A Napa Fairytale: The Bride Returns in a Cute Dress

Back in the bridal nook as a Mrs., I quickly changed into my custom-made dress that my MOH gifted me 2 weeks before the wedding. We also did a hair change and John plucked the gardenia from my ceremony hairpiece and pinned it back into my down-do. We probably spent a few minutes too many up there, but when you're excited and in a small space with 2 of your best friends, things get silly and you forget that you're suppose to be hurrying.

When we returned I was happy to see guests mingling in the courtyard and as night fell on V. Sattui, the twinkling lights added a gorgeous glow to our reception.

I made a quick inventory of the escort cards to see who was missing, which thankfully only amounted to about 6 guests. Most of the remaining cards were members of the bridal party who never swung by the table. I'm not sure what the face is for. You may have noticed I'm quite expressive.

I was happy and frustrated at the same time when I finally saw the inside of the barrel room. Happy because the flowers my aunt arranged were so pretty and the wine bag favors with the wine charms attached added just the right amount of purple to the room; frustrated because the table numbers I made didn't end up fitting on V. Sattui's wine bottles properly.

I didn't quite understand why the coordinator hadn't tried to cut them to fit, but resigned to the fact that it was my own fault. I should have made sure the week prior when we visited the winery, but it didn't cross my mind. Sure, it would have been prettier if they fit, but again, a tiny imperfection allows you to appreciate the bigger picture. Either I was going to be bugged by it the whole night or I could quickly let it go and let my mind relax around the other perfectly amazing things happening around me. I kept my mouth shut and never even mentioned it to anyone. I'm sure other people noticed too, but the more energy you give to something, the bigger it gets. So I gave it no energy.

I found my groom and we made some rounds. I love this photo. It's so us-- from me chatterboxing, to him listening to me with a sweet smile on his face, right down to the Amador Zin in his glass and the Early Harvest White Riesling in mine. Perfect.

(photos by Luke Snyder Studio)

Our guests were ushered into the barrel room as the wedding party was called outside to await our grand entrance.

Did you do a costume change? Didn't it give the evening a whole new energy?!

A Napa Fairytale: Barrettes Becomes a Bride

There would be no more down time. Once we were dressed, the ball was rolling and it wasn't stopping until way past midnight, when I finished cleaning up my sleeping husband's tux. But that's a story for later-- let's get dressed first!

By this time I was totally getting into my bridey-ness! Finally! I was starting to feel like my normal self after the morning's rough start and the giddiness of dressing for my wedding started to creep onto my face...

I hadn't put the dress on in 2 weeks, here's hoping it fits right!

Making sure the girls are in place and starting to feel like a real bride.

Mom fastened the string of pearls Mr. Barrettes gave me for Valentine's Day. This was the first I'd seen the dress and pearls together.

The back bunched slightly, but my train would cover it. I think I lost a little weight the previous week from stress. I also have a scar on my left boob that I needed to touch up with my magic disappearing makeup. There was never a thought in my mind to cover any of my tats, as I had previously wondered. You will definitely spot them throughout the evening.

Meanwhile, across the street, my groom was getting ready as well!

I talked him into a real bow tie. Pre-tied bow ties are okay too, and my dad's was perfect, but there's just something organic about about a self-tie. It wasn't always perfect, and he was worried about it looking messed up pretty much the whole day, so I'm sure in hindsight he would have preferred a pre-tie, but even in it's imperfection, it was flawless.

(photos by Luke Snyder Studio)

We were now officially a bride and a groom! There was just enough time for a few last minute touch-ups and we would be off to the winery to sneak our "first look"!

I Got My Dream Dress (Sort of)!

I haven't written the post about how amazing my MOH is, but it's coming...

Umm-- behind my back, he had the re-creation of my Marchesa dress made!!!!

(source)

I was still on the hunt for my reception dress, but the search ended when I flew down to LA to hang out while Mr. Barrettes had his bachelor weekend in Tahoe. I walked into the guest room and my beauty was hanging on the closet door!

It fit me like a glove and needed no alteration. When I walk, the full skirt totally floats and flutters around me-- I love it! My wedding dress dreams totally came true. Mom's dress is altered so well for the ceremony, and my reception dress is perfect for barrel-room boogie-ing! Happy wife, happy life!

Do you love your reception dress as much as your ceremony dress?

Making Mom's Dress Mine: Third Fitting

Yes, you read that right, it was the third fitting. You didn't miss much for the second fitting-- just lengthening the hem.

But I just have to preface this by saying, I almost fainted. Literally. I'm not quite sure what happened but I had been standing there, still as a mannequin for my seamstress, for about 8-10 minutes. I started to feel weird so I just took some deep breaths, and about 30 seconds later I felt sweat break out on my forehead. I didn't want to bother her so I tried to ignore it and pull myself together. Then the stars came. If I didn't speak up, I was going to end up on the floor!

"Omigod, Halina, I have to sit down, I think I'm going to pass out", I practically whispered.

"Hold on, hold on, just one more pin!" She finished that pin, zipped me out and I melted on to her sofa in my underwear.

And then it passed. Just like that. I quickly dressed myself and apologized. She said that it was no big deal, she had a girl fall on top of her one time. She blamed it on nerves, hormones, maybe not eating. But I assured her that I had just eaten breakfast so it wasn't that. I do feel like I'm going to get my "friend" in a few days, so maybe it had something to do with the bloodflow to my brain. I don't know, but I didn't like it!

Remember on SATC when Carrie breaks out in hives while trying on pouffy wedding dresses? Was I having a reaction?

Anyway, the dress is looking great. About a week away from completion. Here is the half-finished neckline:

Obviously the right side is more complete. She wanted to check the cleavage on me before she really got into that. The lace will be symmetrical on both sides. Let me pan away a little so you can see my wonky face...

I can't even eek out a real smile. I'm trying to hard to not pass out. "I'm fine! Really!" Not.

The back isn't too different from when you last saw it, except she secured the lace to the back. The other side will look the same. 

See that weird bunching in the back? That's going to be fixed. The dress was an A-line, but I wanted it to be more fitted so she took the sides in, which caused the bunching.

Hopefully I will have a finished dress next week to show you! I'll do my best to eat a bigger breakfast and remember some bright lipstick!

Forgot what it looked like before? Click here.

Making Mom's Dress Mine: First Fitting

Hi Hive! The Barrettes are in PA and wedding things are underway! I had my first dress fitting with our seamstress and my worries about transforming Mom's dress in 6 weeks were quickly put to rest.

Helena is a wonderful Polish woman with a great eye for detail. She hadn't seen the dress on me before today, so the only main work that was finished was the removal of sleeves and the lace from the neckline. That alone totally changed the look.

With the dress on her mannequin, Helena marked me where I wanted the neckline cut and began placing the lace strategically around my shoulder to create the look I'm going after.

I hadn't really thought too much about the back of the dress, but she started pinning remaining lace on my back and it really added to the look:

I'm so relieved! I have faith that the dress is going to be exactly what I want and Mom Barrettes and I are very happy. I have another fitting next week, and Helena assures me the dress will be complete before I leave for CA in 3 weeks. Awesome! We can't wait until it's done so we can say, "Yesss to the dress!"

(all photos: Miss Barrettes)

The White Dresses, Part 1

If you've seen Inception, you know that an once an idea is implanted in your brain it grows like a seed and sometimes its hard to tell where it came from. So-- I don't know where, when, or how my idea was planted, but somehow I've always just known I would wear my Mother's dress.

I never dreamed of big fancy white dresses or princess gowns, and since I've worn so many costumes throughout my performing years, I didn't want to feel like I was wearing a costume and performing a bride. Mom Barrettes' dress is pretty and simple and perfect, but it needs a 'punch' to update it a tad. While I want to wear her dress, I'm not thrilled with the idea of going back to the 1980's!

Faux Fitting

The morning of my Mom's flight out of Guam we met the girls at Iridescent for our 'Faux Fitting'. I wanted my Mom to have the experience of dress shopping because my wedding dress experience is a bit different. We will be modifying her wedding dress for me to wear during the ceremony, and I will then wear a fabulous little white number for the reception. So.... no true "Say Yes to the Dress" moment for us.
Knowing that I wouldn't actually be falling in love with a dress, I jumped right in to try a few different styles, just so we could get some idea of what we did like. At the time of this fitting we had plenty of time to play with the details. I already have a pretty good idea of how I would like her dress to be manipulated so the seamstress has her work cut out for her.

After a few dresses, I was getting bored with their selection and decided to try a veil, since I truly don't know what I'm doing in that area yet. I freaked out a little once it was on my head! Ahhh! A veil!! Its real!!!

Friend Barrettes played dress-up as well and she tried on one dress that I actually really liked. Well, I say that loosely. I liked it better than most of the dresses there. I'm sure had there been a better selection, and more dresses in my size, it wouldn't have been my favorite....but we worked with what we had. I really did feel like a BRIDE in it. It fit me well and flattered my semi-curveless body...

Pretty right?! This just makes me that much more excited for my real dress! Can't wait until my Mom and I have that true moment when we know its perfect...♥

What was your "Say Yes to the Dress" moment? How did you know it was THE ONE?