8.26.2009

You got the wicked style.

I finally bought my dress from here. Correction, my wonderful MOM bought my dress. Thanks, mom.

I'm over the colored shoes. Besides, the yellow Charles by Charles David's that I bought, I already wore for our engagement pictures. They are really more of a casual summer sandal anyway. I am going with my original plan and wearing the fluke-Nordstrom-sale Stuart Weitzman's, which are STILL regular price in store by the way:
Stuart Weitzman Gigiritz from Nordstrom

I bought this necklace from Etsy seller treeandkimball. It is something a little bit bold to go with my no frills dress.

Wistar by treeandkimball

Now what to wear in my hair...I got some help from the ever fabulous and always stylish East Side Bride. Thank you, ESB. I'm so moving on from the big flower and in search of feathers. I can't afford the lovely Sara Gabriel shown here and here, but yay for Etsy.

#1: Love these feathers, is the beaded star too much for a wedding? Maybe a vintage button would be better.

Dreamy Star Ostrich Feather clip by Batcakes Couture

#2: No beaded star but too poufy?

The Cream Puff by Batcakes Couture

#3: Love the button, but too flat?

Chastina by YJdesign

#4: Cute, but not enough of...something?

Lovina by YJdesign

#5: Cute, but too small?

Justina by YJdesign

#6: Too big and too much going on?

Madamme Bride by Dreamcatcherstudio

and #7: Just for fun, but too costume-y?

8.19.2009

And wondering what dress to wear now.

As previously mentioned, time and money went into our engagement session. So, yes, this entire post is going to be on our attire, props, and preparation for our amazing engagement session with Chris and Erinn Austin.

Attire


My bright floral dress was a cheap find at Forever 21. Unfortunately, cheap can equate sh*t-quality, so I had to get the zipper replaced. Damn, so much for cheap. I wore this with my purple satin sandals from Nordstrom BP and a pink hair flower from h&m. mr. c wore this magnificant Matthew Williamson suit from h&m (the colorful detail is sweet, if you can see it) and white wingtips from ebay. This set of outfits was worn for the second half of our shoot, walking through various alleys and cool spots in downtown Seattle and Pike Place.

I had been dying to wear the black and ivory dress that I bought months ago from Anthropologie. I wore that with a black satin headband from h&m, my favorite red patent pumps from Nordstrom, and my yellow Charles by Charles David sandals from endless.com shown here. mr. c wore skinny black pants from h&m, white shirt, black and white Ben Sherman tie from Nordstrom Rack, and his dirty beat up chucks. This set of outfits was worn for the first half of our session, at Gas Works Park, a former gasification plant. It is amazing.

We only wore the first two outfits during the four hours Chris and Erinn spent shooting pictures of us. We love the sneak peeks and can't wait to see the rest.

Props


Okay, there's really only one prop to talk about and that is the balloons. Yes, I know that balloons have been used and used again in various engagements and weddings. I DON'T CARE. The red balloons have a significance to us. If you remember, mr. c proposed to me from inside a giant 6-foot round red balloon. If you don't know, then check it out here or here.

I love originality but I loved the idea of round red balloons to play on our engagement more.

Our ten 2-foot round red balloons (and one mini balloon) were delivered to the park and they were spectacular. Thank-f*n-god because they were pricey. The balloons themselves were $3.00 each and we purchased them from Mayflower Distributing Company in Garden Grove. They are a wholesale and retail store. Obviously, wholesale price would have been cheaper. mr. c mailed the balloons up to M&M Balloon Co to add the helium and deliver them to the park the day of. We won't mention the silly cost to fill them up.

After we were done with the balloons, we didn't let them go. We gave them away to kids in the park. Their parents probably had a hell of a time getting them into the car.

Miscellaneous Preparations

A couple of weeks prior to leaving for Seattle, I got my hair cut by my fabulous friend and hair stylist, Kylene, at Carlton Hair Salon at Westside Pavillion.

I got my makeup done at the MAC counter at Nordstrom in downtown Seattle (THE very first Nordstrom EVER). I got a wonderful tip about undereye concealer from my makeup guru friend at this fun blog. The MAC girl (unfortunately, I can't remember her name...I think it was Eunyce) was so lovely and helpful, unlike the rude-old-hag-curly-haired b*tch from the MAC counter at Nordstrom in South Bay Galleria.

8.17.2009

It's like a dream.

We are back from Seattle, where we had our amazing engagement session with Chris and Erinn Austin of White Haute Photography. We had such a blast with them! Lucky for me, Erinn was super excited about the photos and posted a few sneak peeks on Facebook immediately after we got back from dinner. Details about Seattle and our shoot will be posted soon, but for now, some sneak peeks of our session:

photo by Erinn Austin

photo by Erinn Austin

photo by Erinn Austin

photo by Erinn Austin

8.11.2009

Leaving on a jet plane part 2.

And we are off to Seattle for a short vacay and our engagement session. We have to leave for LAX at 5:30AM and I barely finished packing. So, I am wasting the rest of the night away watching season 3 of Entourage and looking through my favorite wedding inspiration blogs.

We have spent some time (and money) planning out our props and attire for our engagement session. Here are a few photos that have inspired me.

Big round balloons:erin hearts court

Colorful umbrellas:
erin hearts court

Lovely attire:


Hopefully we can avoid too many of these lovely faces:
monica and chandler's engagement photos

8.06.2009

Another one bites the dust.

My friend and bridal party member, miss e., who you may remember from her assistance in mr. c's proposal, is finally engaged! I say "finally" because she and mr. r have been together for TWELVE years! Oh my! I am so excited not only for her engagement but for her upcoming wedding next year. miss e. has amazing fashion sense (thank god, since she is a buyer for this store) and she has an eye for all things lovely, so I know her wedding is going to be absolutely fabulous.

We went to check out one of the places that I loved online in the search for our venue.

The Smog Shoppe is even lovelier in person! There are so many amazing details throughout the venue. I was so happy to actually see it in person and, for partially selfish reasons (a.k.a. so I can attend a wedding here), I hope that miss e. books it! It is absolutely PERFECT for her whimsical vision of their wedding. Even the sign is a sign -- these are her colors:

It's a sign.

I know she will add her own stylish touches to this already gorgeous venue.

miss e. checking out the hidden kitchen. I love the tables and benches.

What a beautiful backdrop for the ceremony.

A bridal suite with private restroom and a grand staircase entrance.

Eclectic furniture and decor.

How fab are these bathrooms?

Congratulations on your engagement, miss e. I am so excited that we get to share this crazy experience together.