THE Dress

Most girls have an idea of what their wedding dress is going to look like long before they are engaged or even dating a guy they think they might want to marry. And I’m no different. In my single-girl days, I would accompany engaged girlfriends on their dress shopping, and I would head straight for the super flouncy, super tulle-filled dresses, and then head over to the veil and head piece section to pick out my “crown” to wear for the duration of the visit to the store. I know I’ve gotten some weird looks walking around with my crown on while trying on bridesmaid dresses or helping my friends with their wedding dresses, but hey, it’s fun!

Within hours of me announcing our engagement, one of my sisters sent me several emails with pictures of different styles of wedding dresses she thought I would like. Before long, I (and my sisters and all the bridesmaids) was on the hunt for my perfect wedding dress…as well as their bridesmaid dresses. Weeks of emailing pictures ensued, and then came time to actually go try on dresses. I lost count of how many stores I went to and how many dresses I tried on. We drove hours outside of Birmingham looking for THE Dress for me and the perfect bridesmaid dress (I don’t even want to talk about how many bridesmaid dresses my sisters and I tried on). It even turned into a full family affair with my dad coming along to be our chauffeur on several trips – going to the stores with us, sometimes offering up an opinion or glance that said all too clearly “you’re kidding, right?”, and best of all: buying us lunch.

There was at least one wedding dress at each store I visited that I liked, and I even had what turned out to be a false alarm of finding THE perfect dress. One day I was in the Huntsville area for work and decided to stop by a little bridal store called The Something Blue Shoppe in Hartselle, Alabama on my way home, just to see if they had THE Dress I’d chosen and if their price was any different. In looking through the dresses for THE Dress, I came across another dress by the same designer and decided to try it on just to see…and I loved it. I then tried on my original dress, and I still liked it…but my thoughts kept returning to this new dress. After trying on each dress a few times (and I’m sure driving the nice sales lady nuts!) I decided it was time to call in the cavalry! I planned a trip to Hartselle for my mom and sisters, and when I walked out with the new dress on – they loved it too. BUT I tried on the original dress again so they could compare. I was barely to the front of the store where they were waiting on me when I saw the look on their faces. A look that said “how do I tell her I don’t like it when I know she does?”. Then my sister, Rebecca, spoke up and said simply “No” and motioned me back to the dressing room. THE Dress had been found…the new dress was to be mine.

I’m keeping THE Dress a secret until the wedding day, but maybe this picture will appease your musings about my dress selection…and that of the bridesmaids too. Check out Rebecca as my bridesmaid and me as the bride circa 1983. (Too bad Rebecca and I were practicing for this day when Elizabeth was still in diapers, yet she beat us both to the altar!) Will I have a Burger King crown and multicolor shawl? Will Elizabeth and Rebecca have ruffled dresses and buns on top of their heads? You will have to come June 13th to find out!

First Wedding Gift

A great friend of my family's, Gordon Isbell, sent Julie and me our first wedding gift this past week. Julie was really excited and was absolutely dying to open it...

Julie taught me how to open gifts for when we have showers. Never break the bow!

A trio of serving bowls and platter.

Guy Stuff

The Bachelor Party Theme

The hardest decision for me (other than where to have the bachelor party - New Orleans, baby!) has been what to get my groomsmen for a gift. Julie can attest to that as I just couldn't decide. I want to get the guys who have always been there for me something none of them have but something they can use for a long time. I finally have it figured out and I am excited about it. It'll be hot (that's the only clue I can give but it's not bottles of hot sauce).

Another tough decision has been the tux. People who know me can attest that I'm somewhat of a clotheshorse. I've pondered what my groomsmen and I will be wearing for a while and I've finally narrowed it down to three styles. But don't worry, whatever we wear, we'll look good (see this post if you weren't sure - http://gabeandjulie.blogspot.com/2008/09/starting-lineup.html).

27 Dresses

I had a flashback (the bad kind) the other night to that awful movie that shares the same name as this post. Julie has been trying on every dress she can get her hands on in anticipation of the engagement photo shoot, parties and rehearsal and modeling them for me. I don't think she's reached 27 yet but she's close.

I remember when we went to see that movie, I ended up sitting next to another guy that was dragged to the movie with his significant other. He and I immediately struck up a mutual respect for our predicament. We kept trying to find other guys in the theatre as it was probably 98% girls. It was pretty funny watching other guys drag their feets in there as if they'd rather be set on fire.

Back to my original topic, I actually don't mind watching Julie try on all these dresses because she looks so great in them and loves showing off. Though there is one dress she won't let me see for some reason...

Engagement Photo Shoot

Julie and I have our engagement photo shoot coming up in early April at the Botanical Gardens where we were engaged (http://gabeandjulie.blogspot.com/2008/08/engaged-at-botanical-gardens-in.html) and that will be a lot fun. But with only one photographer (is that a Baldwin brother?) and not the hoard of paparazzi pictured above.

Julie's sister, Rebecca, is coming home from NYC that weekend and will be tagging along as our "handler". I'm not sure what all I'll make her do: carry extra socks or wipe my brow if I get sweaty but she can rest assured that is just the tip of the iceberg.

I'll admit that I'm a little nervous about being photographed. I've never done anything like this before and don't feel very comfortable in front of a camera. Julie, however, should be a pro as her Dad films everything his daughters do. I'm sure it won't be that bad as Julie will help me and our photographer is really outgoing and has a bubbly personality. Having Rebecca there as my comic fodder will help too. Love you, Beta!

I'm going to shave my beard (and subsequently five years off my face) for the engagement shoot and wedding and that will be tough but I'll survive. Though I'm going to do it the old-fashioned way and not on a dare after Idontknowhowmanybeers at a beer festival. Don't drink and shave, kids. You have to admit that is a sweet 'stache though.

They wanted to shave one side of my face (for a free hair clipper set) and leave the other side bearded but I wussed out and just went with a mustache. I should have done it!

100 Days And Counting...

One-hundred days from today, Julie and I will be married. Whoa. The time has been flying by and we are ready for June 13th to get here but are still enjoying being engaged and all the stuff that goes along with it.

Friends and family are working on parties and other things for the wedding and it is really exciting and means a lot to us that people want to do these kinds of things for us. Thanks to all of you!

It's been a while since one of us has blogged but that's because we wanted to keep out of towners up to date with what needed to be done as far as hotels, etc. with the most recent post. We should be writing more stuff now that they all should have had a chance to check out the blog.

Hope everyone is well and we look forward to seeing you in 100 days!