Save the Date

In Paris, making Save the Date cards. I love all the planning and organizing..but I still don't have a dress!

Exciting, exciting news!!

Well, first of all, I just got an invite from Max Mara to go see their new Bridal collection!
They are promoting the new line with special events in the various flagship stores across Italy.
On Dec 3 I will go try some dresses and talk to one of the style consultants from the shop.

Even more exciting..I was having coffee with a friend, who also happen to own my favorite shop in Rome. he has great taste, knows me and my taste well and knows fashion in the wider sense.
We talked about various dresses, designers, fabrics ( he killed my shantung silk idea), styles and...HE OFFERED TO DESIGN SOMETHING FOR ME!!!
I am terribly excited about the idea of having a B's original design. For now, I quite like these sketches by Minnesota designer Katherine Gerdes.

Will keep you posted!

The perfect dress

The perfect dress is impossible to find.

I keep flipping through magazines, browsing the net, talking to people, going into design stores, but so far, nothing seems to scream : pick me!
Is it so hard for everyone? I want something simple, classy, not too revealing, but flattering. I want green shoes, high heels, especially if the dress is going to be plain.
I looked at Vera Wang, J Crew, Pronovias, Armani, but still, nothing works for me.
I am now 99% convinced that I am going to have a tailor do the dress, but I still need to know what style, fabric, cut, length to go.

I wish my genius grandma was still alive. She always had the perfect suggestion when it came to dresses. She had the knowledge of the material, of how it would wrap and fall, hug and fold on a person's body.
She was strangely less conservative than my mother, and would always have great ideas for outfits. I really miss her.

On the other hand, I am truly enjoying the constant discussions with every female member of my family, trying to give a suggestion on the dress. V neck in the front, or V neck in the back, pleats in the front or flower in the back, empire waist or cinched at the waist. In a way, I think this is a big part of what weddings do. They bring people together.

Thanks to all the people, friends and relatives that are coming together for this special day!




The dress in the picture is by Pronovia

Inspirational Boards Anyone?

I keep looking at websites full of pictures, ideas, photos, possible arrangements.

The other day I spent about 2 hours staring at pictures from a Nigerian wedding. Is this what wedmin (as my lovely friend at The Spice Spoon calls it) does to you?
It mushes your brain into something that is only turned on by white dresses, flowers and catering plans??

So now it is time to start saving ideas, images and create my own ideal wedding plan, so when the times comes (sooner than I think) to pick colors, decorations, centerpieces and of course dresses, I will be more prepared. For now, I have attempted a digital Inspirational Board (thanks Jessica for showing me the way) but I know I will just end up piling lots and lots of magazines, fabric scraps, menus, more magazines and endless pieces of paper.

Curious George

Who are you, looking from The Bank Of New York Mellon Corporation?

Wedding Planning - the menu

So far all we know is that we are going to have pavlova... or at least this is what Mr. R demands.
I guess the other sure thing is that we are going to have some (at least some) gluten free options.

Last week Mamma and I headed to our trusted caterer, the same one we hired for my brother's wedding, and inquired about some options. The lady who welcomed us (she also happens to be the boss) was extremely kind and reassured us that everything could be done, and the GF request would not be a problem at all. In fact, her own daughters are gluten intolerant so they had plenty of options for a GF menu.

After a few day we have finally received the menu. A fantastic four pages menu filled with delicious options...but now the confusion is even greater! How to pick?

This is the part of the menu I know I want for sure:

Angolo del fritto :

fiori di zucca , salvia, menta , melanzane

formaggio pizzelle , crema e mele , spring rolls

olive ascolane , panzerottini

calamari, moscardini e gamberi


Angolo rustico :



Prosciutto S. Daniele a taglio

Lonzino

Lardo di colonnata

Selezione di salumi della cinta senese

Bruschettine mignon con zucchine, peperoni, melanzane e pomodoro

Cesto con pani vari e pizza


and of course...PAVLOVA !

Wedding Planning - location hunting

The days are going by quickly and I suddenly found myself short of a year from the established wedding date.
The list of things to do is quite long, but, as far as everyone says, this is the best part of it all.
I get to pick locations, make lists, try menus, try dresses, plan events, and all the rest.

I have yet to register to one of the many online services that help you remember all the things you need to do (read, theknot.com) and I am somehow resistant to do it, maybe because I think I can remember everything by myself.

So far, Mr R and I started drafting a list of guests. We started with over 200 people. We tried to include everyone we wanted to invite. We did a second round and cut the list down to 160. Now we are at 140 and we do not seem to be able to go below this number. What to do?

As far as locations, we have visited 3 and already feel strongly in favor of one.
The first we visited was a bit too far out in the country, and while the location was spectacular, the food was not stunning.

The second venue- a private villa- was perfectly located but the option for indoor space were a little limited as the gazebo didn't look pretty enough, or just simply not to our taste.

The third place, a very unusual but extremely beautiful one, is a bit out of the center.

What to pick? Should I look a little more?

Here are some pictures from the various locations: