Trash Your Dress

In my recent searches for wedding ideas, I have come across many new trends in decor, gown styles, color schemes, tuxedoes, cakes, hairdos, and so on. Lots of great ideas, but nothing shocking, nothing that seemed extremely different from what I've already seen. That is, until today, when I came across this interesting new wave of photography: Trash The Dress.

You may not know about it yet, but there is this huge uprising going on in post-wedding day wives, an uprising that has been slowly making its way across the United States, sweeping through the largest cities, and winding across the smallest towns. Have you seen it yet? This phenom is known as trash the dress. Women everywhere are refusing to hang their gowns in their closet and allow them to be mere dust collectors. Rather, they are assuring their husbands that there will never be a need to wear their designer gown again by putting it on one more time (in front of a photographer, of course!) and having some good old fashioned, mud-wrestling fun in them. I think it is a great idea, although it would be very difficult to part with your beautiful couture gown in such a manner. A little disrespectful? Maybe. But then again what does become of the wedding gown? Maybe we should let them escape eternal closet imprisonment and have them die quickly, with honor, like a true fashionista would want. After all, it's better to burn out than fade away (at least that's what I've heard one or two times). Their only memory to remain in the form of some whacked-out, yet intriguing, professional photos. I think the idea is quite beautiful. Would I do it? Maybe...in a couple of years. But I would like to know: Would you put your gown through this?

Update On Writings Below...

I just wanted to let everyone know that Russell and I haven't signed on that apartment yet. We decided we should look at a couple of other places first before we make a decision. While it is what we are looking for, we will feel more confident about it once we have seen other places. So it is still in the running, but not for sure yet. So, from now on, I will write up each apartment we visit, and maybe you could help us choose by giving your opinion. Just wanted to give you our "after we slept on it" update. : )
Back to wedding doings.....

We're In This Together Now

and our first apartment together makes it official......we did it! We found a place to call home (at least for the next 12 months). This house is in downtown Elmhurst, two blocks from the train, and within walking distance of everything downtown Elmhurst has to offer...the historic York Theater, Wednesday classic car cruise nights, the Rainbow Cafe, and so many fabulous restaurants I can't begin to name them all. Too bad I am going to have to be saving my money when we move in, because Elmhurst is also home to all my favorite clothing boutiques.

Anyways, we will be living on the second floor of this two flat. And if you think you see something growing on the roof, you are not going crazy! There are plants growing on the roof. Evidentally we will be sharing the house with a landscape architect who loves all things Illinois Prairie. Including the plants. The man got a grant from DuPage County to build a roof-greenhouse. Or something like that. All throughout the yard are plants and flowers that are native to Illinois as well. Although I think I saw a cactus somewhere in the mix of them....don't know where that came from! He has made this house bloom, literally! It is now featured on the DuPage Prairie Garden Walk.......I think that is funny. Russell and I absolutely loved the place as soon as we walked in. There is a huge kitchen, oak flooring, central heat and air, a garage, and best of all, a basement for all of Russell's stuff (j/k....sort of!). Here are some pics:

Our backyard....

Family Room (oak floors throughout...I love it!)

View of Kitchen.

Bedroom #1

Our large kitchen! (this is my favorite room) Bedroom #2 (we might use this as a computer room/den)

Bathroom (small but lovely)

Here are some pics of Elmhurst, our new town! We're so excited!

The Historic York Cinema (only four blocks from our house)

We're easy to get to, just off the Metra line. We know gas is expensive, so we made sure to be easily accessible by train! Now there's no excuses not to visit. : )
Here is a pic of the lovely prairie path....it goes all the way to Elgin! It gets pretty crowded on weekends with cyclists, walkers, and runners. We'll be joining them soon enough!

This is York High School. I couldn't find any other nice color photos of Elmhurst, but most of the area looks kind of like this, except right now it is covered in cicadas! Russell was freaking out. haha!

Russell's archnemesis:

There's So Much on Our Agenda

its freakin' me out. According to our countdown we have 81 days till our wedding. That's about 2.5 months, or 11.5 weeks, or 1,944 hours. That doesn't leave very much time, people! All of our weekends are jam packed, and most of our weekdays are as well. I still have to get invitations (that is going to be a topic of discussion soon) and we still have so much to sort out it is not even funny! One of the most important things we must accomplish: finding a place to live. The second most important thing: buying our wedding rings (sometimes I am afraid I will forget about these completely! I could just picture it being our wedding day, and when the priest asks for the rings Russell and I look at each other completely dumbfounded. So whenever you see me, be sure to remind me that we need to get these because for some reason it is always the one thing I forget, and it is probably the most important...right behind finding shelter, of course!)

God forbid should that happen. That is why I have made a list of everything that still needs to be done. I kept getting more and more anxious as I was typing this list, because it started to become apparent that there really is a lot to do. crap. Here goes it:

What’s Left, You Ask?

Ø Menus
Ø Wedding Program Fans
Ø Ceremony Music
Ø Cello Music for Baylen
Ø Engagement Photo Shoot
Ø Book Car Rental for Honeymoon
Ø Pick out & finalize Music for reception
Ø Honeymoon clothes/accessories
Ø International Drier’s License
Ø Doctor’s visits
Ø Wedding Rings
Ø Marriage License
Ø Bridal Shoes
Ø Make hair/makeup appointments
Ø Bubbles for ceremony
Ø Table placecards
Ø Photos for Easel
Ø Gift box (bird cage @ site)
Ø Contact St. John’s Ceremony Planner
Ø Update Website
Ø Practice Father/Daughter Dance with Dad
Ø Find Apartment! (Elmhurst one is soooo perfect!)
Ø Bridal party gifts
Ø Speech for reception?
Ø Assemble favors, menus, fans

I hope I got most everything. Every couple minutes I think of something else to add to it because I forgot. I just hope I get everything right now, so maybe I'll have a week or two to relax? Highly doubtful. Everyone better make sure I'm totally relaxed and having a great time on Sept. 1st! I'm already positive I will be though. : )

It Doesn't Get Cuter Than This, People!

Okay, I think the search for my cake toppers is officially over. Check out these cuties:
I almost died when I saw these little guys! The woman will even custom make them to incorporate your wedding colors.....but it doesn't look to difficult to make these puppies yourself. I think I feel another DIY project comin' on!

Hair Happenings

It is getting to be about that time where I stop worrying about interior decorations and start worrying about personal style. The time has come for me to start deciding on shoes, make-up, jewelry, and hair styles....and this is extremely difficult for me! I am still waiting anxiously to see the BM dresses in person, so I figure I should wait until then to decide on shoes and such. Same goes for my dress...I was told that the dresses should be in soon, hopefully before the end of the month! (if they are not I will march down to that store and have a few words with the woman who told me the dresses would be in the first week of June). Since I am still waiting on those, I started thinking about hair-dos for both myself and the bridal party. Ever since I was a little girl, I have always pictured my hair long, curly, and down at my wedding. And while that may be similar to how I wear it everyday (except the curly part), I just love my hair down. Then I would probably have the BMs wear their hair up. But not all crazy tight up so it looks as though their hair is pulling their eyelids up. I want it to be really loosely up, so that if they want to take it down at the reception, they can. This would also mix up the photos a bit, so everyone doesn't look the same throughout the day. Here are some up-do styles for the BMs....What do you think?

Excluding the tiaras, of course!...if anyone is wearing one, it'll be yours truly : )

I like both of these styles, but I am not crazy about them....I'm still on the prowl for the perfect do.

As for my hair, it will definitely be down, but I want a little curl to it, kind of like how Gisele Bundchen always wears her hair (I think her hair is just gorgeous). Here is an example:

I also found some other styles which I think are fantastic: