The Bride's Stuff | 12k Wedding Blog

September 1, 2010 by DetroitGyrl | Filed in: The Bride's Stuff

So.. a little back story about my dress. I’ve had this dress since early 2008 when I bought it for my friend’s wedding.. She wanted it as her bridesmaids’ dress. I ended up not being in the wedding and despite several futile attempts to sell and give away this dress -it was still hanging in my closet when it came time to write up my wedding budget.

Let’s just say that already having a perfectly good dress and spending $1000 on another dress (I think I want – because I haven’t actually gone to try it on) – seemed silly to me.. And with a great seamstress – I can totally look JUST the way I want to look – fabulously chic and elegant.

So… I have a perfectly good J. Crew Dress:

Which will look totally different once my seamstress (FMIL) is done with it. We’re adding crystals to the waist, a very beautiful and sparkly lace train and matching veil and dropping the shoulders. I also have one more surprise planned that I’m going to keep secret until the reception (of course I’ll be sure to post pics after the BIG DAY).

And let’s just say that I paid more for the fabric (at 50% off than I paid for the dress) because evidently J. Crew wasn’t impressed with this dress and put it on clearance way back at the end of 2007 and then brought it back at full price about a year ago.

So – discounted dress WINS over $1000 dress and TOTALLY helps keep us close to our 12K goal.

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Technorati Tags: Bridal Gown, DIY, Dress

I’m Baaaack!!! (Cue the T.I.)

September 1, 2010 by DetroitGyrl | Filed in: Free Stuff, Discounts, Contests, The Bride's Stuff

I took a MUCH needed break from wedding planning this past August. We just had too much going on: 4 weddings (including one in Vegas), enjoying the last days of summer and gearing up for the fall. Just a few days shy of my Sept. 1st return to planning – I went out with the FMIL (future mother in law) to check out fabric stores. I have my dress but it’s a little plain. So she offered to revamp it for me and make it FABULOUS. We were able to pick up the crystals she’ll be adding, fabric for my train and fabric for my veil. I absolutely LOVE the fabric and I was able to get it 50% off at Joann’s. I’ve never been so excited about a textile in my life!

I have ONE goal for the month of September – FIND SHOES. For some reason it has been very difficult for me to make any types of decisions when it comes to the style of footwear I want on the BIG DAY. I can’t even narrow down color and style. I’ve actually been online browsing the last 4 months.. but I decided that it’s time to BUCKLE down – especially since it’s the end of the season and I’ll have to wait until next spring if I want a chance to snag a summer shoe.. and that’s a NO-GO because we need to start my dress soon and we can’t hem it without my shoe. So – every weekend in September will be devoted to finding THAT shoe. I’ll keep you posted on my shoe journey.

~DetroitGyrl

(PS. Joann’s has a magazine on sale for $2.99 – it includes 6 coupons (including 2 50% coupons) – totally worth the $2.99)

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I Don’t Usually Do This But…

June 28, 2010 by DetroitGyrl | Filed in: Behind the Scenes, Free Stuff, Discounts, Contests, The Bride's Stuff

The future hubby and I got all snazzy to hit the town for a hip hop concert in downtown Detroit on Saturday. I was lucky enough to win two tickets to see Jay Electronica and Slum Village from Public Media Group at St. Andrew’s Hall (or so I thought). I was the first person to respond that I wanted two free tickets. COOL!! Can’t turn down a ANYTHING free – especially during WEDDING BUDGET season. So.. I’m given the option of picking up the tickets or having my name on the list at the door. I love to have paper tickets in hand – but picking them up from Royal Oak when I live way out 94 – doesn’t seem like an option – so I opt to have my name +1 added to the list.

We get there just after 8pm, see our friends in line, have a couple laughs – The future Hubby and I haven’t been on a date in a while and haven’t been to a hip hop concert inside of the city since…. since… We looked forward to the night out. He hadn’t heard of Jay Electronica – so I hoped this would restore his faith in hip hop.

Anyway.. long story short.. get up to the window and hand the woman my license only to be told that my name is not on the list and that it was probably removed because the list was so long.. HUNH? How does that make sense?

So – I get home and e-mail Jeremy D (the guy that told me I won in the first place) about the bogusness (yes – I said bogusness) of the situation and he gives some tidbits that don’t help me: 1. the promoter swears my name is on the list 2. I need to return to the window and get my tix (yeah – that’s cute – I’m 40 minutes away now)…

Then he tells me that basically it was my fault – because I didn’t e-mail him right away from the ticket window. I’m sorry – I don’t make it a habit to carry my laptop around with me to hip hop concerts. Epic FAIL on his part for trying to blame ME in this situation. So – I suggested that from now on he leave paper tickets for winners at the door – since he knows this type of thing is an issue (another tidbit he shared with me – thanks Jeremy) :-/

Whatever… in the end – The future Hubby and I took a nice stroll through Greektown, stopped for some coldstone and thought about how nice it would be to get some wedding shots on the steps of Old St. Mary’s Church.

In other news… I went paper shopping in Royal Oak yesterday with one of my Bridesmaids who happens to be the BOMB graphic designer.. We wanted to check out Envelopments paper for my invitations and programs, etc.

I LOVE Envelopments paper – but what I DON’T love is Write Impressions. They have TONS of great paper goods and fun little gift ideas.. but customer service they do NOT! They were down right rude and inconsiderate. Which is crazy – because there weren’t that many people in the store and it was a good 20 minutes before we even asked for help. Something as small as a quote seemed to be too much for the salesgirl to handle. She didn’t even say – “I’ll be right back” when she got up to give her co-worker money for lunch.. despite the fact that I was mid sentence with a question. And she argued with me for a good minute about envelopes even when I told her to go ahead and put them on the quote – despite my lack of desire to purchase them. And then… she randomly got up to check the weather on the internet.. so we just took the half finished quote and waved goodbye while she chatted on the phone with a friend about the weather.

Needless to say – we’ll be be trying to find the Envelopments paper somewhere else.

Seriously – what is it with people?

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Technorati Tags: Envelopments, Jay Electronica, Old St. Mary's, Public Media Group, Write Impressions

Anthropologie to offer Wedding Dresses!

March 8, 2010 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: The Bride's Stuff

So a little birdie (Twitter, of course), told me that Anthropologie is going to start offering wedding gowns. I’ve only discovered Anthropologie myself in the last couple years, but I loooove their stuff. It’s always so girly and feminine. Sometimes a little too vintage-y for me, but overall, very nice stuff.

Now, all you brides getting married this summer, don’t get your hopes up. The line of bridal gowns isn’t set to debut until next spring.

Check out the full story at InStyle.

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Technorati Tags: Anthropologie, Bridal Dress, Bridal Gown, Urban Outfitters, Wedding Dress, Wedding Gown

Bride on a Budget Sale at Roma Sposa

February 18, 2010 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: Free Stuff, Discounts, Contests, The Bride's Stuff

If you’re in the Metro Detroit area, chances are you’ve heard of Roma Sposa. It’s a couture bridal salon in Birmingham. While there’s no way I could deny that their dresses are gorgeous, I will tell you that they probably carry several gowns that cost more than our entire wedding.

But you’re in luck, my dear readers. Turns out they’re having a sale during the last weekend of this month. They’re calling it the Bride on a Budget Sales Event. There is a $5 entrance fee, but apparently it’s to benefit a charitable cause.

And get this:
Gown pricing will start at $599.

My advice is that you not go in with a single no-other-Vera-Wang-dress-will-do in mind. That’ll likely still cost you an arm, a leg, and your first born child.

Instead, go in with an open mind. Shoot, try on a dress opposite from they style you think you want for yourself. You might be pleasantly surprised. And if not, no harm done.

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Technorati Tags: Bridal, Bridal Gown, Dress, Wedding Dress

Getting Things (MYSELF) In Order

February 12, 2010 by DetroitGyrl | Filed in: DIY, The Bride's Stuff

There is so much to do…how will I manage to organize everything?

A Binder. A Binder?

Yes. A Binder.

Ok – where do I get a binder from? You can make it?

Whoa.. Make it?

Yes – DIY!

Things I used:

1 – 1.5 inch Binder

2 – Inserts from Russell and Hazel (these inserts cover everything from Budget to Wedding time line to Vendor Contact Lists) http://www.russellandhazel.com/content/wedding-templates

3 – Section Dividers

4 – Time

I also found some pictures online and used them for the front cover, back cover and side outer inserts to make it pretty.

You could also go to a bookstore and buy one.. but who wants to do that???

I also bought one of my favorite mini 3 subject notebooks (costing under $3) to take with me to meetings with vendors, to dress shops and to meet with the wedding party… because no one wants to carry that big binder every where they go..

But if they do – I also got a $1 bag to carry everything and keep it all together.. because I’ll probably take the binder every where I go – but just break out my notebook when the time is right.

What are some of the ways you have found to stay organized?

~DetroitGyrl

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Headpiece: Splurge or Steal

August 5, 2009 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: DIY, The Bride's Stuff

Now that it’s getting down to the wire (T minus 17 and counting), I’m trying to figure out my accessories.

Bridal headpieces come in all different styles and designs but I think I’ve narrowed it down to two I really like. One, the mantilla veil, I think is a little more formal and I think I’ll wear one like that for the ceremony. But for the reception, I don’t want to be weighed down by a veil, but I would like a little fancy in my hair.

I’ve decided to wear my hair down, something like this, but with tighter curls:

I love the idea of a casual headband dressed up for the occasion. It should stay put and hopefully I won’t have to fuss with a comb or bobby pins while I’m cuttin a rug on the dance floor.

The steal option would involve a little DIY, but it shouldn’t be too involved. I’d by a regular headband and just wrap it in ivory ribbon before securing the flower to the headband.

Splurge ($675):

Source: Jennifer Behr Bridal Collection

Steal(~$55):

Source: Etsy Seller jennypickle

So I need a little reassurance before I order the steal flower. Help me out here – should I do it?

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Technorati Tags: Bridal Headpiece, DIY, fascinator, feather, flower, headband, Headpiece

Red Satin Shoes

July 9, 2009 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: The Bride's Stuff

I would really love some red satin shoes, but alas, the feeling isn’t mutual. At least not for the price of the ones that I like. Mr. Blahnik, Mr. Weitzman, Mr. Louboutin, can’t we all just get along?

Red Satin Shoes

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Technorati Tags: Bridal, Bridal Shoes, Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik, Nine West, Red, Shoes, Stuart Weitzman

25% off MAC Makeup

June 17, 2009 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: The Bride's Stuff, Wedding Party

Pssst.

A little birdie told me that MAC Cosmetics would be selling be their products at 25% off today and tomorrow, but only on their website. Use promo code SUMO to get the deal.

I love me some MAC but the MAC prices don’t love me. This is a perfect opportunity to get a few essentials for your wedding, especially if you’ll be doing your own makeup.

Happy shopping!

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Technorati Tags: cosmetics, MAC, Makeup

Bridal Hair Style Possibilities

June 7, 2009 by Mrs. 12k | Filed in: The Bride's Stuff

Everyone’s been asking me how I want to wear my hair for the wedding. Up until this point all I knew was that I wanted it down as opposed to an updo. After looking around the web though, I keep coming back to the same style with only slight variations. Loose curls – that is all.

Sanaa Lathan