What do you think of these bridesmaid dresses?

Alfred Angelo

Shown in black taffeta (I'd go for biscuit/light gold)

Raylia Designs

Shown in turquoise satin (I'd go for red, deep red or burgundy)

Alfred Angelo

Shown in red satin

Other options:

Bill Levkoff

http://billlevkoff.com/main3.asp?p=1.1075

Watters

http://watters.com/product.php?coll=wtoo&showid=441

Any thoughts, preferences or comments? I think the Watters and the Raylia are my favourites, though I do like the other three; if I didn't, they wouldn't have been included!

First Song?

This is such a HUGE decision if you don't already have a "song". Well, we don't have a "song". So now what? Wade's thrown out a slew of ideas, but none of them were quite right. They're mostly not first-song worthy - think of his love of '80s hair-metal for an idea why (Motley Crue, Def Leppard, Poison, etc).

So, now what?

Well, I was listening to various songs on various CDs: Diana Krall, Josh Groban, mixed jazz CDs, etc., for words and tunes that would be first-song worthy. I came a cross a couple that would work.

But then I was listening to one of my favourite CDs (for fun, not for research) and it struck me.

The singer isn't a super big star in North America, but I'm sure you've heard the name. When Wade & I were in New Zealand, we heard this singer played everywhere! So certainly, there is sentimental value to the song and our great trip, as well as fantastic lyrics.

Did you notice I didn't say the name of the song or the singer? It's because I want the song to be a surprise!

Weddings on my brain!

There's over a year to the wedding ... In fact, my account on The Knot (http://www.theknot.com/) indicates that there are precisely 383 days to go until that day. Apparently, that knowledge makes Wade pout. I doubt it's his fear of giving up bachelor-dom, but rather the prospect of how much money we're about to spend. Or maybe it's the idea of spending the rest of his life with me! (That comment made him giggle, because he's reading over my shoulder right now.)

With this much time to go, there's no need to be planning anything major yet. And yet ... with over a year to go, I wonder ... why is it that wedding planning is the main thing I think about most of the time?! It's all I think about!

All that glitters is not gold

So I really, really wanted the colour theme to be gold. And I still do! But it's really hard to find nice, subtle shades of gold in bridesmaids dresses. So many shades of gold remind me of New Year's Eve! Given the month and year of my wedding (June in the 21st century), I don't think it'll work!

Reasons I may not have gold bridesmaid dresses:
1) Bridesmaid's Skin Colours:
Most of my bridesmaids are relatively pale, making the shade of gold so very important. Too pale (like a champagne), and they'll look washed out!
2) Available Shades of Gold:
Some of the gold dresses belonged in a documentary about Studio 54, or some other equally blindingly bright costume from the '70s. Not exactly flattering for anyone!
3) Availability of Dresses:
I've found a couple potential dresses, but they are either (a) from a designer not based anywhere near here, (b) only available on-line - yeah, like I'd ask my bridesmaids to order such important (to me) dresses on-line, or (c) far too expensive to ask my bridesmaids to pay.
4) My Dress Colour:
My dress is an "ivory" colour, though to be honest, it looks white. The "white" dresses almost had a touch of blue to them! I'm fairly pale, so the blue-white would make me look like I'm ill! So I wanted a shade of gold that would not look dull beside my dress.

For these reasons, and with the gracious consent of my bridesmaids, who are willing to wear whatever I ask (and have all told me as much), we may switch the colour to red.

Advantages of Red:
1) There are so many shades of red (from rust to crimson to burgundy).
2) Many, many dresses come in so many of those shades of red!
3) The colour (and my bridesmaids) will "pop" even more against my dress, creating a striking contrast.

I am disappointed that the dresses may not be available in gold. But, I'm sure my bridesmaids will look lovely regardless! I may be able to decorate with subtle gold accents, to incorporate the gold colour theme, such as in the invitations or programs.