Say Yes to MY Dress : )

Oh, How I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE My Dress!!!

I will be wearing Jim Hjelm #8765 in white. The pictures on the right are in white, my color. The left is antique.
I can't wait to try on my gown when it comes in a few weeks' time!! Woohoo!

She's Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooome!!!!!!! (well, almost - she's at mom's house lol)

FI and I picked up my beautiful dress on Aug 9 and I got to finally try on MY dress -- a dress that no other girl tried, or walked around a bridal shop in, or messed up with her make-up lol. This girl is all mine and she's a beauty!! Please excuse the horrid faces I seem to be making throughout the dress trying - I didn't realize my sis was taking as many pix as she did -- I was in la-la-I'm-wearing-my-dress-land ; )

I can't get it out of the bag and unzipped fast enough!!
 

Oh, it's even better than I remembered!!!
 

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the dress needs very little alterations! It fits like a glove through my mid-section, and it seems that the only work needed will be to take up the straps (loose on top) and maybe an inch or two off the bottom (esp in the front) so I don't go tripping over myself down the aisle!! lol
 

my brother, lil sister & me ................... then just lil sis and me : )
 

Finding the "One"

I knew going into my appointment at Bridal Reflections in Carle Place, NY that this was my dress. I called ahead to make sure they definitely had this sample for me to try, and when the day came, I refused to try this one on right away lol. I had my bridal consultant there try 4 or 5 other Jim Hjelm dresses (and one Anne Barge!) before. I knew as soon as she slipped the gown over my head and started pinning it, that this was IT!! I started crying in the fitting room. She told me not to say anything when I walk out and just let my mom, my sister, my best friend, her mom, and two of our girlfriends react to the dress. Everyone had the same reaction - this was definitely my dress. Mom started crying. My sister Laura said she was even a little misty ; )

Veil & Headpiece

As with just about everything for our wedding, I picked out my veil & headpiece in one day, one trip lol. My bff is getting married in September and I finally got to see her dress on March 28. While we were at her salon, we picked out her veil & headpiece, then I decided to just get mine too. I really love the veil, but I'm having second thoughts about the headpiece now, especially since I'm rethinking my hairstyle (see Wash That Man Right outta My Hair & tell me what you think). I'm definitely keeping the veil - I love it too much and really want it for the ceremony. Hopefully my wonderful hairstylist can whip up a great solution.

So the above left pic is spot-on, I think, of my veil - while the above right pic is def the wrong styling, but you can see the beadwork a little better in it. Below is a close-up of the beading.

And now, my up-in-the-air, do-I-really-like-this-&-will-it-still-work-with-my-new-hair-idea?? headpiece. lol

Close-up detail of the headpiece. I liked it because it pulls in the circular pattern in the Swarovski crystal & beadwork on the bodice of my gown. We'll see what happens to it after my first hair trial...

SHOES!!!!

Ok, I might love my shoes more than the veil. Look at them - who wouldn't fall for them? lol
They're Jellzey in navy satin by Nine West. I also bought them in silver, and may work them into my shower or rehearsal ensemble...

Wrap it up!

***UPDATE: So this wrap is too yellow against my dress, but I still plan on using it. I found a great barely off-white pashmina on sale at Target ($10.66 baby!) and my plan now is to cover the fur with the pashmina. This way, no one sees the yellowy fur, but I still stay pretty warm : )

I bought this vintage white rabbit fur on ebay - it was a steal. And since it isn't pure snow white, I think it's going to look great against the dress. If not, who cares? After all, I'm just using it to keep warm. 

Jewelry

***UPDATE: I just purchased the Sabrina bracelet from Belle Nouvelle on Etsy. It's beautiful & I can't wait for it to arrive!!! I also requested a haircomb to match the center brooch : )

I'm planning to borrow my sister's diamond drop pendant necklace, and wear it along with my celtic heart bangle from Tiffany's (first Valentine's Day gift from Joe), and hopefully my Claddagh ring (provided I'm not a right-handed e-ring bride!).

I did buy these bracelets from www.1928.com though & they're mighty pretty.... ***UPDATE: Ok, so in person, I'm not loving them so much. Oh well.