I NEVER DREAMT OF A FAIRY TALE WEDDING. I’M THE MIDDLE CHILD. PRACTICAL, HARD WORKING, AND WHEN IT COMES TO MONEY, I’M A SAVER. WHEN IT COMES TO HAPPINESS, I PUT OTHERS BEFORE ME. WELL, NOT ON MY WEDDING DAY I DIDN’T. NO, I DIDN’T.
MY BOYFRIEND OF 10 YEARS AND I DECIDED IT WAS TIME. BUT BECAUSE WEDDINGS ALWAYS SEEM LIKE THEY’RE FOR EVERYONE EXCEPT FOR THE BRIDE AND GROOM, WE VOWED TO MAKE IT ABOUT US. ON A DRIVE OUT TO VEGAS, I CAME UP WITH THE FANTASTIC IDEA THAT MAYBE WE COULD DO AN ENGAGEMENT PARTY, TURNED SURPRISE WEDDING. NO BRIDESMAIDS, NO GROOMSMEN, NO WEDDING SHOWER, NO BACHELOR(ETTE) PARTIES. NONE OF THE SILLY THINGS TRADITION DICTATES YOU NEED TO DO.
PLANNING STARTED. I HIRED ASTRID MUELLER AS OUR WEDDING ILLUSTRATOR. SHE DREW US ON OUR 1 PAGE INVITE. LETTERPRESSED AND ALL. IT WAS SO EASY, I HAD HER DO OUR PLACECARDS, THANK YOU CARDS, CAKE TOPPER, FAVOR LABELS. WWW.ASTRIDMUELLEREXCLUSIVE.COM
PARTY FAVORS. EVER GET FAVORS PEOPLE WILL THROW OUT? NOT THIS TIME. I ORDERED PINEAPPLE SOAPS FROM: WWW.KAUAISOAP.COM . 50 BARS, FLOWN IN FROM HAWAII. DOES IT GET BETTER THAN THIS? SO GOOD, YOU CAN EAT THEM (BUT DON’T!)THEY EVEN WRAPPED THEM IN MY COLORS. ASK FOR GINGER.
ON FEBRUARY 14, 2010, WE GOT ENGAGED. WE TOLD EVERYONE WE WERE GOING THROW AN ENGAGEMENT PARTY AT THE SURF AND SAND RESORT IN LAGUNA BEACH. COCKTAIL ATTIRE. MAY 1, 2010.
I HAVE NEVER LIKED WEDDING FOOD. IT’S USUALLY SMALL AND DAINTY AND NOT FILLING. I ASKED CATERING TO MAKE OUR FAVORITE MEAL, A FULL ON THANKSGIVING SPREAD. TURKEY, THE TRIMMINGS, BISCUITS AND GRAVY. EVER MET ANYONE WHO DISLIKED THANKSGIVING? ME NEITHER!
MY DRESS. THIS IS MY FAVORITE PART AND THIS IS FOR SALE, A PIECE OF THE GREATEST DAY OF MY LIFE (SO FAR.)
I PURCHASED THIS DIRECTLY FROM MONIQUE LHUILLIER ON MELROSE PLACE. IT WAS MADE TO ORDER. IT IS ANTIQUE ALENCON LACE IN CREAM, WITH A CREAM SLIP. THE BACK IS COMPLETLY OPEN AND WITH AN OVAL CUT THAT IS VERY DRAMATIC. THE TOPS ARE SECURED WITH LACE (HIDDEN BUTTONS, HOOKS CLOSURE) AND THE BACKSIDE HAS A PEARL BUTTON CLOSURE. THE FRONT IS GORGEOUS AND VERY ROMANTIC. THE BACK HAS THE BUTTONS TO BUSTLE THE DRESS FOR THE FIRST DANCE. ONCE THE EVENT IS OVER, ALL YOU HAVE ARE THE PICTURES. THIS PHOTOGRAPHS SO BEAUTIFULLY. IN BETWEEN THE SCREAMS OF EXCITMENT AND TEARS OF JOY, PEOPLE WERE IN AWE OF HOW BEAUTIFUL I LOOKED. THE MATCHING VEIL IS INCLUDED AND HAS THE SAME ALENCON LACE THAT BORDERS IT. THE GOWN + VEIL RETAILS FOR $7,000. PASS IT ONTO SOMEONE ELSE, ONCE YOU’RE DONE WITH IT. MONIQUE DRESSES NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE. ESPECIALLY THE SCARLET, WHICH IS ONE OF THEIR MOST POPULAR DRESSES THEY KEEP BRINGING BACK.
IT WAS A DAY TO REMEMBER, AND I WOULD WANT YOU TO HAVE JUST AS MUCH FUN AS I DID IN THIS DRESS. PROFESSIONALLY DRY CLEANED, NO RIPS, STAINS, OR TEARS. PURCHASED 4/2010, WITH RECEIPTS. WORN FOR 4 HOURS. MORE PICTURES UPON REQUEST.
I AM 5 FEET, 105 LBS, 34 A CUP, SLIGHTLY ATHLETIC BUILD. SIZE 0-2.
MEASUREMENTS TAKEN WITH GARMENT LAID FLAT:
BUST- 18.5″, WAIST- 15″, HIP- 19″, FRONT/CENTER (LOWEST POINT ON THE FRONT OF THE DRESS TO BOTTOM)- 45″, NECK LACE ENCLOSURE WIDTH- 2″, OPENING- 9″ WIDTH, 15″ LENGTH, LOWER BACK TO THE BOTTOM, UNBUSTLED- 50″.
DRY CLEAN ONLY.
THERE’S NOT A THING I WOULD CHANGE ABOUT MY DAY. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BRIDE AND GROOM ON THAT DAY. I DIDN’T STRESS ONCE- IT WAS PERHAPS THE EASIEST THING I HAVE EVER PLANNED. MAKE IT YOUR OWN AND REMEMBER, A GOOD STORY AND A GOOD LAUGH GOES A LONG WAY IN LIFE.
Monique Lhuillier wedding dress
Monique Lhuillier wedding dress (saved image)
