Meghan & Adam : A downtown Los Angeles wedding at Cafe Pinot : Style Me Pretty

Meghan and Adams lovely downtown Los Angeles wedding at Cafe Pinot ran on my favorite wedding blog ever, Style Me Pretty, today. Meghan did such an amazing job creating an absolutely beautiful day! Wedding Venue: Cafe Pinot / Wedding Coordinator: Chic Ambiance Events / Wedding Cake: Fantasy Frosting / Entertainment: Rossi Music / Florist: The Hidden Garden / Hair and Make-up: T.E.A.M. Hair & Makeup

Here are some of my favorites!

The Great Dress Debacle of 2010

Okay, I am ready to talk about it. Why don't we start with the single most important thing about a wedding (??) the dress. :) Now, this is somewhat of a drama queen-Meg here. This story is something that I am both proud of and ashamed of. About two months before our wedding I went in for my first fitting of my dream dress : Claire Pettibones Kristene gown. It looked and felt like something Jane Austen's women would have worn and had so many gorgeous little lace details.

When I tried it on at the salon it, of course, was the sample dress and was way too big. When it was clamped at my waist the layers hit my hips at just the right spot but now, after the tailoring, it felt as though it was hugging me in all the wrong places.... Everyone kept assuring me it looked great but all I could think was, "Sh*t- I can't eat and I have to go to the gym every single day until the wedding." The seamstress said she'd be able to let it out in the right places and fix a few other concerns and that it would be perfect. What followed in the next two-three weeks was an inner dialogue that sounded something like this:

It's a beautiful dress. But, Meg, is it a beautiful dress on YOU? No, Meg, it's YOUR dress. You bought it, you loved it at one time you still love it. It will be perfect! Okay, I'll go to the gym ... but I don't have timmmmme for the gym. But, Meg, your hips are going to look huge. Okay... I think.... no no don't do it. This is your dress! You cannot be a bridezilla this dress cost you money! But... I don't love this dress. I don't. I do. I don't. Yes, I think... I need ...a new dress! MOM I NEED A NEW DRESS!!!!!!

I called my mom and in a very small voice said, "Mom......I know it's a month from the wedding but I'm not feeling good about my dress. I think I might need to go look for a new one." Did she roll her eyes? Did she sigh? Did she reprimand me for being a 'zilla? Nope- she simply said, "Thought so! We'll go this week. Do some research."Bless Tim's heart, he didn't say a word. ;)

Early on in my dress hunting we had gone to Glamour Closet on La Brea in Los Angeles and tried on some sample gowns. I didn't find any that day but I remembered there was an SF location and I knew that when you bought dresses there you could walk out with them immediately. None of that "9 month ordering process" deal. So off we went on a Tuesday morning 3.5 weeks before the wedding to hopefully find a new dress. I was bracing myself for the worst but was definitely going in with an open mind. At first I really liked this Vera Wang- I had come to the conclusion that what I really wanted to feel like was a cloud. I wanted to float down the aisle and I could definitely see myself floating in this... but it just wasn't really what I wanted- I felt like a cupcake!

(iphone photos)

and then..... hellloooooo CAROLINA HERRERA ....

I didn't want to take it off. The sash even matched the bridesmaids dresses! I felt like a cloud, I felt comfortable, I felt pretty, I didn't feel like I had to go to the gym- I seriously believe this was my dress soul-mate. I still felt like I was out of Pride and Prejudice but I could breathe! So here's where I wrap it all up. I am slightly embarrassed that I was such a baby- that I bought a dress on a whim and that it truly wasn't the dress for me. I'm embarrassed that it took me until a month before the wedding to admit to myself that I wasn't happy with it. All that said, I am proud of myself for not settling for something less than perfect and for being open-hearted enough to find the dress of my dreams.

2011 brides.. my advice to you, don't buy a dress too soon.. there are so many to choose from and especially if you are going to be engaged through new seasons take your time! And if for some reason you are like me and find yourself trying to convince yourself that you love your gown - give a place like Glamour Closet a shot, you never know! You might find your Carolina :)

www.jasminestarblog.com

and then of course- a girls gotta have a good dancing frock! Picked this lovely number up at Gabrielle's in Campbell - it's by Watters .. I think I am going to dye it, it's too great to not wear again!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

In between a handful of family shoots I decorated our mantel for the holidays this weekend. I know December 1st hasn't officially arrived yet but this is my favorite time of year and I just couldn't wait to feel cozy!

I started with some different sized brown bottles, wooden boxes, and some various fall bristles from our front yard.

Then I pulled out some ornaments from last years silver theme and accented some vases with various black and white photos of Tim and I. Behind is our wedding ceremony program- calligraphy by the amazing Maison du Papier.

Our mantel is really deep and hard to fill completely so I needed something really big to take up the center space. Tim made (yes, MADE) this beautiful card catalog piece for the wedding. It previous housed love notes to each of our guests telling them where to find their seat for dinner but for the holiday spirit I filled it with little seasonal trinkets and some Fuji Instax I took at our wedding.

Next, I hung our stockings- (Tim, myself, and our two kitties)- added some wooden snowflake garland I bought last year on Lincoln Ave. and also some faux red berry branches from Pier 1.

Then we "lit" a fire, roasted some chestnuts, and had some apple cidar! .... Almost.

And so I'm offering this simple phrase, To kids from one to ninety-two, Although its been said many times, many ways, A very Merry Christmas to you