The Dress

I got it! The dress I've been oggling online is mine!

Mom and I went to the salon today for our appointment (which they seemed to have lost but were very pleasant and accommodated me anyway). We were greeted by a lovely woman named Cindy who got right to it. I told her I was there to see a particular style and she showed me to the fitting room. She found the dress pronto and it was on! With my waist cincher firmly in place, she slipped the gown over my head as we discussed the uniqueness of the gown. Next, she slipped on the matching jacket and voila! I looked like a bride! The dress is everything I thought it would be and more. The color is lovely and I think the fit of the dress is perfect for my body type. I've never stood in front of a mirror and felt so lovely.
"I like it," I said shyly, afraid to let my 10,000 watt smile show.
"But do you love it?" Cindy asked.
There it was. I couldn't hold it in anymore. The smile still hasn't come off my face when I think of that dress.
Measurements out of the way, it was on to the veil. The one I ended up choosing is one they handmade at the store, so Cindy specified the measurements of the veil for the designer. She told me it would be made from the same material as the netting on the dress.
I'm sorry I can't add more specifics about the gown, I plan to save it for family only until the wedding. Some things just have to be a surprise.
However, I will say, that upon showing Joe's lifelong friend Avery the pictures of the dress online, he mentioned that it looked like something Vera Ellen would have worn in White Christmas (1954), which is exactly what I thought when I saw it. The song of the same name was my grandparent's wedding song, as they were married in December. Just another tidbit about this wedding that makes it so special to me.

How Pretty

I've decided to start looking at linens. While the ballroom will have some very nice linens, they're not floor length. Maybe I've watched too many wedding shows, but it seems to be a big deal to have floor length linens. So I started researching places to rent from locally and I found M&M Special Events in Carol Stream (they also have a location in Carollton, TX). I started browsing their samples and wow! They have a ton of gorgeous finds!
This was my first favorite.I really like the way the light catches the vines. I think this would be a pretty setup for the linens. It's their mocha vine overlay. I would layer this on top of a chocolate colored solid linen that goes all the way to the floor, just like in the picture. Imagine it with a tall centerpiece with raspberry colored flowers, perfect for fall!
My only hesitation is that I think most people would expect white linens for a wedding. Does it matter if I go with a color? The ballroom itself doesn't have much white in it and I'm afraid that white linens would stand out too much. What do you think? Color or not?

New Readers?

From what I hear, the save the dates have started making their way into our guests' mailboxes. If you couldn't tell, I did make them. Archiver's makes it easy. I'm curious to know if anyone has gone to our website and even possibly made it to my blog. I worked really hard to get the website all ready for today's "launch." I didn't want people to get the save the dates, go to look at our website and see an unfinished product. As for my blog, you can always comment on posts, you know. For all I know, no one has read a word of this blog but me. I haven't done a whole lot of internet advertising for it, but it's out there.

My adorable bridesmaids have been conversing online via email the last couple of days. I just love that they're doing that. Maybe I should start a wedding Ning. It's a thought. Could be fun. Something to keep around and look back on. I think I will, actually. Some of you non-techies are reading this with raised eyebrows, I'm sure. And I just know that if Joe ever read this, he'd roll his eyes at me. Just be glad I don't twitter. There would be a thousand posts for today alone.

XOXO

Dazzle

Made an appointment at the bridal salon!

Mom and I will be going Saturday morning to see the dress I fell in love with online. Cross your fingers that it looks good on me! The thing about this particular dress is its limited availability. I actually found it on theknot.com and have since seen it in The Knot magazine. In no other magazines have I even seen a mention of the designer, Justin Alexander Couture. When I first looked on theknot.com, I noticed that it said it's not even available in Illinois! However it showed retailers in both Arizona and Wisconsin. Since my brother lives in Arizona, I could always look at it out there while I'm visiting or I could drive up to Wisconsin to check it out, that wouldn't be unheard of. Well, as luck would have it, some further digging around revealed an availability at one store in Illinois. Eva's Bridals of Oak Lawn. That was back in January that I made that discovery. Now, today, I went back to the Web site but Eva's was no longer listed as a retailer! So I called them up to see if they have the dress. Sure enough, they do! Hooray!

I'm also in cahoots with a good friend of mine regarding some special gifts for my bridesmaids. It's a secret, but I'll just say that it will be dazzling!

DJ's and Limo's and Hair, Oh My!

While I'm on spring break, I figured I'd make the best of it and get some work done on this wedding!

I've emailed two DJ's about working the wedding, tying everything together. The thing is that we've hired the jazz band, but we're not sure that everyone will know how to dance to them all night. Seeing as music is such a big deal to me and Joe, we decided that hiring a DJ was in order. I've come up with a pretty solid schedule of events that goes as follows:
6-7 PM: Cocktails with the Jazz Band
7:00-7:30 PM: Party Introductions w/DJ & Uncle Jay, Grace, Speeches & Cake Cutting while Jazz Band switches over
7:30-8:15 PM: Dinner with a small jazz combo
8:15-9:30 PM: Dancing with the Jazz Band
9:30-11:30 PM: Dancing with the DJ

This way, we'll have the bluesy, jazzy feel of vintage Hollywood for a while before getting down to "California Love" and "Panama" the rest of the night. The EC Jazz band is especially great because of all the standards they do.

So we'll just wait to find out what the DJ's say. Once we get our quotes I'll be sure to update!

I've also been researching limo companies for just the right transportation. I think we'll probably be going with two separate companies.
I love the idea of exiting the church and hopping into a vintage automobile that evokes the feel of the wedding. Going with a '57 chevy or something similar would be ideal for me, but not too wedding-like, so I've decided that going with something more like a 1939 Packard or a Rolls Royce might be nice. There's a local company that also has Bentleys, so there's that to think about too. However, I'd still need to find a way to transport the wedding party to the picture spot(s?) and then to the ballroom, so I'm thinking some kind of large limo for that. The bigger, the better, I say. That way we'll be able to accomodate our flower girls, ring-bearer and at least a parent of theirs as well.

Finally, I've been looking into a special beauty day at the salon for me and the girls the day of the wedding. So far so good. I called Tigerlilie in Lincoln Square. They have the day open and I put my name down to book the appointments. It can always be changed if we decide to do something else. Their wedding package is fabulous. They accommodate the entire party in their salon and offer mimosas, fruit and pastries while we get our hair done, makeup and even mini-manicures. I'll probably splurge on a limo to take us to and from the salon as well. It's in the city and I'd hate to have everyone split up for that. Plus, it will be fun to relax and have fun with my bridesmaids while we get primped for the wedding. Has anyone else done this for their wedding? I'm not sure if it will be too hectic, but with all the girls and myself living all over Chicagoland and even two out of state, I really think it will be a nice gathering point before the wedding.

Things are starting to come together more. I just wish my mom had spring break this week too so we could be doing all this planning together. I just get so motivated I want to check things off my never-ending list of things to do!
Soon enough.

I announced our wedding on my MySpace blog this weekend. I've been getting sweet messages from friends about it, which is so nice. Joe and I are so lucky to have such great friends!

The Registry... Continued

It's Official
We are registered as Laura Hince and Joe Scola at:
Bed Bath & Beyond

Crate and Barrel

Target

The Registry

Joe and I went to Bed Bath & Beyond tonight to start our registry there. Joe picked out some lovely pieces to cook with on top of the stove, while I chose some stellar pieces to use in the oven. Those are our arenas. We also chose some towels which I'm very excited about, as well as a variety of other practical items for use around the house. Oh, and who can forget the china! Oh la la. I just love the china we chose. I'm so glad that Joe agreed to the pattern. Or should I say the lack of pattern?

The china is Kate Spade Cypress Point. While some of her china has matching stemware and flatware, this one didn't. It did, however look stunning with the Library Stripe stemware and flatware, so we registered for that. We were looking at the Library Lane china but I think we made the right choice. These items are timeless. They are absolutely gorgeous and we'll be able to entertain with them for decades.

Priorities

This is me making a list:
1. Register
2. Save the Dates
3. Website
4. Salon
5. Transportation
6. Linens
7. D.J.
8. Dress
9. Bridesmaid Dresses
10. Flowers
11. Tuxes
12. Invitations
13. Menus/Programs/Other Paper Goods
12. Favors (Need to know how many)
13. Placecards


What am I missing???

Fellow Willowbrook(ians)

I cannot guarantee that these links will last forever, but here are two wedding websites that pop up when you search for weddings at The Willowbrook Ballroom...

http://chariseandgunter.com/events.asp

and

http://www.erin-jeff.com/home.htm

I'm crossing my fingers that they will post pictures. I'd love to see what they've got to share from their wedding!

The Wedding Party

Joe and Laura each chose seven special people to stand beside them at their wedding. Isn't seven supposed to be a lucky number? Well, that's why these two decided that these seven people would bring them the most luck of all. Read on to find out more about the wedding party. You'll also find out who the ring bearer, flower girls and ushers are!

Nydia Laabs
Matron of Honor

One of Laura's best friends since she was 16, Nydia and Laura have worked together, gone to school together, laughed together and grown together.



Steve Tomlitz
Best Man

Joe and Steve have known each other since little league. These two have shared the stage, their room and their good times.

Amber Whitaker
Maid of Honor

Amber and Laura are sisters of rock. These two met five years ago and have enjoyed sharing music, attending concerts and meeting new friends.




Jamie Meo
Best Man

Although they met through Steve, Joe and Jamie became fast friends. Immediately they could sense that they shared some odd cosmic connection having an equal voracity for both food and Metal. You can often find them together, at your local bar...giggling uncontrollably.

Allison Dunn
Bridesmaid

Allison is the beautiful young lady engaged to Laura's brother. She's a good friend and will make a great sister.




Darren Hince
Groomsman

Darren is Laura's little brother. Even though he passed her up in height when he was around fourteen years old, she'll always be his big sister. These two have gone from teasing and hair-pulling to being great friends. Laura is so proud of Darren and everything he has accomplished. Love you Dar!

Jackie Scola-Bernstein
Bridesmaid

Having had the honor to stand up in Jackie's wedding, Joe is eager to return the favor. Though admittedly they weren't terribly close as young children, after the "who's more attractive" debate was settled, they were able to move on and have become tighter than ever.

Joe Bernstein
Groomsman

Brother-in-law and fellow musician, JB, has always been an inspiration for Joe...not because of his success or talent, but because of his amazing ability to grow his facial hair into any shape or length at will.







Bethany Lisack
Bridesmaid

Beth and Laura were college roommates. Now that both of them are teachers, they have even more to share.




Brian Budzynski
Groomsman

Despite some differences in appearance, taste and personality...Joe and Brian's friendship has survived since the glory days of High School. Ok, there was that 5-year period where Bud flipped out and left for Europe unannounced...then didn't call or write for 5 years...but hey, who's counting? Point is, all is back to "normal" and everyone is glad that Brian can be part of this special occasion.

Stacy O'Connor
Bridesmaid

Laura and Stacy met at work in 2000 and shared their first apartment together. It's impossible to think of how much these two have gone through together.




Chris Blomquist
Groomsman

Like the older brother that Joe never had...or asked for...Chris has been there, without fail, for the last 10 years. Whether it was back when they were hacking computers at Blue Cross, or when they were entertaining Chicago's North Side as Acousti-Rock duo, Orange Julius, there have rarely been better partners-in-crime.

Christine DiPompeo
Bridesmaid

Christine is Laura's cousin. Family parties and life events just wouldn't be the same without her.




Robert Colon
Groomsman

There is no better way to get to know someone than to be stranded 50ft. above the stage at Foellinger Auditorium with them. Joe and Robert's friendship is not only proof of that, but of the fact that Subway sandwiches taste better if delivered to you via a pulley system.

Annie Allan
Flower Girl

Annie is the daughter of Laura's best friend from work, Laura Allan. When Laura heard that Annie expressed the need to "be near a bride," she couldn't wait to ask her to be in the wedding party.

Ava Jarman
Flower Girl

Daughter of Laura's lifelong friend Lara, Ava will make a precious flower girl.

Zack McGillis
Ring Bearer

Joe is thrilled to be able to have his cousin Zack as a part of this shindig. There is no doubt his appearance in a mini-tux will steal the show!

Avery Sundling
Usher

Swedish sensation Avery Sundling, longtime friend to Joe, has always been there to provide our groom with the touch of class and style that he has always been lacking.



Justin DiPompeo
Usher

Laura is so excited to have her cousin Justin be a part of the wedding. No one played "Baby Dinosaur" better when they were kids.