The winner is...

Thank you all for voting on my wedding dress short list.  I ended up going with something of a mash-up of the dresses I posted before.  I really wanted something with some coverage over the shoulders, and this one came with a little lace bolero jacket that I  will wear with it the whole time.  Also, it's kind of hard to image with these pictures, but I think a sash will go really well with it.

It was a sample dress, which meant I got to take it home right then rather than ordering it in my size.  It will need a major hem, or course, and to be reduced in the bust, of course, but other than that it won't need too much alternation.  Even though they are typically cheaper, I had kind of given up on sample dresses since they are mostly in sizes that are way too large for me, but I got lucky with this one.  It was the last one of many, many that I tried on at a point when I thought I might have to settle for something I thought was just ok.  Then I found this one and I just love it!

 

Wedding dresses

It's poll time, Readers!  But I'm looking for input on my dress, not the bridesmaids'.  Several of you commented that I should ask them what they would like to wear.  I have.  In fact, I suggested that they choose their own dresses--just find something black and knee-length that flatters and feels comfortable--but they said they wanted me to pick out matching dresses for them to order.  Their main concern was looking age-appropriate since they are a bit older and most bridesmaid dresses are designed for women in their 20's.  We all went out shopping together over the summer and found a couple of dresses that everyone seemed to like, so I'll pick the least expensive of those.  By the way, I'll note that I wore dresses they each chose for their own weddings.  :)

Anyway, I've been looking at wedding dresses online, but they're starting to all blend together.  I guess that's not a big surprise, because as you'll see, I have a pretty narrow search image.  I never would have predicted that I'd go for a lace dress, but that's what I want.

To help you make an informed vote, I'll say that we are having the wedding next fall at a forest preserve.  The ceremony will be outside on a stone patio (under a tent) and the dinner will be in an old lodge building with a big wrap-around porch, tons of wood paneling, and fireplaces.  I'm wanting a romantic, low-key, vintage feel.  I'll also tell you that I'm very petite but with curvy hips. Surprisingly, since I'm bigger on bottom than on top, the trumpet silhouette was pretty flattering when I tried on dresses last summer.  I also discovered that I look better in white white than off white.  I do not intend to wear a veil.  I'm also not too keen on trains--I think they overwhelm my short frame and look too formal--but there seem to be few dresses without them.  I can always bustle. Also, I want to add a sash. 

So, which dress do you prefer?


Dress 1:

 Dress 2:

 Dress 3:

 Dress 4:

 

Dress 5:

 

See the side bar to vote! I'm going to close the SurveyMonkey poll because it's way too lame that you all can't see the results.  I'll add the votes already cast to the blogger poll.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

A into G

Well, I didn't manage to get my ass into gear with respect to my work yesterday, but I have big plans for personal stuff this weekend.  EGM is away at a meeting and I don't have any social plans this weekend.  So, I'm going to take care of a bunch of stuff that really must get done.  In the style of JaneB, here's a list.

• I'm taking my car in this afternoon (oil change, and something is up with the heat and thus, defrost - yikes).  Tomorrow I'm scheduled to get new tires.  These two appointments should ensure that I actually leave the house rather than sitting around all day "in my afternoon pajamas" as EGM likes to say.
• Christmas shopping.  As usual, I don't have to buy for all that many people, but I need to get it done nevertheless.  
• EGM and I decided to get a Wii instead of buying each other gifts, so that's that.  
• I have a great idea for a funny t-shirt for PI, but that means I have to get something for the tech too.  He's a 22-year-old guy who I don't know very well because he acts rather reserved.  Ideas? 
• Unlike most years, my parents didn't ask for a big gift for which my sibs and I can go in together.  But they shouldn't be too difficult.
• My sibs and I draw names (by couple), so I have to buy for B2 and his wife.  I'm think camping gear or maybe some kind of cool yard game.   Ideas?  They have a pop-up camper, two little kids, and B2 uses a CPAP machine so we're talking stuff for car camping. I should spend $45-75. 

•  Wedding-related shopping.  
• I want my bridesmaids, who range in age from 31 to 48, to wear black (or maybe brown) cocktail dresses and to have wraps in fall colors.  We found a couple of dress options we liked at a wedding dress place so they'll order the dresses from there, but I'm going to get the wraps from a normal store.   I'm sure I'll have better luck finding something I like now rather than in the spring, and the wraps will determine the colors for other decorations and such so I can't put it off too long.  
• Wedding dress.  I think I'm going to buy it online.  I've found a few I like and they are much cheaper than in stores.  Perhaps I'll do some more searching and then put a few options to a vote here?
• Housework!  They still haven't finished all the work to put our apartment back together after the flood.  We haven't been very motivated to clean because we figured workers could be coming in any time and kicking up more dust.  But, I've reached my limit and some cleaning has to happen.
• Groceries.  Although I don't have plans for the weekend, my social agenda for next week is jam packed -  four holiday parties plus book club.  That's a lot of snacks I have to be prepared to bring.

On an unrelated note, this post is too funny.

Things I'm loving

Yesterday I discovered the Magic Eraser.  OMG.  It is teh awesome.  I deep-cleaned the kitchen and was able to get scuffs and stuff off the walls that I could never clean before.  The thing was amazing for places like the textured door handles on the fridge and oven, and pretty much everywhere else too.  And it had no odor.  Will definitely use again.

But I'm sure the thing you would much rather hear about is my ring.  We've been talking about getting married for a few years now, but it has seemed like too big of a thing to tackle, too expensive, and not urgent enough for us to actually do it.  Plus there has been some big event in our families each year that prevented us from hosting our own big event: EGM's sister got married two years ago, had a baby last year, and my parents are having their 50th anniversary this year which will get a big, wedding-like party.  Anyway, we were talking about the logistics of EGM's defense date, like how to balance the time he really needs to finish with paying more university fees and immigration issues, and we decided the time was right for us to start planning a wedding.

I didn't care either way if I had an engagement ring.  I would have been perfectly happy without one, but pleased to wear one too.  EGM wanted me to have one (a rare moment of machismo).  Because I didn't want a typical solitaire or similarly popular setting, I showed him some things I found online that I liked and didn't like.  That had minimal impact, so we went out shopping without a definite plan for how things should go.  It turned out that we both liked pretty similar styles but EGM claimed that what I liked specifically was not predictable and that he was sad that this jewelry was so gender-specific because he would like to wear it too.  At that point we decided that we would get something we both really loved.  Which was pretty much exclusively antique; there was almost nothing modern that we liked very much.  So we went to a bajillion jewelry stores, narrowed it down to two rings, and after agonizing debate finally settled on this 1920s art deco solitaire:

You can see more detail if you zoom in.  It's just right.  Very sparkly, an interesting setting with engraving and filigree, and it's a good proportion for my small hand.

So: there was no down-on-one-knee proposal, no asking my father in advance, no surprising me with a velvet box, but this was just perfect for us.  It suits our style of sharing responsibility, and we'll have a wonderful memory of shopping for this special item together, which with any luck will kick off a long and happy marriage.  I couldn't be happier or more confident in my decision to marry EGM!