The Hitchin' Post - Wedding Dress

Let's kick off this series y'all with a story about a little white dress.  Okay, so going into this process I knew I wanted one thing, lace.  I was WIDE open about trying any dress on that any consultant or my mama & sister pulled.  There have been several occasions where Ashley or Mama have made me try on a dress, shirt, pants, what have you, that I absolutely hated & then leaving the store with them because I couldn't do without 'em!  So again, I was wide open.  

One Sunday night, Mama, Ashley & I were running errands in Winston & we thought we could tackle our first round of trying on dresses.  (During my Christmas break I wanted to knock out A TON of the bigger things for the wedding, but the wedding dress was the top priority for checking off).  We went into David's Bridal & was greeted with plenty of loud, cheesy congratulations.  They were so sweet & we jumped right into it.  I met with my consultant, who I still don't know her name... Im thinking her name was Ashley, but Mama & I thought she looked like Kate Winslet, so we kept referring to her as Kate.  I told Kate a couple style options and she brought me three dresses.

Side note:  Plenty of former brides kept telling me.  "You'll know it when you put it on"  "You will have no doubts"  "There's only THE one"  "Courtney, seriously, you'll know first thing"

I'm just going to say that I don't totally agree with that.  Every. Single. Dress I tried on was beautiful & there were several that I absolutely LOVED.  What it came down to.. what am I most comfortable in? what did I want the whole day to look like?  now did this dress match that?  could I get my groove thing on in this dress? would I feel beautiful in this dress even if my hair & make up looked like crap?  I tried on plenty of dramatic dresses, that were seriously gorgeous, but they really did not match the theme or look of the day I was going for.  If I was going for a more extravagant wedding, I wouldn't have picked the dress I did.  Simple, southern charm is what I was going for.. & that is exactly what I got.

Okay, so we try on about 8-10 dresses at David's.. including the one.  The next day, Mama & I tried two other places in Burlington & Greenboro.  Long story short - it just was not the greatest experience, so let's move on.

 

Later that week or maybe that next weekend... my days are running together... Mom & I went to another place in Lexington & I found two dresses I really loved.  Also, this place was on Courtney Street, so naturally I thought "Yep, it's gonna be here".  On the way home from Lexington, Mom & I were chatting about the two dresses & I pretty much decided I wanted one of those two.  I guess Mom saw me still debating my decision & mentioned that we should try David's one more time to at least rule out all of those first dresses we tried on.  I was exhausted already but I knew she was right.  So once we got to David's, they pulled the three dresses I asked to keep in my "wishlist" & I tried them all on again.  I tried on the one last.  I was exhausted & I was like "Mom, do I even like this dress?  Is it too much this?  Does it not enough that?  Blah Blah Blah".  Mom told me that I was too tired to be trying on dresses and making this kind of decision without my full force energy.  I rebutted with "Nope.  I don't think so, I don't think I want this dress.  Ma'am, do you mind putting this dress back on the racks & off my wishlist?  I don't think that is the one".  Mom immediately told the consultant to keep everything on the wishlist & that we would come back tomorrow, after a full night's rest & full pot of coffee.

Praise the Lord for giving me a mama that knows when to say "that's enough" when I can't.

Praise Him for giving me a mama that knows me better than I know my self some days. 
  
The next day Mom, Ashley & Colby's mom, Sandra went with me to try my 4 favorite dresses one last time before I made my decision.  The first one I tried on was the one.  I had a completely different perspective than I did 20 hours before.   I felt at ease.  I looked and felt incredibly comfortable.  I even brought my shoes I was planning to wear to get a feel for the whole look I was going for.  I loved it.  I tried on all three other dresses from both David's & the small place in Lexington & decided I was going to sleep on it one last time.  

As I was laying in bed that night, looking through the pictures on my phone of the dresses I had tried on that day...  I looked at my facial expressions.  I saw that I looked most excited & thoroughly happy in the one.  

Made my decision.  Tried it on one more time for good measure.  Rang the wedding bell at David's.  They clapped.  I smiled.  Ordered it.  Picked it up.  Now it is eagerly waiting for a couple of minor alterations in my Mama's closet.

I am so so happy with my decision.  I cannot wait to wear it.  I cannot wait to show Sam.  

Yay for love
& gorgeous white dresses.

the ones with the plan to be a wedding barbie.

One of my favorite things to do is take day-trips!  They can be spur of the moment, they can be planned.  I think they are the perfect excuse for the let's just go somewhere attitude.

A couple of weeks ago, me & two of my girlfriends went on a secret mission.  Secret, as in no, we are not going to talk about it today... but I can talk about everything else!  :)  After the mission was complete we happened to stumble upon a David's bridal.  

Side note:  I am obsessed with everything weddings.. pictures, blogs, the process, tv shows.  But every time I walk past a wedding store of some sort, I always wanna go in & try one on!

Anyways, I mentioned to Brooke that we should just go try on dresses.  Brooke was "let's do it!  But we need a story!  You can be the bride."   So we came up with this plan:  I am recently engaged, not getting married until next fall, & my fiancé is in the Military of some sort (incase they told me I seemed real young). My two friends were my best friends & maid of honors.  I put my pearl ring on my left hand to represent engagement ring and I wanted a classy, country wedding... just in case they asked.

Well, we didn't know this but when you want to go in a try on dresses you have to register.  We got into the store.. && a consultant pretty much told us that a typical Saturday morning at the end of the wedding season isn't the best day to play wedding barbie.  (She told us Wednesday nights were the best.. just for future reference)

So close. :(

But that didn't stop us from trying on veils, finding our favorite dresses & ooo-ing & ahh-ing at the real brides.

Later, we stopped at Urban Outfitters & Anthropologie to get some inspiration.

&& we played this hilarious game on the way home... but the video will not upload.  I'll work on it tomorrow & see if I can get it going! :)

Yay for friends, secret missions, fake weddings, cookies from Anthropologie & fun day trips!

the one in charlotte.

This past weekend my mom & I went to Charlotte.  While there we...

 hung out with my sister.

we went downtown to eat...

rode with the windows down...

we also hit up some yard sales...

&& I bought an argus seventy-five antique camera for my collection....

We also went to IKEA.  The most amazing place to stock for home furnishings!   Slowly, my room is coming together!  I can't wait to show you guys!  

 && this is what mom & I drove home into last night...

This weekend was a success in full! Now on to a quick nap & then finish my dining room table!  (I didn't meet all my June goals... July goals coming tomorrow!)

the one about this weekend & on tap for today.

So for most dates this is the conversation.

Sam: what do you wanna do?

Me: Im not sure... what do you have in mind?

Sam: I don't care, whatever you want to do.

Me:  Well, do you wanna go out to eat?

Sam: Yeah, where you wanna go?

Me:  Well, why don't you choose between (3 or 4 places)...

Sam:  Court, I don't care.  You pick.

Me:  Okay, pick between these two places...

Sam:  Do you just wanna go to Chili's? (Chili's is not one of his options)

Me: Let's do it!

Lesson to live by: if in doubt.. go to Chili's. :)

But this weekend, I decided I would plan the date in full.  From picking him up at his house, to picking the restaurant, to after supper activity, to giving him a gift towards the end of the date.  All he had to do is show up.  It wasn't insanely eventful... rather simple.. just like we like it.

Walked around downtown Winston after supper...

& then because Sam is very impatient.. he opened his surprise in the parking deck..

Sam is a super fan of the show, The Office.  He absolutely loves it.  What I love about watching it with him is that we NEVER laugh at the same thing.   Which is good, because it keeps us interested & laughing collectively during the entire show! :)  So his gift was The Office board game filled with trivia.

Our game pieces... Meredith (Court) & Kevin (Sam).

We had a big ol' time.   Also, this weekend I went on a yard-sale date with one of my future housemates, Liza.  We had a great time bouncing around stranger's yards rummaging through all of their old goodies, stuff (I wouldn't say that old hairbrushes, & underwear are considered goodies! Ha!)  But Liza & I had a good time riding around town, catching up, & getting our selves wayyyy too excited about our house this coming fall!

Also, sidenote.. this man saw me taking pictures with my Canon SLR.. & wanted me to sale it to him for $100!  I nicely declined his wonderful offer, but in my head.. I was like puhh-lease!  I didn't spend any of my high school graduation money for a reason!  && no, this camera is my baby.  How dare you take away someone's baby!!  My cheezy grin & kind rejection covered the anger & confusion that was going on inside my head!

Also, busy Tuesday.. on tap for today:

Go to Walmart - buy paint.

Burn Graduation/Awards Day pictures onto CD's & External Hard drive.

Antique all dining room chairs.

Paint dining room table with paint bought at Walmart.

Clean out shower.

Do at least 5 loads of laundry.

Make bed.

Go run.

Sign up for a 5k or 10k.

Help mom & dad stain new kitchen table.

Study for EMT class.

Geezzzz, I gotta get on the ball!

 What is on tap for you today?

the one with old stuff from good friends.

I have some of the best friends ever.

Everrrr.

Heather and Emily went to a book organization/sale thing (where they scan books and get paid lots of dough :) ) in Wilmington this weekend.  They saw an small, antique bible and prayer book and thought of me and Sarah!  Seriously, how sweet are they?

It is amazing.  I love my little bible.

  

With my love for...

[one]. Jesus.

[two].  old stuff

...it was the most amazing gift.

(excuse the hair.. haha)

&& when I say old I mean over a hundred years old!

It's copyright dates back to 1908. eeeek! :)

Sarah and I have really wonderful people in our lives.  It's so awesome to have someone think of you when they see something that you may like.. not only think of you - but buy it too! 

Heather and Emily, we love you! Thanks for our trinkets.  You girls are so daaa bestest!

P.S. This weekend was quite eventful, get excited for some posties!

the one in charlotte - part 1.

Spring Break was wonderful.  It felt so good to be at home and just rest.  

When I wasn't at home sleeping, shadowing surgeries or catching up on Grey's I was in Charlotte with my mom and sister (as you already know).  We had such a good time together.  It had been way too long since us girls spend some solid time with each other!

So I'll break up my Charlotte trip into two posts!

On Wednesday & Thursday:

We bought our cameras!

&& took a zillion pictures!

Drank a bunch of this...

Made some camera straps...

[pictures of final product tomorrow!]

Dealt & learned to embrace the never-ending rain...

Went to IKEA.

&& of course we did some antique shopping.

Dealt with more rain...

 & danced :)

The first two days in Charlotte were completely wonderful!

More to come tomorrow -- stay tuned!