I know I said no taffeta but...

Turns out that it is an awesome fabric!!

(Side note: I know that my wedding isn't for another year and a half, but the original dress that I thought I wanted was being discontinued so I wanted to see what mom thought of that.)

Ok...back to the dress. As you know by now, I am planning a beach wedding so I thought chiffon was the perfect option! I tried on several dresses yesterday but my mind kept going back to two. One was white and chiffon and the other was ivory taffeta.

Turns out I loved both of them and couldn't decide which until I retried them on...to my surprise, I couldn't stop looking at myself in the taffeta dress. I don't know if I would have ever tried it on if it weren't for my mom and best friend Ashley!

My advice to other brides...try on everything! Even the one dress that you couldn't picture yourself in. It might be the best one!

In the end I got a dress that fit perfectly. I'm talking no alterations whatsoever! It flatters every curve and I can't wait to wear it!!

Getting To Know a Beach Bride

Ok...you know how there are people who have been planning their wedding since they were seven years old? They knew the color of the dresses, the menu, the favors and the ring all before they met the guy? They are all taffeta and lace and crystals and seven tiered cakes and 20,000 roses? So think of the opposite and you get me.

Not that there is anything wrong with that. It's just not...well...me. When I finally realized that there might be a chance of getting married, I saw myself eloping to some Carribbean island. When I got engaged, my parents nixed that idea and I went back to the drawing board to come up with the next best thing. A beach wedding in Charleston, S.C.

I chose Charleston for a number of reasons. One, I lived there when I graduated college and was forced to move because of, well, work. Two, it's close enough to family and friends to come. Three, it's Charleston and who doesn't love Charleston??

Ok...back to the matter at hand. I'm planning a low-key wedding for June of 2011 (I also never wanted a long engagement, but we don't always get what we want, right?) By low-key, I mean going to the local flower shops the day before and pick what's in season for the bouquets and just going with it. No jackets will be allowed for the men (party or guests) and shoes are an option. The only thing I'm not compromising on is the dress. I want a great dress without spending thousands of dollars.

The whole reason I am starting this blog is because I am trying to find ways to keep my wedding small, fun and on a budget and am coming up short on brides who don't want to hire a florist.

So there you have it. I will be keeping everyone up to date in the blogworld as I plan my wedding. Enjoy!