Wedding Bits

Some of you may already know, I haven't spoken about it here, but the Mr. and I finally (finally!!) set a date for our wedding!  We're tying the knot on October 31st, 2014!  Yep, this Halloween.

We finalised the date sometime in January and I have delved deep, deep into the madness that is wedding planning.  If I could go back in time and give myself one bit of advice it would be this; You do not need everything that wedding magazines/websites/books/people say you do.  What you need is what reflects the two of you, is within your budget, and makes you happy.
I did what I always do when planning something and making a decision, I chose what I liked, got freaked out that it wasn't what I should do, and then went back to my first choice.  It's silly, and I always, always do things that way.
Oh, another bit of advice, find a theme.  It's so much easier to make choices when you have a theme in mind.  Otherwise it gets all jumbly.  I went through a few phases; purple and gold, blue and green, until I was reminded of a book I love dearly, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.  It's black, white, and red, limits the guest list to between 15 and 30 people, and is steampunky without being overly steampunky.

I haven't finalised a venue yet, but I'm in discussion with dear friends of ours about renting out their gorgeous Victorian B&B out in Port Townsend for that weekend.  They have cultivated a steampunk community out there, as well as being excellent re-enactors, I know we're in safe hands.


What am I wearing, you ask?  Something inspired by this dress:

Perhaps with a red, riding jacket on top...

I'm still in the mocking up phase, but I have a pile of gorgeous ivory silk that I got for 50% off from JoAnn's.  And because I am insane, I'm going to appliqué miles of black, velvet ribbon onto the silk to achieve the stripes I want.  Mostly because no one sells black and white striped silk and because I want the texture of the velvet.  

See?  YUM!

I'm still on the lookout for little boots either in red or ivory that are Victorian-ish, and probably some red accessories.  It is slowly coming together and I'm very excited to see how it progresses.  Once my last few Cornish bits are done (graduation, what?!) I can focus on this project.  Need to toss together a muslin to fuss with fitting and then it's off to building my pretty pretty dress.  EEEEP!  

What was the best advice you received about planning your wedding?  

xoxo,

Anna

Bridal Culture...

Not only are my own nuptials approaching (Halloween 2014!), but I also work at a small improv theatre in Pike Place Market where we get our share of batchellorette parties.  Here are some things that I notice;

There is a notion that your wedding day will be the "best day of your life"

Being a batchellorette means this will be the last time to be wild and free, kick up your heels, flirt, and get drunk with girlfriends.

Being a batchellorette also means that you must dress as slutty at physically possible while barely staying out of the "streetwalker" look.  It also means you are as loud and raucous as possible.

Batchellorettes also must wear as much penis paraphernalia, references to being a "bridesmaid bitch", slut, etc.

What I would like to know is why are we teaching our daughters to behave this way?  Why do we re-enforce the idea that she should desire to be a slut before she gets married, but then refuse to be labeled as a slut thereafter?  What kind of backward notion is this?

I think weddings should be regarded as one of those amazing moments in life, those points in time where things are extra special, golden, magical.  Rites of passage.  Not regarded as that one last hurrah before you must shoulder the yoke of matrimony and be miserable the rest of your life moment.  If you aren't looking forward to life with your spouse, sharing life and the joys, pains, moments that it holds, you perhaps should rethink your reasons to get married.  I am getting married because I love my man.  He drives me crazy, he comforts me, he makes me laugh and makes me cry for all the right reasons.  I wouldn't trade it for anything.  When I get around to having my batchellorette party, I would rather go out for a fancy lady night (perhaps to a burlesque show) and enjoy the company than even mentioning to anyone that it is a batchellorette party.  I am more interested in having a joint party, because I don't really understand why we need to segregate ourselves, and I think it would be more fun anyhow.  But I digress.

I have very few doubts that the majority of brides-to-be that pass through my theatre are lovely women.  When you arrive (usually a couple of drinks in) with pink sparkle bobble penis headbands, teetering on impossibly tall heels, sporting blown-up condoms taped strategically over your breasts it is extremely difficult for me to think that you are an intelligent, caring, interesting woman.  All I see is a girl who is debasing herself in order to fit cultural norms, or someone who hasn't taken several minutes to question the reasoning of doing what is "traditional" for a batchellorette party in 2013.

What do you think? Do you find modern batchellorettes to be too wild or reasonable?  What was your batchellorette party like?  

xoxo,
Anna

Prinstagram

I know, it's not the last part of the Illinois trip.  I am sorry, and yes, that is coming.  First I had to pop this lil gem in here so I remember it later.

Prinstagram is partnered with Instagram to make your snaps into printed photos!  They also do mini-books, and Polaroid like prints.
I was rather enamored by the Mini-prints because they would be such cute "Save The Date" cards!  Or thank you cards!  $12 for 48 sounds like a good deal to me.

If you do Instagram and want to follow me I am @hibougirl or check out my Followgram!

Wedding Fodder...

or..."The Dress, The Hair, The Ring, and The Man"

Old friends ask me, "When are you getting married?"  It's become so old hat to reply, "When I'm done with school." that I don't really think about something two years+ away.  Until I found these pictures, courtesy of Tumblr, and began dreaming.

The ring is a family heirloom from his side.  It was custom designed by Great grandfather and has been handed down from father to son for four generations now.  When the couple reaches their 25th wedding anniversary the ring is tucked away (in the original box!), to await the romance of the next generation, and a new ring procured.  I'm thinking something gothy?  Steampunk?  Or just plain lovely.

My grand scheme is to make my dress, probably as a senior project for school, and go from there.  I have struggled with what silhouette I want and then I found this fun purple (made from a tent!) frock.

I love the neckline, not terribly keen on the sleeves, but that's okay.  I also adore the button sash.  I'm such a sucker for button details...

Then I stumbled on this photograph and fell madly in love with the hair idea.  By the time I actually get hitched my hair is going to be so long.  I'm thinking peonies, or something equally sumptuous.  Or just a crown of autumn leaves.  We are getting married in October after all. 

Oh, yes, the most important part.  My honey-bunny.  Couldn't do this without him!