Non-Traditional Engagement Rings (and Wedding Bands)

Engagement rings that veer from the traditional sparkly white diamond path seem to have become increasingly prevalent over the past few years...emeralds, sapphires...you name it.

I, personally, am sporting a cushion cut sapphire with a diamond halo. Why did I choose the blue route? No, it is not because I wanted to be like Princess Kate (I am asked this....every...single...time...)...or princess Diana...or anyone else for that matter. I wanted to be like me. I tried on countless diamond engagement rings and they were all extremely beautiful...but none of them were really "me". I have always admired the rich blue color of a sapphire and I also wanted to truly love the ring that I would be wearing for-ev-er. So, long story short...I LOVE my ring and I also love noticing others who have chosen a non-diamond option as well. And lets get real...getting married is not really about the ring. One of my favorite examples is a previous coworker who wears a thing wooden band that matches her husband. While it is the furthest thing from bling...your eyes are immediately drawn to it because it is so unique. I think that says a lot.

If you still love a diamond engagement ring, but want a little flair from time to time, perhaps you might look into a non-traditional wedding band. Case in point...my best friend has an A-MAAAAZING engagement ring. This thing is literally jaw droppingly stunning. But she decided that she didn't want to wear the traditional wedding band next to her engagement ring and went with a rose gold and champagne diamond infinity band to wear separately...also veeery beautiful and it gives her the option to switch things up a bit (and as a girl, we like to have options). Her husband also bought her a thin gold band for Christmas to wear next to it...I love the idea of stacking the milestone rings! The more jewelry the better! I am currently in love with this pretty little thing below (right). Take my breath away - not to mention its very reasonably priced!

That's all for now folks!

T

Via bridezilla.com (left) and Amazon (right)

Lunch Break Post: How Much Glitter is too Much Glitter? Silly Question Friends...

Image Mochatini, Cotewrites Blog, Christina Re via Pinterest.  

OK...So I have a confession: I. LOVE. GLITTER. And to be honest...anything else that shines. If there were such thing as G.A. (Glitteraholics Anonymous, of course) I would be immediately signed up by my family and friends. I am like a determined fish going after a shimmering lure dangling through the water. This is my life.

Lets get real, if someone gave me a dollar for every time I Googled any combination of "glitter" "sparkle" or "wedding"...I would probably have at leeeeeeeeeeast....$1,392. Hey, that's a lot for only being engaged for a month! So here lies my issue: How much glitter is too much glitter?

Basically, when I "first" began thinking about my wedding vision, I knew there were a few things that I wanted to tackle on my own, for example: escort cards, table numbers, and centerpieces. With all the wonderful DIY ideas floating around the inter-webs nowadays, I knew I wouldn't have any trouble finding a basic concept (at the very least) to make more...me!

Which brings me to a couple of weeks ago when I made my way to the local craft store to gather some supplies that would help me bring my freshly conspired ideas to life. I literally spent hooooours perusing the aisles. When I got to the check out line, I looked into my cart and for the first time thought...you have a problem. Glittery ribbon (yards and yards), glittery spray paint (cans and cans), glitter, glitter, glitter! Did this stop me from buying it all? Absolutely not. But it did bring me to the conclusion that I have to find a way to bring all of this together without it becoming a glitastrophe.

So where am I now? Well, I have been toiling away in the little corner of our basement workshop which have taken over and turned into a magical place called Wedding World (...yikes). Good news is that I have some great ideas that I will be sharing in upcoming DIY posts....So stay tuned!

T

Bridesmaid Dresses: Check!

After a wonderful weekend in the Windy City that was full of great food, great wine and great friends, I have checked yet another important item off my list. Thanks to our creative consultant at Bella Bridesmaid, my girls are going to look absolutely fabulous in their black Monique Lhuillier gowns. I know, I know...I thought I was set on Amsale too, and they are similar to to the Amsale dresses I had mentioned in my previous post, but they are more of a smooth chiffon, as opposed to a crinkled chiffon. The dresses seemed to fit better and have more of a flattering flow to them. I ended up going with black because the gray was a little too light...more of a putty than the darker charcoal gray that I had envisioned.

I also decided to go with two styles and to let the girls pick which one they felt most comfortable with. Thankfully, the choices were pretty equal for both dresses and I didn't have to sway anyone away from the style they liked best for the sake of visual balance.

As far as price point, these dresses did come in a little higher than I would have liked (around $300), but I have to say...you get what you pay for and the quality was very apparent. The good news is that the Chicago Bella Bridesmaid is holding a Monique Lhuillier trunk show in March and if we wait until then to order, we get an additional 10% off. This will bring them under the $300 mark and nowadays, a long silk chiffon dress from J. Crew hovers around $400!! Considering that, I think we made out quite well.

Annnywho...quick one for now! Happy Tuesday!

T

Via www.moniquelhuillier.com

Via www.moniquelhuillier.com

Task of the Week: Find Bridesmaid Dresses

On my checklist for the week was to pin down a few favorite styles for my bridesmaids. When it comes to bridesmaids, I have come to the conclusion that after being one so many times, you are likely never going to make everyone happy. That being said...I am still on a mission to do so. 

Because our wedding is in November...in Michigan...it will be no where near warm...or even slightly warm. If I were being practical, I would buy them all matching parkas and call it a day. Alas, it is not that simple. So...being November, I have thought a lot about long dresses, but there is definitely a line to be drawn between long, flowing and classy...and prom dress wanna be. 

.....Which brought me to Amsale...beautiful...long...flowing Amsale. And there are numerous styles that would allow the girls to pick which one they like best (of the ones I have pre-chosen of course). An interesting note is that while trying every single one of these dresses on for a friends wedding this past summer, I realized that they look MUCH more flattering on an actual person, as opposed to an unrealistically thin model. Thumbs up!

Via www.amsale.com

But theeeeen my eyes are always drawn to ruffles...and no one does ruffles like Lula Kate...(Drool). The best part about Lula Kate is that every dress is extremely customizable. You have multiple fabric and color choices, and most are available with Tulip, Banded Straight, A-line, Party, Full, Box-pleat, or Maternity. 

Via www.lulakate.com

Via www.lulakate.com

Thankfully, I will be making a pilgrimage to sweet home Chicago this weekend to visit the local Bella Bridesmaid which just so happens to carry all of these styles - and more! I will hopefully have an update for you soon!

T

Word of Warning for Brides-to-Be While on Quest for "THE DRESS"

When I was a girl, I always thought shopping for my wedding dress was going to be this dramatic affair full of tears and hugs...surrounded by my nearest and dearest...turns out...its pretty darn overwhelming!! Well...let me back up...most of it was.

I actually wrote this post out and then rewrote it because I decided to go in a different direction. I could go on and on about what I liked and didn't like about my experience   Girls, here are a few things that you look out for while you are trying to have this fairy tale moment. I mean, it kind of is like that...when else do you get to get all glammed up like a Disney princess?

1. Consultant looks upset because you didn't like the dresses she pulled. OK, last time I checked, this was MY wedding and I should probably be buying a dress that fits MY style. There were moments where I wanted to ask "Did you make this dress?...Oh you didn't?? Then why are you so upset that I hate don't like it??"
2. Consultant makes you feel like your budget is unworthy of their store. Now, in the world of wedding gowns, I completely understand that there are your budget dresses and dresses that cost as much as a small car. I would have to say that I fell somewhere between the two...by my choice. I did not set out to find the cheapest dress I could find, nor did I set out to find the most expensive...I wanted to find the dress that I HAD to have. While trying on a dress that I was feeling so so about, but loved the sash, I had to ask..."Does the sash come separately and if so, how much?" The response I received was "Oh, the sash? It's ONLY $895." Ohhhhhhhh...oooonly? Now be that a big or small amount to some people, I don't think any amount should ever be prefaced with "only"....because you never know who you may offend. Needless to say, I did not find my dress at this appointment.
3. Line of brides a mile long to step in front of mirror. As much as I like to feel like a piece of meat on display at a deli counter, it is not really what I had in mind when trying to find my wedding dress. I could feel my own eyes dissecting everything I felt was wrong with the dress the girl ahead of me had on...WAS SOMEONE DOING THAT TO ME TOO? Prooobably. I am sure that the fact that it was noon on a Saturday had a little something to do with it, but I was pretty much over it within one dress. In short...take the day off...make a mid-day appointment...enjoy it. Otherwise...take a number and get in line.

Was there a happy ending? Thankfully, yes. 

We (My mother and I) went to our appointment at Renee Austin Wedding in Grand Rapids (which is also where we happen to be getting married). I have to say...BRAVO. This may have been because it was a Friday afternoon at 3:00, but not only did we have the full attention of our consultant (Jana), she seemed to actually be more interested in learning what I wanted as opposed to pushing the "latest style that just came in that she really wanted to see on someone" even after seeing the obvious grimace on my face. She was complimentary (but not overly to the point of being fake)...she was helpful (but not pushy)...and there was not one sash that was "ooooonly $895". Ahh...I could breathe. Good experience? Check. And to top it all of...I had finally found.... "THE DRESS".

Happy ending & Happy Friday!

T

Great Thing: Blingy Sash

Everyone that knows me knows I am attracted to anything that sparkles. Although I have not purchased my wedding dress (I will be doing that this weekend!! EEK! More on that later) you better believe that I will be accenting it with some sort of bling...classy bling that is. I came across this great Etsy store, FineNFleurie, on the Hey Gorgeous blog (which is also AMAZING - soooo you should probably check them both out.) What I love about this sash is that it is a bit more ornate and glamorous than your typical bead and rhinestone sash. Ahhh...LOVE.

About Me...(Because you asked right?)

I must admit, I never thought sitting and staring at my computer screen could be so intimidating! Should I be funny? Should I be serious? Can I remember how to spell? (THANK GOODNESS for spell check!) I think I will just try my darn hardest to be me...that should work, right?

(note: I enjoy punctuation...a lot...)

So...back to me (a phrase my mother and sister hear oh, so often). In reality... although I like to think that every day is about me, it is most definitely not. BUT, I will say...that this year just so happens to be more about me than other years...and this is the actual truth, I am not just saying that!Why you might ask? BECAUSE I AM GETTING MARRIED!! I am one lucky gal because I not only get to marry my best friend...but I also get to spend the next 10 months oozing (bad word?) creativity while planning my wedding.

I am only about a month in, but who am I kidding...I have been dreaming of this day since my brain has had the ability to function. My hope is to document the process and share some of the DIY ideas that I have come up with to other brides to be...along with many other (revert to my first post) "great things" I find along the way.

The rest...

I guess I can't let my future wedding define me (as much as it may try) so here is the rest...I in the past year "A" (My fiance - still sounds weird to say!) and I moved back to Michigan from the magical land known to most as...Chicago. I say "back" because we are both originally from the wonderful state of Michigan and did what 98% of college graduates from MI do...move to Chicago. We had experienced life in the big city which was a lovely mixture of good and ugh..."cozy vintage" apartments (a little too cozy at times...and also a little too "vintage" as well), public transportation on every corner, a plethora of restaurants (still miss those!), friends within a block or two, and there was always something to do! Now since we have moved back to the mitten (do I need to point to where I'm from?)...we have encountered many changes...two of the biggest include: 1) my new job and 2) our NEW HOUSE. (which you will hear more about later). 

So yes, folks...this past year has been a year of firsts...great firsts at that...and I have high hopes for an amazing 2012!

xo

T

Why Blog?

Hi!

It seems that anyone and everyone is blogging about something or other these days...so I thought I might give it a shot. I figure, what do I have to lose....I like writing...I like sharing...and I LOVE great things and ideas. I think that blogging is such a wonderful way to spread information about great things (food, events, decor, fashion, etc.) and it seems to be where I find most of my inspiration these days.

So...here it goes!