West Aussie Wedding

not quite white

Speaking of grey... If you don't feel like wearing white.. here are some lovely options, for the laid back bride.. or bridesmaid

1st Row: ALC, Vena Cava

2nd Row: Sass & Bide, Chris Benz

 

all images from bopshop.com

busy bridesmaid

Former Perth local Rebecca Twigley married AFL player Chris Judd on NYE just gone.

The Bride and Bridesmaids all wore gowns by Melbourne duo J'Aton.

Love the detail on the gowns! And the way each bridesmaid wore a unique dress, in slightly different shades of grey.

   
 
images via news.com 
 
Didn't they all look absolutely beautiful!!

Especially that raven haired bridesmaid, who I happen to know from experience is the best Bridesmaid in the whole wide world and basically an all round top chick. hehe.

Congrats to the Newlyweds!!

high brow beauty

I decided we should indulge in some pre-wedding pampering the day before the wedding.

Originally I had this grand plan to book us if for the Bridal Party package at Escape Day Spa.

You get to chose get three mini treatments (mani, pedi, exfoliation, facial, massage or aromatherapy shower) and it goes for an hour and half. It would mean fluffy gowns, scented candles, soft background music...

But it has been canned because:

We will have had our fake tans, which rules out most of those treatments listed.

BM1 couldn't do it too late because her boyfriend is arriving from Melbourne that afternoon

And BM2 couldn't do it too early as she has to work

And it costs $210/pp which is a bit steep.

So instead we are going to slum it down at the local shopping centre.

image via MixnMatch

We will head to Nails Today where the Vietmanese girls in dust masks to file our toe and fingernails into perfection for $60 and you don't need an appointment

Then we can go to the Beauticans inside the hairdressers, where we can listen to 92.9 fm blaring away while they tint the hairs we like, and wax the hairs we don't.

We will come out looking the same as if we'd been at Escape.

There is one beauty indulgence that I won't compromise on, and that is having my eyebrows done by Ainslie.

An eyebrow shaping sets you back about $40 and usually takes at least half an hour, but this is no garden variety eyebrow wax! She assesses your face shape, your natural eyebrow contour and does some magic trick where you leave her salon looking younger and healthier and foxier than you walked in. I made my appointment with her months ago, because you have to she books out about 5 weeks in advance. Highly recommened Perthies! 

And if it's your thing, there are more Brides with ciggies here and here

purple pouf

Probably somewhat predictably, we have decided to go with new Bridesmaid dress.

BM2 tried it on with a wide belt and liked it much better that way.

We also took the bodice in so it fitted more snugly around her bust.

She still really loves the first dress so I have given her that one to keep.

To be realistic she is unlikely to wear the new one after the wedding, but we are the same size so she will give that back to me and I will wear it, because I really love it.

The first dress cost $139, the second $129 which means that it has effectively cost $268 to clothe each bridesmaid. I had $300/dress in my original budget so am not going to dwell on this too much.

Here is the gorgous little tulle pouf that I have also bought for the girls to wear if they wish. Probably in their hair.

 
   

It was also from Portmans (Is it just me or has Portmans gotten heaps better lately?)

I'm feeling at peace with the bridesmaid situation now. My Girls have just made it so easy for me.

As far as shoes I think that it will be best to let them each chose their own, especially as they live in different states and BM1 has particularly generous feet.

The Other Dress

We have a new contender for the bridesmaid dress.

 

It's from Portmans. About $139 I think.

I like it better than the other ones.

So does BM1 (my sister- who was with me when we saw this one)

BM2 (the Mr's sister who was with me when we got the first one) still prefers the other dress.

I like this one because its juicy colours. It's a floatier material. It's a bit more soft and a bit more fun. It can be worn with flats. It looks undisputedly rad against the Mr's charcoal suit. This dress makes me happy.

However, BM2 feels the other dress is more her style, is put off by the 'busy' print and probably feels a bit steam rollered by my sister and I finding a dress we like better than the one I got when she and I were shopping together.

Both girls have said they will wear either one, and are being quite laid back about it and I'm probably the only one developing a stomach ulcer. 

I can't help but feel bad about asking BM2 to wear a dress when I know she doesn't feel that great in it. And the same for BM1 if we opted for the original dress, as it wasn't quite right for her.

I did suggest that perhaps they can each wear whichever dress they prefer.. But nobody was too sold on that, which is fair enough. For all my talk of loving mis-matched bridemaid dresses I guess what I mean was I love non-identical dresses that DO actually match.

Hmmm. thoughts? Advice? Votes?

getting ready

I have this really idealistic view of what the morning of my wedding will be like.

The Mr and I waking up (well rested of course) and strolling down to our favourite cafe for a light  brekkie before going our separate ways to get ready.

I will be serene. My skin will be unblemished. I will be having a good hair day.

He will be his ruggedly handsome best and be looking forward to the days proceedings.

Me and my Bridesmaids will congregate at BM2's house which is light and airy and I will sip champagne and eat non-bloating nibbles. Chilled music will be playing in the background while my Hair & Makeup Artist transforms me into a breathtaking Beauty, with the attentive help of my Bridesmaids.

 
photo by Ellen Von Unwerth, via Hi I'm Ginnybranch Stelling and I love love

I know, it is soo obvious it's not going to be like that. 

To start with, we have one person doing all our hair and makeup so it's an early start. Which is fine but not really time for a leisurely breakfast. Which probably won't matter because when I am nervous I don't  feel like eating. I usually get an upset stomach instead. Those non-bloating nibbles will go straight through me

The Mr will not be eagerly anticipating the day. He will more likely be dreading his speech and wishingwe were on our honeymoon already.

I will be tempted to drink really fast in order to calm my nerves so am going to have to put someone in charge of making sure I dont get too pissed. 

I have counted ahead the months and am dismayed to see that my period is due a day or so after the wedding. Which is even worse than actually having it. It does not bode well for my clear skin not to mention my serenity. hmm so trying to figure out if I should meddle with nature on this one.

I'd love to know how the married girls found their wedding morning..? If anyone has any tips for keeping cool calm and collect? 

Groomy McGroom

We are going to be shopping for the Misters suit next week.

Trying to decide what colour to get him. And then what colour for his boys.

We were very keen on charcoal or grey, because it seems modern and stylish but also relaxed. And I happen to think the Mr would look particularly hot in this colour, he has the most lovely green eyes.

But then my future Mother in Law made the comment that grey or charcoal doesn't really go with our Bridesmaid dresses. Which is a bit of a spanner in the works.

I can't work out if she is right?

 

I'm thinking our beige dresses don't look that bad next to the grey suits? Especially if they were to be wearing a tie that also had some of the same beige colour from the dress? Or if the charcoal has a pinstripe that has more beige undertones?

Black would be the easy option as most of them already have black suits and it's the colour that goes with everything. However I reckon it seems a little somber and serious for our laid back wedding?

The other choice I guess would be brown. Which I think can look fab when done right, in a retro kind of way. But the Mr isn't really a retro kind of guy.. and the plan was to buy him a suit that he could wear again and again.. I don't know if he'd be as keen to 'invest' in brown suit.

I'd love some honest opinions please!

As an aside- speaking of brown suits.. if you haven't already seen my parents wedding photos, my Dad was slamming in his suit, which used to think was so embarassing but now think is quite cool.

 

our Bridesmaids' dresses

Our shopping mission a couple of weeks ago was a success!

The final decision was made via text messages. Based on the camera phone pic BM1 said this one was her first choice, BM2 agreed it was one of her favourites, and it was in my top three.

Which is about a close as a consensus as you can hope for.

So here they are, (imagine how much nicer they will look after they have been pressed): 

They are from the brand Katherine from David Jones and were on sale for $139, down from $239.

I'm happy with the neutral colour which should work well with the bright native flowers I am hoping to have. And the beading on the shoulders looks good and it's a neckline that the girls are pretty happy with.

Although had a mini-drama after bringing the dresses home.

While prancing around in one of the dresses to take photo for absent BM I somehow managed to get a stain on the bodice. Eek! I don't know how, I seem to be a magnet for dirt and grime. 

I did what I thought was best and dabbed the mark with a damp cloth.

Bad bad move. It just caused a water mark. Arggh!

I dashed into the drycleaners- who made me feel like an idiot for dabbing it with damp cloth ("the label says 100% silk dry clean ONLY- nothing on there about damp cloths") and seemed to enjoy dispensing bad news ("there's no guarantees we'll get it out. And there is a good chance some of these beads will come off") Great.

I had to wait a week, but to my relief the stain and the water mark were both gone. 

But some of the beads have come off. (If you click the photo to enlarge you can see.)

It's okay though, each dress came with a little sachet of spare beads. So I will get those sewn back on, (but not by me who is now too scared to even touch the dresses.. I'll get someone who tends to repell dirt rather than attract it to help me.. someone squeaky clean like my Grandma.)

And anyway I'm actually thinking of replacing some of the clear crystals with some jewel toned ones, just to add some colour and tie in a bit with my earrings..?

Shopping Mission

Bridesmaid Dress Shopping today.

We've done a fair bit of looking around and trying a few bits and pieces on but its been drawn out and fruitless. 

Partly because BM1 (my Sister) lives in Melbs and BM2 (the Mr Sister) lives in Perth..  No ones really wanted to make a decision without all present.. but unfortunately that's just not going to happen. 

I've also added to the problem by being really vague: "I dont mind what colour or style and it doesn't matter if you wear the same outfit or not".

And they are both incredibly relaxed pretty much saying "I'll wear whatever you want me to wear"

But all this lovely laidbackness is not actually helping the decision making.

They are both drop dead gorgeous girls who would actually look amazing in anything which is again making it hard to narrow the choices down.. nobody has to have sleeves or can't have spagetti straps if you know what I mean..

But to help focus our efforts we have each had a think about our preferences and so here they are:

- Not floor length (my thing)

- Not Strapless (Perth Sisters thing)

- Not low cut (Melbourne Sisters thing)

- The same (yes they prefer to match)

 

image via bellachoses

So later today I am shopping with Perth Sister for first time and I have told her we will be shopping with an intent to buy!

Even though its a shame Melbourne Sis can't be there I've got a pretty good idea of what will work for her and with that in mind I want us to buy the nicest outfit we try on tomorrow..

And then Melbourne Sister can either get the same, or if she doesn't love it, then get something  complimentary.

So hopefully by the end of the weekend that will be another thing crossed off the list

More Blue Bridesmaids

Some more lovely Blue Bridesmaid options.

All on the more casual end of the Bridesmiad spectrum of course.

 

images from bopshop

1st Row: Madison Marcus, T-Bags, Abaete

2nd Row: Charlotte Ronson, Mybe, A Common Thread

Skirts and Tops

It's not a typical Bridesmaids combo but I think it's a good look.

It's sort of like 'Bridesmaids all grown up"

They could wear a matching skirt and then pair it with whichever top they wanted.. or the same top in different colours.. or the same skirt and top.. And as long as the skirt was a flattering cut I believe it may actually turn out to be something that could wear again and again

Collette Dinnigan
  

Fab Sugar

Country Road

Elie Saab

Yeah nipples showing is one sure way to upstage the bride.. but if imagine more opaque fabrics you can see its a winner!

It can be as casual, formal, matching or non-matching as you and your BMs want it to be.

I have run this idea past my bridesmaids and they both seem keen.

 

 

AG

Ever since spying this beautiful patterned dress my mind keeps returning to the coolness of wedding dresses with prints.. either a more subtle pattern, or perhaps something that is impossible to miss..(which I didn't win, by the way)

Aussie Designer Arthur Galan has got a couple of frocks in his label AG which Im thinking could work for a Glamorous Bohoemian wedding look.. either for the Bride or the Bridesmaid.

And he does Menswear as well

All images from AG

I'm loving that dress on the top right! Some drop earrings, bejewelled sandals and a nice puffy veil to add some bridal ommph and you'd be all set!