Second Dress or Not?

I'm seriously debating whether to get a second dress to wear at the reception (after the first dance and all).  I hadn't originally planned on changing - it's tradition in modern Chinese weddings for the bride to have up to five dresses - but the more I think about it, the more I think that I should have a party dress for dancing later on in the evening, something easier to move around in.  There are plenty of affordable white dresses on J.Crew's website...

What do you think?

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!

Wedding Gown and What We've Had Done So Far

Well, ladies and gentlemen, in case you haven't heard, I HAVE MY DRESS! I can't show you any pictures until after the ceremony, but I CAN tell you that it is GORGEOUS and very versatile - something which I was looking for at the beginning anyway. I don't want a princess ball gown - not only is it inappropriate for an outdoor ceremony, but such a dress will be overwhelming on a petite figure. I should be going to my first fitting in about five months.

So far, we have the following done:

• My wedding gown
• Decided on bridal party
• DJ
• Officiant
• Venue (catering included)
• Photographer
• Videographer
• Guest List

What we *STILL* need to do:

• Invitations (we are not sending out traditional Save the Dates on snail mail. We have either told people via word-of-mouth or e-mail)
• Ceremony musicians
• Cake
• Flowers
• Bridal Party attire
• Groom's tux
• Licence (this is done two or three months before the wedding date)
• Rehearsal dinner catering
• Favours
• Gifts for bridal party
• Hair/Make-up
• Linens (the venue does not provide chair covers)
• Hotel for out-of-town guests

We've already met with a few invitation places (prices really range - generally from anywhere between $3 Canadian/invite to over $12!! Some places include set-up and assembly charges, others do not) and are very close to making our decision. We have also spoken with cake shops. If anyone has suggestions for cakes, let me know! We need a place offers a delivery service.

More on dresses...

Well, I've started to look for gowns. I'm *STILL* not going for strapless and am not looking at anything to princessy/ball gown either. After all, it's an outdoor wedding. You don't want to look inappropriate. Since it's going to be outside, I want a more "chill" atmosphere, while at the same time, remain formal-ish. I don't know what to call it. It's not quite black tie optional and it's not "semi-formal" either. I guess it's going to be somewhere in between. Is there such a thing? Since it's not semi-formal or casual, the dress will definitely be long. Whether it's just going to touch the ground or have a short train remains to be decided - after I try things on. I'm also not sure if I'm going to have a veil. Again, we'll have to see!

Stay tuned!

Dresses.....

(NOT a dress the poster will be getting)

I have not started to look for my dress yet. I mean, I've looked around various wedding websites for styles I like, but I have not booked an appointment with any store to try dresses on. I have a rough idea of what I want. I don't want a strapless dress, since every that seems to be what every single bride has been wearing for the past ten years. I am definitely getting at least some straps, no matter what other brides have been telling me (every girl who has married has said that I'll change my mind about going strap - I am out to prove them wrong). I don't want to be the bride who is constasntly pulling on her gown (this can happen, even with good lingerie and alterations) I also want to be different. In addition to strapless, it's also not going to be a princess-like ball gown. I'm approximately 5'2" and less than 100 lb. There's NO WAY dresses like that will work on me! Or, do you think I'll end up going strapless like everyone else?