Exciting News!!

Just to set things up: my mom is part of a 4 lady team that's been buzzing around helping out with friends weddings for about a year. They have been the decorative and organizational backbone of about three weddings (mainly family members). They aren't paid, they're just helping.

Recently my old friend Alston got married. His mom is part of this outstanding team and with a very small budget and a boat load of creativity and hard work, they put together a GREAT small rustic wedding. How good?

They're putting it in The Knot.

YEP. My mamma and her girls are goin' in The Knot magazine. Awesome, right? Did I mention all these ladies will also be working my wedding? SWEET! They really do know their stuff. I've been trying to convince my mom and them to really start up a business! Mom has her catering licence, they know more about flowers than you can shake a stick at, and they will always get things done! They've joked about it plenty of times, but now I think they are seriously considering it! They are working on a name right now! (Mainly because the Knot asked for a name, but yeah.) Here's some of the stuff they did!

{Source (and more pics!) here}

Regardless, I'm as proud as I can be for all the women I know who worked to make this intimate and sweet wedding beautiful! Not to mention I'm so happy for the couple!

Aren't they adorable together, guys?? (It's their first look!)

Without further ado...

As you know, I was unable to post these pictures earlier because it was in my sister's possession in America while I was in Jordan, but now I'm stateside, and I'm very happy to present....MY DRESS!

Ok, before I show it to you, however, I give you the honorable mentions:

First, the sweet, simple, sleeker silhouette I was originally leaning toward:

Then things got poofy...

REALLY poofy. The David's Bridal associate picked it out based on things I seemed to like. On the hanger I was thinking "Oh sweetie, this is a swing and a miss." But, then when I put it on...I loved it! She was fantastic--definitely my best consultant at any of the places I went to.

Then there was this:

The dress I loved in the cataloge, but had decided NOT to try it on because it was over my budget. But, my mother insisted I try it on! Now, we've both watched say yes to the dress enough times to know this is a mistake. I was working my budget around furiously after leaving David's bridal, certain that I was sold.

Then, I stopped at a little local boutique and found this:

It was another dress I had saved on my computer (but only for inspiration--as it was also out of range.) But at this boutique, it was HALF OFF! Squeeee! It was all that I wanted: ruffles, lace, and drama. Not to mention it made my waist look smaller, haha.

Well, guys, sorry it took so long to show you the dress! Hopefully, you weren't too disappointed!

SUIT UP!

Well, guys, David went back to Cali today and this is what I've got in terms of wedding things:

Suits.

Ok, we postponed engagment pics for a number of reasons. One of the reasons (that wasn't actually decided factor, but still) is the 15 pounds I gained in Jordan! EEK! No worries. Already on the way to losing it, but more on that later. We did go to Mens' Wearhouse and after looking at tuxes, I went to where my heart had always truly lied with: suits.

I was especially inspired by this:

Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Inception was rockin' a great look. I loved the three piece idea and really thought by giving David the suit jacket and the other guys just a vest, it'll set him apart nicely.

We ended up deciding on this! They are charcoal suit separates and we're getting a vest for all the guys and a jacket for Dave as well! It worked out perfectly! Now, we haven't made the purchases yet, so if I decide on suspenders after all, we can still totally do that!

As for ties, we decided on skinny ties. David wears them all the time anyway. =) He suggested the guys all wear the same colors, but with different patterns to which I responded "I SAW THAT ON WEDDINGBEE!" One of the girls on the board posted all these fun ties she got for the guys!

Sweet, right?? Also, I love the argyle socks! =) She ordered these from TieBar.com, which is pretty cool, but reeeally hard to navigate! We may try Express. Till then, I'll just keep my eyes peeled! ;)