A Second Helping

After we found and finalized the bridesmaid dresses, I remember thinking (somewhat wistfully), "Huh. Well, that was easy." Don't get me wrong. Easy is great. I love easy. But, I also enjoyed the brief time we spent perusing the racks and having my girls try on dresses of floaty tissue taffeta and supple silk.

Then, Mer, Tiff and Sherry -- the three additions to the Bruschetta wedding (henceforth referred to as the Bruschetta bridal attendants...unless you've got some more suggestions for me!) -- decided they'd like to wear matching dresses. So, I'm starting the bridesmaid dress search anew, and I could really use some help from the hive!

I'd prefer this new dress (because yes, we all want another look for these girls) also be knee-length and in a similar fabric to the tissue taffeta Amsales. (So chiffon and satin dresses, while lovely, won't work.) Color? I'd still like neutral -- maybe black, but I'm open to dark grey or deep purple as well. I'm looking for something that coordinates well with the bridesmaid dress, too. (Here's a look at the Amsale the Bruschetta 'maids all loved as much as I do!)

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And I'd like to keep the cost as close to under $200 as possible. (We'll hopefully manage this by either placing the order from the salon where I ordered my gown [discount!], or purchasing them from another local dress shop that I know grants a percentage off for multiple bridesmaid dress orders.)

Using this criteria, here are the current favorites...

• Dress #1: A simple (but still striking!) halter-style from Amsale

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• Dress #2: Sweetheart, shirring and strapless from Alvina Valenta

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• Dress #3: Yummy folds of fabric from Lazaro

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The girls will, of course, have input in this decision. And how the dresses fit will also help determine the winner. But, I'd love to get some say from the hive as well.

Which is your favorite? And, if you have any suggestions of other designs, please share!

Sweet Friendships

I posted previously about including several friends in the wedding with whom I've reconnected over the past year. (Thank you for the advice and ideas you all shared!) Having decided against enlarging the wedding party, I opted to introduce my friends to the concept Mrs. Lemonade wrote about -- the house party -- and see if (and how) they would feel comfortable proceeding. Whipping up some treats seemed like the perfect way to resolve this situation. (And also followed the pattern of food-related wedding "asks" I'd established!)

Inspired by the delectable decorated cookie gift baskets from Cookies by Design (but definitely not planning on creating something iced so precisely!), I decided on a spring-inspired presentation -- flower pots filled with "lollipop" treats.

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Unfortunately, the last step of this DIY project -- baking the goodies -- proved to be the most challenging. I started with a specially-designed Wilton tray (similar to the one Mrs. Eggplant used to create edible valentines), and faced frustration as three different cookie recipes failed to work in the pan. Finally, I abandoned my original plans, and whipped up good old Rice Krispies Treats. After adding the cereal to the melty mixture, I formed balls around each treat stick.

I let the Rice Krispies balls cool and set, then placed them in treat bags...

I purchased flower pots and saucers from Lowe's, and cut a cardboard circle to cover each drainage hole. Then, I filled the pots with uncooked rice, and added the completed lollipops after making little bows from colored ribbon to conceal the twist ties.

The finishing touch was a layer of green jelly beans -- kiwi, green apple and margarita.



I crafted cards to accompany each flower pot...



...and happily added three house party girls to the Bruschetta wedding celebration!

Left to right: Me, Tiff, Mer and Sherry

In a future post, I'll explain more about the roles this trio will play leading up to, and on, our wedding.

For the present, though, I'm not too crazy about calling them my "house party" -- no disrespect to all you Southern brides, but the title just feels funny on this Yankee's tongue.

How should I collectively refer to these quasi-bridal party ladies? Are you having any non-wedding party friends play a special part in your wedding?

Attendant Despair

Let me begin by clarifying: This post is in no way reflective of the members of my bridal party. I love these girls, and am so happy to have them actively involved in my wedding.

So why the melodramatic post title? Allow me to explain.

Recently, I've reconnected with several friends from high school. We lost touch during college, but for the past few months, have easily fallen back into a comfortable pattern. It's like our friendship never lapsed, and we have a great time getting together -- pretty frequently -- for girls' night. Every few Thursdays, it's dinner out or a night of bowling (or, in my case, knocking down some pins, and rolling way too many gutter balls).

And I'm feeling like a pinhead.

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A "B-list" for your wedding guests is controvesial, so I can't imagine it'd be appropriate to have late additions to the bridal party. I'd also prefer to keep this group on the smaller side; I know from previous experience how challenging it gets to coordinate with larger numbers, and don't wish that on any of my friends!

So, what do I do? How can I acknowledge my friends -- letting them know how much they mean to me, and that I really do want them actively involved (somehow!) in the wedding. We're planning on involving our family in the ceremony, so that's not an option. I'm a Philly girl, but am intrigued by the Miss Lemonade's description of the house party.

I'd love some suggestions! If you were me, what would you do?