My Wedding Dress: The Search Is On

Here's the dress I've finally selected for my bridesmaids! It feels good to have made a choice. It's also a really good price.





Also, we've selected what tuxedos the guys will rent and the fiance has already been measured for his tux. After much discussion and a preliminary list, we've estimated that 300 people will probably witness our nuptials. (Our families alone came to over 200 people.)



So with that being said finding a venue and my dress is CRITICAL! But I have made the decision to have an outdoor wedding. (Pray for good weather...) If not, what about this for the recption indoors?

Nope. No wedding dress yet, but I will be attending the annual "Running of the Brides" sale at Filene's here in Atlanta on March 20. Am I crazy? Yes, maybe a little but me and the girls are having shirts made and going on a mission. THIS DRESS WILL BE FOUND.

Hopefully...


Anyways, I'm off to look at lots with the fiance. Yes, that's right. In addition, to a massive wedding, we're attempting to build our first home. In a recession.

Wedding: Bridesmaid Gowns

So, As I told you today was a slow news day. Well as far as I'm concerned. Maybe it was just a way of psyching myself out so I could actually get in "Bride" mode.

That being said, I'm trying my damndest to find a bridesmaids dress so my bridal party will have an idea of what their wearing and how much every should cost.

I only have 5 bridesmaids: My sister, 3 cousins and the Fiance's childhood friend. I'm close with all of them but 3 of them are out of town. (One in Maryland, my sis in NC and the other cousin in Philly.) So to keep this organized and have them still speaking to me by the time the wedding rolls around I've decided to create a Bridesmaid Packet - with all of the information of their dress...a calendar with specific dates - like bridal shower, bachelorette party, etc...so we can ALL be on the same page. The goal is to mail out all their packets by the beginning of the year so they have more than ample time to save, book travel and whatever else.

So I've been contemplating dresses. They're all in pretty decent shape, but all with different builds so hopefully I pick the right dress. I opting for a long dress.



Maybe something like this long Alfred Sung gown.


Or should I go for something short? (It will be September in Atlanta...still relatively warm.)


Like this short Priscilla of Boston number. Short can be cute.

However, I am planning to have a later wedding like after 4pm...so it'll be a little more formal. I did take to the Bari Jay wedding collection. Here are two that I found darling...




Now I've never been a bridesmaid before. In fact, I'm the first one out of my friends/cousins to get married/have a wedding. I'm not sure. I don't want to have them get a dress they'll never wear again...


What do you think? Let me know. Comment. Go. Now.

The Biggest Year of My Life

So honestly, it is a slow news day which kind of allots me some time to plan some wedding stuff. Yeah, I forgot too that I was getting married. (I've just created "The Wedding" label to force me to face the music.)

I just logged in to my page on The Knot and here's what read.

Mattie and Chris's Checklist

September 19, 2009 • DAYS TO GO: 284

TO-DOS ON LIST: 184 | COMPLETED TO-DOS: 5

Yeah...it seems as if it were only yesterday when the Fiance proposed and I got the Rock. Then I had exactly 367 days left to plan the wedding. It's now widdled down to 284. Before you know it there'll be 100 days left and then just 2 weeks before the wedding ensues.

I'm in the process of choosing bridesmaid dresses and I have no idea what to pick. I'll be posting what I've found shortly. I need all the help I can get. Because clearly I have approximately 184 things to do before I walk down the aisle. Hey at least I got 5 things out of the way already. I think they included saying yes, wearing the ring and blogging about it.

Also, I've been doing a lot of reading and writing for the show. Consequently, 2009 will be the BIGGEST YEAR OF MY LIFE. So I'm trying to pace myself that's all.

Above is what I'd like the cake to look like. What do you think?

I figure it's cake not rocket science. Let's keep it basic.