Wedding Wednesday: Why I chose Handmade

I never wanted to stand in a store and try on dresses while the closest people to me told me if it looked good or not. I don't really like trying on clothes and I generally have a specific look in mind when I go shopping. I know what looks good on me, and it isn't usually what's popular. My whole life people have told me to try on this instead and handed me countless items that might look good on me, but I definitely wouldn't feel comfortable in.

I wanted to avoid all of that. I watch Say Yes to the Dress, I know how people are. I know my friends and family aren't like that. But I've gone wedding dress shopping with a friend and it just seems like such a process to get in and out of these dresses.

I like vintage and vintage-inspired dresses. It would be difficult to find an affordable vintage dress - especially in my size.

I hate being fawned over like that. I like getting my makeup / nails / hair done, but I get pretty uncomfortable when people keep squealing at me.

All of that aside, it just always seemed like that is the route I would take.

My grandmother made her own wedding dress.

My grandparents at their wedding

My mother made her own wedding dress, and a couple of others. I knew ever since I was little I wanted her to make mine.

Distinctly, I remember when she made our hairdresser's wedding dress. Lisa D wanted a sexy, slinky dress that looked absolutely stunning. The fabric, however, hated my mom and she hated it. I remember sitting with her at night as she swore again and again that she would never make a wedding dress. Little me piped up "But mom! What about my dress?" Of course, she said. Of course she would make my dress.




^^Our "we are so excited to be fabric shopping" faces

Having my mom make my dress makes it so much more personal for me. I teared up when we went fabric shopping (fabric paid for by my godmother) and when my best friend went with my "adopted mom" to get a petticoat.



^^ My godmother, my mom, moh, and I



^^Petticoat shopping with my moh, "little sis" and other mom

  This is what felt right to me. We've always been creative and I've always crafted together what I want and had my mom execute it. She gets me. I can tell her that I like this and this and this and something absolutely perfect comes out. She's an amazing lady, my momma.

I'm not going to ask her to make my veil because I don't want something long. I already have something in mind for that, but the dress was the make or break it [duh, it is THE dress of my life] and I could just never envision that dress looking like something I could find, or coming from someone who doesn't know me.

Thank you momma! I can't wait to see what your creation looks like, and to feel wrapped in that fabric of love, with more love stitched into every inch.

What made you decide on your dress and style?  Let everyone know at the #WeddingWednesday link up at Chits & Giggles

Wedding Wednesday Fabric Shopping

So, I never really do these link things every week, but I am super loving Wedding Wednesday. Mostly because it stops me from just gushing about wedding stuff every single day on my blog about being an independent woman...LOL. Also, I feel like I'm actually getting wedding stuff done by talking about it because we are in the patiently waiting time. Just under 9 months to go!

Today I wanted to tell you why I did not post last Wedding Wednesday...because I made it a literal Wedding Wednesday by going dress fabric shopping!!!

The Saturday before my mom got the almost pattern for my dress. I say almost because she is going to make some adjustments to make it specifically to my taste [obviously]. Which meant that the next day I had off [and fiance-free] was fabric shopping!!

My MOH/best friend came with my mother, god mother and I. My godmother is buying the fabric as my wedding present :)

We left bright and early and hit LA traffic, of course. But for this type of thing you don't mess around! We got in the cool new Toll Road/Carpool Lanes to get into downtown in my godmother's Crown Vic [I love driving in that thing, people think you're a cop and they move out of your way!].

We chose to go to the Fashion District in DTLA because it would be much cheaper and nicer than any of the other areas around [yet another reason why I love living in SoCal]. It's perfectly fitting, too, because Iman got my ring from the Jewelry District and we're getting our flowers from the Flower District. YAY for warehouse pricing!

As we walked in my best friend and I were pretty overwhelmed / didn't know what to look for. Luckily, my moms are experts. So we looked at a few pieces and then found this PERFECT fabric. Only, it was small...not enough to make a bodice. The lady told us that they didn't have any other sizes of that fabric and I was so so sad.

But we kept looking and found the same fabric but slightly wider! Still too small, but it was progress. Another lady came over to help us and then she pulled out the full size fabric!!!

That first lady did not know what she was talking about!!! The rest of the pieces of fabric were easy to find and we got some accessories...I'm not giving away too much for fear that Iman will decide to read my blog for once!!!

All of it happened in an hour. We didn't even have to pay for parking!! I didn't cry, but I got super super close. Which I think is a good thing. I'm weird and I cry at the most inopportune times.

After that we headed into Pasadena for some Afternoon Tea [which my MOH won a free tea for two today because she guessed the little prince would be named  George!] and then we all made it back in time for our afternoon appointments.

Successful day!



P.s. My mom totally injured herself getting into the car when we were leaving and we all got worried that we wouldn't make it on time because we had to stop and ice / butterfly her wound. Silly mama! I'd show a pic but she'd kill me!