Fascination with Fascinators

How many times can a normal girl wear something fun on her head? I can only think of a few.

1) When she's adorable and tiny and looks fantastic in anything:


















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2) Easter bonnet, anyone?

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3) During that trip to the Derby (and really, how fun is this? I'd love to wear that out for an afternoon!)















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and finally,
4) When she's a bride. You all knew that was coming!



















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I'll be jumping on the trend bandwagon at my wedding with a veil during the ceremony and photos and a fascinator to dance the night away. To be honest, a part of me wants to avoid the veil altogether - but then that same part remembers trying on that first dress...then putting on the veil...and all of a sudden feeling like A Bride. For Real. So veil it is. :) I'll be wearing a single-layer cathedral-length veil during the ceremony but have been really torn about a fascinator for the reception. Something floral for sure, but what?

A fresh flower?















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Completely lovely but dangerous! I can only imagine it wilting without my knowledge and I don't want to put one of my lovely BMs in charge of monitoring my head all evening! After some research I've noticed that some flowers work better for this than others. And that's why I've settled on this beauty:



















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A lovely white phalaenopsis orchid, also playing a starring role in my bouquet. According to people "in the know," these little babies are hardy and can withstand multiple renditions of "Shout!" before needing to be replaced.

Are you considering wearing fresh flowers in your hair? What made you decide?

What do you mean, I have to have a theme?

I didn't mean for that to rhyme. I'm sorry. Party foul on me!

So....ever since my Mr. and I got engaged, we've been asked by friends, family, innocent bystanders (I'm only sort-of kidding) about what "kind of wedding" we'd have. At the beginning I'm sure that looks of confusion spread across our faces as we responded "one where we get married?" Needless to say, that response didn't last long. It took us some time, but we finally settled on something that I'm referring to a "motif" rather than a theme, as "theme" makes me think of "Happily Ever After" with pumpkin carriages and 30-foot-long trains and choreographed Viennese waltzes. Lovely, but not me. And not us. At all.

So, without further ado, I present....our wedding motif!

Inspired by our venue as well as this beauty below (isn't she fantastic?) we've decided to throw a modern wedding with an art deco flair! (source)

I love these elegant ladies, don't you? (source)
















I can think of so

many uses for these little guys....ready and waiting to be Goccoed! (source)

I think it's fun and different and allows for lots of creativity and merging of styles. While we're not "theme-y" people, I certainly think that we can do a lot with a motif! Are you using any themes or motifs in your planning?

I have a confession to make.

I am an indecisive bride-to-be.

I think. (just kidding!)

What I know about astrology could fit into a thimble, but I have heard that Libras like me are terrible at making decisions, so I'll just go ahead and blame my birthdate on this particular problem! :)

It's reared its ugly head on several occasions during the process, ranging from the selection of the venue to the overall look of the wedding - but nowhere was it as evident as in the selection of my wedding dress.

I'm a bit of a wannabe(e!) fashionista...issues of Vogue and Harper's can be found sandwiched between my wedding magazines and my closet...well, in one year of residence I've outgrown my walk-in closet by two rolling wardrobe racks. Clothes? I'm a little bit of a fan. So I flatter myself to think that I had a bit of a Carrie Bradshaw (who is my, among many many other women's fashion guru) moment before going dress shopping. Was I a sexy bride? A demure bride? An ivory bride? I had no idea.

Aunts, yes! Ants, no!

When I first got engaged (after the squealing and the phone calling and the near-car-accidents-while-staring-at-the-sparkly-ring-on-my-finger) my first order of business was to buy as many wedding books and magazines as I could find. Then, after poring over their carefully constructed "to-do" lists, I embarked on the task that they all agreed was paramount:

The. Guest. List.

I say that with a note of fear in my voice because - though we've been engaged since February of 2008 - it's a task that was only completed last month. Why, a curious member of the hive might ask? Easy. Revisions, revisions, revisions. Do we invite acquaintances? Stepfamilies? Dates? Kids? Every book has its own rules about what's "proper" and what is dictated by the finer rules of etiquette. Turns out that the finer rules of etiquette, while designed to make the guest feel comfortable, make the hosts feel like they're going crazy! So, throwing caution to the wind, we established a compromise for our very large and blended family full of step-somethings and half-others: a picnic.

Picnic? Red checkered tablecloths, bottles of ice-cold beer, and hot dog buns laying around? Doesn't sound like this girl's vision of her perfect wedding, right? Absolutely. But from the very start we've agreed that this isn't a day about just the bride - it's a day to celebrate both of us, where we've been, where we are, and where we'll be. And in that spirit we're hosting a wedding WEEKEND, full of the formal pomp and circumstance of the bride's dream wedding and also the casual relaxation of the groom's. Hence this picnic. Now titled "The Groom's Wedding" among family members, it will take place the day after the wedding (on the 4th of July!) in lieu of a traditional morning-after brunch. Anyone and everyone will be invited to celebrate the holiday, take a turn at flipping burgers (veggie and otherwise!) and spend quality time with the new Mr. and Mrs! This will also give us the opportunity to involve all of those B and C guest list members in some aspect of the wedding weekend, allowing them (and us!) to enjoy the company of family and friends.

Have you done anything a little "outside of the box" to accomodate a big guest list?