Now let’s get to the fun part of getting married – THE DRESS.  All little girls fantasize about what their Cinderella dress will one day look like but when the time comes, how do you choose?  There are SO many viable options out there.  I got really lucky when it came to finding THE ONE in terms of my husband-to-be, but with the dress will it be as easy? If you really think about it, finding the dress may be more similar to finding a husband than you think.

Before I go and actually start trying on dresses – I want to get an idea of what I like, what I’m attracted to.  And just like a man, I understand I may have to try on some rejects for size before ultimately finding the one.  (And lord knows I’ve had my fair share of rejects along the way…) {*SBW-bwhaha, God I love you Steph!}

There are millions of dresses out there that would be beautiful for an event, but not this event.  Just like there’s the fun guy you fool around with but would never take home to papa, or a guy who almost clicks – but there is just something indescribable. that lets your soul know it hasn’t yet found its mate.

What you think you want… may not be what you actually want; hence ending up with a dress you never imagined yourself in.  So I’ve been told, many brides have a clear vision when entering the dress search, and when they finally emerge from the tulle, the lace, the beading, the bows – they find the end result is nothing like what was expected.  Like a girl sitting around with a ten page checklist as to what her fairy tale prince charming will be – yet when she finally leaves her room, and finds her guy, she doesn’t give a rat’s ass about check points 1-278. {*SBW-LOVE!}

When you know you just know.  I’ve heard about that bridal boutique “AHA” moment and I really can’t wait to have mine.   Similarly, with a life partner, no one is denying that relationships are hard, but for me, knowing who I wanted to be in that relationship with was the easiest decision I’ve ever made.

So I’ve found my top 9 fantasy dresses – some are just far too over the top and unrealistic to actually wear (I want to be able to dance with my husband while being in the same time zone as him)  Here they are!

I thrive on drama in my day to day fashion choices, so the long ruffle trains really speak to me.  I adore sweetheart necklines, however do I have the chest to pull it off?  Questionable.   I also love the elegance that accompanies a more simple option, with possibly a peplum or flower detail.  The modern “short in front” {*SBW-Stephanie refuses to say mullet dress, hehe} take on the classic wedding gown also speaks to me because I’m a shoe gal and how fun would it be to glam up my dress with a rockin’ pair of heels?

I have a few key wedding gown boutique visits lined up over the next few months, which of course I will share all the details about!  So I think the plan will be to go in balls to the walls and let my gut decide- it hasn’t steered me wrong yet.

I love Saki Bombing.  It’s fun.  It’s loud.  It’s out of control.  So I said to myself “Self, what could be a better way to ask your best gal pals to be your bridesmaids than over 1,2 or a dozen saki bombs?!? I had a whole plan – I ordered these sick “Bridesmaid” shot glasses online, and made a reservation at Homora (My fav Japanese eatery) making plans with each of the girls to meet on Thursday night at 8:30PM sharp.  I extended an invitation to the ladies one by one as opposed to a batch group email that we chicks love far too much.  At about 7:30 I brought the shot glasses to the restaurant and gave detailed instructions to the head waiter about what I wanted to go down when the girls got there.  He for sure thought a screw or two was loose – and was probably right. Anyway, as soon as everyone was seated I had instructed the waiter to bring over a tray with my shot glasses on it, filled ever so heavily handedly with SAKEEE.  He handed them out to all the ladies, and I asked that they be my bridesmaids.  The night went on with a little eating, a lot of drinking and probably far more screaming than our neighboring diners had bargained for.  Whoops! – all restaurant etiquette goes right out the window when sake bombs occur.  The night went a little fuzzy after that…

The Bridesmaids

So what’s the next step you may ask?  Bridesmaid dresses of course!  All the ladies have fabulous style, but are all so different!

I could go the same color scheme route with differing styles – oooor same dress on all the ladies with a funky shoe.  Hmm…. I could go a bit more casual with a skirt and statement accessories – orrrr I could glam it up to the ninth degree!!  I could go on forever but will spare you – you’re welcome.   I love the idea of being classic, yet not so cookie cutter at the same time.  I have seen some beautiful looks in my online travels.  Watcha thinkin?

If you asked me what duo of besties I would be most ecstatic about spotting on the street – I might say Sarah Jessica Parker and Andy Cohen.  Last week (after a delish din with my gals in the west village) – SPOTTED: SJP in NYC dining with Bravo’s One and Only Andy.  Wow, I know.

So let me set up the sitch.  Myself, and nine of my camp girlies went out to dinner to celebrate a plethora of events – Naomi’s preggers, Brett is heading back to ATL for her LAST year of law school, Mala just returned from a summer in LA, and (if you’re just tuning in) I just got engaged.    After some fare at Aria – and a few too many Moscow Mules annnd bottles of Red Wine – we were ready to roll.

We strolled down the street and got to the corner where I noticed a bunch of my girls FREAKING out (we are actually like a bunch of 15 year old girls when we get together – no joke)  Then they told me.  We just walked past the one, the only Carrie Bradshaw, I mean – Sarah Jessica Parker.  She was sitting with Andy Cohen.  She was adorable.  Like SO adorable.  I asked my ladies if I could go over and say hi to which they all blurted out NOOOOO!!  F that – I was going to talk to SJP.

I marched my lil tush over to their table.  And gushed “I’m really sorry to be one of those annoying girls but I haveeee to tell you I love you so much.  We were both similarly clad in little white dresses of sorts - twins if you will.  My partner in crime Annie snapped a paparazzi style photo – thanks girl.

Little background – I love SJP.  I love her demeanor, her style, and just everything about her.  SATC was my bible growing up, and Carrie Bradshaw’s closet was what I one day aspire to have  (I have a sick obsession with shoes) {*SBW note-No seriously, she does.  Its “mildly’ out of control.  I have high standards at this point for what her wedding day footwear is going to be!}.  So it was kind of kismet that one day – right after I got a black diamond from my fiancé – I would meet her.

Ok back to the story – I probably too aggressively forced my hand in her face to show her that I had a black diamond too!  She told me it was a beautiful ring, and asked if I was engaged – to which I happily responded “oh yeahhhhh I am.”  She chuckled – you heard it here first – I made SJP laugh and am damn proud of it.  As it was about 100 degrees outside my hair was haphazardly thrown up in a pony of sorts and Andy (I think we’re on a first name basis now) said in the sweetest way “Love your sidepony!!” I died.  I then let them “Carrie” on and went back to my group of friends who were in total shock as to what had just happened.

Later that night I had to tune into Andy’s “Watch What Happens Live” to see if he mentioned the fab girl he had just met on the street - sadly he did not.  But I’ll get over it – one day.  It kind of pays off I guess to have no shame (but it does get me into trouble from time to time…stay tuned and you’ll see what I’m talking about) What a great night – won’t forget that one!

 Knowing his target oh too well (a beach vacation junkie like moi) the setting was the beach on Lake Michigan, almost midnight, and I had NO idea what was coming.  He laid out a blankey, and started to tell me how much he loved me.  (I thought nothing of it because he tends to do that.)  It wasn’t until he got down on one knee that I realized what was going on and responded in a very Steph way “Wait whattt really!?!” then I remembered to say yes and that was that.  Fireworks went off (the literal kind) and though it was a coincidence (it was the day after July 4^th– someone must have had some leftover fireworks hanging around) I’m sure my fiancé (wow – that’s still so awkward to say) will stick to his story that he had totally planned it! When my girl recently asked him when he decided to do it (the decision to propose), he responded “in 2007” (the year that we met) which made my heart sort of melted a bit.

I still can’t believe it, how am I allowed to get married?? I feel like how I’d imagine my nephew felt when he was just given his first piece of birthday cake – extremely excited, a little overwhelmed, yet certainly ready to just dive in head first (or maybe wallet first – eeek can’t even think about that yet)

So many questions need to be answered.  What kind of bride do I want to be?  Braided Bohemian?  Classically Chic? French Fashion-Forward? Vogue-Esq Valley Girl? A combo? Who knows.  I know what I like – simplistic beauty and COLOR.  I’m excited to embark on this journey and will document it all along the way.  We’ll tackle it all one bit at a time – never losing focus on what’s truly important and not getting too wrapped up in the superficiality of it all.  What a fab year it will be…

I am so excited to share my journey with you guys and I really look forward to hearing what you have to say along the way and really hope for some wonderful feedback, especially from those of you that have gone through this before!  This is going to be such a fun experience for us & blogging about it along the way only makes it that much sweeter!