three times our budget - but at least it gave me an idea of the kind of setting Little Spoon liked best.

We rounded off our engagement ring viewing spree at The Shane Company. There, we saw a couple of solitaires that were pretty enough, and seeing their offerings convinced her that she liked having some additional stones in the setting to augment the main diamond. However, none of them struck her fancy quite like the one at Wholesale Jewelers.