Guest Blogger :: Erika

First off, I bought the dress! Oh holy wow, it is really setting in that the wedding is less than six months away and I have my dress! I couldn’t be more excited. Every time someone has asked me “what you been up to?”, immediately I reply with “I bought my wedding dress!” It was even fun that in my local grocery store the word is getting out. Three of the employees there that I know only by first name heard my elated tale. It is beautiful and I cannot wait to be married! Shannon, my fiancée, is going to be amazed.

The bridesmaids picked their dresses, all the same color, but the decision was theirs between three styles. The day may be all about the bride and the bride, tee hee, but our wing ladies need to look hot, too. We picked three dresses they could possibly wear again that were simple and comfy, yet stylish and chic. David’s Bridal was a great resource and I would recommend them so far. We have the dresses ordered from David's, but the extras we are going to bargain hunt for. For me, going to a few different places and asking several different money saving-questions can get you the best deal!

I am all about having my dream wedding, but I have to be smart about not putting too much strain on the bank account. I want to have a life after the wedding that doesn't involve huge debt! Use your resources. Talk to people, ask opinions and experiences of those who have been through it already. They may have ideas you haven’t thought of yet, like Mrster.com!

For instance, my fiancée and I would like comfort when it comes to shoes, so we are customizing our own Converse for our wedding. The dresses are long enough, so they will only be visible when we walk and show them off for pictures. It's not as expensive as you would imagine, and we will get to wear them over and over again.

 

Here is an example of a custom-designed Converse shoe. This isn't our design but rather is an example.

There is just so much happening so fast, and the ride is incredible! 

Until next time, live well, love well, be well! ~E~

 

Guest Blogger, Erika Cardenas and her girlfriend are sharing with us their journey of planning their same-sex wedding. Read more about them here.

 

Guest Blogger :: Erika

Okay, not the foofy type over here. Never thought I would get really girlie about this wedding process, figured I would just go with the flow, “hakuna matata” my way through. I mean, I would have minimal input here and there, but not really have to stress a whole lot. Seven months and five days, yikes! We are just planning OUR wedding, the one I thought would never happen! On second thought, I am in full wedding planning mode over here.

Our wedding planner Cicely with Life Design Event Planning gave Shan and myself a timeline of when things needed to happen. By August, I must have my wedding dress picked, to allow time for it to be ordered and alterations made well in advance for the wedding. I sprang into action. I started looking at dresses, dress after dress. I decided to schedule a fitting/trying on session with my bridesmaids so I could get my feet wet.

Shan and I decided we were not going to see each other before the wedding in our dresses. I was nervous from the moment I woke up that day. Kind of weird that my best friend was not going to be there to give me her two cents. I didn’t stop shaking till after I had tried a few dresses on.

The first one was beautiful and made me cry. It was one of the most emotional moments of my life. Partly because, hello--I get to marry Shannon--and partly because this was one of those days I needed my Mommy. Talk about inner conflict! Whether or not she is coming to the wedding, I intend on making this day one of the happiest days of my life. I pushed through the momentary sadness, looked at myself in the mirror again and went on to the next dress.

I thought I found the right one, I mean I still love it, but I plan on looking around just to make sure I didn’t settle on the first dress to waltz into my life. I posted a picture of one of the dresses I tried on, a bit fancy, nice on top, but still not the dress I am looking for. I definitely know that I have some working out to do to stay in shape for “The Dress!”

 

Until next time, live well, love well, be well! ~E~