TWIRL BRIDE BLOGGER || HOW TO BEAT THE LAST MINUTE JITTERS

TWIRL BRIDE BLOGGER || EMILY RHOADS (ALMOST EMILY HALL!!)

Hello Friends! I know its been a little while since I wrote about my wedding planning and bridal life but that’s because I was wedding planning! It is so crazy how fast our engagement has flown by and how what felt so far away is now only 7 days away. It really just hit me yesterday how soon our wedding is and man oh man am I excited! I know that our wedding day is going to go by so SO fast that I am making it a point to soak up these last few days as a fiancée. 

This whole time I’ve been wondering why everyone gets so stressed when planning their wedding, but in this last month I totally get it. Now we are getting down to the nitty gritty of finalizing everything from the guest count aka tracking down all those people who never slipped that RSVP card back in the mail to figuring out how much beer and wine to buy to scheduling those last minute appointments and finally making sure everyone is going to be where they need to be when they need to be there. It’s a lot of stuff. And because of that a lot of wine has been drank in the process, oops! But at the end of the night next Saturday we will still be married even if some people don’t show up or our grandparents are a little late for pictures or if heaven forbid it rains. Y’all seriously pray that it does not rain next Saturday.

Austin and I have tried to cut out some time for ourselves to relax and enjoy these final days as an engaged couple. We let ourselves enjoy a few quiet days at the lake for Memorial Day. We go for evening walks and try to talk about our plans for after wedding day, like what’s still on our travel bucket list or pick out our favorite houses in the neighborhood. I think we are both a little more excited about being married and building our life together than we are about the actual wedding. 

I had no idea what to expect in this last few weeks so here are some tips for all you brides for handling the craziness that is the month before your wedding!

1. Set those “RSVP by” dates a little earlier than you think you will need, because there is nothing more stressful than trying to contact those sixty people who didn’t RSVP in a few days before the numbers need to be back to all of your vendors.
2. Speaking of RSVP card, if you aren’t giving every guest a plus one, put ‘__ of 1 guest is/isn’t attending’ trust me, I didn’t do that and I wish I had.
3. Enjoy your parties and showers to their fullest. Put the phone down, stop checking your email, guest counts and details can wait a day or two and it wont be the end of the world, I promise!
4. Go to the county clerk’s office as early in the morning as you can and you’ll get in and out of there faster than it took to find a parking space. We got our marriage license yesterday, YAY!!
5. Take some time to relax and get your skin photo ready at the same time. I love put on a facemask and take a few minutes to relax and read or watch a movie while it does its thing.
6. Don’t stress if you didn’t hit your fitness goal or attain your dream wedding body. Your groom thinks you are the most beautiful woman in the world and you are going to rock that dress!
7. Drink lots and lots of water. Your skin will thank you, your body will thank you. That’s just a good life tip. 
8. Talk about anything but the wedding for an hour with your fiancé daily. Talk about dogs, food, movies, sports, or whatever it doesn’t really matter but I promise he will appreciate it! 
9. Make an itinerary for all of the really important people in the wedding such as parents, grandparents and the bridal party so everyone knows where are supposed to be and hopefully it will keep you from answering the same questions over and over again.
10. Last but not least, take a deep breath and remember you and your honey will be married no matter what happens!

---

To our sweet Em,

We cannot WAIT to celebrate this much anticipated wedding day next week!! We've seen you as a "bride" so many times over the last 4/5 years but when we see you as a real bride... there won't be a dry eye to be found.

What a joy it's been to witness your relationship with Austin develop and grow over the years. There is so much to celebrate next weekend and celebrate we will!!

Can't wait until the "just married" sign marks the beginning of your new season of life next Saturday! Yay!!

Xoxo, Your Twirl Girls

A Ring to It - Preppy or Playful?

The Dress: Stella York 5906

So you’re Anchored Down and ready to tie the Knot? Perfect, we know just the wedding dress that can make your beachy dream come true. And if you’re not so traditional, you still “mustache-k” about this dress for your hipster-inspired event. Our French Mikado designer ball gown from Stella York is the perfect dance between elegance, sophistication and whimsy. Its figure-flattering fitted bodice features a sweetheart neckline and crisscross pleating that plunge into a thick, waist-accentuating pleat. Best of all, this dress is versatile for many different types of weddings. The back zips up under fabric covered buttons that continue to the edges of its court train. Choose from traditional white or romantic ivory. This dress is also available in Plus sizes and features side pockets.

Whether your vision is for a preppy nautical day on the cape or a playful hipster soirée this dress will be just right!

Nautical Wedding:

Veil: Sara Gabriel veil with white stripe/piping that adds preppy flair and structured lines, common for a nautical style.

Bridesmaids: strapless LulaKate Pearl dress with blue stripes and yellow heels

Groomsmen: seersucker bowties, navy blazers and khakis (thecordialchurchman-blog.com).

Flowers:  hide and seek design

Location: Martha’s vineyard/beach (mvislandweddings.com)

Cake: Martine’s

Hipster Wedding:

Veil: With Sara Gabriel bird cage veil

Bridesmaids: Jenny Yoo mink grey Wren dress in soft tulle

Groomsmen: Suspenders, white button downs, grey  khaki

Flowers:  Jaclyn Journey flowers

Location:  barn/outdoorsy and nature

Cake: Martine’s

Whatever your wedding vision is, Twirl can help you make that vision a reality.

xoxo, Olivia

Top 10 Things To Keep in Mind When Shopping For Your Wedding Dress

Wedding dress shopping is so important and so special. Finding the perfect dress isn’t always what it seems — and it certainly isn’t like an episode of Say Yes to the Dress. Don’t stress, though. With a few ground rules you will be able to set an action plan and find the dress of your dreams! The Twirl Girls are always here to help.

1. SET YOUR BUDGET

Establish the maximum amount you’re willing to spend on your wedding dress — and stick to it. The total budget should include the dress, as well as the estimated costs of alterations, veil or headpiece, and belt. Those “hidden” costs add up. Also, make sure you are upfront and honest about your budget with your consultant. Tell her your budget at the beginning of your appointment. She wants to help you find the perfect dress, but she doesn't want to put you in a gown you can't afford. If you fall in love with something out of your price range, heartbreak is inevitable. Sticker shock is an absolute real thing, so make sure you are firm on price. So, be honest so your consultant can help you out the best she can. Call ahead to bridal shops and ask what their price range is. They will be happy to give you that information. Most shops aren't going to price specific dresses over the phone, but they will be willing to give you a price range. Budget is important to everyone so make sure you know what yours is.

2. IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START LOOKING

As soon as the ring is on your finger, it’s pretty much time to go look at dresses. From a logistics standpoint, starting the process at least eight to nine months out is a good idea. Some brides even start looking a year before their wedding. Allow yourself time to actually find it, then allow time for fittings, alterations, and having it delivered from the designer. Most wedding dresses are in production 5-6 months before they even think about shipping from the designer to the store. Some bridal shops will have dresses you can purchase off the rack, but most places are going to have to do a custom order, so be prepared for that. Having the dress taken care of and bought will also make the other details of the wedding come together more easily. Here at Twirl, we would rather you start looking and buying sooner rather than later. Give yourself all the options. Start early!

3. HAVE A PLAN

Like all good plans, research and appointment-making is essential to buying a wedding dress. Subscribe to some bridal magazines or pick up a few, put in some time on Pinterest, browse local vendors websites, read reviews and check out your favorite bridal designers for inspiration. Most bridal salons, specialty shops, and department stores don’t operate on a walk-in schedule. Make sure they’re expecting you upon arrival. It is always better to have an appointment. That way a salon can make sure you have a consultant to work with you the entire time, and open space in the store. It never hurts to call ahead. Especially on a Saturday, most stores cannot accommodate walk-ins. Making an appointment also prepares you for going to the store. Browse the designers listed on the store's website and get an idea for the each designer's style. Having a plan when you walk in to the store is also a good tip. Make sure you have researched enough to know what styles and silhouettes you like.

4. LIMIT YOUR ENTOURAGE

You’ll most likely want a second and third opinion. Outside perspective and honest feedback is welcome, but too many opinions can cloud your gut judgment. The say you can never have too many friends....except when you are shopping for your wedding dress! Bringing every single bridesmaid and every single family member is not always as fun as it sounds. And it sometimes is not very effective in the decision making process. We recommend no more than 3 or 4 people coming with you. It's hard to hear a bunch of different opinions and brides sometimes stress out trying to make sure everyone likes it. The most important thing is that YOU love the dress, even if it means going against the popular vote. Also, we recommend bringing anyone with you to your appointment whose judgment you cannot make a decision without. Shopping with just your girlfriends can be fun, but if you need Mom's ultimate say, make sure she is at the appointment with you.

5. EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

Here’s a a pretty obvious shocker: You may actually look good in styles you didn’t think would flatter you. Perhaps you thought an A-line strapless gown with lots of beading was the only thing you would be willing to get married in, only to discover a lace cap-sleeve mermaid gown was the clear winner. Having an open mind is essential. You may discover that what looks good in a magazine, doesn't necessarily look great on your body type. But don’t be disappointed by dashed expectations — go in with an open mind, and remember to try on a variety of silhouettes. At the very least, it will give you an idea at what to look for (and what not to look for) in the future.

6. DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE BIG PICTURE

Is this the wedding dress you can walk down the aisle in? Can you sit in at dinner? And dance your heart out on the dance floor? If you can’t envision lots of different  scenarios while narrowing down the options, put the dress on the back burner. You want to look beautiful, feel beautiful, and let’s be honest, you want to be comfortable, too. Your dress should reflect your personality. Your groom wants to see the person he fell in love with! So when you can see yourself actually getting married in a dress, put that one in your top choices.

7. NO TEARS, NO PROBLEM

Despite the fact that every reality TV show and romantic comedy have made you (and everyone around you) believe you will shed tears as soon as you come out  in “the one,” this isn’t always the case. And that’s okay. It’s totally okay if you do cry — it is an emotional and special moment — but don’t let the absence of tears make you think it’s a sign that you don’t absolutely love what you’re wearing. The waterworks just aren’t for everyone. You might be less emotional about it because it most likely wont fit properly. More realistically, girls cry when they are in their first fitting of the dress actually made for them. That is the first time it seems more real. So don't worry if there are no tears! Also, don't be worried if the people in your entourage don't cry either. They obviously think you look beautiful!  It doesn't have to be tearful to be magical and special.

8. SOMETIMES THE FIRST DRESS IS “THE ONE”

Shopping for a wedding dress doesn’t always require countless try-ons. Sometimes it really is love at first sight. There’s nothing wrong with finding “the one” right out of the gate — it certainly frees you up to focus your time and energy on things like venue, cakes, floral arrangements, and securing the best photographer. You would be surprised how many girls actually choose the first one they pick. You know your style and you know what looks good on you. Trust yourself! If it happens to be the first one, that's okay!

9. LIMIT THE NUMBER

Once you start getting up there in numbers with how many dresses you have tried on, you are only going to start confusing yourself. Limit the number of dresses you try on. You do not need to try on 50 dresses to find "the one". That is almost like giving yourself too many options. Limit your search. That is the best way to find the absolute perfect dress.

10. DRESS UP (JUST A LITTLE)

It might be difficult to imagine yourself walking down the aisle if you’re trying on dresses with post-yoga hair and no makeup. You don’t need to look your Sunday best, but a little mascara and your hair styled in the way you’re thinking of wearing it on the “big day” could make all the difference when you’re envisioning the entire look.

Hope you all now have some ideas about what to be thinking about when looking for the perfect dress for your big day! Happy Shopping and Congrats!

XOXO, Caraline