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04/22/2010
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Wedding Photography
Bridal Shoot
A couple of weeks ago I had a bridal shoot done. I feel like this is a newer trend among brides. Basically, I booked a session from our wedding photographer and I had three hours of artistic shooting in the downtown Charlotte area.
If I could say one thing about this experience when talking to other brides it would be: DO IT! Set aside a day and make it about you. On your wedding day you will have so many things on your mind and not enough time to worry about getting pictures of just you in your gorgeous dress. Honestly, I felt like a model as the photographers were shooting me. People were passing by us on the street and smiling and telling me I looked gorgeous. At one point a little girl walked by and she said to her mom, "Mommy, is she a princess?" The experience was worth every penny. You can view the best shots here: http://www.pdpinfocus.com/weddings/bridal/samanthadrbul/index.htm Anyone else done/will be doing a bridal shoot? |
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01/01/2010
  get-attachment1 get-attachment2 get-attachment3    |
Wedding Invitation
LOVE my Invitations!
I took a chance and decided to buy my invitations off Ebay through a seller who custom designs stationary. I decided to take this risk because of a few reasons:
1) Compared to other online invitations sites these invitations were CHEAP! I received 125 custom made invites, 125 RSVP cards with envelopes (already printed with my return address!), 125 reception cards, and 125 information cards with our website on them for...93 dollars!!!!! Such an amazing deal! 2) I'm not crafty at all. A lot of brides are choosing to make their own invitations but I'm just not good with stuff like that. So I will gladly pay someone to do them for me! 3) I wanted something different that REALLY stands out. I think these are simple and elegant but have something more personalized about them. I was able to choose my color scheme, font, and design. If anyone is interested in having invitations like this made, please PLEASE check out this seller: http://myworld.ebay.com/terra_pvm So what do you guys think about my invitations? |
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10/27/2009
  I love this. It's from Victoria Secret. |
Ask a Question
Your Favorite Lingerie Store?
Recently I started on the quest of buying lingerie for our honeymoon. Since FH and I are virgins, I have never had to buy lingerie however, I've always looked at it while at the mall or while surfing the internet. Now that I've started buying it I want more variety than just Victoria Secret. Although they have really cute stuff, it can be ridiculously expensive for something that's just going to be on for a few minutes.
Here are some of the stores I've bought from so far: www.yandy.com - Their prices are amazing and the quality isn't terrible. I've bought three sets from there so far and I love all of them! www.fredericksofhollywood.com - their prices are better than Victoria Secret's and the quality is similar. I've bought two things from here and they are gorgeous. Where are your favorite places to shop for lingerie? Do you pay extra for good quality? Do you shop without thinking about quality because it will only be on for a few moments? |
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08/14/2009
  The front. The back. Bust details. Hip details. Me being happy/silly.      |
Wedding Dress
:)
Back in May I purchased my wedding dress from a bridal store that was two hours away from my house. It was the first dress that I tried on in that store but about the one hundredth dress that I have tired on since I started looking.
Anyway I got a postcard in the mail that said it was in and I picked it up today! When I tried it on at the store it fit perfectly. It really just felt like it was made for me. I really felt more beautiful that I ever have in my entire life. I bet I will feel even prettier on my wedding day. Anyway, I posted some pictures. Enjoy! |
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08/09/2009
  Short hair with full bangs. Creating the illusion of more hair. Floral accent. Sleek updo.     |
Wedding Hair Style
Short Styles
For a while now I've been trying to grow out my hair. I've always preferred my hair on the shorter side, usually in a choppy, layered style. About a year ago my mother mentioned to me that my hair would not look right on my wedding day if it wasn't long. For some unknown reason I bought in to this notion and have been growing out my hair ever since.
Yesterday my fiance looks at me and says, "How long after the wedding are you going to wait to cut your hair?" I was confused by this question and asked, "Why?" He replied by saying that he has always liked my hair short and was just curious when he would get to see it short again. In response: I'm going back to short hair before my wedding. I decided that I want to look like myself and feel confident and if that means I don't get the full, voluptuous, cascading curls that most brides have, so be it. Also, I want my fiance to look at me and really, really love the way I look. It's hard to find short bridal hairstyles on the internet and in wedding magazines. But I've found a few for inspiration. Any other brides having their hair short for their wedding? |
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08/07/2009
  DIY Beaded Vase Candles and mirror. Purple linen napkins. Elaborate lighting.     |
Wedding Decoration
Reception Table Decor
I think the table decor is what people notice most when it comes to wedding decoration. Our guests sit for a few hours (in between bouts of dancing) in front of the decorations we put on our reception tables. I am trying to find a way to make our tables elegant without breaking out budget. If possible, I want them to look expensive without actually being expensive.
These are a few ideas I had in mind to make the tables more interesting: -Candles! Intricate lighting is always a plus. Candlelight really makes everything look more beautiful and feel more lavish. -Silver mirrors under the centerpieces. This idea mixed with candlelight will hopefully make my floral centerpieces appear fuller and brighter. The light reflects off the mirror, creating these illusions. -Placing favors right on the table in front of each place setting. This is an inexpensive way to make the table look more full. -Splurging on linen napkins. Colored table clothes are more expensive than the standard white ones offered at most venues. Instead of buying or renting expensive table linens I am opting to splurge on purple linen napkins. It's an elegant touch without breaking the bank. Another idea would be a single table runner down the center of the standard white table cloth. -Disposable cameras. Every bride has a different opinion about using these at her wedding. I've decided to do them because it keeps guests occupied and interested throughout down time during the reception. It also helps with table decor because most wedding cameras come with a nice little table card. -Fillers. This would be things like confetti, flower petals, or other items that can scattered on the table for color and texture. -DIYing things. It's easy to add little touches to otherwise plain table numbers or place cards. What are you doing to spruce up your table decor? Also, yes or no to disposable cameras at your wedding? |
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08/03/2009
  The Ebay design that I like. Another style I love! Pocket invitations. All over purple invite.     |
Ask a Question
Invitation Dilemma
I've started the process of looking at invitation designs and wording and I realized something:
If I don't make them myself (which I have no desire to do), invitations are expensive!!! And so I did more research and found a lady on Ebay who does invitations and it would only be 68 dollars for 100 invitations (also including: reception cards, response cards, favors scrolls, and return address labels). It seems like a such a great deal. Up until this point I have purchased disposible wedding cameras and our cake topper on Ebay and did not have a problem. However, invitations are so personalized I am worried there would be problems by doing it this way. Has anyone else gotten their invitations on Ebay? How did they turn out? Are you happy with your decision. Here is the lady I'm thinking of using: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250472386071&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching Thoughts? |
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07/30/2009
  Flowers, tulle, and rose petals. A simpler tulle and bow lined aisle. Petals and aisle runner. Lovely hanging arrangements and petal lined aisle.     |
Wedding Decoration
Church Decor
I am really racking my brain trying to figure out how to decorate the church where we are getting married without breaking out budget. There are a few things that I want that are definitely going to put our cost up. Among these are:
-An aisle runner -Pew decorations (in a perfect world I would have flowers, but we will probably do something simpler like bows or tulle) -Fresh flower arrangements at the alter -Rose petals lining the aisle way I really don't know what else I can do to decorate. I probably will not be able to include all the things I have listed above in order be proactive in our budgeting. However, I don't want to have a plain, undecorated church on my wedding day. What are you doing to decorate? |
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07/29/2009
  Bridesmaids with single calla. Small bridesmaid bouquet with big bow. Bouquet dressed with greenery and raffia ribbon. Bouquet containing carnations.     |
Wedding Flowers
Bouquets
I really want to save money when I do my bouquets, however I love fresh flowers and would never compromise by using silk flowers. I know some brides don't consider using silk flowers a "compromise" but I feel like my wedding day would be lacking if I didn't have them.
Instead I'm using these tricks to save money on my fresh flower bouquets. Maybe you can use them too: -Use flowers that are in season during your wedding month. -Use more greenery than normal to decorate your bouquet. Greenery is cheaper than flowers. -Order bulk flowers online and then watch a YouTube video on how to assemble bouquets yourself. -Use large flowers. For example, hydrangeas are expensive but you don't need many to make a bouquet. Do the math because skimping on quantity could save you money. -Have your bridesmaids carry a single flower. A calla lily is large enough to carry by itself. -Use a large bow or colorful ribbon to dress up a small bouquet. -Use only one kind of flower (either in varying colors or not). -Whatever time of year opt for carnations. They are extremely inexpensive, come in all different colors, and look fabulous. Any one else have any tips to share? |
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07/26/2009
  Metallic purple. Purple with rosette. Chunky silver. Strappy silver.     |
Shoes!
and also a question!
I consider myself to be a pretty traditional bride in most cases but there is one thing that is going to be a little unconventional: my shoes! I love, love, love shoes and I want my wedding day to reflect that just like any other day.
Shoes can really make or break your outfit and I feel the same way about wedding dresses. I think the kind of shoes you pick can tell people a lot about what kind of person you are. I'm a little crazy, and I think this will show that pretty well. I know one thing for sure. These shoes have got to be really high heeled. My handsome groom is 6'3" and I'm 5'0". In order to make our first dance less awkward I want to be a little taller. So I have two options: Match my shoes to my primary wedding color: purple or to my secondary wedding color: silver. Opinions? |
sammy0415
| 2 | years since wedding |
Samantha Drbul
Ian Pugsley
Jun 19, 2010
Charlotte,
North Carolina,
United States
Mint Hill
Indian Trail
PDP in Focus
Purple
I decided at the beginning of my planning process that our wedding is not going to be about how delicious the food is, how expensive the flowers are, or how tall the cake is. Instead we have opted to make our wedding about our marriage, our commitment to each other, and the beginning of our forever.
number of visits: 3229
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