Doing it all...

14 days to go.

Who ever thought that with 2 weeks to go there would be so much stuff to do? Granted, having my initial venue catch fire 4 weeks before the wedding was no help, but I’ve been going a mile a minute these past few weeks and finally I have a moment to stop and take a breather (I’m waiting for Prince Charming to come home with supplies so I can finish my aisle runner) Just another thing to do on my list of last minute to-do’s. It’s amazing; I thought I was so ahead of the game but I guess not. There just doesn’t seem to be enough time in the week for me to finish everything. I’ve been eating crap and my skin is breaking out! WTF! Don’t get me wrong, I love my new venue; despite it all I truly believe that this is the wedding we were meant to have, but it sure came with an added to-do list. Prince Charming says I have to learn to delegate because taking everything on myself has begun to run me ragged and nobody wants to be a ragged looking Bride on their wedding day.

So that’s what I’ve done. We’ve made a list and are splitting up the to-do’s. It’s hard for a control freak like myself to let go and let someone else take care of it. My rational is that nobody else knows how I want it and picture it in my head….am I right? But then Prince Charming said something that really made me think.

Last night as we were out for dinner he said that if I don’t slow down, I wont enjoy the wedding and all this would be a waste. I told him I want to make sure that it’s the best wedding we could have and that I want to give us everything we want out of our wedding day. To which he replied; I just want people to have fun, celebrate and for everyone to enjoy themselves. Something so simple, we sometimes lose sight of it when we are (ok, maybe it’s just me) so consumed with planning the best event we can. I promised him that as of the day before, once everything is dropped off I will relinquish control; I mean at that point there really isn’t much more I can do right? Honestly, when this list is done and finished I am going to be so happy. I can’t wait to take the few days after the wedding to just enjoy not having to plan anything.

Till then, I will delegate, try to lighten up and hopefully eat better and with a little luck (and a facial) this breakout will pass and my skin will be back to normal.

Lemonade Made...and It's Goooooood

29 days to go

So today we officially have lemonade, good lemonade. We signed our new venue, and it's gonna be great! I will be honest, as you have read I have been up and down and this week; the whole situation if fact has really left me mentally drained. I know some people may not see the big deal of relocating your wedding venue, but when you have spent over 11 months planning something and you suddenly have to make drastic changes...let me tell ya, it messes you up. We knew we had to move fast so when Prince Charming and I looked at venues yesterday we knew we had to decide before we went to bed; and decide we did.

We opted to be married in a the Ottawa landmark known as the Canadian Museum of Nature.

L said to me last night..."Maybe things happen for a reason, maybe this is the wedding you were really meant to have"... with that I felt like myself again, ready to sign on the dotted line.

Now, hyper wedding planning begins...I'm in overdrive people!

Making Lemonade with Rotten Lemons

30 days to go

I'm not looking for a pity post here but really, this sucks!

They say when life hands you lemons you make lemonade, but what happens when those lemons are rotten?

Welcome to a snap shot of my day.

Call #1...*ring ring* "Hi there, I was supposed to have my wedding on the 28th of August but my venue is now closed due to fire....can you accommodate ?" "Oh, I heard about that.. yes we can but we require a $16,000 minimum spending"

Call #2...*ring ring* "Hi there, I was supposed to have my wedding on the 28th of August but my venue is now closed due to fire....can you accommodate ?" "Oh, we heard about that...we would have to scatter your party around, some on at the tables, some at the bar..."

Call#3...*ring ring*"Hi there, I was supposed to have my wedding on the 28th of August but my venue is now closed due to fire...I really hope you can help" "Oh, we have a booking that night, but we can do it if you change your date to the next day...." *insert Bantering Bride Scowl here*

Call#9...Voice mail- "Hi my name is BB and I was hoping you may have a room available for the 28th of August,you see my venue is closed due to fire and..." *ring ring* Hello Bantering Bride?Yes, we have a room that can accommodate you. Would you like to come and see it? Is your fiancée Prince Charming? I just got off the phone with him."

The wedding gods are smiling again...lemonade anyone?

Breathe

30 days to go,

OK, here it is. I have to relocate my wedding (insert look of shock here) I got the call last night from my venue. They provided me an alternative location which Prince Charming and I have gone to look at. It's our back up. Right now we will talk about our options and look around to see if there is anything else out there that is better suited for us.

Does this suck? yes. Am I upset? yes. But what can I do. Now that I know what I am dealing with I have to get my butt in great to re-plan my wedding around a totally different venue in less the 4 weeks. If I pull this off people, I will call my self a kick ass wedding planner of the year. Wish me luck !

I know that my wedding will not be my dream wedding. That wedding went up in smoke with my venue. But it will still be my wedding. I will still be there marrying the man I love; despite the fact that I've been nothing but a pain in the ass these past few days. Now I have to plan the best wedding I can with what I have, I only plan to do this once so I have to work double time. Once I finalize a venue I will be OK, I know it. Fingers crossed.

No title ... Less shock...Wish for more information

32 days to go

So these past few days have been a real emotional roller coaster. Have you ever felt so many things that you just didn't know what to do with yourself? welcome to my past weekend, and I'm sure my next few days.

When I got news that there was a fire at my wedding venue my heart dropped. I swear if felt like someone just killed my cat or something, I was honestly numb. So numb that I tried to call my venue. What was I thinking? there was a fire there; but I guess I really didn't know how serious it was. Calling didn't work so I emailed them. I was so numb I couldn't even type the little letters on Bedazzle (my Blackberry). Once I finally managed to compose a e-mail I texted Price Charming, I was close to tears, but none came. All the while I had to clean myself up and look happy and stunning since I was late for my dear friends book launch. I told myself I would let this disturb her night to shine so I kept it to myself...OK, I told my BFF who was waiting for me at the party. In true male form he had no words to comfort me.

My only comfort came in the form of comments posted on this blog. Comments that told me things would be ok and others who let me know I was not alone ( Sofia if you are reading this I would appreciate and update on your wedding, I hope is was beautiful). Today at work all I could think about was any sort of back up plan I could think of. I've called around a few places but they are either booked or are way too expensive. I have heard that they are trying to relocate weddings to neighboring restaurants that have the same owner but really, you know it's not the same no matter how much you try; but this has not yet been offered to me. I have only received one email from my venue which is this:

Thank you for your patience, I understand how frustrated and worried you must be. I am sure that you have heard by now that there was a small fire at the Courtyard Restaurant on Thursday July 22, 2010. The fire started in the kitchen and was quickly contained, however the kitchen has sustained damage that will require repair.(blah, blah, blah)... We have back-up plans in place should we need them and will continue to work with you during your wedding planning process. Until the power and phone lines are reinstated at the Courtyard Restaurant the best way to contact me is via email; I will do my best to respond in a timely fashion. Although I do not have too much of an update, I can let you know that the owner and Management Team will be meeting with our contractor and NCC Property Director Monday and Tuesday of next week. We hope by that time we will be provided with a better understanding of what is going to be taking place and what type of time line we are look at for the future. I hope to have a more concrete update for you early next week and will be in contact with you again once I know more. I sincerely apologize for any distress and inconvenience this may cause you. Thank you very much for your patience and understanding, I will be in touch very soon.

As you can see it's pretty general and vague. I've been trying to do my own investigating and have found out there is a hole in the floor of the second floor . This is where my ceremony and reception was to be held. I don't know what is next. All I know is I have no control over anything right now and it drives me crazy. I feel sad, angry, fustrated and anxious. I'm super stressed out that my fingers are tingling and so deleted that the wedding planning that once brought me joy now makes me want to to scream. I know I can't stop planning since the wedding will happen no matter what, but this whole thing has really just kicked my ass and taken everything out of me.

Stay tuned for updates.

Still no title...still in shock

36 days to go ?

So I’ve had about 10 hours to try and digest this shit. Yes, I’m cursing because I’m still in shock. The thing is, I can’t control this and that in itself is driving me bonkers. I have e-mailed the venue and tried to call. Obviously unanswered since they are surly tending to others who have their weddings in the next few days.

On the venue website it says this:

Minor Kitchen Fire Update:

Our upcoming wedding clients will contacted within the next 48 hours by a member of our Events Staff. We will continue to aid you through your wedding planning process. Please send all inquiries tomiranda@courtyardrestaurant.com.

All upcoming personal and corporate reservations will be contacted within the next 72 hours by our Events Staff with a reservation update.

Thank you for your understanding and patience.

But it still doesn’t change the fact that inside I AM freaking out. On the outside I am calm. Maybe because I’m in shock or maybe because a part of me is holding on to hope that it really was a minor fire that only caused smoke damage and can be cleaned up in a few days. But really, if it is a major thing would they really post it for the fear of 100 crazy brides stalking them to try and get answers?

I know it’s wasted energy to obsess over this, but anyone how has ever planned their wedding will tell you, this is a frigg’n big deal.

I know I’m driving myself crazy but I can’t help it. I know there is absolutely nothing that can be done on my end all I can do is pray that it all works out. At this point if it doesn’t I have no idea what to do.

No title ...just shock.

36 days to go

I want to cry. I just saw on the news that my wedding venue had a fire this afternoon.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Update...9602/story.html

I’m out of town right now and obviously I can’t get in contact with anyone at the restaurant.I

am praying to the wedding gods that it will be all right.

Hello, My Name Is...

121 days to go

When I was in high school my high school sweetheart’s last name was Rafiq and I remember I used to imagine how my name would sound if we ever got married. Would I keep my name or would I take his? Would I be happy with being called Mrs. Rafiq? I would write it out to see how it looked and weather I liked the sound of it…come on, we’ve all done it. I think deciding to keep or take your husbands name is one of the most important decisions facing today’s modern bride, just one of many important decisions I know. But this is your name! It’s what people will call you, and recognize you as….this is who you are.

Hmm… Did Juliet have the right idea when she said "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet" I mean granted she was talking about the feud between their families, not debating weather she would prefer to be called a Capulet or a Montague if she were to marry her Romeo, but none the less it makes me think; what’s in a name?

For me my last name is my identity, it’s who I am and it shows where I come from. To change that would mean I would be changing who I am with the chance of loosing who I have been for the past 30 odd years. But at the same time, marrying Prince Charming is also something that will define who I am and to take his name would reflect that change; so what’s a Bantering Bride to do?

There are so many other factors that come into play on why I want to keep my name.

For one culture, as a Chinese Canadian I don’t what to have a last name that takes away from my cultural identity. If I were to take Prince Charming’s name I would be taking on a very Vietnamese name. I know many of you may not know the difference but Asians know, and make the distinction.

Pronunciation is also a factor. Especially for the modern woman professionally.

From time to time, my last name is mispronounced, usually people are just surprised of how short it is but if I were to take on Prince Charming’s name…well... I would be constantly correcting people.

And last but not least, the silliest reason of all. I just like the way my name sounds compared to if I took on a new one. Silly but true…and important. (don’t judge)

Then I flip back and think why I should change my name. I mean it used to be to “honor” your husband, but now days, I’ll honor him in my own way. We are way past the days of male dominated whatevers. But what about my children, do I want all of us to have the same name as a family?

I mean married women have their own reasons to take or not take the name of their husbands. Though I’m sure Price Charming would like me to take on his name, it’s not a deal breaker. To be honest, it’s not really me to do something like that. I guess that’s why they created the option of hyphenating….for brides like me who refuse to pick either way.

Sleepless Nights

129 days to go

11:30pm and this Bantering Bride was Facebook chatting a friend. “How are the wedding plans going? I can’t believe you only have 4 months to go!” I saw these words pop up on my screen and a wave of panic washed over me. Somehow, having someone else tell me this made it all the more real. It’s not like I didn’t know I only had a few months to go, but when your guest start asking about hotel information…well that’s when it really hits home.

Lying in bed I couldn’t stop thinking about all the stuff that had to be done, things I’d been laxing on. Decorations, tasting, alterations, the dress! How could everything possibly be done within 3 ½ months? That’s only 11 weeks! Then it hit me. Marriage license and ceremony. We need a license to wed and I haven’t even had any contact with my officiant. Luckily, we booked him months ago so we had someone ready to legally marry us, but there was so much to do before we could meet with him. How much time did HE need to prepare? What did we have to do? So many questions, this Bantering Bride was starting to panic. So I got out of bed at 12:30am, knowing I would pay for it the next morning at work and I turned on the computer. I couldn’t sleep until I felt like I had made some progress; this is the control freak side of me coming out.

I e-mailed my officiant, reorganized my invitations and updated my Wedding map and website. In the morning I woke up exhausted, that’s what sleeping at 2am on a Tuesday night will do to you. On the bright side I got an e-mail reply from my officiant; I like the fact that he is efficientJ, answering my questions and advising me on what my next steps should be. It was a good thing I have this freakish behavior because he told me he would be out of the country for the month of July. He does charity work in developing countries and he was going to be in the Dominican Republic so I wouldn’t have access to him for a month. Good to know! So I will have to meet with him earlier then anticipated.

My advice to all brides out there, go with your gut. If you feel like you have to do something, do it. It may actually pay off in the long run. Who cares if people call us obsessive, controlling or Bridezilla. As I’ve said before, we should embrace out inner control freak and just go with it. If I hadn’t gone with my gut and contacted my officiant sooner then later (ok, I could have waited for morning to e-mail) I may have had a lot more stress on my plate come July and August. These days I’m full on stress I don’t need anymore thank you.

YAY! for freakish, controlling, Obsessive behavior!

Weighing in

148 days to go

So I've been in sort of a funky frenzy lately, feeling tired and off-kilter; Not feeling like my usual organized sassy self. Maybe it's because I've been away, maybe the weather? It's gotten nicer out and it seems to be an in-my-face reminder that time is ticking and in a bat of a faulse eyelash my wedding will be here. Neglected has been my fitness regament and my diet. Laying on the beach and climbing up a Mayan Ruin does not burn the same number of calories as a spin class, especially when you are eating tacos and drinking sugary slushy drinks all day (no alcohol for this Sassy Bride).

I know what you may be thinking....What about the trainer? The Trainer worked! I lost 10 lbs and a total of 15 inches (before our getaway). As perviously ranted The Trainer had me on this crazy diet that cut out my two very food friends sugar and carbs. Carbs and I have a loving relationships. I love carbs...and carbs love me; In fact carbs loves me so much that it goes straght to my ass and makes a new home. I know that the vacation is over and in a few short months this Sassy Bride will be a Sassy Wife. So, I'm back to being conscious of what I'm eating and getting my bread loving butt back onto a spin bike.

After all, the goal is still there. To feel confident and fit (not nessessary thin) on the big day and hopefully after. It's not about how small my dress size is; it's about how I feel in my own skin. Right now I feel slow, lazy and not so fresh; not how I want to feel on the day I've been blogging about for the past 9+ months. I know that once I get back into the groove I'll be strutting around the house in my underwear and heels...I mean even if I don't lose another inch-10 lbs...better then nothing right?

Flower Power

215 days to go.

Roses, Lilies, Baby's Breath, Hydrandias, Orchids...so many flowers what to do what to do? I've never been the flowery kind of girl (ok, maybe as a teenager I liked getting flowers from my high school boyfriend) but in adulthood flowers seemed wasted on me. I would love to be one of those women how pick up fresh flowers just because or take pleasure in smelling a rose but in reality I am just not that woman; I manage to kill Basil plants for goodness sake. So imagine the tough time I had picking wedding flowers. Really I saw flowers as a formality, something you had to have in order to have a presentable wedding. I mean come on, what was I gonna carry as I walked down the asile. So I gave in....Flowers at the wedding, but what type?

I've always been about simplicity. Yes, I have my goddy drag Queen moments but more or less I like to keep things simple. Centrepeices...simple. So it was really a no brainer when figuring our flowers for my tables. My wedding colours are black, white and pale blue. I mean really there are only so many flowers that come in blue and I couldn't very well have black flowers for my wedding; so Hydrangea it is....simple. But what about the bouquet and the bonbaniers?

Here is were it got anything but simple. As I thought about it the more I realized that my flowers would be adding to the feel of my wedding. That the flowers I chose would be a relfection of the mood I wanted for my wedding. I went in armed like I was going to floral battle. I had made a list of flowers I liked and even an insperation board...I walked out with with different flowers then I went in with. To be honest I was a bit ticked off when they told me that my choice of flowers "may not be availible" really is any Bride happy when sh is told her choices and visions could not be realized? So I flipped though books and books of other alternative flowers. My original choice of flowers for my bouquet was a wild flower called Anemone, delecate white petels with black centres. I thought they were chic and different, so imagine my disappointmnet when i was told that they don't open well and may not be available. They suggested baby Gerbera Daisies (not me) or Roses (even more not me)... I endedup ordering white Lisianthus with Hydrandias and Fressias. Fingers crossed that it all turns out pretty.

So my point here is, and yes, I do have a point; is that I totally underestimated the power of flower. More then ever, I realize that it's all in the details. Every bow, every monogram, every flower. I'm sure my wedding will look better in my had then on the actual day, but it'll be one step closer since I'll have flowers. I know I will be met with upset at times, but all I can do is roll with the punches and plan the best wedding I can. Fingers crossed that it all turns out pretty.

Seeking Inspiration

269 days to go

Okay, I've been lagging on some of the wedding planning lately, and I'm starting to feel it. With the holidays just around the corner and contemplating a major life change for myself (as if marraige wasn't a big enough milestone) I've just had a lot to think about. Add to it I have been having a b!tch of a time finding a decent make up artist and a hair style I like. I had my hair trial a few weeks ago, and came out more confused then ever. I asked the stylist for a certain style. In retrospect I have no idea what I was thinking. I should never have even suggested such a style. To make a long story short I looked like I was getting ready for my highschool prom.

I really don't know why I suggested what I did. I think that after looking through so mny photos and websites you get this image in your mind of what you think a Bride should look like, even if it doesn't suite your personality at all. Trail #1- lesson learned. Now to find something I like and that suites me. You would think that it would be easy....negative my friends. You can't imagine how hard it is to find a style that works for a large round head Chinese woman with a "full" face...tricky, very tricky. So these past few weeks I've been flipping through magaiznes, Google images and countless websites. I guess only time will tell and I have to keep trying till I find something right; at $50.00 a pop I better find it soon.

On the bright side I did find a hairstylist that seems to know what she is doing...after all she did do what I asked her to do. Make up artist on the other hand, not so easy (please see Rant # 1) After countless email attempts I have given up on my original make up artist. Now I have to find another, good thing I had a few back ups. Appointments have been made and now I have to again find something I like. So much pressure! The thought that these pictures will stay with me for life freaks the living crap out of me. What if I end up looking like a Drag Queen? Even worse, what if I think I look good like that until I look back on my photos? Shake it off! Okay, back to my dilemma, I have a limited number of resource to draw inspiration from. I don't look like most Asian women; I'm kind of in between. I'm Chinese with Chinese features, but lack the paleness and thinness in the face. When I Google Asian make up I get pictures of people like Lucy Lu and other dainty women who have tiny features or on the flip side, women with an absurd amount of make up on in the most inappropriate colours. There aren't a lot of pictures out there of Large headed Chinese women with "full" faces. Really whats a big headed, round faced Asian to do?

Saying 'Yes' to the Dress

280 days to go.

Milestone in wedding planning today. I 've said 'Yes' to my dress. To be completely honest I feel a giant weight lifted. I know that the dress I chose is the right one for me. After trying on dress after dress, not quite feeling right in any of them I found it. It took me another trip to try it on again to realize that it was the right fit for me, that and the fact that I've been looking at pictures of me in it for the past few weeks.

There is all this hype about finding the right dress...The One. There's even the TLC show devoted to it; which yes, I am addicted to. People always tell you, when you find it you know; which is true to an extent. You know because you feel that you don't have to look anymore, not that a wave of emotion will wash over you and tears will come streaming down your face. Listen, I'm not knocking the experience for others out there, but sometimes you find the one without really even knowing it. Sometimes it takes a second try or a second, third and fourth glance.

Maybe I'm just not that kind of girl; the girl who looks in the mirror and starts to cry because all her life she had been looking forward to the moment where she can see herself in her wedding dress. I'm not the girl who has been dreaming of one perfect day. I don't wanna look like a princess or a fairy or whatever they try to look like. I just wanna look like me. As you have realized my now,I am no princess. I just wanna be in a pretty dress with hot shoes. I wanna look back at my photos and not cringe, not say "what was I thinking? No cream puff here please. I know, I know, I'm taking all the fun out of being a Bride. The dressing up and the being the centre of attention. Don't get me wrong. I want all of that. For the ladies out there who did and will cry when they put on 'the one' and for all those ladies who do wanna be a princess, I say all the more power to you. I just wanna be the Bride on my own terms, in my own way and the princess way is not it. After all, I think that is the most important thing to keep in mind when figuring out the day's attire.

I will say this. I am very happy with my decision. I feel great in my dress and most of all I feel like myself. I look at myself in it and I feel content. The dress is not overpowering me and I don't overpower it; can I stand to loose a few pounds in it? well that's a given, but I and the dress have met in balance. It may not be a Wang or a Monique Lhullier, and that's okay with me. Heck, it may not even what the future hubby would expect me to choose but I think he will be pleasantly surprised. Well, he better. For the prices they charge (before alterations) he better think I'm the hottest thing around... That is if he doesn't already.

Is size is just a number?

284 days to go.

There I was laying on the couch, sick as a dog watching TV when Tyra came on. Now, I usually don't watch talk shows..especially Tyra, but this one got my attention. It was about society's perception of people based on their weight. To give you the low down she had a group of people (different shapes and sizes) and asked them to rank which body type should be at the top of the social ladder. Needless to say this cased a stir. I mean that is what makes for good television, isn't it? Especially when a former model tells us we shouldn't judge based on looks.

This made me think; Not like I had anything much else to do since I was hacking, coughing and blowing my nose. It made me think of the pressure for Brides to look a certain way one their wedding day. To be fit, lean and wear their dress like nobody's business. I will admit I have put the same pressure on myself but have fallen behind for the time being. Now, let me say if I do loose any weight I don't want it to be dramatic to the point where it's not me anymore. Last thing I want is to loose curves and be mistaken for a teenage boy. I am who I am and nothing can change that...I'd just like to be me with a smaller dress size :)

I can only speak for myself here. I feel that the pressure maybe ever more present for a woman like me. A "big girl" who has tried for years to control her weight wedding dress shopping has been tough. Don't misunderstand me, when I'm fit I love the way I look, I'll strut around in my underwear like I'm a super model. But when I'm not well...let's not go there. This turned my focus on dress shopping, since I have yet to put a deposit down on a dress I couldn't help but wonder if I was at an unfair disadvantage because of my size.

For those of you who have never been wedding dress shopping, it humbles you. Sizing completely messed up. If you are usually a size 6 you wear an 8 in wedding dress. A size 10 wears a size 12 and so on and so on. That alone can easily deflate any ego. To add to that the fact that there is only one dress in a certain style in the store...well. There are so many dresses I wanted to try on when I flipped through the wedding magazines and the online stores. However, many of the samples were never in my size. Given if it's close enough to your size you still try it on and you get clipped into it; but what if it was off...way off. Say I needed as size 12 and it came in a 8. Let me tell you, that sucker is not fitting anywhere on this body, and the last ting I need is to come out and stand on a pedestal is a dress that doesn't do up with my ass hanging out the back.

I know a salon can't house every size of one particular dress, I just wish that some of the choices they did have in a larger size were more sexy and modern rather then looking like a giant satin duvet. Now I'm not looking for a pity party or for people to feel sorry for the "big girl". I'm just saying that Bridal gown shopping is one place (like bathing suit shopping) where "bigger girls" may feel fuller then they already are, it's defiantly not for the faint of heart that's for sure. I mean a smaller woman can fit into a bigger dress and have it pinned to fit, but a bigger girl ends up feeling (and looking) like a sausage in a dress that is obviously too small for her... bratwurst anyone?

I know, I know, it is all about fit and finding balance, and when total balance is achieved the dress will look fabulous. In fact, I think I found a dress that makes me smile and if I didn't have boobs and an ass...well, it would look as good as it does.

However, still have to get back into the gym...nothing worse then back ass! But ultimatley, it's about a state of mind. I will work my dress like it's nobody's business because I know I can rock it.

Unveiled

290 days to go

I never pictured myself as a princess at my wedding. Honestly, I've always seemed to be a low key kind of girl. I will admit, I pictured the dress, the venue, the food. But never in the snapshots of my mind did I wear a veil. It always seemed too old fashioned for my taste, and too girlie to suite my Tomboy personality. It wasn't until I was trying on dresses and the pushy sales women put it in my hair (to increase sales) did I ever considered the option. "It makes you look more like a Bride" they would say...Ummm...Hello...I'm the one wearing a big white dress.

There are just so many different styles out there that I figured I'd do some research to what worked for me. Plus, I have to do my homework since some of these suckers cost upward of $300.00. If you thought a veil was a veil, well, I'm sorry to tell you that you have been misinformed. Off the top of my head I can count five. Cathedral, Bubble, blusher, fingertip and birdcage. Not to mention the various embellishments (because being a bride is all about the bedazzle :P)

Cathedral: Think Royal wedding of Diana and Charles circa 1986. That sucker goes on for miles. But you can get them shorter and with less or more layers- they just go by different names (sweep, fingertip, teired)

Bubble: Think Bride of Chuckie

Blusher: It's supposed to cover your face in case you have to compose yourself. These are the ones where the groom lifts it over your face to kiss the bride. Usually a shorter veil.

Fingertip: The common veil warn today. It cascades down to about the fingertips and can be warn over the face or not.

Birdcage: That's the one that attaches to the head and covers your face (sometimes partially) with a cage like fabric (french netting) rather then the traditional tulle.

Does a veil really make a Bride's ensemble? If I opt for no veil will I look back at my photos and regret it? Can I wear a veil without looking or feeling silly? These are all questions running through my mind as I flip through the various magazines and online photos. I've never been a Fru Fru type of girl, despite having an obsession for shoes , bags and the occasional gotti accessory; but then I realize that I do want the whole experience of being a Bride. I want to walk down that aisle feeling like a Bride. We all hope that we will only get married once; so why not pull out all the stops (within reason).

I have since decided on a veil style but I'm sorry you will all have to wait to see the end result. And for those of you who know....shhhhh

Question is, will it fit my big Bride head?

The Tale of the Sassy Bride's Shoes

318 days to go


Once upon a time, in the cold far way land there was a Sassy Bride who was in search of the perfect pair of wedding shoes. Shoes were the ultimate in accessory as far as she was concerned and she knew that the perfect pair of Sassy shoes would complete her Sassy wedding day. After all what Sassy Bride would walk down the aisle in anything less?

Imagine her excitement when she first went dress shopping. After all the wonderful dresses she couldn't wait to go look for shoes, even though she had not found a dress yet. The Sassy Bride and her Sassy sidekick were on a mission. Find a pair of shoes that could only be described as one thing...Sassy. Browsing (and trying on) the Manolo's, the Stewart Weizman's and the Prada the Sassy Bride found two with true Sassy potential. Enter a Sassy Bride's two best

friends...Gucci and Valentino. As she slipped them on she couldn't help but feel fabulous. She didn't walk to the mirror, she strutted; so much so she didn't want to take them off. "How much are they?" asked the Sassy sidekick...."um...$795.00" replied the Sassy Bride. She quickly used her Asian genes and did the math. With tax that's $898.35. "Hmmm..."the Sassy Bride said "I'll have to think about it" . Deep down inside the Sassy Bride knew she couldn't buy them, no matter how fabulous they were; her Prince Charming would not be impressed. After all, add $100.00 and you got a mortgage payment. But they were fabulous, no doubt about it.

Torn between being sensible and being financially irresponsible the Sassy Bride continued to look for the perfect wedding shoes. All seemed hopeless. Was there no store in this cold, fashion challenged city that housed shoes sassy enough for this Sassy Bride? One evening as she walked store to store she saw a pair with a bit of sass and a very high heel. Since the Sassy Brides shoe mantra has always been "If it's not a stiletto, it's not worth wearing" these shoes were right up her ally. "A size 8 1/2 and a size 9 please" she asked the sales girl. As she slipped the size 9 on ( yes, she has giant, not-so-sassy feet) she realized they would be too big. "On to the 8 1/2!" too small. What she going on? The Sassy Bride even tried to insert a gel insert to the size 9 to help them fit....No such luck! At Browns Shoes, the Sassy Brides feet were more size 8 3/4 then anything... :(

Broken hearted the Sassy Bride continued on her journey. Like a light shining at the end of the tunnel she saw them. She had seen them on the Internet and on a wedding forum before (only in another colour) It all made sense, the Sassy Bride thought; who is the Sassiest of them all? Barbie! Now, our Sassy Bride has never dressed like Barbie, never wanted to be like Barbie or even ever played with Barbie. Barbie and our Sassy Bride were utter strangers. But there they were...Barbie shoes.

As it turned out, Barbie was celebrating her Ruby birthday, and to honor her a line of shoes were designed. As the Sassy Bride tried them on she imagined walking down the aisle (and dancing the night away) Given, they may not be ideal for dancing, but with the money saved, she could

always look for Sassy Dancing shoes on another occasion as well. Now our Sassy Bride knows they're not her Gucci's or even her dream Louboutin's. But they are Sassy, Satin

and sexy....oh and they didn't cost this Sassy Bride a mortgage payment.

And yes, The Sassy Bride is wearing her Sassy Shoes while she writes this Sassy entry.