Seamstress Wanted!

I wish the world were like Etsy's Alchemy. If you haven't checked out the Alchemy feature on Etsy then you are definitely missing out. It's no secret how awesome Etsy is....but, it took me MONTHS (honestly, years) to discover the Alchemy feature. I've commented on the awesomeness of it before, but it's just so good that I'm gonna have to do it again! I found my AMAZING invitation designer, Lindsey Ryan, through Etsy Alchemy. I simply posted what i was looking for with detailed information like quantity, quality, amount i was willing to pay, and delivery date. You can also post inspiration pictures of what you're looking for. I got around 30 "bids" from doing this and after sorting through them all I picked Lindsey to create our invitations. She worked hand in hand with me to create EXACTLY what we were looking for. I'll post more on that later...I can't WAIT to share those with you!! :)

Anyway...back to my original topic.....I need a seamstress. I really really need a seamstress. And I wish I could just post a wanted ad on Etsy's Alchemy and have amazing seamstresses contact ME and offer me bids to do the job I wanted....BUT, unfortunately that's not exactly how ALL things work! ;) So...now, I'm turning to you guys. Does anyone know a great seamstress in Birmingham, AL? They need to be VERY experienced with wedding dresses. I think my bustle is going to end up being a little complicated! :) And I'm gonna need it to be taken in pretty much all over (bust, waist, hips). I think I maybe could have used the size down...plus I think Jillian is helping me firm things up (yes!!!). 

Oh, and if you're wondering why I don't just get it taken in at the bridal boutique that I bought it from it's because that boutique is about and hour and a half away and they only take alteration appointments on Thursdays. Um, hello....I work....and I live in Birmingham!! Yeah, not happening!

So, Help? Please? :)

Well, Hello My Lovelies!

So even though I've checked numerous times before (yes, recently...very recently), I just thought I'd check again...

As always I went to my usual sites...first up, Zappos.com. I type "purple shoes" in the search feature then select "women's shoes" and what happened next I did not expect...

These popped up:

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ..... uh, h-e-l-l-o!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where have you been all my lif....er, I mean the past 4-ish months?!?? I've been searching and agonizing and searching some more for the perfect pair of purple, peep top, satin, flirty pumps for the wedding and here they are right before my eyes! Could they possibly have my size (yes!), could they possibly have this color IN STOCK (yes!), could they possibly be under $100 (yes!!!!)?? This is it! I ordered them immediately. And since I ordered them from Zappos, I've already gotten the email that they've shipped and I should have them in the next couple of days. OMG!!! I can't wait to receive them....I hope they're as pretty in person as they are on the site and I hope they fit and look fabulous and are comfortable...and on and on :) I'm just so excited! One more thing checked off my list...hopefully! To be continued....

Purple Shoes

That's right, I'm wearing purple shoes. Yes, on my wedding day. Yes, with my wedding dress.

Some people seem shocked by that...but I see it everywhere on the wedding blogs that I read and I LOVE it. I love the shots of the colored shoes and the groom's colored socks...and we've decided, we're doing it. Now all that's left to do is to find the perfect pair...and believe me, I'm been searching! 

Here..

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Here..

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Here..

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Here..

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And Here..

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And lots and lots of other places that I came up empty handed. The specifications I'm looking for in my perfect purple wedding shoe are...

* Heel should be under 3 1/2 inches (preferably 3" and under)

* Shoe should be satin or another dressy material (no patent leather, no suede)

* Shoe should be purple in color...preferably in the darker side of the spectrum 

* Shoes should be under $200

* Shoes should have some unique/cute/flirty detail...twist, knot, bows, feathers or bonus points for rosettes! 

So...anybody have any suggestions for me?? Show me whatcha got!! I need help! Also - what's your favorite shoe pictured here? Think I should pick one of these? Let me know! It's okay to comment ;) ...in fact, I highly encourage it!!

Santa Sure Is Thoughtful

How'd he know that I wanted these for Christmas?!? :)

from L to R: Vera Wang: The Fragrance perfume, purple clutch from Lori's Shoes 

(that I blogged about earlier this year), Sweet Note from Mark, 

Aquamarine and Diamond Pendant, Aquamarine and Diamond Earrings.

Yep, I guess "Santa" read my mind....or actually took my hints! ;) 

Honestly though, the Vera Wang perfume Mark and I picked out together for me to wear on our wedding day; the Pendant we saw at a jewelry store in the Galleria that was going out of business - I might have mentioned that it would be exactly what I wanted to wear on our wedding day (I love aquamarines, I wanted it to be my "something blue" and it also happens to be an accent color in our wedding); the earrings were a COMPLETE surprise - I hadn't even seen those in the jewelry store...Mark did a good job, huh?; and the purple clutch is of course the one I blogged about earlier here - I guess Mark actually reads my blog occasionally!

I lllllllloooooooooovvvvvvvvveeeeeee them all. I can't wait to wear everything when I marry my best friend, the love of my life. Speaking of which...only 5 MONTHS TO GO!!!

....I couldn't resist a little extra eye candy:

i absolutely love it! :)

Confession: I Like Girly Things

...And I think the wedding is really bringing that out in me :)

I mean come on...how cute is this?!?

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It's Frilly, It's Girly, It's Pretty AND it's in our wedding color. AND....I think I need it. Ahhhh.... TOO CUTE! :)

THE DRESS (that's right....THE one!!!)

Another breakthrough in wedding planning happened last Saturday (Oct.25th)!

The search for the dress had only begun 3 weeks earlier. It all started the 2nd week of October at the White Room in Helena, AL. I got word that they were having a sample sale, but was sure I wasn't going to be able to make it since Mark and I had plans to go out of town that weekend. As luck would have it though, we decided that we would return early on Sunday so that Mark could get in some more study time for the FE (Fundamentals of Engineering Exam) that was coming up pretty quickly. After we made that decision (on Friday) I decided I'd call the White Room to see if by any chance they had any open appointments on Sunday (after 3pm) during their sample sale - turns out they did!! So I made an appointment then sent a text to my two B'ham bridesmaids, Deana and Ruth Ann. By some miracle they were BOTH available to go to the dress shop with me on Sunday! (on a side note...we are all usually really busy and its nearly impossible to get together, much less to get all 3 of us together!) So things were working out just perfectly! :)

At the dress shop on Sunday I tried on some beautiful dresses. I ended up narrowing it down to 2 and then started looking closely at price (I gave the saleswoman my budget for my dress on the way in and she was going to "police" our search based on that). Unfortunately, even with the sample sale discount (in some cases 50% off!) the dresses were STILL out of my range. They were very beautiful though, the saleswoman was amazingly patient and helpful and kind, and we had a wonderful experience there. I would definitely recommend The White Room - if you can afford it ;)

The next weekend my mom came up from Montgomery, AL to go dress shopping with me once again. This time I went to the Carriage House in Homewood, AL and The Something Blue Shoppe in Hartselle, AL (a little over an hour's drive from Birmingham!). The Carriage House had some beautiful dresses (hello Monique Lhullier and her beautiful lace! Another stand out was Christos), but once again the dresses were quite pricey! So we headed up to The Something Blue Shoppe where i had heard they had beautiful designer (yet more price-friendly) dresses. Our time there was limited because they close at 4pm on Saturday (like most dress shops around Birmingham - which i think is RIDICULOUS! I mean come on...does no one work??) So I grabbed as many dresses as I could to try on in a little under an hour - of course I went over that time and the sales ladies (somewhat) patiently waited for me. We left the store about 4:45 or so i think :) During that flurry of dresses there was ONE that stood out. It was beautiful and flattering and romantic and stylish and I couldn't get it out of my head all week! Unfortunately, that shop doesn't allow for pictures to be taken in the dresses (dumb!) so I didn't have anything that i could go back and stare at...errrr, i mean reference. :)

So this past Saturday my friend (and bridesmaid) Deana went back with me to check out that dress...as well as others since I hadn't had much time there the week before. We chose several dresses for me to try on as well as "the possible" dress. I tried on all the other options first and then put on THE dress. :) It was as beautiful as I had remembered. With the veil I had tried on the week before it was the perfect mix of modern/vintage (which for those of you who know me know that's totally my style). Deana even started to get teary eyed!! :) I knew this was it. Deana and I managed to sneak a few pictures in the dressing room so now i have a few (although not the best) pictures to gaze longingly at until the dress comes in :) Which the dress should be here by mid-February...I can't wait!! 

I have to admit I had a small battle with anxiety right after i ordered the dress. You see, as I've mentioned before, I'm "slightly" obsessive. I always have to research and research and think and make lists and research some more before i make important decisions. And I couldn't believe I had already ordered my dress just 3 weeks after i began searching! I think that's a record!! My mind started to freak out a bit though - had I looked at enough dresses? What if there was something better - for {gasp} a better price?? After about 15/20 minutes my mind began to settle down. What was I thinking? I LOVE this dress. This dress is AMAZING. This dress is THE DRESS that I'm going to be wearing while I marry the man I love with all of heart, my best friend, the love of my life. :) I'm SO excited. 

(and NO Mark...I'm not going to post any pictures! those are under lock and key :) ...you'll just have to wait! )