Weddingbee Blog

Today I’m taking a dip into clothier waters, because I don’t know what else to narrate in terms of portraits and bridal party pictures. Somehow, it seemed like a cop-out to write a post with the single sentence: Here are some pictures for you, of dressed-up strangers.

For those who have asked about my dress: it’s an Alita Graham for Kleinfeld design, and it’s from the 2009 season, I believe. It doesn’t have a name like many wedding dresses do (although I call her ’Elizabeth’), and if there is a style number, I’m not aware of it.

Elizabeth and I met online, and I had such strong feelings for her that I knew we had to meet in person. Actually, it was a harried adventure in 3 parts: love at first e-sight, tracking her down, and, when meeting in person, realizing that she is perfect for me and even prettier than she seemed on the internet. Then I bought her. Now she’s in a bag in my closet. [Whoaaa, the internet dating metaphor fell apart on those last two.]

The train is my favorite part.

You can’t tell in the lovely editing by my photographer, but the dress is actually quite sheer and quite low-cut. I guess I had dress-goggles on when I bought it, since I was so excited about the sleeves/train that I didn’t notice the lowness or sheerness. In fact, modest old me was kind of scandalized at my first fitting, and I considered having it altered to be more modest. But…delusion seemed cheaper, so instead I convinced myself that it kept the dress from looking matronly or outdated.

All in all, it was fine…at least when I stood up straight. I AM SUCH A LADY.

In my defense, that dress was a lot of weight for my girly shoulders to carry. Lesson learned, brides-to-be? Sit up straight all day, every moment, even when you don’t realize the photographer is snapping you.

Now on to the PDog portion of the show.

That partner of mine is a sartorial snob. Not in every day life, necessarily, but his attention to the art of suiting honestly gives Barney Stinson a run for his money. I think it’s because his career path will likely require a suit and tie only once in awhile. Grass is greener, right? Anyway, he meticulously chose a black suit with a subtle pinstripe:

Most ties, in his opinion, commit a bevy of offenses: too shiny, too wide, too thin, the color is garish, the pattern is an eyesore. [Those are my words, not his. His word is usually just "no," played on repeat as he surveys his options.] It took me five years to buy him a tie and even then, I repeated you can return it, you can return it like a crazed chant while he opened it. He did not return it. In fact, he liked it. Isn’t it funny, how we teach ourselves to one another? He knows how to make my coffee; I know how to pick out his ties. In fact—and I say this with smugness—I ordered him the holy grail of tie selection: the wedding tie. Yes. ME. It’s by his favorite designer, raw silk, not too shiny, not too skinny or wide. Eat your heart out, Goldilocks; I got this one just. right.

He gave the okay on the big ol’ anemone bout. Actually, in full disclosure, I asked him to give me some idea about boutonnières before I met with the florist. Ever the over-achiever, he made me a PowerPoint of pictures of boutonnières he hated, and why…and pictures of the ones he liked, and why. I’m not going to share it with you because, while it is quite funny, it is also quite mean. What can I say? The guy knows what he likes, and I like his style.

PDog bought the ties and white shirts for his guys, but we told them to wear any black suit and any black shoes. I know a lot of brides stress out about the menswear factor—will they look uniform and all that—but our black-attire free-for-all worked out nicely, if I do say so myself.

Yes, the fellow on the right is absurdly, awesomely tall. And, incidentally, was our wedding’s unofficial bouncer.

My girlfriends wore matching black chiffon dresses, and my main man was in the same get-up as the guys on PDog’s side. I chose black bridesmaid dresses over slate blue ones in part so that he could wear a black suit and blend in. [Not because I care about matchiness, but because I didn’t want him to feel like he was sticking out.] I feel like it worked out for all parties involved:

Even in non-pro snapshots, my friends look so good that it’s almost annoying. Maybe I should have tried to put them in hideous dresses to make myself look better. JUST KIDDING. But really:

*guest photo

The dresses had subtle satin ribbons, and my MOH’s had hers replaced with a pink satin one. I thought it looked gorgeous and classy, especially with the peonies in the bouquets. Close-up of both here:

What it looked like all together:

Looking at it in this picture, it seems like a lot of black. But wait till you see our reception. Believe me: I needed some neutral darks to tone down the explosion of blue and pink and gold. If I had our partiers in brighter colors, it would have looked like a giant, regal baby shower for boy-and-girl twins.

And, to round out what is probably the longest post I’ve ever written, the parental get-ups.

I don’t think there could be a better ensemble for my MIL. The gauzy jacket and and ruffled collar were so chic and understated, like her. My mom’s dress was gorgeous too- and not as muted as the photo makes it seem. It was a sort of champagne/soft gold that looked so elegant. See?

Yes, somewhere in my parents’ attic, there is a portrait of my mother that is aging in her stead.

Stay tuned for next episode, in which we make it to the church on time, without drinking in the limo. Well, one of those things is true anyway.

Photography- Katie Albrecht of Blink of an Eye

Flowers- Glendale Florist

Any other questions about vendors, just ask!

Old Episodes

• A Prairie Dog Companion I: Reader, I Married Him
• A Prairie Dog Companion II: So It Begins
• A Prairie Dog Companion III: Pictures of You