A hop, skip and a jump

Last week was one crazy week- BUT thanks to the Hive's suggestions-- I survived. I got over my cold with tons of rest, Emergen-C, Zicam, and lozenges. I was able to hop into my Boss' office Thursday afternoon and hand in my work report, skip on over to my dress fitting and then jump on a plane to Seattle for my bachelorette Friday morning! Before I tell you about the best girls weekend EVER, I finally have decent pictures of me in my DRESS!!! But please don't mind my facial expressions as I was just getting over my cold.

Mr. Peep step away from the computer, far, far, away!!!!

This was my second dress fitting- I stupidly forgot to charge my camera last time- so right away the dress fit much better. Again, Lilly, the women who sewed the dress came down from the 6th floor and started pinning me. First, the straps had been placed in the wrong place so they got out the seem ripper and got to work. Here they are in the right place- they perfectly cover up any armpit fat!


Next, the dress was still too big. By design they make it bigger- it's so much easier to take something in- and it feels so much better to know they are taking it in rather than out. So Lilly quickly went to work pinning and clipping me. The first time they did it along the sides of the dress, so this time they did it down the back. Each of the arrows is another pin:


Isn't it such a sweet little train? And yes, that's my Mom's veil that I am wearing- doesn't it go perfectly??

Here I am all pinned up. I love wearing my dress.

We decided to hold off on the hem and the bustle until the next fitting. I've seriously gone over the edge- I haven't found a pair of shoes that I love!! I know, I know. I've bought and returned at least 8 pairs of shoes at this point- I've never been this picky about anything!!

Once the pinning was done we started playing around with wraps. While it's currently 90 degrees here- I know that when the big day comes it will be cold and foggy. First up, I bought some lace, a pattern, and a few cuts and stitches later, I had a home made bolero!! It was the easiest thing EVER but more on that later. Both the seamstress and my friend K thought that the detail in the lace detracted from the dress. I may try to get something simpler and sew up another one for the next fitting:


Since my bolero wasn't quite right, we started playing with the wraps at the store. Up first- the most expensive at $210- a heavy satin. While the satin matched the dress, I think it would have been more appropriate for a winter wedding- not a late spring wedding (fog or no fog):


Then we went for something lighter- organza. Even though the wrap itself looked dingy against my dress, but it was a much better option:

Don't ask what I am doing with my arms or my silly face expression. I think I was trying not to let snot drip down on my dress as I smiled ear to ear because I was so excited that I was wearing my dress!!!

Finally, I tried on the softest thing I have ever tried on- a pure silk wrap. Again, the color here is white and I'd get one in in ivory. Both the silk and organza wrap were $110.



The silk was by far our favorite in person (I don't think you can really tell in pictures). At this point, I am going to see if I can find a better fabric for the bolero, but I am heavily leaning towards the silk. Even Mama Peep thought a great silk wrap would be perfect- and a perfect accessory for years to come.

I hope I didn't bore you will all the pictures of me!! Do you get all giddy knowing you are wearing your wedding dress?? And will you be sportin' a wrap on your big day? If so what kind??

Oh, Diane, no you didn't!!

I am the absolute worst Bee Blogger ever. I went to my first dress fitting- and the camera in my battery was dead!! I feel like I committed a blogging crime by doing something so important and not taking my camera. If it's any help, my Mom was a bit disappointed that I didn't take any pictures either.

The good news is: the fitting was fantastic. To my surprise, it wasn't just a muslin of my dress- but the actual dress. At first I was totally disappointed because it was so big on me that it just looked like a satin sack. Then two fabulous seamstresses came down from the 6th floor and did their magic. Using tons of pins and a seam ripper they completely modified the dress to fit my body. At the end of the experience, I got to meet Lilly- the women who actually sewed my dress. The even more good news, I will have at least 3 more fittings- and I promise to take my camera to the next three!!

Since I feel like I owe the hive a picture of me in a dress, I thought I should follow up on my fabulous DVF dress. I've already introduced you to Peyton, but here she is on me (Sorry, I had to cut off my head):


I love her, yet very soon after she arrived I had major buyers remorse. The dress was just too much money. Last weekend, Sister Peep, SIL Peep and I had a quick moment while their little ones were napping to do a little window shopping.

We just happened to walk by a window that advertised a 60 to 80% off sale!! Within 30 seconds of being in the store, I spotted Ravine. Another Diane Von Furstenberg dress, but this one was 60% off the original price. A much better price than Peyton, and it had a lot more pizazz!! Both ladies loved the dress- so I bought the dress immediately!! It's non-returnable, but I love it so much and the price I was so great, I know that I will never regret the purchase!! I wish it photographed better (and I wish I had been wearing the right bra):

It's fun and flirty, and the price doesn't break the bank!!

Since I bought Peyton at Nordstrom, it was super easy to return her. But I am sad that I had to return the perfect little black dress.

What do you think; a lot more fun huh? How many RH Dinner Dresses did you try on? Did it take a few family members to help you finally decide on a dress?

Oh, Diane!!

For the last few weeks, I have spent a ridiculous amount of time looking for the perfect Rehearsal Dinner dress. I wasn't looking for that perfect white mini Rehearsal Dinner dress, but a dress that looked phenomenal- and that looked like me. I've been to all the usual suspects- Anthro, J. Crew, BCBG, Nordstroms, Macy's, and Bloomingdales- I've even been to multiple locations of each to see if they have different merchandise. And yesterday I finally found the perfect dress.

I've had issues with dresses for years. I even spent a few years skipping the dress thing all together and wearing skirts with a cute top instead. Last summer I faced my worst fear, I needed a dress for the FIVE upcoming weddings I was scheduled to attend.

I forced Mr. PT to go dress shopping with me. I tired on one dress, and he fell head over heals for it! Then I looked at the label and the price tag- it was Diane von Furstenberg and more than I had ever paid for a dress in my life. What was a girl to do?

I couldn't ignore Mr. Peep's reaction. The dress was simple and fit perfectly. I took the plunge and bought the dress. And true to my word, I wore it to all five weddings! It was a major hit. Here I am at wedding number four, cheering on the Bride and Groom:


Ever since the day I bought that dress, I have fallen in love with all things Diane. It's like a curse. I see a dress I like and it's a DVF!!

Yesterday I had the goal of going to one last shop to look for the dress. I tried on over twenty dresses- either they were frumpy or showed wayy to much cleavage. And of course the only one I loved happened to be a Diane. Oh Diane- how much do I love you. You are so simple, but you fit a women's body like no buddies business. If only I could afford you!

Then I remembered that I had a sizable Nordstrom's gift card. While I hadn't seen the dress at Nordstrom, I went in and asked the sales women if they sold it. She looked it up online- and low and behold- they had it, and they'd ship it to me for free!

So I put down my gift card and my credit card and I bought a ridiculously expensive dress. It should be here in five to seven days, and even Mr. Peep is anxious to see the dress.

It's as simple as it gets, but to me, it's worth it. Her name is Peyton; I bought her in Black; and I love her:

source.

For the first time in my life, I can say I am a proud owner of a the perfect little black dress! Anyone else agonize over finding a Rehearsal Dinner dress? Anyone else wearing a LBD the night before the wedding?

And the winner is...

As I sit here and watch the Golden Globes, I can't help but notice all the white/ivory/champagne dresses on the red carpet. Maybe since I am a bride-to-be I am more acutely aware of these dresses, but I like to think that they wish they were brides-to-be themselves.

So here are my nominations for best bridal like appearance:

Best Vintage Glam:


Best Goddess-esque:


Best Alterna-Bride:


Most Romantic:


Best all out Glam:


Most Traditional:


Best Destination Wedding Dress:


Best Modern Dress:


And my absolutely favorite of the night, I'll just call this one: Best Dressed


And I can't forge the lovely bridesmaids. So, here are the best bridesmaid-esque dresses:

Best Black Tie Bridesmaid Dress:


Best Cocktail Party Bridesmaid Dress:


Best Garden/Springtime Bridesmaid Dress:


There you have it, the winners according to Miss Peep.

If only a stylist like Rachel Zoe would help style me on my wedding day (well, really every time I step out in public).

What's your favorite look? And which picture most resembles your dress?

All the pictures were found here.

Bridal Shopping Angst

When you first get engaged, everything is so freakin' exciting!! It's like the doors opened to a whole new wonderland that I had no idea existing.

Source.

YET there was one part about wedding planning that I totally feared: Dress Shopping.

I know that to some dress shopping is the most exciting part- so exciting that Sister Peep couldn't wait to take me to all the best places in San Francisco ASAP, but me, I was scared *#$%-less to go.

Why?? (Insert ridiculously honest blogging moment here): I was so scared that nothing would fit, and I was even more terrified of what a big white puffy dress would look like on my body. I had heard about dress shopping from Sister Peep and SIL Peep, and it didn't sound pretty to me:

They have one size sample, they come into the dressing room with you to help put it on, and 'make' it fit you.

Nothing is petite or small on my body, not even my elbows or calves, and especially not my assets!! It didn't help that I had recently gone dress shopping with a good friend who is a street size 0- and she ordered a size 8 wedding dress. Ugg. What size would I need to buy??

But, shortly after I got engaged and found the wedding blog mecca that is Weddingbee, I read a blog post from Mrs. Kiwi: Her Regret. IT hit me. I needed to embrace myself- extra assets and all- and find myself the most perfect wedding dress for me!!

It still took me another FIVE months to set a date with Sister and Mama Peep Toe to go dress shopping (and even that was under a bit of protest!!) But I did it. I tried on the good, the bad, and the ugly. And yes, all of my worst fears about dress shopping did come true at some point, but I let it roll off my back because I found 'it'- the dress I feel beautiful in!! Mrs. Kiwi- I don't know if you still read Weddingbee, but your post helped me embrace my biggest bridal angst, so I thought I would write this in case there is another Bee in the Hive who is also dreading trying on big white puffy dresses.

Up next, I wade through sequins and puffiness to find the one. Mr. Peep- you are officially band from reading weddingbee until I say otherwise!!

Anyone else out there have bridal dress shopping angst??