THE MUTHA EFFIN DRESS POST!

5.22.11

Hi ladies! Well, I've made my decision on the Dress Debate. I've been going back and forth for months about what dress to buy. I know some of you were getting a little stressed by it... *cough*Shwee*cough* And I was too. It's a big decision for someone who is by nature indecisive.

Anyway. Drum roll please. I have decided to go with the Zolotova dress from Wai-Ching. That's the one with the colorful skirt. However, there's a twist. Wai-Ching is doing the Zolotova skirt in custom, but Starkers Corsetry is going to be making me a corset to wear as the top. Sorry I didn't talk to you guys about it, but I realized the reason I couldn't commit to the Zol dress was that I don't love the top and trying to change it was going to be difficult.  So I've been talking to Starkers and they said they can custom make a fuller coverage corset for me. Now Amber had problems with an Etsy dealer when she ordered a corset for her wedding so I'm being extra extra careful. Starkers actually wants a ton of measurements AND photos showing where I want the neckline to fall. I'll be getting a cotton mock-up too and may send them a bra that fits me as well. They've been making corsets for 11 years and we've been conversing through emails. I trust them. They've also been on Offbeat Bride a ton of times.  

To put it all together, starting from the top, I'm going to have a feather and or flower fascinator with a small veil. Then the skull earrings from a previous post. On my shoulders I'm going to wear a cream colored bolero, maybe with some flower details, possibly a peacock feather. Under that I'll have the corset in black and then the Wai-Ching skirt. To see the skirt go to http://www.wai-ching.com/. It is a flash site. On the side bar to the right choose "bridal". Scroll down to the Zolotova dress. The skirt is the one I'll be ordering in custom colors, reds and blacks with some teal highlights. We haven't discussed the colors in detail. I'll have her help me get the right balance so the skirt looks right.

So yeah. It is good to get that out of the way.

Aaron and I are meeting with the caterer on the 30th and Aaron found the hotel contract and is taking care of that.

What else?

There is one problem that I have to get off my chest. Please keep this to yourselves but I could use some moral support. My good friend Wendy is supposed to perform our ceremony. She is like a second mother to me and I have known her since I was 12. Her daughter and I used to be very good friends and it was that friend that introduced Aaron and I. Long story short we had a falling out and are not friends now. A year ago or so we talked and I felt like we had closure. Last week she contacted me and told me that she did not want her mother to perform the wedding and that doing so would cause a huge rift between them. She said it made her angry and frustrated and that Wendy was only performing the ceremony out of respect for my mother. I talked to Wendy who told me that her daughter threatened her with never speaking to her again if Wendy didn't ask me to let her out of the wedding. Wendy is very hurt by this, as am I. Wendy is going to talk to her daughter next week and try and work something out. My question is, should I tell Wendy that it's okay if she steps out? Having her perform my wedding was something I asked her to do when I was a teenager and is hugely imprtant to me but I have to consider her feelings too. She told me that anything her daughter does is not my fault and that she will still perform the ceremony. But I still feel guilty. Another part of me simply doesn't want her to win which is hugely childish of me. So, what to do? I'll feel sad if she doesn't perform the ceremony and guilty if she does. I could really use some advice here.

Thanks ladies for being there for me!

Lanterns

I've been toying with the idea of using paper lanterns for decorating the Freebird. We've been okayed to pretty much do what we want up to and including nailing things into the walls. I thought it would look very pretty to string lighted lanterns from the balcony suspended over the ceremony space. Perhaps something like the photos below?

Okay, so this is just a beautiful shot!

Square lanterns!

Freebird!

2.25.11

Wow ladies! It's been 3 months since I've posted anything. A three months were Aaron and I did absolutely nothing. Seems that makes people a bit antsy when we're, you know, supposed to be planning a wedding. But, fear not! Ashleigh has decided to take the reins and since we've gotten quite a bit done.

The Freebird Saga has a new chapter, one in which Ashleigh has championed over Tim the booking agent. So without further ado: we're getting the Freebird! Ahhhhh! We still have to talk money with Tim, pay the deposit, and sign a contract, but (unofficially) it's ours November 5th! Yesterday we (myself, Aaron, and Shwee) met with Brad the manager of the Freebird who was awesome. With a little sweeping and possibly a carpet shampooer the place is going to be fabulous. The upstairs portion is big enough for a cocktail hour, the stage is great, they have rooms for us to use beforehand, and AND we can make a grand entrance coming down the stairs. A word of caution though, high heels may not be a good idea. The stairs are steep and so is the ramp to the stage. I don't want anyone breaking an ankle so I will advise you all to get flats! If we can arrange it I'd like you all to see the place beforehand. I'll need to go up there at least one more time in order to start figuring out decorations. Once I know when I'll let you know to see if any of you would like to scope the place out.

Yesterday we also started checking out local hotels which resulted in all sorts of hilarity. Shwee is going to bat on this one as well. It looks like we're going to get a block of rooms at the Best Western and the Quality Inn Suites. The Best Western isn't as nice, although I'd have no problem staying there myself, but it is cheaper. That'll give people options. Aaron thinks his family will probably stay at the Quality Inn and his friends the Best Western. We think we're going to get the jacuzzi suite in the Quality Inn. It had an awesome beach view.

So, that's really all for now. After we speak with Tim the official work will begin! Hurray!

Thanks ladies,
I love you all!