more clothes!

My aunt stopped by the other day and dropped of the Chinese kwa that she wore in her wedding nearly 20 years ago. In the meantime, another one of my aunts also wore it during her wedding and a family friend borrowed it too! I think it's a good sign since all of these women have been happily married since.

(Now the dress that's displayed isn't the exact dress that I plan to wear during the tea ceremony - I still want that to be a surprise for HB, but it kinda gives you an idea of what it looks like.)

The quality of my aunt's dress is soooo much nicer than what's available out there today. It's mostly handmade and rather than sequins and beading all over, the dragon/phoenix symbols are embroidered in a silver thread.

Sadly, it's a tad snug around my shoulders. I can zip it up just fine but I can barely lift my arms. I guess this will give me incentive to lose some weight! So maybe it's actually a good thing.

Have you noticed that most of my wedding accomplishments have revolved around clothing? I have my priorities, you know.

done, done and done

Date: November 7, 2009 - Check.
Venue: W Hotel Seattle - Check.
Dress: White-ish - Check.

All this accomplished in the last 24 hours! Ok.. So we haven't actually signed the contract yet and I haven't actually ordered the dress yet but we're this close!

Let me start with the dress. One of my bridesmaids and I went dress shopping at I Do Bridal. I was expecting yet another disappointing day with dresses that I hate but as soon as I got there, I found out that a girl I went to elementary school with was going to be my salesperson! We used to ride the bus together!

She made the experience so easy and she really listened to what I was looking for in a dress - I didn't feel any pressure at all. I ended up falling for a Mori Lee dress that was very similar to the Lea Ann Belter dress that I mentioned previously, which was nearly $4000! The one I like is under $1000! Whew.

Initially, I wanted to get a dress that was more sheath but after trying on several different shapes, I found the modified A-line style to be really flattering - rather than hide, it accentuates my shape.

I'm sure the Lea Ann Belter one is far superior in craftsmanship by the finest tailor this side of the Mississipi, while the Mori Lee one is probably made in some sweatshop by a four-year-old indentured servant. I joke, I joke! But with my mummy insisting that I need to have multiple changes of clothes (I have to wear a traditional Chinese wedding dress and now she wants me to change into some sort of evening dress), I really don't want to spend all my money on a dress I'll be wearing for a few hours. Besides, I want to be able to afford some fabulous shoes too! Priorities, ya know?

Finally, HB and I visited the W today and I think we both loved it. I know a lot of you have softspots for the W and come to think of it, so do I. When we first started dating, that was one of our spots. We went there for drinks all the time. (Oh and did I ever mention the time I had lunch with Tim Gunn? Ok. It wasn't really with him with him but he was at the next table with Angela "Crazy Rosettes Lady" Keslar exclaiming how "gorgeous" the soup was... Sigh..)

When we showed up to meet the catering manager, she even had a little gift for me. How did she know the way to my heart was free stuff and presents? Sold!

Ahem.

The space was perfect and she's putting the contract together now. Eep! It's happening!

i heart stress

I've hardly had time to bask in the glow of engagement-dom and I'm already feeling like this all needs to be over! I did a little bit of wedding gown shopping over the weekend with my bestie/MOH and I swear I nearly got hives from the anxiety!

As soon as the salesgal put the first dress on me, I thought I was going to suffocate (though that may have been due to the bustier I was wearing.) When she added the veil. Oh lord. I was minutes away from wretching all over the store. Hahaha. The other bride-to-be in the store seemed to be prancing around like she was having the time of her life! She probably was!

I couldn't wait to get the damn thing off! I don't think I like this whole center-of-attention thing. I know, I know. This is just the beginning and I'll start enjoying it soon, right? RIGHT?!!?!

I suppose it didn't help that all the bridal shops we visited had mainly those vile, princess-bride gowns covered in sequins, beads and lace.

Barf-o-rama.

My dream dress is really simple - flowy, empire-waist, nothing fussy. I adore this Carolina Herrera.

I must admit though, I found a lacy number by Lea Ann Belter that was far more fancy than I envisioned but it was so flattering. Unfortunately, it's way out of my price range. (I'm not going to post a photo of it because I don't want HB to see it, in case I end up getting it! But ask me via comment/email and I'll tell you.)

Anyway, I'm hoping that the other bridal shops will have a better selection. I've given myself a deadline of February to find the dress and get it ordered. I'll probably check in San Francisco when I go next month!

Ugh. I need to look for a Chinese wedding outfit while I'm there too. But that's a whole other story.

Are we there yet?