BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS

October 3, 2011 Suzanne

One of my favorite activities: lounging with a book. I just finished Keith Richard's Life and I absolutely loved it. The cover seems a bit vulgar, and it definitely foreshadows some dark stages of Richard's life; however, the autobiography is filled with fun facts of the Rolling Stones and a true passion for the Chicago Blues, written in his own rugged, English vocabulary. What did you read this summer? xoxo... Jessica of the Wanderers

September Style : Christine

October 2, 2011 Suzanne

Ok Ok, it is still October. But I have Christine's dress story for you all today! Matt and Christine had a summer wedding in Coronado. It was a blast. I can't wait to post the whole wedding. Here's how she found the one.Happy Sunday, Suzanne

Having a 7 month engagement I had pretty limited time to find a dress to start with so I started in La Jolla with some girlfriends and found one I liked but wasn't crazy about. Then I headed to another store, fell in love with a dress and bought it on the spot! But the next day I instantly had dress remorse. Well turns out that the shop went out of business and my dress wouldn't be made anyways. We had to go through a lot to get back the deposit and then of course I had to start all over!

That's when, per Suzanne's recommendation, I went to see Courtney at The White Flower. Best experience EVER! Courtney was amazing and her gowns were beautiful. So much that I was completely torn between 2 of them. What to do, what to do?! SO I took a few days then went back with friends in tow and as soon as I put on the dress I got I knew it was it. Just like when I met Matt :) So it is corny and cliche but it's true that you just know, exactly like your man!

Courtney had fab ideas and we did some custom work on the dress along with her miracle worker of a seamstress and viola! I love that dress so much that I now regret that she is preserved and boxed up, if I could, I would watch tv in her!!

September Style : Julie

October 1, 2011 Suzanne

I had a really really great time in Europe the last two weeks. That is the official explanation as to why today is Saturday and October. Both of these things don't have a lot to do with our rad blog post today. First of all we rarely post on the weekends and Today is October 1st. So like I said, Europe was really fun. I just may have gotten a little off track. None the less, you are in for a treat today. Julie tells us her dress story! Actually she has two dress stories. She wore a beautiful gown most of the day and changed into a traditional Korean wedding dress during the reception. Viva la difference, Suzanne

I think most girls have at least some vague idea of what their wedding dress looks like even before they ever set their wedding date... or meet their husband for that matter. :P Growing up, I always saw my wedding dress as very white, very modern, sleek, and with absolutely no lace or beading whatsoever. I also pictured myself getting married barefoot on a remote beach, with a flower in my hair, in a very small ceremony. Ironically enough, everything I ended up with was the antithesis of what I pictured. I originally went dress shopping with my sister and my BFF of 27 years, Jessica. We hit several different boutiques and I tried on several different dresses. My sister encouraged me to try on dresses I never even imagined wearing, (i.e. a giant Cinderella-type ballroom gown!) so I would be entirely sure when I found the right one that it was the right one. So I tried on dress after dress, and the funny thing is-- the dress I always imagined myself in was beautiful on, but I didn't fall in love with it. The dress I *did* fall in love with, was a very expensive, very ornate, and very antique-y looking Jim Hjelm dress. The dress was made entirely of lace (something I never was a fan of!) and beading (again, something I swore I would never wear!). But when I put it on, and I walked up and down the store in it, I knew that this was the right dress for me. I felt so beautiful and glamorous in it.... until I saw the price tag. While I loved the dress, I definitely did not want to pay so much money for a dress I would be wearing one day of my life. So... I left the store glumly, and hoped to find a similar dress. My sister, Jessica and I went to two more stores that afternoon, and I was sorely disappointed, as I could not replicate the feelings I felt in the Jim Hjelm dress.

For weeks, I obsessed over the dress and scoured websites to find something similar.... and then... et voila! I found one very similar at a different store for about half the price! I was so excited that I wanted to go try it on that day. I called the store, and the woman said that she did not have any appointments that afternoon, but I begged and pleaded and promised her I knew exactly what I wanted. Reluctantly, she agreed to squeeze me in, and I went with my co-worker, Barbara right after work to try the dress on.

The woman at the store zipped the dress up, pinned it tightly to my body, and I knew at that moment that I had found my wedding dress. She encouraged me to try on a few more dresses, which I did, but none of the dresses had the same effect on me. I was mesmerized by the dress. It was simply put, stunning. I tried it on 3 separate times in the span of an hour, and several of the other women (and Barbara too) told me that this was the perfect dress for me. I bought it that day!!

Mike and I wanted to incorporate some Korean traditions into our wedding, as our ceremony was a traditionally Jewish one. I thought it would be great to include the paebek ceremony, which is a traditional Korean bowing ceremony. Part of the ceremony is for the bride to catch dates and chestnuts in her hanbok (Korean traditional dress), so I definitely wanted to wear one. Besides, at what other juncture in my life would I have the chance to wear one?! Hanboks can be very very expensive (roughly the same as a wedding dress), because they are made of sheer silk, and sometimes, real gold is used to embroider designs on the dress. I contemplated a few options. Since my aunt was coming in from Korea, I could have had her buy me one, and bring it with her. But, I wanted to try it on before the wedding, and she would be arriving the day before the wedding, which left me little room for alterations if need be. I could have bought one in Korea Town, but that was another added expense, and I did not really want to spend thousands of dollars on a dress that I would wear for such a brief moment. So I decided to go with my final option, which was to rent one. Tons of stores rent out hanboks in Korea Town, and it only cost me $150! I went with my mom and dad, to pick out not just mine, but also Mike's. I tried on several different ones, and while I could have gone with a traditional paebek ceremony hanbok, I opted for something less traditional, and brighter. The traditional paebek hanbok felt a little too gaudy to me (colors such as bright red, yellow, green and blue are used), and I wanted something softer for the summer. So I chose a light peach gown, with a small navy blue bolero. I chose one for Mike that was yellow and lavender. He looked so cute in it, kind of like Aladdin! :)

xoxo Julie

Not the same old wedding tune

September 30, 2011 Suzanne

Tired of hearing the same old wedding songs? I've made a list of not-so-popular wedding songs to help make your wedding day unique and even more better suited to your personality, life, and love.Wishing you nothing but smiles,Olivia