Say Yes to the Dress...this Friday!

Ok, so yup...my episode is this Friday on TLC at 10pm, soooooooooo tune in!!!

I have to say for the record, that while we were filming, we were joking around, and having a grand old time, but now that this sh*t is actually going to be on TV...I think that I will seriously vomit. (prepare for girly nervous breakdown...) What if I sound silly? Or look awful? Or you can't tell that I was obviously kidding? This is so much more nerve racking than stand-up. (At least then is was SUPPOSED to be a joke.) AHHHHHH!!! Ok, so watch it, and then just tell me that you loved it. (NO MATTER WHAT YOU THINK!!)

Love you guys! (kill me...seriously) LOVE!

Nancy

We interrupt this checklist to bring you news of a dress...

That's right! I want to report to you all-the millions of you waiting with baited breath-that I filmed the TV show-Say Yes To The Dress! (To be aired sometime next year)II have tried on some wedding dresses, and I have an update...

1. Kleinfelds is insane...who knew that dresses were so important? Apparently they are...and somehow when you are there, you believe in the power of the dress. (They use feminine pronouns when referring to them, as in, "Let's see how you look in "her.") I was treated like a princess, and my friends were treated like queens...because they are gay men. (cracking myself up here.) We had a Kleinfelds first, and they let Josh try on one of the dresses! He looked lovely, if a bit furry on top to be wearing so much detail in the bodice... sadly, they don't allow photos at Kleinfelds, or we would have quite a few here...he looked something like this:



...and as a side note, I am pretty sure that one of the salesmen at Kleinfelds had a crush on my friends...not one of them in particular so far as we could tell, but on all of them as a unit. Thank you salesman, said crush made everyone feel special. :-)

2. Filming a TV show is a funny thing. Especially a reality show! First there is a camera person in the dressing room with you...yeah..."Hi, so, um, I didn't wax yet this month, so...Oh, sure, you can put the microphone there." Then, once you are in the dress, they make you stand still for long moments while they film each dress, while your friends are going, "You look like you are in pain! Stop it!" Then you say something, and then they say, "Can you say that again?" and when you do, you sound like Tonto..."ME...LIKE...DRESS" In the interview, you know that they are looking for specific things, so you start wondering if you said the right thing, and stop thinking about what you are saying...and are like, "Wait...what? What did I say?" The other funny part is at the end when they ask you to comment on your experience in the present tense...but it isn't. (As though you are commentating on a baseball game, but it has already happened) IE. Them: "What was it like when you tried on the dress that Matt said looked like a table cloth?" Me: "I am in the dress, and I am thinking, "It isn't that bad, is it?" But I know that he is telling me the truth!" But it is an odd thing to do, so again with the old Tonto voice: ME...IN..UGLY DRESS...THINK...MATT...TRUTH!" Somebody save me!!

3. All in all, I had a lot of fun, and it got me really excited about the wedding. :-) So on to the dress commentary:


4. I am sad to report that The Cotton Bride Line by Chris Cole for Kleinfelds wasn't my favorite. I love the idea of it, but none of the "Green" dresses suited my style. (They were all a bit plain and hippy dippy) I think that my friend Matt called it when he said that the best one looked like "My Grandmothers Table Cloth." (I wonder if that line will make it on the show? We were a bit insane, and brutal. We caused a ruckus in general, and I really couldn't tell if they were amused, or annoyed....I guess we will find out when the show airs! lol)

5. All of this said, I did find one in particular that was especially lovely (and silk which is sustainable).....and cost 3000 dollars...GULP!

Sooooooo....what is a girl to do? Oh, I don't know.....google the name of the dress, and find a woman selling it on Craigslist two towns over from her parents for 1000 bucks? Yeah, that's what she said! WHOOOO HOOOO!!! What do you guys think?




It is simple, but not "boring", and I think that it is super flattering. So if I end up getting the dress from this woman, I will being keeping it green, and buying used!!! I am super pumped about being able to pick this green option-for the planet and my pocket! (Which has become my new mantra...WHAT WOULD THE GURU SAY????)

As for the possibility of a second dress...I am not sure at the moment where I stand, but will keep you updated!

Step 5-What to wear? (Oh, and I am going to be on TV...read on.)

Of course this is a big one, and as I mentioned before...I have not always been a fan of the "wedding dress." (See Left) It is hard for me to get this type of image out of my head, for some reason...and the idea of this girl busting a move to Sir Mix-a-lot wearing this ridiculous dress is just hard for me to swallow. (Sorry girl if you are out there, and if you busted said move-good for you! I am sure that you looked awesome...ehem.) But let's be serious, I am planning to be a DANCING FOOL at my wedding; as in: "Can't Touch This, Summer Lovin', Margaritaville, I will Survive...BRING IT! And I do not not NOT want to look like the long lost twin sister of my wedding cake! And I also, don't want to be wasteful. Let's face it, this is a big expense, and a lot of waste for something that you only wear once. So what to do? There are actually quite a few things you can do:

~go vintage (and update your look as necessary with tailoring and modern shoes and accessories)

Wear your Mom's dress, or one of your aunt's dresses. Or look in cool vintage shops for a super cool, one of a kind number. (PS, this option is also going to be much less expensive, so you can really go nuts with your accessories!)

~pick clothes made from hemp, bamboo, and organic cotton or silk--or find a dressmaker who will make a one-of-a-kind item out of these sustainable fabric (men's suits and shirts come in organic cotton or wool too)

Ok, so the words "hemp and bamboo" sort of scare me here...not in other contexts so much, but here...eeeehhhhhh, I get a little nervous, but check this out:

Have you heard of Kleinfelds? It is like the premiere place in NYC to buy a wedding dress, and they just launched a new line of dresses that are eco-friendly!!! It is called The Cotton Bride by Chris Kole. And guess what? I am going to be trying these dresses on in an episode of Say Yes To The Dress on TLC. We are filming next week, and I promise an expose post with all of the shenanigans that ensue!

So I am hopeful that I will find an eco-friendly dress here, that is simple and elegant, and that isn't strapless. (Why is that such a big look these days? What is the deal with brides and shoulders? And where are my fellow "Chesty LaRues?" Can we please unite about this? Someone give me a strap for the love of PETE!) Oh, and...BTW, I am thinking to get a super simple short dress to shake my booty in at the ceremony...don't tell Jimmy. ;-)

In the event that I don't find one...I could:

~borrow an elegant gown from a stylish friend

~buy something you'll wear again and let your bridesmaids do the same.

I am hoping that this will happen with the maids...we are going for Anne Taylor Celebrations, and the dresses seem to be super wearable, and aren't SOOOO dressy that you couldn't wear them to another wedding. Or we could go with the Chamelion Dress. Never heard of it? Click Here. Also-I am thinking to wear my short dress to all three of my celebrations (Wedding, Wedding Brunch, and Post Wedding Luau) and then, I might dye it and wear it again...we shall see...

By the way, this is a great site to find ways to be charitable during this process...take a few minutes and browse, for sure. For Bridesmaids, I love this one foundation called The Glass Slipper Project, you can donate dresses, and they go to young women for their proms, sweet 16's and Quinceaneros. Sadly, they are only in Chicago. That said they have a page on their site for out of state donations (link above), and it lists other foundations that do this...there should be one near you.
~accessorize with a unique recycled purse and/or jewelry
~use vegetable dyes on your shoes (or go barefoot for a beach wedding)
~accentuate natural beauty with all-natural makeup
~donate the dress to charity after the event

I love this idea, PS. There are some great charities out there to help Brides, and other young women who need a dress for a formal event...some favorites:

Brides Againts Breast Cancer

The I Do Foundation-

You know, I am surprised, but they don't mention rentals here, or ebay (buying used)...I was looking into renting, and found this article from NY Weddings 2005. It has a few options, and from what I can see, they are all still around. Not from NYC? I am sure that there are places near you that do it..give it a google, and see what comes up. I

I already bought my shoes on ebay, and they are deeeelightful. (And they were only 20 bucks.) I wasn't going to show you, but I am too proud of my idea...guess what? They are my "Something Blue!" I can't stand it!!!

That's right...20 BUCKS!!!

And, hey, let's just say that you want to buy a lavish extravegant Cinderella dress, and don't want to give it away when you are done, and don't want to waste one second feeling guilty!! ...my girlfriends and I have all agreed that after my wedding, we are having a fabulous cocktail party where we all wear "the dress"for one evening...and feel gorgeous all over again. Heck, let's do it once a year! I am pretty sure that that counts as recycling. Pictures to follow.