Hiring Decorators!

Firstly since this is a wedding related post I have to say I actually resisted buying a wedding magazine! I think since having my dress and a few things booked I don't want to confuse myself with more ideas and well, I have about twelve....

Anyway! 

On my Christmas break my sister-in-law to be and I went out to visit a decoration centre, Creations Unlimited. She knows them quite well from her work in makeup artistry and she was right, they were lovely!

I did have a few things clearly set in my mind that I wanted for our wedding but other things I was rather lost on. They sat us down on a lounge and had a coffee table with four folders of decorations and wedding set ups from their past work. My SIL was fantastic discussing ideas and pointing things out to me, I so wouldn't have been able to do it without her help. 

We had a walk around the show room and found a few more things then sat down to discuss what I wanted a quote for. They weren't pushy, gave honest opinions and were just so nice!

The quote was very competitive as well, so they've been booked!

Another item ticket off the wedding list! YAY!

We're also going to use our bouquets for a bit of decoration on the bridal table so I've been on the hunt for some more. I've ordered these beauties from ebay. 

 

 

 And now my challenge is to try find somewhere to source the flowers from. Spotlight had a few options but I wasn't that impressed.

 These just weren't the best quality.. 

And these looked good, but are foam!?

I'm going to check out real florists too of course, I was at spotlight for something else so thought I'd have a look whilst I was there. 

My decision for silk flowers was based on wanting to be able to put together the brooch section myself and having it perfect... It'll work out, I know it. :)

THE DRESS!!

I tried to think for a while the best way to start this post, but every time I think about the dress I get this stupid grin on my face and get all giddy.

So yes, my trip was very successful indeed!

Three of my lovely bridesmaids, my mother and my Nan came along to the shop for support and for guidance. We were all handed gloves and told to have a look through the racks.

I'll be honest, at that point I felt so overwhelmed. There were so many dresses!!

I looked through the racks a little bit myself but was mostly saying yes or no to the dresses the girls pulled out for me to look at. By the time we decided I should start trying them on there were at least twenty dresses waiting for me. 

My first choice was easy. My dress would not be champagne coloured.

When people say you'll know when you find the dress, they couldn't be more right.

With each dress I tried on I felt like it was an impossible mission. My mum was in the change room helping me with the store lady. I felt rather embarrassed standing around in my underthings waiting for the salesgirl to unzip/unless each dress. Mum made me feel much better though.

Each dress Mum and I would whisper to each other about, then show the girls. Funnily enough they said exactly the same things we had. Nan however was not quite so eloquent "No, no, no get it off!" when she didn't like it. 

My Nan & I. 

Finally about the eight dress I found one that I short listed to a maybe pile. It wasn't the dress, but it was okay. A few dresses later I found another I really liked - a-line with a lace one shoulder.

We then decided that whatever dress I get should be in white since it looked great against my olive skin.

More dresses were tried on and I as getting to instantly tell whether I liked it or not.

There were some dresses that I liked some parts of and wondered what the designed was thinking with other parts of it.

But then my sister-in-law to be and maid of honour gave me a dress that I had to try on. I looked at it and was skeptical. Mum even asked whether I wanted to bother trying it on. 

And I am so glad I did.

It was THE DRESS!

I loved it. I even tried a veil with it and the over-sized shoes to get the idea how it would look with heels. Each time I looked in the mirror I fell more in love. All the girls (and Nan agreed!).

There were still a pile of dresses left to try on so I decided I should try on those as well.

The very last dress was gorgeous too, but there was something missing. 

So we ordered The Dress in White. It's quite like this dress worn by Gossip Girl's Blair .. 

Image from Google.

I've asked them to add a sweetheart neckline since it's straight across normally. My dress is more fitted in the bodice with the skirt starting lower and the skirt isn't as big. It has no bow and the bling pieces on it match in perfectly with my bouquet ideas. 

I am so excited. 

Now to work out how to do my hair and accessories. Any suggestions?

I'm going to have a veil, Mum has offered hers which I would love to use as long as it will match.

I've got about 4.5 months until the dress arrives.. More waiting!

Summer Sale Bargains

Me being me I can't resist a good sale, and a few things I did actually need or desperately want so it's not too bad really.

White Gold & Opal ring from Ice Online.

This I can't rememer the discount on but I love it. I'd been looking for a ring like this for ages. So glad to finally have a nice (and true stone) birth stone ring.

 Cupcake tower/holder $5, Brûlée ramekins $5 (these I had been eyeing of for ages but couldn't resist this price), glass bowl $5 and Krosno hand blown glass bud vase $9.95.

New kitten heel sandles for work from Betts. Half price down to $44.99

Anyone else gotten any good bargains from all the Boxing Day/Summer sales?

Wedding Decorations

I've had the idea of what I want for my centrepiece for my wedding for ages and I have finally found THE vase. 

And it was on sale for $39.95. Yes please.

The way I see it is that I will can use this vase after the wedding so I didn't mind buying it. 

Progress!

I've got an appointment booked to go look at a decorations place for more ideas AND even more exciting:

TWO MORE SLEEPS TIL WEDDING DRESS SHOPPING!

I might be just a little bit excited. ;)

The newest Cosmo Bride apparently has a section on weddings done to a budget so I am going to pick that issue up today.

282 days to the big day, how time flies!

(And yes this is a pre-scheduled post so as you are reading this I WILL BE at the dress shop!)

Holidays!

It's a bit sad really, only today and tomorrow left of my official holidays and gosh were they needed. 

Christmas was wonderful and spent with the family. It was a little running around but nowhere near as far. 

We all got very spoilt and had lots of yummy food. The fiancé can now understand my love  the traditional Cannelloni my mother makes too which is a bonus.

Amongst other things I made some gingerbread. Thanks to Kricket for the cute reindeer cookie cutters!

M got me two more charms for my pandora - safe to say it's basically complete now.

Traditional silly Christmas selfie shot.

Puppy opening her present, well part of it. She got very spoilt!

Boxing Day we packed up and headed down to Hamelin Bay for a break. It was lovely down there. Whilst we still got hit with the heat wave it wasn't quite as bad as back home. 

 M & Mya in the chair he bought her. Very spoilt niece!

There was no sunset to photograph on NYE since it was hiding behind these clouds. Photos still turned out lovely though.

New Years Eve was a quiet affair, just a few drinks with the people at the caravan park, but it was nice all the same.

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Christmas & NYE!

Last outfit post of 2012

This outfit was simple but nice, worn out for one last dinner with my work girls in 2012.

Top: Roads, Jeans: Jeanswest, Shoes: Windsor Smith

This top is perfect for going out for dinner - can eat as much as you like and you can't tell!

Love the lace back.

And for a random note: Makeup is now all reorganised!