First Dance isn't the only dance!

As announced in prior postings, we have decided on our "First Dance" song - As Time Goes By. But... today, I was thinking... hmm... there is more than just one dance. What other songs will we need to choose?




Here is a general list of songs you might need for your reception:

Bridal Party Introduction
Bride/Groom First Dance
Father/Daughter(Bride) Dance
Mom/Son (Groom) Dance
Bride's Parent's Dance
Groom's Parent's Dance
Grandparent's Dance
Cake Cutting
Bouquet Toss
Garter Toss
Anniversary Song for all married couples
Last song of the night

Wow.... that's a lot of songs to pick. I am hoping the band will help with providing a list of songs they suggest. After all the time spent on the first dance selection, I am not looking for to selecting the others.

Wedding Dress Labels

Again after a good long search on the net, I finally found the perfect website for personalized wedding dress labels! Score!

You ask... Wedding Dress Label, why do you need that?

Well, do I truly need everything I purchase or blog about? No... but that doesn't keep me from it! I am bride hear me charge!

I can't wait for it to get here!

The website is The Gartermaker (http://www.thegartermaker.com/). They have wonderful embroidery items.

HISTORY OF THE WEDDING DRESS LABEL (From thegartermaker.com):

In the 20’s and 30’s, couture gown designers starting designing personalized labels for their clients, and attaching them inside the gowns. Now brides can use this special touch to make wedding gowns truly their own. When the tradition of labels for wedding gowns started, it was seen as the last time a bride would use her maiden name. So the bride’s full maiden name and wedding date was sewn into the gown.

These labels are sewn into your wedding gowns lining at the hem, or inside the top of the gown, where a typical clothing label would go. They can be sewn in any color, but are most commonly done in blue for the traditional “Something Blue.” They can even be sewn as a pocket to hold something special, like a good luck charm, or other precious item that you want to have with you on your wedding day.

After the wedding, the label becomes a memento for future generations to have the name and date from the day the dress was worn. This is a special touch for a dress that will be handed down. And if you decide not to keep the dress, the label can be removed, and kept as a memento of the gown-perhaps to be placed in your wedding scrapbook, next to a picture of the dress.


Whatever you choose to have stitched on the label, it is a wonderful way to make “The Dress” truly your own.

Go big or go home!

To chav and to hold - bride's 19-stone bling dress
By Kate Jackson Kate.Jackson@Mirror.Co.Uk 9/08/2007

(Side note: "Chavs” is the English equivalent of a “hoochie mama” or “white trash”)

Catrina Nolan's wedding EXCLUSIVE

Bride's colossal crystal-encrusted dress is a real aisle-opener
Some people's marriages are over quicker than the time it took Catrina Nolan to get in and out of her wedding car.

Four people - all shouting "Push!" - needed a whole hour to haul the blushing bride on to her belly and roll her in and out of the vehicle.

If you don't believe.... here's the link to the video! http://shesoghetto.wordpress.com/2008/03/31/wedding-day-no-nos-tackiest-wedding-ever/

Yet Catrina wasn't overweight... her dress was an incredible 19 stone. (For those of us in the US and measure weight in pounds... 19 stone is approx 266 pounds!!!!!!)

"It wasn't dignified but I just wanted my dress to be different," says Catrina, 18. "I wanted something that would stand out."

It certainly did. In fact her wedding was probably visible from space.

Her gown, which cost £6,000 was a mammoth 40ft wide and made up of a dozen different materials including satin, feathers and lace, and an astonishing 20 layers of underskirts.

Catrina says: "The bodice was made up of Swarovski crystals. One side is half a star and the other is half a love-heart. It had all frills and ruffles on the skirt, it was really fantastic."

Catrina's three bridesmaids - her sisters Margarita, 16, and Nelena, 11, and John's sister Roseanne Nolan, 16 - wore satin pink corsets and skirts, with matching caps.

"It was about being funky," says Catrina, who stars in ITV1's Britain's Youngest Brides.

"They loved the outfits."

But walking down the aisle wasn't quite so funky.

"When I got to the church it took 10 minutes to get to the door when it would normally take two seconds," says Catrina, from Queensferry, North Wales.

"My brother Philip gave me away and he had to glide me down the aisle because I couldn't walk properly myself. It was really, really heavy. When I got to the reception I had to take off half the underskirts because it was getting too much."

And groom John, 20, who lays paving for a living, says: "Catrina looked amazing, I'll never forget seeing her walk down the aisle."

We bet he won't.

The DRESS..

Cost£6,000 (approx $12,000)
50,000 Swarovski crystals
20 underskirts
3 weeks to make
90 minutes to put on
12 types of fabric
19 stone in weight
40 feet wide
Britain's Youngest Brides, ITV1, 9pm - see We Love Telly!

Head or Tail... Veils for all sides?

With my first fitting for my wedding dress just over a month away, I have been spending a significant amount of time surfing for the perfect undergarments for my big day. It's underwear... I mean seriously... how hard can it be to find the perfect undies for my big day?

About 4 hours worth of surfing and nothing worth buying, but definitely something worth blogging!


Veils for undies! Yes, I have found numerous sites with Bridal underwear with veils! Just in case wearing one veil wasn't enough. It's clearly a niche market, but it must be popular. There are tons of variations... short, long, white, baby blue, lace, sheer, wide, thin...

Well... hopefully, I won't lose my blogging privileges.... but here is pic of this new trend!

Birdal Party Tees - The Funniest Bridal Tees Ever

So I just found this website and yes, I think I pee'd my pants. They have the funniest tees and undies I have EVER seen. Some are a bit racy... but fun.

Please be advised...










I am not suggesting in any shape fashion or form that I would ever, ever wear any or ask anyone I know to wear items I have posted; however, they are very funny... especially if you are not wearing them! ha

The prices aren't too bad for the custom items. The site actually allows you to customize each item. You are in control of the font style, size, color... You pick from several tees, undies... or whatever item you are printing on. You can even upload your own image. I played around with it and can only say... it was intense! I have been surfing the net for a few hours now ... so it might not be that intense so to speak.

Make sure to check out the promo option. They are currently offering a Promo tee which is free if you have the promo code from Bridal show or you can pay the discounted $9.97.

Very cool... Funny stuff and .... I am not wearing a Tee that has the words "Save A Horse"!

Dress - Check... Tux - Undecided?

What is wrong with this picture?

Bride goes shopping for her "big day" dress. The dress she had been waiting to wear for what... 20 years! She goes to the bridal shop (given probably the best one in the Mid-South, Low's Bridal and no that's not Lowe's Home Improvement Store!... Anyway). She selects her dress. Total shops = 1 Total time = 3 hrs

Groom goes shopping for his "big day" tux. He goes to one shop... They don't have what he is looking for... He goes to another shop... No nothing... Just the same... Boring Prom Tux! Note picture... It's just .... there! Nothing really special... Blah. Don't blame him for not getting excited over it.

Be careful when helping select Groom's tux, if you go to too many stores, he will just pick anything. I figure I have one more store left before this happens. I have every intention of making a preliminary visit before the Groom is disappointed yet again.

Anyway the whole point...

Who knew that it would be harder for him to find his "big day" tux than my "big day" dress! So, in the future, just remember, those items on the list you think will be way easy (such as finding the Groom's tux) won't be.

I want Joseph to be happy so we will continue the search. I don't want him to settle on a tux. He's only getting married once too!

Below is the style he is looking for and we will find it, but probably at higher end stores. We are trying Gingiss Formalwear next!

Bridesmaid accessories - where or where are the quantities?

I have been looking for a particular style and color of necklace for about 6 months now. It wasn't until recently that I found out that stores like Macy's and Dillard's don't carry large quantities of necklaces. When I was told they didn't carry "large quantities", I was thinking oh... they don't buy 20 of the same necklace. That was fine by me. I only had 4 bridesmaids... I only need 4 necklaces!

Well... they usually only buy 3 or 4 of one particular style! What... I had no clue! So, when you put on your favorite necklace, just think... you are 1 or only 3 or 4 people in Memphis who has that necklace!

Luckily, there are other options! Memphis has a wonderful wholesale jewelry store on Summer called Jun Lee. There is a minimum purchase of $30, but you can blow through that really easy.

Also, thanks to a neighbor who has passes (should be called permission slips!) to jewelry trade show coming the first weekend in August. This Bride will be attending the "Memphis Gift and Jewelry Show"! Very excited about it!

SHOW INFORMATION

• The Memphis Gift & Jewelry Show is a cash and carry show as well as order writing.
• This popular Midwest market made its debut in 1974 and has become a Must for wholesale buyers from this region. This market attracts 10,000 Buyers and has 350 Booths.
• The Memphis Gift & Jewelry Show, August 2-5, 2008, is held at the Memphis-Cook Convention Center, Main Hall, 255 N. Main Street, Memphis, Tennessee.
• There is no admission fee for Qualified Buyers.
  

You should see the rule and qualifications you have to meet just to attend! Amazing... I am definitely taking her up on the opportunity to go!

Keep your fingers crossed I score big.

Feel free to check out the Cook Convention & trade show websites for details. You might be able to attend too... but it won't be easy.

http://www.gift2jewelry.com/g2j/online?command=tradeshow.start&code=M2

French Riviera Memphis Discount/Reduced Rate!

A little bird just told me that the French Riviera - Memphis is running a special on membership fees. It's a big summer blow out sale!

Membership starting at $25 down and $25 a month until August 22nd. My favorite guy at the French Riviera is Shaun Parker (901-628-0318)! He's the best and a really nice guy... not creepy if you know what I mean. I am not sure if it's all locations, but I know it's for the location at Poplar and Highland.

After August 22nd, it goes back to the regular rate of $150 down and $30 a month... Ouch!

If you are interested in a discounted rate at the French Riviera... call Shaun Parker (901-628-0318). He will make sure you get the discounted rate.

Do NOT register at Ta*get! Don't do it!

Several people had mentioned to me that I might not want to register at Ta*get. The stories they had to tell where just awful. The treatment of the brides... just horrific!

I took their advise and didn't register at Ta*get. I was tempted... thought long and hard about it. Had even thought that I might add Target registry as the wedding date neared.

Yesterday, I was returning a pair of rather expensive sunglasses. I didn't bother looking at the price in the store, but when I realized they were $20 plus... they had to go back.

I walk into the store and the line at the return desk was pretty long. Someone was clearing holding up the line. A Bride was returning a few large items, but they were not letting her. She was very upset... tears were starting to fall! They wouldn't take her returns.

She had received several duplicate items from her registry and was requesting store credit for the items. She did not have the gift receipts. She was pointing to her registry showing the clerk where the items had been purchased. They didn't care. No gift receipt, No return.

I left... I just couldn't watch any longer! She was a fellow Bride... That could have been me!

About 30 minutes later, I walked back over to check on the situation... She was still there! Fully crying and no one care. I walked away... couldn't watch! When I turned to leave, I noticed one of the managers who had been speaking with her earlier. I stopped him and asked what was going on. He told me she didn't have gift receipts. I said, "But she's registered here and is returning items from her registry!" He said without a gift receipt they would not return items. He then stated,

"I got married 2 years ago and we asked on the invitations that gift receipts be provide"...

You're kidding me... right? "No, I am serious. I work in retail."

Wonder why he didn't just put "Cash only!" on the invitations!

I made sure he knew I had seen how they treated the poor bride and that as a bride I would NOT be registering with Ta*get!

You can't treat your customers like that! She was crying and no one cared...

DO NOT REGISTER AT TARGET FOR ANYTHING... IT'S NOT WORTH IT!

Check out the number of complaints with a Google search! WOW!

I googled "ta*get store bridal registry return policy" thinking I would find out exactly what the policy was... on NO... just page after page of complaints!

Everything Bridal... Even too much for me to look at!

You have to check out this website... They have more bridal items than even I can taken in during one sitting! I will have to revisit this website another day... WOW!

Check it out... lots of stuff...

http://www.advantagebridal.com/index.html

It's going to happen so... I have to be tacky!

I have to have one of these in white!

And I want it to say...



D-Day has arrived
October 25, 2008


in Tiffany Blue!



Too too cute! I know some might think it's tacky, but I just have to have to have it!

http://commerce.idmi.net/ecommerce/catalog_detail.asp?CID=121&CI=335&PI=32724

Updo... Might need to buy some hair!

http://www.modelbride.com/content/view.php?content_id=005485&category_id=007308

Here's the link to a hair style I would love to have... but I might need to buy me some hair!

And if I need to buy it... Here it is...

http://www.modelbride.com/product/017740.shtml

This will probably be better... You send them samples of your hair and they custom dye it to match! How cool...

http://www.modelbride.com/product/017738.shtml

Found the perfect "My Wedding Shoes" keepsack bag

I might not have found the perfect wedding shoes, but I have found the perfect wedding shoes keepsake bag! How adorable is this....


















http://www.americanbridal.com/shoe-bag-set-gbr448.html

How cute would a pair of Christian Louboutin's be in this? (just another reason to post the pic)

Have you ordered your dress?

This goes out to all the Bridesmaids: Have you ordered your dress? If not, it's really, really easy. You need to call Low's Bridal and ask for Lana. When we visited the shop and everyone tried on the dress, Lana wrote down all the information.

Low's Bridal & Formal Shoppe
127 West Cedar Street
Brinkley, AR 72021
(870) 734-3244

This goes out to all the other Beautiful Women in my life: I can't forget you either. Please feel free to use me as an excuse to buy a beautiful dress for my wedding. Something that you can dance in! It's probably a bit early... but I didn't want anyone to be felt left out of any possible "Bridezilla" leanings in this post!

Love and Kisses....

Choosing a song for the first dance

Joseph and I have researched and joked about the first dance song selection. Everything from Al Green to the Rolling Stones, Billy Joel to Norah Jones, Nat King Cole to AC/DC, Air Supply to Lynard Syknard... You get the point!

The words ... I am putting down my foot... were uttered today by Joseph. His selection and a song I love as well...

(Insert Drum Roll)... Hmmm... bet I could insert a drum roll. I do love blogspot!

As Time Goes By as featured in the movie Casablanca!



The lyrics are (and no I didn't get a print license... I am a Bridezilla)

You must remember this
A kiss is just a kiss,
a sigh is just a sigh.
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by.

And when two lovers woo
They still say, "I love you."
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by.

Moonlight and love songs
Never out of date.
Hearts full of passion
Jealousy and hate.
Woman needs man
And man must have his mate
That no one can deny.

It's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die.
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by.

Oh yes, the world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by.