Florist versus Fresh Market

"How much?!"

I'm sure my jaw dropped and my eye's must have gotten really big when the florist said the bouquets, boutonnieres, and arrangements would cost $1200 - $1500, because she went into great detail regarding how that price was figured. I don't think I heard much more of her persuasive speech, because in my mind I was still screaming the number and hearing it echo about in my cranium. I had always known flowers were not cheap, but I guess I was naïve to the fact that they cost that much, especially for what I had proposed, which was fairly minimal. I had proposed 4 bridesmaid's bouquets, plus my wedding bouquet, 3 corsages, 8 boutonnieres, and 8 arrangements for the tables. I know that sounds like a lot, and I'll agree that the boutonnieres, corsages, and bouquets were probably the majority of the proposed cost, but I couldn't wrap my head around why the arrangements would cost so much... All I knew was that the amount of said arrangements and flowers was not going to work with my budget.

Well, I'll admit, I left the florist a bit disappointed, resigning myself to the likelihood that I would probably not use a florist for what I wanted to do for the wedding. That realization also squashed the probability of me being able to get any of the flowers that I had originally wanted, namely peonies. If you are unfamiliar with what peonies looks like, click the following link to Pinterest to a picture of one http://www.pinterest.com/pin/543668986239143279/. Unfortunately, peonies bloom early in the South, usually around Memorial Day and would be here and gone by my wedding date in late June. My only glimmer of hope had been to have them ordered, which didn't seem very likely now. Instead, I resigned myself to the notion of using seasonal flowers and my second favorite flower, the iris, which would be in bloom throughout May, June, and July.

Bouquet wrap from
Michael's

So what does someone do when they are on a budget like me? I turned to my favorite person to console my sudden misery and pull my dashed little dreams out of the deep chasms of despair in which they had fallen, my fiancé, Johnny. (Okay, so I exaggerated for dramatic effect.) One of the things I love about Johnny is his creative mind and ability to think outside the box. He's great at pointing you in a direction of potential resource, which is my opinion of the Fresh Market. Can I take a moment and rave about the Fresh Market? That store is so cool! I can't believe I haven't been in this store before now! I was even more excited to find out that they have fresh flowers all year long. Granted, their seasonal flowers change throughout the year, but they have roses all year long. So I can say the colors, red, pink, and white are pretty much a guarantee to be able to accessorize with around the décor at the wedding. The Fresh Market also has affordable ready made bouquets or the option of having one arranged from the stock on the floor for the cost of the flowers (which were not expensively priced) and a $5 labor fee. So I'm thinking five of the ready made bouquets, some ribbon around each of the bouquet's stems, and a bouquet wrap from Michael's and my bridesmaids and I have our flowers for a $100-150 dollars. The flowers for the centerpiece arrangements will cost about the same if the Fresh Market arranges them or less if my wedding party puts them together. I'm pretty confident that my wedding party would be able to arrange the flowers for the centerpieces. I don't think what I have in mind will be too complicated. I'll just need to determine if it would be worth our time to do it versus paying the Fresh Market to have them arranged. I'll decide that later. The lady at the Fresh Market said she only needed two weeks notice.

Doilies from Michael's, frames from Hobby Lobby
and Garden Ridge for $10 and the a sampling of the milk
 glasses vases I purchased at the antique stores.

Inspiration picture pinned to Pinterest
 by Madison House Designs

Each centerpiece on the tables will consist of four items: a paper doily, a milk glass bud vase, an ornate picture frame, and a small candle. If you are unfamiliar with what a milk glass vase looks like (you've probably seen them, just didn't know what they were called) I have posted a picture. Milk glass comes in all different styles and sizes. Older vases have very tiny mouths and can only hold one or two flowers. The newer vases actually are a bit wider at the top and can comfortably hold 3 or 4 flowers and some small sprigs of greenery or babies breath. It is the later vases that I had in mind. The paper doilies can be found at Michael's and Hobby Lobby. I bought mine from Hobby Lobby and got 6 for $2.99. I'm still trying to locate a small candle for the centerpieces. I think some silver glass would be really pretty with the white and black. I located enough of the milk glass vases yesterday. I found several vendors on Etsy with bulk listings for milk glass, but unfortunately, glass is heavy and fragile, so it costs a lot for the shipping. Instead of purchasing them off of Etsy I decided to put some money back into my local economy and shopped around at several of the antique stores around the Chattanooga area. After visiting three shops I found a total of eighteen vases of various patterns and sizes and paid only $87.36. The math works out to $4.85 for each vase which turned out to be a far better deal than Etsy. My inspiration for the centerpieces actually comes from multiple pictures on Pinterest, but this picture posted by Madison House Designs best illustrates the design I have in mind (the color scheme will just be slightly different and I'll be using more bud vases.) Now you can probably understand why my jaw dropped when the florist gave me her price. There wouldn't be a lot of arranging for a bud vase and if I supply the vases, that's another cost I shouldn't have been charged.

Picture from Etsy vendor showing
 that at most, only
 3 or 4 flowers can fit per vase.

In the end, I think it's to my advantage to not use a florist. If the Fresh Market had not been an option, there was always the vendors at the Chattanooga Market during the summer too. The vendors there are also great contacts and would have been able to supply us with flowers the day before since our wedding would be Monday, the next day. I'll admit, there are some advantages to using a florist though, particularly that you can choose the flowers and colors, knowing exactly what you are getting. I'll be playing it by ear with the Fresh Market. Sure, they have a good idea of the seasonal flowers, but we'll be going with what is available. Some people might find this type of arrangement too nerve wrecking. Lucky for me, I'm pretty laid back and can be spontaneous. It's also a good thing that white and black go with everything! (Yep, I knew that would be helpful later!)

Probably the best part of our trip to the Fresh Market was hearing that sometimes in June, they get a shipment of peonies, but it depends on late frosts and the weather affecting their crops. So I have my fingers crossed that the crop doesn't get frosted and I end up with my peonies after all! Wouldn't that be awesome!

Bridesmaids Dresses!

Little black dresses...

Not exactly my first choice of color, as you might have speculated from my earlier posts regarding pastels and spring colors, but I must admit there are a myriad of reasons that make it a logical color choice for a wedding. First, although I like soft pastels and cool colors, I can't argue with the fact that black has been a forever timeless and elegant color. It's slimming qualities make it a great choice for anyone wanting to flatter their figure. Secondly, the shades of black are easier to harmonize if everyone ended up getting a different dress style, unlike trying to harmonize various shades of blues, pinks, greens, or other colors. This was a major deciding factor when I considered that all my bridesmaids lived states away and that there was the potential of having a different dress style for each girl with little means of comparing dress fabrics. Another factor was that the color black can go with any other accessory color and white. Third, I wanted to buy stylish dresses that my bridesmaids could potentially wear again and black is perfect for: black tie affairs, dates, or God forbid funerals. I didn't want anything that screamed, "I'm a bridesmaid dress!" You know the ones I'm talking about? For the record, I really hate the tradition that bridesmaid dresses have to be ugly in order to not outshine the bride. I think that way of thinking is incredibly juvenile and silly. As beautiful women whom I adore, I want my attendants to look their absolute best not just at my wedding, but again if they should reuse their dresses!

So the ugly dresses aside! I spent a couple months sorting through images on Google and Pinterest and in bridal magazines for the styles that I liked. I found several evening gowns at Macy's and on Edaydress that were quite elegant, as well as some great suggestions from my sister Michelle, that were at JJSHouse. Two of my favorites are pictured to the right. (On a side note, most retail stores have a "Little Black Dress" section, which I also found helpful.) I must admit however, I was terribly disappointed in general with the cocktail length dresses that are in style right now. Perhaps, it's just me, but everything seems a bit short for cocktail length. I'm certainly not a prude, but I don't think anything shorter than mid thigh should be worn at a wedding. But that's just me...

Once I had a general idea of the look I wanted for the dresses (which was quite broad), it was time to go shopping.  I'll use any excuse to go shopping and the search for bridesmaid's dresses seemed like as good a reason as any! The occasion also supplied me with the perfect excuse to meet up with my best friend and bridesmaid, Haley. So I enlisted her services (which wasn't very hard) in the pursuit for dresses and we delved into our task at hand. My little sister Michelle, (my maid of honor) was currently deployed and overseas, so I let her off the hook this time! (Wink wink!) Since we are roughly the same size, I tried on dresses for Michelle in her place.

We started our shopping expedition at Belk. Our goal was to find a dress available at a well known retail store like Belk, Dillard's, or David's Bridal. Stores that are throughout the United States and could be accessible to all my bridesmaids. Ordering from an online site was our backup plan. I wanted to start searching early for the dresses, because I knew that online sites often require 12-16 weeks of notice for their products. I didn't want to delay looking and then feel rushed later. Our timing might not have actually been the best though, since it was just before Prom. Most of the stores were discounting their current stock (which was good) and replacing them with the springier designs. It was sort of hit and miss. Everything had been kind of picked over, but we were able to find a few items that had multiple sizes and were decently priced. Finding a dressing room however, proved to be the harder task. Actually, I found that task to be quite annoying, considering that trying on the dresses was half our reason for physically being in the store versus finding something online. Being an experienced online shopper, I can profess that not everything that looks good online will look good on all body shapes. The same can be said about clothes on hangers and manikins. They don't always flatter the figure either. An important factor of our search was to find a dress that looked good on everyone or a dress for each person that would suit their figure. We found two dresses at Belk, but own that stood out as "The One." We continued our search and moved on to Dillard's, whose selection of evening gowns seemed to be a bit more broad and in a variety of colors. Suddenly, excited again by colors (yes, I know, I'm terribly indecisive at times) we tried on several of the dress styles, becoming quite attached with a plum colored gown with lace. Yes, I have a major weakness for lace as we have also previously established.

Unfortunately, this dress wasn't exactly what I was looking for either, but while we were at the checkout looking up the sizes for the plum dress, my eyes fell back onto this black dress I had past over because it was a size eight. For the heck of it, I decided to go ahead and try it on, even though it didn't look that great on the hanger. (Now what did I just say about hangers and their deception?) Turns out, it was perfect! Well, perfect except for being 2-4 sizes too big. It's perfect because it goes really well with my wedding dress. I really can't say too much more other than that though, but I can post a picture which is to the left. (Ignore the white socks.) I really love the chiffon rose rosettes. The top is actually a spandex material. The only draw back to this dress was that its smaller sizes were only available online and in sizes 6-16. Later, after we ordered them, Dillard's had issues actually locating our dresses and had to search its 300+ store locations in order to find them. I had my fingers crossed until I got a confirmation of Michelle's dress being shipped from the Dillard's in Nashville. Turns out these dresses were meant to be. :)

Now, I am just short a dress for my junior bridesmaid Samantha. She has the same problem I had at her age, she's tall and skinny. However, I think I can modify a plain black dress that I already have that is made out of the same chiffon fabric. It is pictured to the right. I'll need to dress it up a bit, maybe by attaching a belt with some rosette flowers or something. I'm open to suggestions since I have time to think and work on this project in the next couple months. All things considered, I am very pleased with the bridesmaid dresses. I'm really excited to see how they all look on the bridesmaids together and how they look with some bright colored flowers, which is an entirely different post altogether. :) At least, with my wedding date drawing ever closer, I won't have to worry about dates or deadlines to order either my wedding dress or bridesmaids dresses from a bridal shop or to keep appointments for alterations. I can check this task partially off the list for now. :)

What's on the menu?

"These are so cute!"

I exclaimed, marveling over the mini sandwiches that were loaded with lettuce, tomato, pickle, cheese, and a hamburger patty on two little buns. Johnny placed our two samplings on the table in front of us and proceeded to take his little sandwich between two fingers. It's size in comparison to his mouth gave me the giggles all over again. "Wait!" I quickly ordered, picking up my phone and snapping a posed shot of him. "We will definitely be adding these to our menu!"

I placed a check mark on the menu the receptionist had given us beside the sliders and fries and quickly gobbled down the sandwich in a few quick bites.  I nibbled on the 4 or 5 fries that accompanied the item as I systematically checked down through the food that had either met or not met our satisfaction and quickly added, "Our guests reactions will be priceless!" (Hehe, which is why I've excluded the picture!) Priceless the wedding menu shall be, if not by the size of the food than by the taste of it! The sliders and fries are but a small part of what can be expected on the buffet or passed as hors d'oeuvres. There were several items that were quite tasty, among them, the Parmesan Caesar salad toast cups, the fresh fruit and cheese platter, and the meatloaf cupcakes with mashed potato icing, but none that created as lasting an impression as the sliders.

I can definitely say that attending the tasting this past weekend at Grandview was beneficial for us. The purpose of the event was not just to acquaint us with Grandview's catering services, but to also introduce it's interested couple with several other available services in the wedding industry. Throughout the night, we were able to meet the evening's featured photographer, Daisy Moffatt, view the flowers that had been arranged by May Flowers Florists, and hear an actual harpist, Ansley Unsworth preform. The latter, actually made the biggest impression upon me. There is something very elegant about harpist music.

Aside from Grandview's catering, we were supplied with a second list that priced all the special décor that Grandview could supply. Everything from floating candles over the mantle to lanterns on the table and bistro lights. (I really loved the bistro lights!) If I had not already started gathering supplies for the table centerpieces, I would have been very tempted to rent the lanterns from Grandview for table centerpieces. They offered 3 decently sized lanterns for reasonable prices. I am giving considerable thought to them hanging around the patio (pictured above), which I like the look of very much.

The simply designed arbor (pictured to the left) however, made it painfully aware that it was going to need some sprucing up a bit. It looked very plain Jane. I'm thinking a trip to Hobby Lobby or Michael's for a silk rose garland or ivy something will be planned very soon. It will be hanging in the dusk light, so I don't think anyone will be closely inspecting it, but I want it to be pretty nonetheless. I'm open to any suggestions that might make this look a bit more elegant and less...drapish.







The tables (on the right) out on the patio on the other hand were very nicely decorated with linens supplied by White Tables. It is a tablecloth and overlay combination, very pretty, but also a bit pricey at around $21 per table. I'm afraid that is outside of our budget, especially to rent. Instead, I'm thinking about buying our linens off of efavormart online. For this look, however, it would probably cost the same. I am actually giving a lot of thought to purchasing linens versus renting them. For one, I get to keep the product and two, because we are doing common black and white colors, I could easily resell them on Etsy or Ebay. I did obtain the dimensions for the tables and will be looking into this venture a bit more.

 

During our walk outdoors (yes! I'm still a bit frightened of weather being an issue outdoors!) I snapped a picture of the courtyard seating sample and thought amused that it would not be long before I was walking down that aisle. It looked so different with the chairs set up. The picture shows it set for 80 people, which is give or take the number of our guest list. I don't think we'll have a problem fitting in a chair here or there though if we go over. Although, I'm thinking of making each row have 8 chairs in order to make the courtyard look more full.

Overall, my impression of the event was good.  The atmosphere was comfortable and helped me get a clear picture of how the general milling about of guests in relation to the course of events might occur during our wedding. The food again was tasty, especially what we kept on our list, and in sizable portions that I think will be manageable as a late night snack. The staff were also very helpful and professional. I'm glad that Grandview is able to offer these events to people who are interested in their venue. It really sets them apart from most places. If we had not already chosen them before the tasting, I probably would have after this event. I have actually been very impressed by Grandview's reputation in the wedding industry. Over the last week I have gone on the search for a wedding photographer (which we be a later post) and have heard compliments from 2 different people about how efficient and professional Grandview is at providing a one of a kind wedding that is uniquely special. Upon that fact, I have no doubt. :)
http://www.efavormart.com/

It's a Date!

Let the countdown begin!

We have finally decided on a date for our wedding! On June 23rd, in just ninety-seven days, Johnny and I will be exchanging our wedding vows! Imagine, that is just a little over 3 months away and there is still so much to do! Everyone is probably thinking, "You guys are crazy! There is no way you'll get everything planned!" Well, I'll admit, before we decided, Johnny and I did have reservations about our abilities to plan a wedding in 4 months or less. For a while we even considered moving our wedding to a date in September that Grandview had available. After all, Autumn is one of my favorite seasons too and it would not have been too difficult to imagine a fall wedding. However, after talking it over and with several other people who have planned their weddings with as much time or less, we felt the time frame was manageable. Potentially, more stressful, yes, but not unmanageable.

When Johnny and I first talked about dates, I wanted it to be in May or June. Aside from Autumn when the colors are changing, I think Spring is one of the prettier seasons of the year. It's a season with a lot of natural beauty as everything is turning green, flowers begin to bloom, and new life springs forth after it's cold dormant hibernation through winter. It's also warmer, with milder, less chilly temperatures, making it more pleasant to be outside. A very important detail for someone, such as ourselves, who are planning an outdoor wedding. I am just hoping that by late June we will also be escaping the humid rainstorms that grace our Spring/Summers down South. This was our reasoning in skipping past the dates in May for one in June.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, the most common months for weddings are in May, June, September, and October. So, with a date in June we were competing with every other couple wanting to get married during the prime seasons of the year. It's amazing, I never realized just how many people get married until I started trying to book dates for the wedding. Suddenly, it seemed like the whole world around me was getting married! Luckily, availability was not really a problem at Grandview since we had decided to get married on a weekday. Most venues are more expensive on Friday and Saturdays, then Sundays, or days during the week. At Grandview the difference was pretty significant between the weekend dates and weekdays. So we decided a Monday would make the best sense as a three day weekend for anyone wanting to come visit on vacation for the wedding. This option also allowed us to save money in a high dollar area of our budget.

Summer is usually when people spend time off from work to take a vacation. We figured our guests were more likely to attend our wedding if we picked a date in June rather than September. This was particularly advantageous for those with kids who would be in school, which included several people in my immediate family and new family alike. So if any of our guests want to come this Summer and vacation to our fair city, we can recommend lots of fun things to do in Chattanooga, besides our wedding while you are visiting.

Our last consideration for the date was to avoid any holidays a week before and after our wedding. Following anniversaries are a big consideration, particularly how we might spend them together. Johnny and I both like to travel and odds are pretty high that we will be spending anniversaries abroad for the next few years. We have aspirations to see all seven continents (yes even Antarctica) within our lifetime and all fifty states! We each have a few left or several on the list! At any rate, we both have an immense love for traveling and we both know how traveling can become both expensive and irritating around the holidays. Avoiding the holidays was a huge consideration to the date, which June 23rd seemed to solve!

So tick tock let the countdown begin...


 

Wedding Dress Alterations!

Update with a Tidbit of History!

This weekend I returned to B&J Formals for a fitting after the alterations of my wedding dress. I was very pleased with the results! The ladies there did an excellent job in making it look fabulous! My favorite addition to the dress is actually the bustle, which compliments the dress nicely in a refined and elegant way! I think I like the train bustled more than simply hanging loose. It also gives the wedding dress a style reminiscent of the turn of the century, which will fit nicely with the English Tudor style at Grandview. For curiosity sake, I actually looked up the term bustle and found a few fascinating facts I thought I would share.


19th century bustle
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/USpatent131840_1872.gif

Originally, a bustle was an undergarment, worn under a dress as a type of framework used to expand the fullness or support the drapery on the back of a woman's dress. This type of fashion occurred predominantly in the mid-to-late 19th century and is often associated with Victorian fashion. The bustle also served the purpose of keeping the skirt from dragging on the ground. Together with the corset, these two undergarments were meant to accentuate the female figure; primarily, the rump, waist, and bosom, and represented the ideal female appearance during the time period. The following image to the right illustrates the concept of the bustle in the late 19th century. Bustling my dress was a much simpler process. The seamstress at B&J Formals merely attached a hook and eye to the back of my gown and was able to tuck and fold material in order to give it the same appearance. I will not require any fancy undergarments or corsets to make my gown look fuller. I can only imagine how hot it was like to wear all those extra layers a hundred years ago. I could dive into a discussion about the tortures that women put themselves through for the sake of what society deemed as being ideally beautiful, but I don't want to start ranting. I will merely move on...



I love this picture my mom got as
 I packed my wedding dress in the car!

In addition to the bustle, the ladies also sewed in a couple darts into the bust. This actually made the dress a little bit tight in the chest, but not unmanageable. I am no longer in danger of flashing my audience and giving them an eye full. However, the material does not provide much room to give. I will need to be mindful of any weight I gain between now and the wedding date. A phenomenon that seems to impose itself upon me when I am under stress...which is a state of being I often find myself when planning the little details of our wedding. Hahaha!

In short, I am very pleased with the alterations that have been done to my dress! The ladies made a few other small additions, but I'm afraid too many details will provide to much imagery for my fiancé's vivid imagination. I'll tease you with the picture on the left instead. No spoiler alert necessary! :)

My Wedding Dress Adventure: No Peeking!

"This is the one!"

I exclaimed, running my hands over the fabric and starring at my reflection in the mirror. My mom surveyed the gown within the field of her iPhone camera and snapped a couple pictures of me in all the glory of my wedding dress! The sales lady, Theresa, made some quick alterations with a few strategically placed pins as I heard my mom's approval, "I think you are right! That one is very beautiful!" I took another glance at my reflection in the mirror and raised on tiptoes to pretend I was in high heels as Theresa placed a pin in the correct place to bustle my train. The dress was an absolutely stunning gown, emphasizing curves and fanning into a controllable manner, all while flattering my figure! I knew right at that moment I had found my wedding dress! Shhh!!!..... Of course, I really can't describe it in too great a detail or post a picture, lest prying eyes should see (aka: my fiancé.) That whole not seeing the bride in her wedding dress tradition/superstition and all! So everyone will just have to wait until the wedding day or until wedding pictures are posted to see it's perfectness!

The dress really does make me look amazingly gorgeous, but that is not its only appealing attribute, considering the boutique was offering a 50% off sale through the end of February on all things bridal, including the wedding dresses! I was tipped off about this great sale by my mom who happened to see the posted offer displayed in the window of B&J's Formals in Corinth, Mississippi. My mom has pretty good taste and saw the potential to help me penny pinch in another high dollar area of my budget. She scoped out the place before I made the drive over from Chattanooga to view the boutique. The pursuit of finding a wedding dress seemed like an excellent mother daughter excursion too! :) I had tried on a couple of dresses earlier in February by myself at David's Bridal. The experience was a bit depressing alone. It's much more fun when someone else can help you in and out of the dress and take pictures! Unfortunately, I did not find a dress at David's Bridal. I was looking for dresses with a lot of lace, but this year's David's Bridal collections didn't seem to have many with its inclusion.

My experience at B&J's Formals with my Mom was much more fun! I'm glad we were able to get together and actually find a dress. Although I'll admit, I thought it would take longer to decide on one, considering it took so long to find our venue. The ladies at B&J's Formals were really nice too! They were very informative and helpful, but didn't suddenly become a second shadow spouting off facts about the dresses, deals, or any other means of pressure-some and uncomfortable behavior. They opened a dressing room and placed the 5 or 6 dresses we had selected on the hook. I gathered right away that customers were not as frequent as they used to be, since they didn't fuss over us having more than the 3 dress minimum in the dressing room. They also spoke of downsizing their stock, mentioning that the internet had made it too difficult to compete. Of course, this was to my benefit with the 50% off sale! This boutique also provided brides with the option of renting the gown rather than limiting them to simply having to buy it. Although, some may frown at buying a rental or pre-owned dress, it is becoming a trendy way to save money on designer gowns. Sites such as www.BravoBride.com and www.OnceWed.com allow brides to pass on their new or pre-owned wedding dresses to another bride at a discounted price. The dress I purchased from the boutique was actually 60% off of its original retail price and has a well respected name to boot! If you are thinking of saving money in this area of your wedding budget, particularly by not spending an enormous amount on the wedding dress, the following blog offers some creative options. http://www.bravobride.com/blog/tag/jasmine-f473/

There are a few tips I've collected during my experience that a bride hunting for the perfect wedding dress might find helpful. First, look at lots of pictures! This can be an overwhelming process as your fashion senses verge on the brink of sensory overload. Looking at pictures can help you envision a wedding dress that defines who you are as you narrow down your particular style.Taking your time in deciding what you like is certainly well worth the time. This can also potentially save you from becoming disappointed after buying the first dress you like on a whim. Bridal magazines like The Knot Magazine and Bridal Guide usually contain hundreds of dresses by popular designers in the wedding industry and list the perspective price ranges for each of the featured dresses. Magazines like The Knot Magazine also contain listings for boutique locations where you can buy certain designer lines as well. These magazines can be useful in displaying the latest trends in wedding fashion. Do not feel limited simply to magazines to define your wedding dress style. There are also free resources available that are quite popular as well: Pinterest, Instagram, Etsy, and the internet, to name a few. These sites often feature new and creative wedding fashions and dress ideas.

I did purchase The Knot Magazine and went through it with my fiancé. I can't say this influenced my taste any, but it was kind of fun getting a sense of what he thought was pretty. I had a lot of fun sorting through the pictures and revealing my own sense of likes and dislikes. I really loved the elegance of the lace dresses. There was something very timeless and romantic about this type of fabric when coupled with the 3/4 or capped sleeves. I ranked this fabric relatively high on my list of likes, along with the classier look of buttons and laces down the back! I tended to prefer the dresses that clung and flattered the figure, particularly the trumpet and mermaid styles rather than the sheath and ball gowns. I also gravitated toward dresses that had a controllable train, meaning that it could be bustled or detached. Which is usually an available option for most wedding dresses. Nothing like a gargantuous dress to stumble over on the way down the aisle or try to contain during the reception. For me this was an essential element for my wedding dress, since tripping is already a very real fear I have if I wear high hears during the ceremony or reception. Certainly don't want to be taking a trip that quickly! Hahaha...

Another helpful tip is to set a budget for your dress before you start searching for it. Once you commit to that price feel free to shop. However, do not try on anything outside of the number you have selected for your budget, because the worst thing to happen, would be to fall in love with the perfect dress you can't afford. Also be on the lookout for end of the season and discount sales. Boutique often change their floor stocks out during the year to make room for newer designs. It is possible to buy a more expensive dress for your budgeted price if you can catch a discounted sale. However, stock might be limited or sales sporadic, so it's best to have a dollar amount in mind that you are willing to spend on your dress and look in that price range.

If it is possible, online picture shop first before visiting any of their local bridal boutiques. Preview their dresses online and make a list of any specific dresses that you would like to try on when you do visit. Do not be afraid to include a couple that are totally different to your selections! You never know, you might just look amazing in the one you least suspect! This might seem like a lot of forward work, but it will save time later when you start to actively pursue a dress in a boutique. I would also recommend actually buying a dress that you try on first. Sadly, this philosophy excludes most cheap dresses you'll find online. Oh, and just in case you are asking yourself, "Do I really need to try on the dress first when I know my measurements?" The answer is, "Yes!"  Dress sizes can range significantly between designers. Surprisingly, I was everywhere between a size 4 to 10 when I tried on dresses, which was eye opening. I originally was fond of the idea of buying a dress online, but not after that. (This doesn't mean you can't buy online though. That's just my opinion.) Another consideration is that fabric sometimes lays differently on flesh than when it is on a hanger or manikin. Some dresses may even need alterations in order for them to fit perfectly. My dress required a couple darts in the bust so that I wasn't unveiling more at my wedding than intended!

In the end, I am extremely happy with my wedding dress I purchased from B&J's Formals! It is stunningly gorgeous on me and will be perfect! I also got to spend some quality time with my mom and share the experience with her! Right now I am waiting for alterations to be completed on the dress, which wasn't going to cost but $20 to have done. (This is really cheap comparative speaking.) I was also able to get a fabulous deal and stay well under the price I budgeted for the dress! I just wish I could post a picture of this awesome find, but I know prying eyes are afoot! (He was very disappointed he couldn't see a picture, so I'm not taking any chances!) There will be no premature peeking!!!
 

Wedding Planning: Something most brides have no experience doing!

 "We have a venue!!!"

I triumphantly proclaimed, holding my fist up in the air to emphasize the moment and receive the cutest, most amused look from my fiancé, Johnny, who sat across from me in his truck as we be bopped down an old dirt road in Chickamauga! Okay, so we had decided on a place, but were still absent a date. However, I still felt triumphant none the less, because we now had a venue after nearly a month of restless indecision between two places that were equally enticing for different reasons. Since my fiancé's proposal at the end of December and our attendance at the Pink Bridal show on January 5th, I had become obsessed with finding a wedding venue that fit within our established budget.

If you are anything like me, you have limited experience in planning a wedding. Even if you've been apart of a wedding party before, it's not like you just get married every weekend and have this wealth of knowledge when planning your own. Also any prior expectations and preconceptions may be totally unfeasible due to your current circumstances. My intended venue had always been the little church in which I grew up, in Athens, Alabama. It's small and quaint and everyone is like an extended part of our family. Unfortunately, I moved to Chattanooga four years ago and it was just not as feasible to try to plan a wedding long distance or transport everyone two hours away. Naturally, the church I attend now might be the obvious choice, but it's much larger and even after a couple years of attendance I still feel overwhelmed by its size. So an outside venue with a small guest list seemed the next best choice.

Of course, when choosing an outside venue, particularly an acclaimed or well known venue, availability is an area of concern, since places are often booked well into the next year. The most popular months for weddings tend to be May, June, September, and October, with June as the most popular. Luckily, I had been able to glean this helpful little nugget of knowledge about venues as a bridesmaid for my best friend, Haley, in her wedding this past October. So bearing this information in mind, I focused on finding a venue at the Pink Bridal Show. Of the venues I investigated at the Pink Bridal Show, the Show Barn stuck out the most. It had beautiful scenery, country charm, and the most competitive price. I placed it on the top of my list to call the following Monday, along with several others: The Fillauer Lake House, Black Fox Farms, Tate House, Grandview, Lookout Mountain Fairyland Club, and rental companies in case we wanted to rent tents and have the wedding at my soon to be in-law's farm.


Although my search had included several other places, the two venues that had made the strongest impressions after calls had been the Show Barn at Mountain Cove Farms in Chickamauga, Tennessee (right) and Grandview (below) up on Lookout Mountain in Georgia. The themes for both, could not have been more starkly contrast either: country rustic versus Tudor elegance. Grandview had the awesome view, alluring architecture,  potential for amazing photography, and convenient location. The Show Barn was rustic and beautifully decorated with white drapes and chandeliers and had the potential to be decorated in a style that fit our personality as a couple. It's location was also close to my fiancé's parents and even offered a beautifully furnished home and cabins that could sleep my wedding party the night before the wedding. It was the perfect set up for all of my family and friends who would be traveling the 4+hours to come to the wedding. I was excited and ready to sign the contract for the Show Barn before ever seeing the place. At least, until I stepped out of the truck on our first visit and took an eye watering whiff of the air. The air was pungent with the smell of skunk and made me weary of exploring too deeply into the countryside. Albeit, skunk mating season as I later found out, I in no way wanted to be remembered for the skunky wedding....so my search continued to other venues as I gave the Show Barn some time to air out.

The Grandview was another immediate favorite upon my first walk through the venue for all the reasons previously listed. The view off the patio was breath taking and I'd already seen several pictures of previous weddings that had optimized on its views to make for some amazing photography. Amazing wedding pictures have always been an aspect that I have placed a high value upon and Grandview had the potential to deliver that. It's only drawback was the pricey catering that was not so optional and the affordable rates for my established budget being during the week, Monday through Thursday. Considering my projected months of interest for my wedding being sometime in June or September, I knew a weekday wedding would be more difficult for the members of my wedding party who were in school and who would be traveling down for the occasion if I chose a fall date. Thus, began the debate of pros and cons for either venue and the merits that both could add to the day.

After much debate, I decided I couldn't remove the Show Barn from my list of options unless I visited it again. After all, it had seemed so perfect until our initial visit. So nearly a month later, my fiancé and I with his cousin and her husband, travelled back out to Chickamauga to inspect the air and sample their catering options. As I hopped down out of the truck, I noted my fiancé's comment of it being further out than he remembered, but that the smell was much improved from its once skunky scent. The small little diner that caters the wedding events also serves lunch and dinner to the public, so we took a table in the restaurant and prepared to scrutinize the food, which turned out to be sizeable portions for the price and quite tasty too.

While we sat in the diner contemplating, comparing and contrasting between the Show Barn and Grandview, I spotted a bride walking out across the lawn and hopping up into a jeep with her large trailing train being stuffed in behind her. She was on her way to her wedding atop the hill in the big white barn. Suddenly I found myself pondering the possibilities of that being me in a few months and realized I hadn't really been as focused on the Show Barn for my wedding venue, but the cove house and cabins for my wedding guests. Although I liked the rustic feel and the idea of being married in a barn, there was a sense of elegance I was going to miss when comparing it to Grandview. There was also the very real scenario that I could pick the Show Barn intending on people staying in the house and cabins the night before and my guests not exactly liking the idea of one big slumber party. Grandview might be a little bit more expensive in the long run, but it was closer to how I had originally envisioned my wedding.

The wisest council anyone could give a bride in regards to a venue, would be to pick the site they like the best regardless of other people's opinions and plans. Be considerate, but don't plan your wedding place around the possible plans of somebody else. In my case, I was concerned about the inconvenience my guests would have in traveling 2+ hours to my wedding and then also needing an affordable place to stay. When frankly speaking, if someone is willing to drive 2 hours to see your wedding, they are likely willing to spend $50 for a hotel. With that revelation in mind, I knew I had my answers and could make a decision that would make me happy. The wedding would thus be at Grandview!

 

To check out more about Grandview, visit there website: http://www.meetatgrandview.com/chattanoogawedding.htm