Chop Shop!

We interrupt this recap of how to get a wedding dress made, to bring you the PWC(post wedding chop). Like countless Bees (and non-blogging brides alike) I made short work of my long hair. 

I had grown it out for about a year before the wedding. By the time the wedding rolled around I was thankful for the ability to rock my up-do, and so ready to chop it off!!

I joked that I was brining scissors on the honeymoon. In real life I made it about a week. Here is the before shot the day of the cut.

First I cut bangs... and then lopped off the ponytail!

Too bad it was all color treated and a bit too short to donate!

A little more work on the back and I had this:

Then it was time to add some extra sass... Always bleach first when doing bright hair colors.

And the final product:

Married ladies, did you do a PWC? Anyone else antsy to snip off your locks?

It's So Nice to Meet You, Dress of My Dreams!

After the muslin fitting, I ordered the fabric, had it shipped to Kathy and waited. I tried not to stress out about if the not quite matched colors would matter. I was worried that the veil wouldn't match. I tried not to worry about it being to boring and I waited.

Needless to say, there was a lot riding on that next fitting.When I arrived at her house with Bridesmaid OT, I was a bundle of nerves.

The dress was amazing. It needed to be hemmed, pressed and covered buttons added, but that was about it. It was light and soft and beautiful to wear. It was SO comfortable. I had started to worry after looking at all the amazing dresses here and on the rest of the web that I had made a mistake by not shopping at least once, but really it was perfect. I did not burst into tears, but I came close. Seeing the whole thing together was magic. I did not want to take any of it off. AND Step-mama Aardvark's butt bow was a perfect match! :)

The fabric seemed to glow. And as I said before was SO light. It was totally worth the extra money to get the real silk.

The over skirt was like a dream come true. Just the right amount of poof and bride-y-ness with a little sweep train. To.Die.For.

Kathy was the SWEETEST lady. Telling me how well I carried it off and how I was clearly made for vintage clothes. SO nice. For anyone in Wisconsin, I would completely recommend her.

Oh, you want to see it and not just hear me go on and on and on? Ok here you go!

 

I would 110% recomend natural fiber fabric if you can swing the cost. I danced my booty off at the wedding and that dance floor was HOT (not just because of my sweet moves either). I would have melted it I had ended up with a synthetic fabric.

Did you have a lot riding on a fitting? Did everything work out for you? Were you nervous going in to see YOUR dress for the first time?

Muslin Fitting

It is time for the big reveal! Well actually, you all saw a picture of the dress yesterday, but now for more!  The first step in getting my dream dress was finding a pattern* I liked. That was pretty easy, but then there were a few twists I wanted on my wedding look. I did not want to be a two dress bride (mostly because I didn't have  the money for it), but I for sure wanted to be a two look bride! So stay tuned and find out how I went from this:

Image from Vogue Patterns

To this:

By the time you read this, I will be married! I can't believe I even get to type that now.  At this point it seems so far away but approaching so quickly. I can't believe it!

For those who know what a muslin is, feel free to skip this paragraph. For those who don't, it is basically a fabric version of a sewing pattern that can be tried on, cut, pinned and altered. Once it is perfect the seamstress uses it to make the actual dress. 

Any way, The first fitting went really well.   I must have managed not to gain or lose too much weight from when she measured me.  Now for some pictures!

I was a little nervous, but so far so good!

Fit like a dream. and was comfy to boot!

The waist needed to come up just a bit.

Am I a bride yet?

The leggings and orange socks are not part of the plan for day-of but they kept me warm!

I am had her change the sleeves a bit to make them "tulip" sleeves.  I thought this would make me look less like a linebacker.

No, It will not be a mullet dress, It will be short!
(with a long over skirt!)

Talking about fabric choices (before everything was out of stock)

I left the muslin fitting feeling really good about my choice not to dress shop. And SO excited to order that fabric!

*I could write a whole blog about my love of vintage patterns. I purchased this one a good year and a half before we were engaged. I really loved everything about it for a wedding dress. I liked that it was flat in the front, but full in the back (great for dancing) and that it was modest without being stuffy.

Are you having a dress made? Did you use a pattern or have something designed just for you?

MARRIED!!

We did it!

The Aardvarks are wed!

Guest Photo

The whole day was amazing. There was so much love and happiness everywhere. I cannot wait to get into every little detail with you, but we will have to wait for pro-pictures.

In the mean time, I have a dress making saga to share! I was a big meany and didn't show you my dress before the wedding, but I promise I will make it up to you with lots of in process pictures in the coming weeks! (Anyone thinking about a convertible dress, I would highly recommend it!)

 Everything they say about the wedding day is true. It goes by so fast, the little things that go awry are never problems, and it is truly magical.

Being married rocks too! I did not know if there would be much change since we lived together for over a year, but there certainly is. It may be a bit intangible, but we are cemented now as a couple in a way we were not before.

Thank you hive for all of your help and support along the way! It wouldn't have been the same without you!

Love,
MRS. Aardvark

This is It!

I am in a king sized bed with MOH MD in a hotel trying to sleep. Clearly, I am writing this, and not sleeping.... Oh well.

There are so many things swirling in my head. I am excited and nervous and happy and thankful and filled with Love. There are so many people who have come together for this wedding. So much love and so many wonderful people.

Hive,  you have been so helpful and supportive and amazing. I am so grateful to have shared my journey with you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Mr. Aardvark, I know you will not be reading this, but I am so looking forward to having you as my partner. You bring such balance and joy to my life. I love you. And I look forward to loving you all the rest  of my days.

Signing off as a Miss,

Miss Aardvark

A Perfect Pre-Wedding Day

Bees,

I don't know if it's just because I've had a few days off work, or maybe I am in a bridal-bubble, but this week just keeps getting better and better. Last night bridesmaid sis and I had a sleep-over at Mama-Aardvark's and worked on crafts and bonded. I took her to school this morning, ran errands, took a nap and  made a few practice bouquets.

Yes, in a fit of insanity, I decided, since it was spring and all, the bridesmaids should have real flower. I also came to this decision because I could not pick an alternative... There were just too many! Of course, I didn't decide this until, Ohhhhh, a week ago. Too late to find a florist. So I decided I would try to put some flowers together the week before the wedding. If I could do it in a timely manner, not get frustrated, and liked the out-come, I would make some bouquets the morning of the wedding. Like all DIY tasks, my secret to feeling good while working on them, and liking the finished product, is low expectations.

After a bit of fiddling around, I came up with this:

I must say, I was pleasantly surprised at how it all came together. I think they are a bit small yet so I will "bulk them up" a bit for Saturday. What do you think?

I do see how flowers could be cause for a lot of stress, especially if you like things uniform or neatly arranged. But for me, I think DIY will be the way to go! (Good thing too otherwise the bridesmaids would really be in a pickle!)

Are you DIYing flowers? Am I crazy for doing it? (Please only answer that last question if the answer is no( just kidding (Kinda)))

Keeping It Real

We are into the thick of wedding week and things are really rolling along. We picked up our marriage license (after a couple trips to and from the car (no cameras or cell phones in the justice center)). We met with our priest .We met the photographers (great couple). I got my hair cut/dyed and my eyebrows waxed. AND we met with our reception venue. Phweehoo! Are you tired yet? Because I am and it's only Tuesday! 

The rest of the week should be smooth sailing though (knock on wood). We got all the big stuff out of the way and now it's smooth sailing until family starts arriving on Thursday! 

One major headache that we avoided (mostly) was a seating chart. If you recall we were going to do one, but after meeting with the venue manager he suggested we just do two or three long tables for everyone. And no seating chart! YAY!

Lucky for us, we had only done the "write everyone's name on a post-it note" step and had not started arranging yet.

Here we go bees! Only three more days and all the jobs left to do are fun "bonus" tasks!

Yay for being crazy early in the planning phase!

How was your final week as a miss? Did you get lots done early or wait until the last minute?