Four Months to Go, Cake Cards and Next Steps

In four month's time, I would be a married woman.  Yesterday marked our four-months-to-the-wedding date!  It's been crazy with invitations (we ordered ours through Stephita.  They're AMAZING and very affordable compared to other places.  Not only are there a lot of choices when it comes to customization, but they print everything on the premises.  Really lowers the cost - to as much as HALF per card!). 

My parents are giving "cake cards" out to our family members who live in town.  It's a modern tradition in the Chinese community to do this, an off shoot of a tradition in the old days where parents of the bride hand out actual cakes/buns after an engagement.  It only goes to guests on the girl's side.  However, in modern times, not all invitations are hand-delivered, so it's much easier/convenient/cheaper to include a gift card in the invitation.  All bakeries in Chinese malls sell these.  At first, I was against giving them out - why bother, right?  But my mother said that it would look bad on us if we didn't.  My parents have been invited to two weddings this summer and both invites included these cards.  They said that having them was "tradition."  What tradition? It isn't really MINE.  It's THEIRS.  But since they're the ones handing delivering those invitations, I guess they can do whatever they want with them. 

As for the next steps?  Clothes.  My dress should be ready for the first fitting in the next few weeks.  They haven't contacted me about it yet.  As for the bridesmaids, one girl already has her dress and the others have either ordered it or will be ordering.  I had *THOUGHT* my flower girl's dress had been ordered, but it turns out that the one we chose has been discontinued.  So we're back at square one.  As for the guys?  My fiance has his tux placed and we are going this weekend to get the groomsmen and ring bearer outfits.

Dresses

Though I love my dress and all (it's going to be ready by the end of the month/early next month!!!), I can't help but wonder if I really should have bought local, rather than a big brand name.  My mom wanted me to get the latter - they felt that a known brand would have better QA.  However, I also love to support local designers and dressmakers.  Why not?  Sure, no one's ever heard of them, but everyone was an unknown at one point. 

Would you buy a wedding gown from an up-and-coming/unknown designer?  Or would you stick to a well-known name?

Less than five months to go!!!

Can't believe it's almost here. We've officially ordered our invitations will be getting them in a couple of weeks. What else do we have to do?

• Finalize registry
• Dress fittings
• Mail out invites
• Dance lessons!!!!
• Seating plan
• Pay installments for photog, videography, DJ, etc...
• Get licence (can't do that until late May or later - you have to get it no earlier than 90 days before the wedding)
• Meet with officiant

I hope I'm not leaving anything out!