bridal party stuff + our first bridal registry experience (stressful).

7.18.08

jenni and i met up on the above date at david's bridal to choose her bridesmaid dress. after the first trying, she made her choice and was quite pleasantly surprised how much she loved it and how flattering it was to her figure [she is obsessed over her weight and dieting and i think she dreaded this and expected it to look awful. it actually did not. i actually think im fatter, look worse than her even though i weigh less. shes a bit heavier and more voluptous but at least she has curves to compensate. i feel sloppy for the most part and hate my body.]

jenni ordered her dress and they didn't have the correct color in [victorian lilac] so she had to choose a different color just to see how the style fit her and if she liked it. i didnt get any pix obviously cos it was the wrong color. in any case, maybe i posted it already but in case i didn't , here it is off david's bridal website again :

Btw, the above bridesmaid style dress has a rhinestone clip on the hip. we may take it off or replace it with another type of color clip depending on whether i go with silver or gold toned jewelry.

If i wear gold or more copper oriented jewelry- we both feel the rhinestone clip will clash and will NOT match at all.

personally, i am more of a silver jewlery type person however with a champagne ivory formal bridal gown, maybe the jewelry should be warmer in tone like subtle gold. i found a few necklanes at macy's on sale. both have a champagne/topaz like stone in the design and might complement my wedding gown. im still thinking it over and next time may post pix of necklaces for opinions. one necklace is by monet, and the other by givenchy. both are pretty but not sure if its what i want yet. since i got both for 8 dollars cos the lady accidentally only charged me for one and they were fifty percent off in a big summer sale, if i decide to not go with them, i wont be losing much money - it was a steal of a deal in my opinion! :D

pix from my cam! these are quick ones and hard to photograph so i took a bunch and most are blurry or dont show up well in the pix so this is mainly just to give a hint of what style jewelry i am considering wearing with my bridal gown: [if i go with gold- i will go with an ivory and/or gold type style shoe possibly ballerina leather style- saw two we loved at kenneth cole outlet out by sarasota/bradenton earlier this month]

pix of givenchy style necklace i tried taking today:

---

shannon's bridesmaid purchase and reveal:

Subj:Bridesmaid Dress
Date:7/26/2008 1:59:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Hi April!

I went to David's Bridal and got the dress today. Attached is a picture of me w/the dress and the length of my hair. I might get it cut/trim soon, but my hair grows really fast. Can you send this email to Jen too. I have her email saved in my outlook acct at work and i'm home now.

Thanks and talk to you soon!

How was wedding band shopping?

Hugs!!

---

flowergirls ideas

from david's bridal, we were partial to these flower girl dress styles. my mom is supposed to take alexcia in the next week to order her dress. in ivory. she will be a cutie in whatever they choose - i am sure- because the truth is that she looks adorable no matter what she wears.

here are a few we loved most:

Style FG203 NEW!

[like the girl on right's dress- 2nd girl in pic]
Style FG8580

then we trotted on over to michael's arts and crafts and are thinking of these particular favors:

ivory flower confetti- fancy

bubble blowers

wedding program printing pack

favor bag or item holder/ candy fillers

ivory tulle for bows on chairs

---

and then this--

following day registered painstakingly with jimmy at bed bath and beyond- he made it one of the most stressful experiences coupled with the stores annoying peeping and eavesdropping. most of the fun was sucked out of and left there two hrs later, in bad moods with headaches.

later we felt manipulated and didn't like how the store handled the experience let alone how we had no privacy! we also felt the advice was fake and to their benefit rather than ours and catered to highest priced designer brand items in every facet of the store. we felt pressured to only choose from sections/brands we were pushed to choose from- all highest priced although there were many other lower priced lines.

every step of the way, we were approached, cornered or subtely pushed into choosing the most expensive so it almost felt uncomfortable to go with anything of lesser price because eyes were on us every where we went and every corner we turned was someone to greet us and eavesdrop nosily as to what we were picking and writing down. it was extremely agitating and NOT fun. we didnt even finish there and later in the week had to spend precious time revising our list and deleting several items we felt unnecessary.

for one, they had talked us into the highest priced china and i cant ever see us using something like that much at all. the lady convinced us, well jimmy not me, that china was a must for every married couple and all the get togethers.

we don't have any now at our place so i don't foresee many and think it's kind of unpractical and not my cup of tea. i'm not a formal person or a social butterfly and i prefer it that way. i wouldn't mind now and then having a couple friends over or family a few times a year for special events/holidays but no way would it be in the capacity that this girl was trying to suggest it will be.

jimmy acted like he was not sold on the china thing but then later when we revised our list, decided he wants china just a cheaper kind so apparently he liked the idea more than he wanted to admit, just not the price range that was being offered.

we didn't even get to the kitchen area becos we were so exhausted with the two hrs there and frustrated by having no privacy. he may go back later in the month w/ or w/out me as all the kitchen stuff and cook ware should be chosen by him since that's his love and not mine. he is the cook, not me.

i don't have any clue about domestic things such as that. i have tried of course, recently but if i were given a class on how to cook, what to use, how to measure things or follow a recipe, i would definitely fail.

i am klutzy, hate touching food esp raw or gettng my hands dirty, and find cooking to be boring and torture at once. i am not the typical girl for sure and i have heard tons of criticism from both of my fiance's parents.

i cringe at the jabs they will put in, chime in when they have the chance at the bridal shower and actual wedding because i know it IS indeed coming. be not afraid, though, as i am not afraid to come back with a sarcastic answer to an unwelcome sarcastic remark/jab at me. they know from past replies and irritated tones, that its a sore subject. the more i am pushed, the more i will react the same way.

no one is going to force me to be something i am not or try to mold me into what they want. childish or not, i refuse. they are not my parents and i am not their child. so that is how i feel.

we do plan to go to target- to do a second bridal registry together in the next month. we think it will be more relaxed and much more light hearted fun as we shop there often and love everything there and can always find cool stuff that is not overpriced. besides, it will be more affordable and practical for many of our guests as most are not loaded with money and we both agree bed bath and beyond is pricey for about 90 percent of the people who will attend our wedding and will be out of their range!

below was our bed/bath and beyond email registry welcome email. i put it in here for my own documentation and so i can keep track of all this stuff that is quickly piling up on me!

Dear April and Jimmy,

Thank you for registering with Bed Bath & Beyond. We are delighted that you chose us! This welcome email contains important information and links. We recommend that you save it in a safe place for future reference.



****************************************************************************************



You elected to have your registry available online at www.bedbathandbeyond.com. Our online bridal registry allows you to update and modify your registry at any time.



ACCESS YOUR REGISTRY: To review or update your registry, please click on the link provided below and enter your personal password. You may also update your registry by visiting any of our stores, by calling 1-800-GO-BEYOND(R) (1-800-462-3966) or by e-mailing us at customer.service@bedbath.com.



Link to access your Registry: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/regHome.asp



REGISTRANT INFORMATION: To review your event details including your event date, names and addresses click on View Registrant Information.



To insure that your gifts are sent to the correct address, it is very important that we maintain accurate shipping information. Please take this opportunity to verify that all of your shipping information is correct.



If the information is not correct, or if you move, please update your shipping information online or email us at customer.service@bedbath.com with the updated shipping information.



****************************************************************************************

Some of the features and benefits available to you at www.bedbathandbeyond.com include:



* Fine Tabletop & Giftware - Online you will find a great selection of fine china, crystal stemware, flatware and giftware from many top name brands! You can now add any of these items to your registry online with just a few clicks. Fine Tabletop & Giftware is also available in select stores, for a store location closest to you, please call 1-800-GO-BEYOND(R) (1-800-462-3966).



* Prompt Updates Our bridal registry is fully integrated, assuring you that changes or purchases made to your registry in-store, online, or at 1-800-GO-BEYOND(R) (1-800-462-3966) are updated everywhere in our registry system.



* Bridal Keepsakes - We offer a collection of wedding-related merchandise that will remind you of your special day for years to come.



* Wedding Wisdom - Tips to help you plan your special day! Plus, useful information for your Wedding Party and Guests!



* E-mail Announcements - Simply log onto your registry under "update an existing registry." Scroll down to the bottom of your registry and click on the e-mail announcement link to use this convenient feature. We'll be happy to send an e-mail announcement to your family and friends, which will include an easy link to your registry. You provide the e-mail addresses, and we'll do the rest!



Bed Bath & Beyond is committed to providing the best customer service. If there is anything we can do to help, please visit any of our stores, call 1-800-GO-BEYOND(R) (1-800-462-3966) or e-mail us at customer.service@bedbath.com. An expert Registry Consultant will be happy to assist you.



All the best,

The Bridal & Gift Registry Staff


COPYRIGHT 2004 BED BATH & BEYOND INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.