My Wedding Dress Story!

Today at lunch we were discussing my wedding dress story again and I thought I would relive it and show some before pictures that I found. First, to all those brides out there that haven't looked for a dress yet. Please figure out your budget and have a plan! Don't do what you are about to read. I still can't believe it worked out so perfectly!
I was engaged only a week and I already wanted to start planning. I'm not sure why I was in such a hurry since I did have one year to plan but if you know the feeling you feel the eagerness I had inside. So my Mom and I started with bridesmaids dresses. The first place we went had the bridesmaids dresses downstairs and the bride's dresses upstairs. Yes, looking up was tempting me but I wasn't planning on going up the stairway to heaven. (It was shiny and white.) We found several bridesmaids dresses and received pricing. Next, I am going to blame this on my Mom but she said let's go upstairs and "look". I thought, well it can't hurt. I wasn't sure what I wanted and this would help me think about my dream dress. I looked around and everything was okay but then there was this one dress that was on a manikin. It was beautiful but I didn't think it was "the" dress. Well I decided to try it on for fun. BIG mistake. I put it on and the sales lady clipped me up and made it fit like a glove. Wow! I couldn't believe I was trying on a wedding dress for one and that this one was so perfect. Now I didn't have one of those moments where I cried which really surprised me. I think my Mom got a little teary eyed. The lady said okay do you want to order the dress? Another mistake- we never looked at the price tag. This dress was 6 times my budget!! I looked at the name of the designer and told the lady I would think about it. The sales lady probably hated me thinking she was going to make a big commission.
On the way home from the dress shop, I'm crushed. Yes, I like to get my way and it was the perfect dress and I couldn't have imagined anything else that would top this dress. I told my Mom on the way home I had to have it and I would get married in the backyard so I could wear that darn dress. (Not literally) My next idea was that I would find it on Ebay. My Mom thought I was nuts and told me I needed to give it up.
I got home and looked it up and found it!! Darn, the auction was over about a month prior but it was did not sell! I emailed the guy and he still had it!! I sent him the money (a way smaller price then listed above, I promise) and my dress was mailed to us from Romania!
We received the dress and it was in great condition but next problem size 12. (I was aware of this) The funny thing about this whole story is I am the biggest planner and I do not do things spur of the moment and I would have never thought in a million years I would buy a dress on Ebay and have it basically remade to fit me. Also thanks to Margo West. She is a miracle worker! I think she thought I was nuts but she made it perfect!

Before Photos

Each ruffle piece on the bottom had to be taken off and sewn back higher to make it proportion with my body.

And the final result........

And my favorite part of this story is the ending! This dress was a Pronovias and it was made in Spain. For our honeymoon we went to Spain and Portugal.
Look what I found in Spain!!!

My treasures from our Honeymoon

I got married in May and we were fortunate enough to spend the big bucks and go to Spain and Portugal for our Honeymoon! It was incredible. I am very drawn to the Spanish
Colonial/Mediterranean style. I think I always have been but since we went on our trip I am a magnet to it. I have been researching books and of course tearing pictures out of magazines. I am a believer in- inheriting a type of taste. Who knows if that is true but my Aunt and I have very similar tastes in style. So thanks Aunt Julie for your great taste!
I think my job has ruined me as well because when you see the real thing everyday you cannot help but want the details, high end fabrics and a fabulous antique mixed in, etc. I'm not sure we are living in the right city to have a typical Spanish Colonial home but I'm sure I can make it happen! We haven't had the chance to decorate yet but here are some of my things I purchased in Spain and Portugal.

 I purchased this in Seville, Spain which was not the most expensive one there by all means. Some of these went well over 100 euros plus. I thought they were to die for but the ones I liked were typically used for a bride on her wedding day.

I purchased this in Seville, Spain. They had some wonderful pottery pieces. I thought this hand painted lady was charming and can be used as a bell.

 I bought this in Obidos, Portugal. They had beautiful hand made tiles there. I wanted alot more than I purchased!

 I bought these cards in Obidos Portugal. This town was called the "Wedding Present Town" A king gave his queen the town many many years ago for a wedding present! Must have been nice!
 I picked out 5 and had them framed at Michaels when I got back. I think they turned out really nice considering how much custom framing can cost.

 I bought these hand made plates in Lisbon, Portugal. This shop I found was full of treasures. I wanted to buy everything so good thing my husband was with me!

Lunch in Paris

I am reading a new book my sweet husband gave me the other day. It's called Lunch in Paris. I am fascinated with Paris. Yes, I have been but want to go back and spend weeks of my life exploring the beautiful city and learn French. Which my husband thinks is crazy but he will fall in the love with the city! or maybe just with me all over again ;) I want to experience the romance of the city with him.
Now back to the book. I loved how the young woman described herself- "I'm the girl you call Wednesday for Saturday. A flirt maybe, but in that harmless, nineteenth-century, kiss-my-hand-and-ask-me-to-waltz kind of way. Mostly, I'm a thinker, a worrier. It's not that there's no free spirit in me. But it's a free spirit with a five-year plan." Maybe I'm not by definition a "free spirit" but I hope to be more throughout my life. When I read that paragraph I was like- oh that's me! I am a planner which I think can be a blessing and a curse. Everything is in my calendar and my husband has learned to just ask and not keep up with everything we have going on. Which he probably enjoys :) I on the other hand am learning that it is okay to not stick to the plan.
We will see how I can relate to this character in the book.

I thought for grins I would add a picture from my trip to Paris in 2007.

One more....

Now I would like to get on the next flight to Paris! Pretty Please!