Oh Vera...

Just when I had made up my mind...

{here}

The white dress...

I know I went on and on about this dress, but I can't help but think about this dress. It's so me. Easy to wear and it actually looks comfy! I have always adored Lela Rose, as you know if you read this blog, so it's not shocking that this is from her latest collection. I can't help butthink...what's a vow renewal without a beautiful white dress?

{Studio}

Once again...

Not really a surprise, but JCrew knocked it out of the park again.

Their Fall Wedding Preview is up on the site and it's great as usual. The colors for BMs are so pretty and fall-ish. The couple of gowns they previewed are stunning. I am in serious love with the first dress {pictured here}. It might actually make me change my mind about wearing an ivory/white dress. Love it, want it, need it!

{click image to enlarge}

5 from the Files #2...

It's all about the dress this week...

{ppp}

{gold}

{style.com}

{n-a-p}

I Dye*...

So, as I'm sure you can tell from the 10000 posts on here, I'm a wee bit obsessed with dresses. A bit more than a wee bit probably, but oh well. What better excuse to wear a fabulous gown than a rewedding? I love all wedding gowns and could spend hours looking at them...for other people. One of my main issues has always been that I don't feel really comfortable wearing a true white/ivory wedding gown. It feels a little silly to me, since I'm 30 and already married. I've also never found a dress that was totally 100% me and what I want. For one thing, I want a dove gray floor length{with a small train} wrap dress. Oh and I want it to have a lot of ruffles...I think. :) See my problem? My dream dress doesn't exist in just one dress, if any! 

So, what's a girl to do? Enter Elizabeth Dye! I've seen her work around the blog circuit, but haven't ever looked closely at it until recently. I'm not sure why I hadn't, because it's spectacular! The details and the craftsmanship are amazing and the designs are timeless. So, tonight I emailed her to see about her process and if it would be possible to do it from here {she's in Portland I believe and I'm all the way over here in the Deeeep South}. While I await her response, here are some of my favorites from her etsy store and blog. 

Oh and how much do I love the color of the shrug below? That's my color!

Oh and she's got to be a great person to work with, only fun people post things like this on their blog? Too great!

**Yes, I know I'm quoting her. You don't think I'm the type to quote WS, do you?

If I was a sz. 2 and had an extra 10k...

I would totally wear this to renew my vows...WOW. ODLR sure knows how to make a dress.

{here}

I never thought I'd say this, but I wish I had a bridesmaids dress! I love Thread and I really wish I could get this first one quicker than 14 weeks. I'd love to wear it to a charity event I have in the middle of February. It's simple, but chic and looks very comfy. Great for a night of drunken dancing! :) 

Anybody seen a dress like this in a sz. 16? Probably not!

Is this the same dress that the officiant has on? I love the dress she has on {not to mention the bride's dress!} and I've had this Marchesa saved for awhile. While I was writing the other posts about the dresses, I begin to think they might be the same. What do you think?

UPDATE**** I bought this dress on Gilt this week. So, I sure hope I love it as much in person as I do online. I guess one of our colors is now red! :)

{#1, #2 and #3}

BTW, how gorgeous is that picture? I've got some more images to post later from the same wedding. It was shot in Charleston by the super talented guys from A Bryan Photo and is on the front page of their site right now. It was a stunning ceremony and looked like a super fun reception!

Pick My Dress...

Ok, now that I've decided to go with a cheaper J. Crew ceremony dress, I need to pick one! I know I've got months and months, but why wait? I like one or two of these as much as I'm going to like anything, I think and the price is great as well! I might add some sort of silk/fabric flower to whichever dress I choose {sort of like this dress}, but maybe not. We're going for a black tie optional/cocktail attire level of formality, so keep that in mind when picking your fave.

Anyway, a little about my body...I'm a shorty {5'4"} and while I'm not going to share my weight, I'll say I'm curvy. My chest is probably my best feature, except maybe my smile and winning personality. I wear a large D cup, so I HAVE to wear a bra, but I can wear a strapless one with ease. I'm planning on toning up for Wedding 2.0 and have some kick-ass arms and back, so I'd like to show those off too.

I'm not going to tell you my favorite until I hear what everybody {all three of you who read and comment} has to say. What's your vote?

{Robin}

{Cecelia}

{Gracie}

{Whitney}

If you click on the names, you can see the detail shots of each dress.

Black Tie Requested...

We're planning on having a fairly formal affair, so I'm wondering if a short reception dress would be out of place...think I should go long? I have use for both in my wardrobe, but would get the most use out of a new cute cocktail dress. I don't want to be underdressed at my own party though! 

{all here}

Million dress Bride...

Since I can't get the venue guy to call me back, I've been thinking about a million other little things...Like the dress issue, for instance. Do I really want to spend $$$ on a "real" designer gown like the ones I've posted time and time again? Yes. Should I? No. I just can't get over the feeling that I would regret spending that much money on something I could only wear once. So, I've come up with a new plan...cheaper ceremony dress and rocking reception dress that I can wear over and over. What do you think?

This for the ceremony...

Then one of these beauties for the reception/after-party...

{#1, all others}

Monique Lhuillier Fall 2009

{here}

Melissa Sweet Fall 2009

{here}

Short on time...

but not on dresses...here are my favorite "reception" dresses. I love the tea-length ones. So cute!

{Monique Lhuillier}

{Vineyard}

{Melissa Sweet}

{Claire Pettibone}

{Amsale}

{all images from here}

Vineyard by POB Fall 2009

Does anybody know anything about this brand? I've never seen one of the dresses in person and no stores in my area carry them. There is a large POB store in Atlanta though and I always like their designs, so I was thinking of going over there in the Spring to look around. Are the quality and price points decent?

{here}

Vera Wang Fall 2009

I'm not shocked that I love all these VW dresses. I've been in love with her work since I was old enough to know who she was. I love the first dress, though I'm assuming you can take off the dark sash. You usually can and I SO would in this case.

{here}