What To Do With Your Wedding Dress After

I got married a year and a half ago. To this day my dress has been hanging around my house waiting for something to happen to it. This day and age, what do people do with wedding dresses?!

There are a few obvious options, preserving it, selling it, or keeping it in the closet with hopes that your daughter will "say yes to your dress".

Unfortunately I am not one of those sentimental people that wants to hold onto my dress for my future daughter. I hope to heavens that she is cool enough to have her own style and her own wedding day look. I really don't want to force it upon her because I have been holding it for 30 years. The whole concept just doesn't seem all too practical to me.

As for the sentimental side, I did take some of the petals from the bottom and add them to my wedding shadowbox in the form of a flower to keep a piece of my dress forever. But the whole thing? I don't really need it sitting around!

Another idea was to preserve it. I feel like that is even less practical seeing as it is sitting in a box that you can't even open! That just seems like a real pain.

I tried selling it with little luck. Maybe I should try that one again. I was hoping the concept of used wedding dresses would become a much bigger ecosystem. Not just for my sake, but for practicality's sake.

After months hung on the door to my crafting closet, I HAD to move it. My office is far too full as it is. Finally I nailed a nail into the wall of the guest bedroom and hung it there so it was out of the way and added a tinge of decor to the room. It is fine there, but of course I worry about it.

So now what? What is everyone doing or planning on doing with their dress after the big day? Would love some ideas or suggestions to help me out a little as I am starting to feel a little stumped on the whole thing.

The Second Most Important Attire {Grooms Wear}

The bride's dress usually steals the show, but I think the groom also needs to get a little love in the attire department and what he is sporting on the big day.

Source

My Mr definitely had an opinion about what he wanted to wear, which I love. No, he did not pick out a powder blue suit, but he did have an opinion on what the groomsmen wore and how coordinated all the guys looked. We decided to rent the suits for the guys as our bridal state is spread throughout the state. To help us in the decision making we also brought along the best man so we had a final decision maker.

Source: Left, Right

I am very pleased to report that both guys picked the same suit and tie the minute that we walked into the tux rental shop. I automatically loved what they picked and couldn't be happier with the choice. Here is a little inspiration board that I put together before we went searching just to give the people at the store an idea of what we were looking for and styles the guys preferred.

 

 Source: 1, 2, 3, 4

Here are a few tips that will help make getting your groom outfitted an enjoyable and easier processes:

• Bring a swatch of the fabric that matches your dress. You wouldn't believe how many shades of white there are out there. Having the swatch with you will allow you to see how your dress is going to look next to your groom and the groomsmen and ensure that you compliment each other.

• Along with a swatch of your dress also bring a swatch of the bridesmaids dresses. This will make it easier to match colors and ensure they don't compete.

• Book an appointment! Not only does this ensure that you will get in and out of the store in a reasonable time, but some store give you a kick back because you booked an appointment. In our case, the whole party got their shoes upgraded.

• Even if you didn't attend a bridal show, ask anyways about bridal show discounts and specials. Often times the salesperson will extend the offer to you even if you didn't attend. In our case, we received several gift cards and the Mr's tux complimentary. It doesn't hurt to ask!

• Ask if the store actually has samples available for your guy to try on. This was a big thing for me and my Mr. I am a very visual person an ordering an entire outfit from a small swatch of fabric scared me. Not to mention you don't see how the whole thing will look  until a few days before the wedding when you pick up your rental. We actually ended up changing where we got our grooms wear from because of this. The rental company that we ended up choosing actually does a grooms preview. Think second fitting for the groom. They will bring the shirt, pants, jacket and all the accessories that you ordered and allow the groom to try it out and make sure you are happy with what you will be getting for the big day. I am very excited to see the whole thing put together when we go back in September.

So, what did you do for grooms wear? Rent? Buy? I want to know!

Heather

{hiip} bridesmaids' gifts

August is half way over, which means I am getting that much closer to my wedding day! 2 1/2 months to go, people!! It feels good to look back and see how much I've accomplished during my many months of planning... and blogging.  And since the big ticket items are pretty much taken care of, it's now time to hammer out the details... not just make Pinterest boards about them ;-) I have 8 lovely bridesmaids, all of whom are very important women in my life. I want to show them my gratitude by giving them gifts that are unique, practical, sentimental, and have a handmade-loving touch. I imagine giving my maids a bag of some sort filled with goodies... perhaps even a piece of jewelry that they can wear that day.

As I was scouring the internet I noticed on facebook that many of my girlfriends back home in San Francisco were talking about how much they love their new "Hiip" bags. As I did some more research I discovered that these awesome bags were created by an old friend whom I went to high school with, Nicole Flowers. I went to her web site to see the bag styles and was pleasantly surprised to find that not only are these bags fashionably chic, they are also for a great cause!! Read more about the Hiip story and how Nicole is giving back to the community with every bag she sells. VISIT:  http://www.hiipsf.com/home/

Here's what Nicole had to say about how Hiip bags can be a fun and resourceful gift for brides & their maids, " It's ideal because it's the perfect kit for your day of planning: you can stock it with bra tape, lipgloss/stick, bobby pins, even touch-up cream; wear it around (hands-free for all the bridal stuff you'll be carrying!) to various appointments; and then use it as a clutch for the party. With so many colors and patterns to choose from, there will definitely be one that fits with the color scheme of the wedding.  All this while giving back to another in need making it an automatic karmic bonus on your special day."

I can't wait to surprise my girls with one of these bags and fill it with goodies for getting ready on my big day.... I may even customize them by having their initials embroidered. It feels SO good to give a gift that keeps on giving :) Thank you Nicole, for the contribution that you are to the San Francisco community.... and beyond!

What are you giving to your maids on your wedding? Have any creative and thoughtful gift ideas? Please do share!

xo, Taya

Playing Catch-Up & The Other White Dress

Unfortunately wedding planning has taken a back burner lately to make time for other personal matters which means my to-do list is pretty much the same.  However, now that our wedding party has been made official, I can finally share my final product for my "Will you be my?" cards.

These cards were so much fun to make and once I decided exactly what I wanted them to look like, very quick to put together. I make cards as a hobby so these were made with a lot of tools I use normally (die cuts, embossing tool, etc.). I think my favorite part is the embossed dress on the front.

Speaking of dresses I've been trying to build of my stash of pretty frocks. When doing a bit of online shopping recently, I realized that I've become drawn to all things white! Luckily, I will have lots of events coming up that will require just that! Here's what I'm finding dreamy and oh-so perfect.

Source: Ruche, Ruche, eShakti, Ruche

 If something a bit fancier is your style, you'll love these dresses  as much as I do.

Source: Nordstrom, BHLDN, Modcloth, Bloomingdale's

The top options are casual enough to not be stuffy but versatile enough to be dressy with the right accessories. The bottom options are very chic and most would do well as receptions dresses. You can easily tie in other elements for your upcoming wedding like vintage jewelry or a pop of color from your pallet. I won't be having a reception dress but I love some of these options as inspiration for my bridal shower and rehearsal dinner dresses. 

How do you feel about white before the wedding?

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Novella Bridal Trunk Shows + Giveaway

Novella Bridal, a wedding gown boutique located in San Francisco, offers some of the most beautiful bridal gowns, the most breath taking collections from famous designers, and top notch, personalized services for the bride-to-be in the bay area! Many people have complimented on their superb alterations, their wonderfully catering consultation services, and their super friendly customer service.

People love them, and we do too! So we have teamed up for a little giveaway offering! Here is their trunk show schedule featuring some totally awesome designers. Oh and guess what. The first five readers of Engaged & Inspired to make any purchase at these trunk shows will win a wedding hair accessory or headband worth up to $100. Also, if you make a Casablanca purchase this weekend, you will receive an additional 10% discount!

Casablanca 2013- August 3rd-5th

San Patrick 2013- September 14th- 16th

Pronovias 2013- October 19th- 21st

Essense of Australia- November 2nd-4th. 

Note: Call to make reservations at (415) 981-9373, please ask for Jacqui or Elyse. In order to win, state that you are a reader of Engaged & Inspired.

Visit their website at www.novellabridal.com and like their Facebook page.

Head Piece Headache

It's been a while since I felt as clueless as I do right now about anything related to wedding planning. I consider myself a pretty savvy Googler, but I just can't sort this one out despite my endless nights of Googling. I remember when I started blogging for E&I, I had so many questions, and you guys have been so awesome about helping me out! Well, I really need your help today, as I'm completely at a loss about something. WHERE IN THE WORLD CAN YOU TRY ON A VEIL?!

Nordica Photography

So... here's been my experience: My dress fittings are so short, there's no time to try on veils and accessories at the bridal shop. Then when I look at any of the veils or headpieces online, they all seem to be made to order, and non-returnable. So really, how am I supposed to decide what to wear on my head if I can't try it on with my dress??

  top left: Jo Barnes; top right: Grey Likes Weddings, Johanna Johnson headpiece; bottom: Nomad Styling

I really don't want to spend the money on any of these things if I can't return them. Then, say I go into a bridal salon to try on accessories, I can't possibly bring in my dress with me so I can see the whole look. So what's a girl (me) to do?

  top left: BHLDN; top right: Lo Boheme, Katie Neal Photo; bottom: Doloris Petunia

How did you decide on your veil or hair jewelry? Do you have any shops or designers you can recommend? Please help me! I am at a complete loss.

Perfectly Fitting

The official two month mark passed yesterday, and I can't believe how close the big day is getting! Fortunately, the planning so far has been pretty drama- and stress-free (knock on wood!), with one exception--dress alterations. The dress fitting was a step I hadn't thought much about. I figured I take the dress to the experts and they'd make things happen and there was nothing I needed to think much about. Unfortunately, I was wrong. It really is a critical to-do and I knew nothing about it!

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The salon where I bought my dress didn't have an alterations department so I went to a tailor that they had recommended. The first appointment went well and the tailor seemed sweet and knowledgable. When I went to the next appointment, things began to go down hill. The tailor pushed back on things I was requesting, including hemming the dress so it wouldn't drag on the ground. When we started looking at the bustle, we were told that there was no way to bustle the dress so that it didn't drag on the ground. This was all a major problem for me, especially being that our wedding is entirely outdoors. Things just didn't feel right with this tailor, so we kindly took the dress for a second opinion.

Source

Since that appointment, I've seen three additional tailors, so I've learned a lot! Here are some things I learned that I hope will help you in your own alterations!

* Your dress should not drag on the ground, especially if your wedding is outdoors. Don't let them tell you otherwise :)

* There is always a way to bustle your dress so it is off the ground, you just have the find the right one for you and for your dress. There are a couple of types of bustles--English bustles pick-up and pin on the outside of the skirt, while French bustles tie under the skirt, creating a bubble effect. There are tons of different ways to use these two techniques, with different numbers of pick-ups and different heights. Your tailor should be able to show you your options and, moreover, make a recommendation to you based on the length of the train and fabric of the dress.

Some examples of french bustles...

1, 2, 3, 4

And some examples of English bustles...

1, 2, 3

Personally, I like the more streamlined look of the English bustles, but the French bustle is slightly more romantic. I couldn't find an image of what I ended up with, but it is the English bustle technique, but pulled up at my waist.

* Make sure your tailor is handling your dress properly. I learned from the last person we talked to that the type of fabric my dress is made of tends to stretch. So leaving the dress hanging was making the fabric grow! Who knew?! They recommended just leaving it at the bottom of the bag. A scary thought, but trust the experts. :)

* Feel free to get multiple opinions and price quotes on your alterations. Most tailors will be willing to give your their expertise and a quote and should understand if you elect to go elsewhere. Also, considering calling a bridal shop that does have an alterations department to see if you could bring your dress in. They have the most expertise in bridal and, while they might not be experienced with your particular dress, most likely have seen one with similar qualities.

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* Don't settle for anything less than perfect! You should feel 100% comfortable in your dress the whole night. You don't want to be picking it up every two seconds, having people step on it, have it falling down or anything else. Ask questions, push your tailor to get what you want and don't let them tell you "no".

Finally, remember that you'll look gorgeous and glowing no matter what!

Source (Adore this photo!)

Did you have issues with your alterations? Any advice or stories to share?

Black Beauty

Fashion is all about taking a new spin on traditional things. And that's what Vera Wang attempted to do in her Fall 2012 Bridal Collection, debuting all BLACK wedding dresses. Having a black wedding dress can take your wedding to a whole new level. It moves away from the pure, traditional, and classic bride- and transitions into this edgy, modern, rocker-chic/gothic bride. It displays a whole new message. Some of them can look at it as 'witchy' or 'tainted,' but Vera Wang describes it as "fresh" and "tongue in cheek."

Personally, I love the idea of a non-white wedding dress. The modern bride has so many new contemporary craftiness that can really show the personality, honesty, and spunkiness of the bride. And really, it reads black as something completely different- not always being associated with darkness and unfriendliness but with this new kind of beauty, a new kind of angelic-ness. This is a great look for the bold bride.

Though black may not be the wedding gown preference for all brides, there's no denying that black brings some breath-taking awe for the looker.

Source: Celebritybrideguide.com

And imagine all the different wedding decor, DIY projects, venues, and styles that you could corporate it with it. It breaks all conventional rules and gives you something very new to work with. It's amazing how much a wedding dress can have an impact on the whole wedding itself.

Have a look at some more off-white wedding dresses, also by Vera Wang.

Source: nashvillewedding101.net

Bridesmaids Attire & Statement Necklaces

 I feel so lucky to have such wonderful women and friends as bridesmaids in our wedding. With that I want to make sure that my girls are stylish and hip. Here are some of my insperations for my sweet ladies.

These are the dresses that we have decided on from JCrew in the graphite. I would love to find a great statemenmt necklace to go along with this in a coral, white or peach color.

Source: 1 & 2

Source: 1 & 2

And the overall look with the groomsmen attire

Source: 1, 2, 3, 4

I am loving our graphite and coral and peach wedding colors. So, what do you think of the statement necklaces? To trendy or just the right added detail?

Heather

{Sponsored Post} Sui Numeris Bridal

If you're a bride tying the knot in Texas, and even if you aren't, this bridal shop is a must-visit. Sui Numeris Bridal is a salon that offers a very different selection of dresses than a traditional salon, and they ship all over the US!

This hands-on boutique finds out what styles and brands you brides like, and they work hard to get that selection in the shop. They even offer weekly prizes on Facebook just for commenting on fashion styles.

Each dress is handpicked by the fabulous staff of Sui Numeris Bridal and they don't sell the same dress twice. Don't believe me? Just take a look at their online shop featuring oh so many different dresses.

They are looking to expand this August, so make sure you keep up-to-date with them to find out if they will be headed to your city! In the meantime, feel free to get lost in their dress selection and find out more about the shop.

Oh and check out a few of their vintage pieces! I love that black and white number.