Bridesmaid Tales

Introduction
Part 1: The Proposal
Part 2: The Dress
Part 3: The Website
Part 4: The Scavenger Hunt
Part 5: The In-Between Time
Part 6: The Negotiator
Part 7: The Shoes
Part 8: The Bridal Shower
Part 9: The Bachelorette Party
Part 10: Recap: Rehearsal Dinner
Part 11: Recap: Ceremony Setup
Part 12: Recap: Cocktail Hour
Part 13: Bridesmaid Dress Revealed
Part 14: Recap: The Wedding Cake

Introduction
Hello everyone- Leah here, a devoted Veil Tales blogger. For those who don’t know me, I’m a recent college grad, and I now have a job in the marketing field. Even though I love my job, weddings are where my true passion lies. Luckily, I have Veil Tales, a blog that allows me to document my ideas about everything from engagement to newlywed bliss. I’ve had so much fun sharing my thoughts on different wedding topics that I want to take it even further. We here at Veil Tales like to discuss general wedding subjects, but we are also interested in real life stories. Aren’t you? Well it just so happens one of my dearest friends from college recently got engaged, and she asked if I would be one of her bridesmaids. Of course I responded with a very excited YES! It was the first time I was ever asked to be a bridesmaid so it has been a learning experience. So why not make it a learning experience for everyone?

 

 

The Ring!

As my friend is planning her wedding for next summer, I am witnessing first hand the tremendous amount of effort it takes to put together such an event. I’m sure a lot of you have been bridesmaids (or groomsmen) before and have experienced all the responsibilities that go along with that title. As the big day draws closer, I want to use this space on Veil Tales to showcase the ups and downs of a wedding from my unique perspective. Won’t you join me as I share with you this bridesmaid’s tale?

  

Part 1: The Proposal

Before I can even get started with the details of the planning process, I must provide a little bit more background info. My good friend Lila* met her fiance Shane* in middle school and were always friends. They kept in contact after high school during breaks home from college. During the winter break of 2005, however, things changed in a big way. The pair reconnected after 7 years of friendshsip and began dating soon after.  Lila and Shane maintained their long distance relationship during the remainder of college, but Lila thought an engagement was still way off in the future. Little did she know that Shane had something up his sleeve that would take her completely by surprise. He had secretly contacted Lila’s best friend (BF) to tell her he was flying in to propose. I know- how exciting!

Here’s the play by play (and pay attention because it does get tricky): The BF picked Shane up from the airport and dropped him off at the proposal site, a beautiful park near the campus. The BF then went back to her apt. and had Lila come over to her place. I then went over to Lila’s apt. to pick up her adorable puppy who would play an important role in the proposal. I then drove over to the park with the puppy so Shane could put a special “ring box” dog collar on her. The BF eventually (after some coaxing) got Lila to come with her to the park. They came walking in together, but the BF held back to take a “phone call.”  In the meantime, Lila continued along the path only to run into her husband-to-be! Lets just say shocked doesn’t even begin to cover it. It was such a wonderful moment! After a photo session and celebrating with friends, this fantastic couple started their wedding planning adventure. I can’t wait to share the details with you!

The ring box collar Shane made himself!

* Names have been changed. 

 

Part 2: The Dress

Lila spent the summer looking through bridal magazines and making important decisions about the wedding. One of the first decisions she and her fiance made was about location. After walking through several different spots, they realized what they were looking for was right in front of them all along- a wedding at home. Lila’s family just moved into a beautiful new house, the perfect setting for a wedding! After the location was set, Lila flew out to visit her BF and me to go wedding dress shopping! During the day Lila and the BF would go to several bridal boutiques and try on tons of dresses. I looked through the pictures of the potential dresses over dinner, and we would discuss. It wasn’t a matter of not finding the perfect dress, but rather it was a matter of finding TOO many perfect dresses. She has to consider the weather of her June wedding, the overall theme each dress would dictate, and how the dress would photograph for wedding pictures. No decisions about the dress have been made as of yet, but I will keep you updated.

In addition to searching for the gown, we also looked at various bridesmaid dresses. There are so many options out there, but it is proving difficult to find the dress that matches the specific color scheme. Lila’s colors for her day are cornflower blue, an earthy shade of green, and yellow. We spent some time looking at dresses that would fit in the specific color palette. There are several options in the running, but below I am including a picture of just one of the many dresses we tried on! (It is from the Vineyard Collection Bridesmaid Dresses line.)

Very Cute!

Part 3: The Website

Shane told Lila that he wanted a wedding website, a great option for couples who want to put all their wedding information in one place. You can reveal specific wedding day details, give the background stories about you and your fiance, and introduce your bridal party! Also, it is an another appropriate space to state where you are registered. Before Lila got engaged, I wasn’t exactly clued in on the wedding website trend. Lila and Shane did a little more research about their different choices and finally picked their perfect option. There are 2 options for your wedding website: free or rented. You can either have your website linked to part of another website or you can rent your own domain name for however long you are engaged.

Here are some examples of free websites where you can create a wedding page:

• The Knot- Oh the famous knot.com wedding page. Besides being one of my favorite wedding information resources, The Knot has also created a easy way for engaged couples to quickly and easily place all their wedding infomation on the site. Then when visitors go to the homepage- www.theknot.com- they can type in either the bride or groom’s name to easily find their wedding page. There is however no personalization within the domain name.
• eWedding- For the tech savy couple, eWedding is the perfect location to create your wedding “headquarters”! It is quick to create and offers some really cute designs. Plus- you will have a specific URL: www.ewedding.com/YourNames
• Mywedding- This site has some very modern designs to work with the overall theme of your big day. Here you also get a personalized URL: www.mywedding.com/YourNames

The following give you some examples of hosting sites where you rent the domain. This is a good option if you want a site name specific to your and your fiance (like www.yournames.com). A lot of hosting sites will also allow you to purchase a keepsake CD of your site to keep.

• WedORama- This is a site I found through The Knot. This site is $70 for a year and provides you several options for your design. I like the simplicity of this host server, but am unsure if there are any hidden fees.
• Wedding Window- My favorite thing about this host site is the fact they have flexible payment plans. You can rent a site for just a month for $10.99 up to 18 months for $99. It is a great deal when you don’t want the site for an entire year. The only down side is that fee does not cover a personalized domain name. You would have to pay an extra $15 to include that feature.
• WedShare- Again beautiful designs and easy to use interface. What I love about this site is that it allows you to use your website as the main source of communication for all people involved in the wedding from guests to the wedding party. You can even create a password protected link for the bridesmaids and groomsmen so they can have access to important announcements. The cost is $99 for one year with no other hidden fees.

And the Winner is… WedShare! Lila and Shane decided on WedShare because it met all the specific needs for their wedding. Be sure to look around before making your final decision about a wedding website.

Part 4: The Scavenger Hunt

Paper Strips

I got so caught up in the wedding details, I forgot to share with you the unique way in which Lila asked me to be a bridesmaid. Lila’s friends are scattered across the world in different cities, so she crafted an original and personal way to ask eight girls to be her bridesmaids. She designed a Phone Scavenger Hunt! What is this you may ask? Well I had never done one either, so I will walk you through how to organize the “hunt” step by step. Lila first bought several packs of cardstock in a variety of colors- she assigned each bridesmaid to a specific color and sliced the cardstock into thin strips. Lila wrote a poem about each bridesmaid and copied one line of the poem on each color strip (each set of colored strips would contain the entire poem). On the reverse side of the paper, Lila wrote a “get to know you” question like “Where are you from?” or “How did you meet Lila?”. She punched a hole at the end of each strip and tied the different colors together, making eight different bundles. After completing all the strips, she then designed separate cards containing the entire list of questions, instruction sheets that explained the rules, and a card with blank lines so each girl could write in the lines to her poem. Last, she compiled a list of everyone’s phone numbers, but kept people’s names a secret so we wouldn’t know who we were calling- she made sure to note which color we were specifically assigned to! I was so excited when I received my package in the mail- I immediately called Lila to let her know I received the scavenger hunt!

I'm Tangerine Orange!

I will now walk you through how to complete the hunt- I started off by calling the first number on my list. It turned out to be one of Lila’s good friends from high school. I introduced myself and told her my color (Tangarine Orange). I then proceeded to ask her several questions from the list ranging from where she grew up to what type of music she liked. I asked her questions until I hit “The One,” the question that matched the question written on my Tangerine Orange strip. She then revealed to me my line of the poem, and I wrote it one the blank first line of my poem. Over the course of the next few days, I talked to each bridesmaid over the phone (except for one girl who lives in Germany-we emailed) and pieced together the sweet poem with the final line reading “Will you be my bridesmaid?” It was wonderful- I quickly called Lila to tell her YES! It was a great way to ask me to be a bridesmaid and still connect with the other girls.  If you have any questions on how to create a phone scavenger hunt, send me an email at veiltales@gmail.com.

 

Part 5: The In-Between Time

Catching up over margaritas!

I was able to have a weekend visit with my wonderful engaged friend recently, and even though it wasn’t nearly enough time together, we still got lots of wedding talk squeezed in. I’m not going to spill all the details just yet, but I will tell you she bought her dress! It is absolutely perfect (and gorgeous)- I can’t wait to see it revealed on the big day! Besides the dress, Lila is currently working on completing several other wedding projects ranging from stationery to catering while still managing to train for a half marathon! Impressive, I know. During this crucial stage of planning, there is not much I can do to help her out. The showers and parties are still months away, but in the meantime, I am finding new methods to be a supportive long-distance friend.

First, I am trying to send notes through the mail. And not just email, real mail. No matter how technologically advanced we get in this world, people still love to get handwritten notes. I am going to keep all my notes short and sweet, but I am going to try and keep them going throughout the wedding process. We don’t get to see each other very often, but any form of communication makes it feel like we are less far away.

I also try to send along any fun wedding tips and ideas I find while conducting my wedding research. There is so much to take in when planning a wedding, but I try to find my favorite things and pass them along via email. What are some things you have done during this in-between time as a bridesmaid?

 
Part 6: The Negotiator

I have an awesome wedding planning story for you from Lila that may be beneficial in your own planning process. Lila has taken on the task of planning her dream wedding while still managing to stay on her specific budget. She has found the way to get what you want for your wedding at the price you want all comes down to your negotiating powers. Lila is an excellent negotiator and has worked out great deals with all of her vendors. This story is just one example of her amazing ability. Lila and Shane had a specific amount in their budget that they wanted to spend for their wedding day transportation, and they also selected the specific limo company they wanted to use. Unfortunately the two price points didn’t quite match up. Instead of rejecting the limo company’s offer, she instead chose to ask him why he could not go down on his price? It never hurts to ask.

The limo driver told her it was his wedding anniversary that night, and he needed more money in order to justify spending the night away from his wife. In this situation, I feel like I would have backed down and searched for a different company within my price range, but Lila thought outside the box and was able to reason with the driver. She told him that his wife should come with him when he drops everyone off and she would personally pay for him and his wife to go to a fancy dinner and a movie. What a perfect solution! Not only does Lila get to use the limo services at the price she wants, but the driver said she wouldn’t even have to pay for his dinner. That sounds like a good deal to me.

Perhaps Lila should join William Shatner and be the next Priceline Negotiator? Try negotiating for your wedding- you never know how much money you can save. 

Part 7: The Shoes

A few weeks ago I made my first wedding related purchase for the upcoming wedding, and what a fun purchase indeed- the shoes! Lila has worked very hard to come up with the exact bridesmaid ensemble, and she found the perfect shoes to match. Since our feet will show with the dress, the matching pumps will look great! Luckily the shoes were located at Dillards, a prime location since most of the bridesmaids have access to the store even though we live all over the country. I don’t want to reveal what the shoes look like until the big day, but I will tell you they are by the brand BCBG. I ordered mine off Dillards.com and they arrived to my house within the week. There are a lot of sales happening right now on BCBG shoes, and it is definately worth taking a look! Here are a few of my faves (as you can see I love bright shoes!):

   

Part 8: The Bridal Shower

This past weekend was my friend’s beautiful bridal shower, and I am so excited to share some of the details with you! The party was held at one of the bridesmaid’s homes, and let me tell you, it was one sweet affair. It was hosted by the Maid of Honor (MOH), a bridesmaid (BM), and myself. Here are the pictures to prove it:

I was in charge of the invitations, and I created this with blank paper supplies. I used white cardstock (50 cards and envelopes for $10) and  pink scrapbook paper for the background. I cut each piece of scrapbook paper down to size and secured it to the folded blank card using double stick tape. I also bought white shimmer cardstock and cut out the shape of a wedding dress (after sketching the perfect pattern). I added a sash and flower to each dress using scrapbook paper I already owned and printed the details of the shower on computer paper and taped the information on the inside. They turned out very cute (and I’m not biased or anything)!

 

On the invitation, we asked each guest to bring a copy of their favorite dessert recipe. We provided blank recipe cards, stickers, scrapbook paper, and scissors and everyone had a good time making their cards for the bride-t0-be!

We had the shower at the BM’s adorable house, and we each made yummy desserts for guests to snack on including chocolate mousse, fudge, and red velvet cupcakes (all made from scratch)! We placed pictures of the bride-to-be growing up on the table along with napkins that said “I do doesn’t mean I’ll do everything!” Tulips are in season right now, and they added some nice color to the setup.

The favors for the shower were a group effort. The BM and MOH printed recipes made for the shower and placed them on brown cardstock. I baked heart shaped brownies (not from scratch) using a heart shaped muffin tin from (you guessed it) Michael’s. We placed each brownie in a cellophane bag and attached it to the recipes using a grossgrain ribbon. Here is the closeup:

We had fun planning this fun afternoon for our bride-to-be! Next comes the bachelorette party so stay tuned!

The Bachelorette Party

Hello! I am back from a weekend bachelorette pary for one of my favorite friends! Most of the bridesmaids were able to attend, making it a great chance to bond before the wedding in June. We stayed in the Flamingo Hotel and got to tour all the surrounding hotels. It was so much fun! Here are a few pictures:

Here are some shots of the hotel- I loved all the pink!

This was an ice-cream shop in Caesar’s Palace. Lovely presentation, yes? I especially love the Pina Colada flavor (the one with the coconut on top!)

My Eiffel Tower picture. It might be better than my real life Eiffel Tower picture…

 

Here are some of my pictures from the Bellagio Hotel. The first is from the gardens inside the hotel, which were beautiful! The second is of the Bellagi fountain show at night. It was one of my favorite parts of Vegas. As you know, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas so that is where the photos stop, but we had a lovely and relaxing time!

Recap: Rehearsal Dinner

I wanted to begin the New Mexico wedding recap with the rehearsal dinner. Please note that these are not professional pictures, but ones I shot rather quickly with my camera. The rehearsal dinner took place just across the border into Colorado at an outdoor event facility located right on the Florida river.

The event had a Western theme and everyone wore their hats and boots. Picnic tables were set up outside, and they served a delicious barbecue dinner.

 

This was the beautiful view we had as we walked to the location!

Picnic tables and games were set up on the lawn. I played a round of croquet and a little bit of Frisbee golf! The rehearsal dinner had a rather large guest list, and the lawn games kept everyone entertained.

 

While we waited for dinner, a couple other bridesmaids and I walked down the path that ran next to the river. The water was absolutely beautiful- I wish I was a little closer to such pretty scenery.

As we walked, we came across this tepee, which made for a good photo opt.

I wish I had snapped more photos during the rehearsal dinner, but the truth is, we were having so much fun, I forgot about my camera. I do like this moment I caught of my fiance hanging out by the river. This one is going in a frame! Some of my other favorite moments were the group picture before dinner and the impromptu line dancing. Overall it was a great way to kick off the weekend!

Next up will be some wedding details that may provide a little inspiration for your big day!

Recap: Ceremony Setup

As with most weddings, the big day came with an extensive to-do list. The bride had everything planned, and it was time for execution. I thought I would share a few of the ceremony setup details with you today! 

The ceremony was arranged in a circle format (there was no bride’s side or groom’s side). The bridesmaids and some family members helped to tie sashes around the chairs into bows.

 

The 4-sided alter corresponded with the 4 part ceremony. The bride and groom stood on each edge of the alter as they read scriptures, recited vows, planted a unity tree, and of course kissed! You can see the bride’s house in the background of this image.

The florist was able to come the day before the wedding and help to decorate the custom built alter. Hydrangas were one of the most common flowers found in the decor.

These archways were built and setup at each entrance to the circle. Pictured is the archway the wedding party walked through to enter the ceremony.

And finally, when the ceremony was over, the bride and groom along with the rest of the wedding party retreated away to this bridge. Two of the bridesmaids worked very hard to make sure the floral arrangements were perfectly hung from the bridge. It was a great location for pictures!

Stay tuned for more wedding photos to come next week!

{All photos either from my camera or fellow wedding guests}

Recap: Cocktail Hour

Once the ceremony was complete, guests retreated to the house for a fabulous cocktail hour while the wedding party took pictures together.

Before the ceremony, guests grabbed a mason jar and wrote their name on it. This would be their glass throughout the night.

 

Guests could then take their glass inside the house to the bar. There they served the couple’s favorite drinks, wine, and locally brewed beers.

 

The house and front porch were filled with cocktail tables and grass centerpieces.

 

As a cocktail hour activity, the bride and groom set up a table with paper and pens and asked guests to write them a note for them to read on their one year anniversary.

Their staircase was hung with tulle and hydranga clusters.

No table in the house was left without decor. The lemon lime table was in the dining room and the table above is their pool table! Can anyone guess the couple’s color scheme?

At the end of the cocktail hour, guests went to take their table escort card to direct them to their seating assignment. Then it was off to the reception!

My dear friend has really transformed what it means to have a gorgeous wedding at home. It was beautiful, but it was also personal. I will be posting a few more wedding details this week so stay tuned!

Bridesmaid Dress Revealed

One of my biggest regrets from wedding day was not taking a picture of my bridesmaid attire. The good shots will have to wait until  the professional pictures come back, but I will show you the style and color of the dress.

The BM dress is made by Aria.

 

We wore the dress in the the color Periwinkle:

 

My friend made us the sashes to go with the dress in a lime green and we wore lime green shoes!

Here is the best picture I have of the dress, but you get the idea! The groomsmen wore coordinating suits and everyone looked nice together.

Have you recently been in a wedding? What did you wear?

Recap: The Wedding Cake

I wish I had more pictures of the reception, but those will have to wait. Until then, I thought I would share a picture of the custom designed cake. Each of the 5 layers were a different flavor and matched the wedding colors perfectly. If you look closely the groom’s cake is directly to the right. The bride’s mother baked the groom’s cake and added hand dipped chocolate covered strawberries.

Lovely yes? Overall, it was a wonderful wedding filled with beautiful details and many DIY projects. It provided a great inspiration for my upcoming wedding!