7 Things to Know About Being a Bridesmaid

I was recently asked to be a bridesmaid in my girlfriends wedding which I'm very excited about and we have already begun some of the best parts like saying yes to her (amazing!) dress. While I was out with some of the bridesmaids the other day, the maid of honor shared that she had never been in that role before, nor been a bridesmaid so she was doing a little research on what the duties entail. I'm sure some people just assume all we do is stand there, look pretty (hopefully) and drink champagne (lots...again, hopefully). But alas, this is not the case -- If you are asked to stand by your friends side on the biggest day of her life, it obviously means you have a special relationship, so it's important to commemorate that and do your part to make it the best experience for her.

This will be my 8th time as a bridesmaid so I wanted to share a few things I've learned that may be helpful to anyone who is getting ready to "PARTY!" 

Celebrate the moment: 

Anyone who has gotten engaged knows what a big moment it is...whether it's a big surprise or a plan from the beginning, it's a scenario we dream about for years. Soon after you get engaged (like minutes), the questions begin...When is the wedding? What venue are you thinking? Do you have colors picked out? And while those are all fun things to think about, the best part is just relishing in being engaged. Spending your life with your favorite person. Finding your other half. So even if it's something small, like a toast at home with the couple's closest friends, do be sure to recognize this great time in your friends life.

Be honest:
You will most likely be asked for your advice on one matter or another, especially if you've already gotten married -- Who was your photographer and how did you decide on them? How much do you tip vendors? Is it important to have an "A" and "B" list?  Do you like this style of dress? -- These are all situations where honesty is the best policy because your friend is asking for genuine feedback in making some important decisions. Even if she doesn't take your advice or utilize your suggestions, at least she knows she can count on you to be straight with her.

Help her with the dress(es): 

You don't have to be present for every dress appointment, especially (and most likely) since there will be other people who want to witness this experience but if the bride asks you to narrow down styles both for her dress AND the bridesmaid dresses, you should be of some assistance. Let's be honest, this is one of the most fun parts of the process...I'd rarely turn down a chance to play dress up in gorgeous gowns and cocktail dresses! We recently spent a few hours in David's Bridal for an upcoming wedding and while we ended up picking our some great looks, we had a few laughs in between...mainly a two piece style that's a bit more Quinceanera than Wedding ;)

Get to know her other girls:

Bridal parties are often a mix of many different groups...family, friends, way-back friends, co-workers, etc. so it's likely there will be a few girls left out of inside jokes in one way or another. This is a group that will likely be spending a lot of time together (shower, bachelorette, rehearsal, wedding) so it's up to each bridesmaid to make sure the others feel included. The bride probably already feels a little awkward about all of her worlds colliding in one place so you can make it easier on her by keeping everyone involved and on good terms. 

Plan an unforgettable Bash:
The Bachelorette party is can be one of the most fun parts of the process! It's important to be mindful of the bride's taste and what she wants...Remember, you're planning her ultimate weekend, not yours. Whether the itinerary includes a girls day at the spa or a wild weekend in Miami, this is the ultimate time for girl bonding without any Fantasy Football talk getting in the way ;) For planning made easy, try out The Bach which recommends venues, build an itinerary, send out invitations, etc. I also think it's important to add a few special touches like personalized tattoos (seen below) or monogrammed cups (perfect for day drinking). 

 Offer your services: 

There are so many details to consider...centerpieces, table numbers, save the dates, invitations, favors, and so on. The bride is only one person (and most likely, the fiance isn't all that interested in bedazzling) and if you're like me, a DIY session can be so much fun (if it includes wine, of course!) Let the bride to be know that you are available to assist with some of the more tedious tasks...she may not always take you up on it but just the offer can be helpful so they know who to call if they're drowning in tulle.

Remember the little things:
It truly is the little things in life and that applies to being a great bridesmaid as well. If you've experienced the big day already (or many others), you have a good idea of what makes a lasting impression and it's not always the most expensive gifts. I love the idea of a book filled with date night ideas or some of your go-to recipes the new couple can make a part of their meal plan at home. Right after my girlfriend got married, I picked up a tiny ring dish for her with an image that was close to her heart so she would have a pretty place to keep her jewel...it literally is the little things :)

How many weddings have you stood up in? Do you have any tips to share?

Because Kaitlyn Rented the Runway

This is the 4th time I've ordered a dress from Rent the Runway and had another wonderful experience. I had a wedding to attend so I placed an order for a gorgeous dress but due to Chicago's never ending blizzard (hashtag Chiberia), the dress wasn't going to make it in time.

So, I received a voicemail from RTR letting me know that I could pick a dress of my choice under $125 and they would overnight it to me at no charge. Because the orders they ship out are time sensitive, they realize that people count on their services so I thought this was such a professional way to handle a situation like this and I was extremely impressed with their customer service. 

I have had this Badgley Mischka dress in my "favorite" list for quite some time so I was ecstatic to get the chance to wear it. I absolutely love the color, fit and everything about the style, so much that it was difficult to put it back in the bag to ship back…it was the perfect choice for a winter wedding.

Dress: Rent the Runway (badgley mischka) // Heels: DSW (similar)

Clutch: Michael Kors (similar) // Earrings: Francesca's (similar)

I really liked mixing the blue dress with emerald earrings…my two favorite colors.

Have you ordered from RTR before? How was your experience? 

(Check back next week to see the original dresses I ordered) ;)

Because Kaitlyn Ruined a Surprise...

It starts with a funny story...I follow my wedding photographers on Facebook because in addition to the beautiful images they shot at my wedding, I just love looking at their work. One day I noticed they mentioned our wedding so of course I clicked through and it brought me to the website Reenie Rose where the theme is "bouquet preservation with a modern brush." 

I scrolled through all the images of a gorgeous painting of a bouquet, slowly realizing it was mine that she had been working on and instantly fell in love...

I left the artist (Loreen- she's wonderful!) a comment letting her know how beautiful her work was and asking how I could get my hands on the painting when she was done. She had done a profile on my photographers, so I figured she just decided to replicate one of their photos to go along with the story. 

The thought never crossed my mind that this was an amazing SURPRISE gift to me from my Mother...

I only found this out after I went back a few days on Loreen's blog and saw a few comments from my Mom at the bottom complimenting her progress on my present. Imagine my shock when I found out that I ruined such a generous, thoughtful present! That's what I get for being a Facebook stalker ;) 

The present was intended to be opened on my birthday in November but of course after this happened, my Mom and I both couldn't wait. How fantastic is she? The day after my wedding, I was so sad to see my beautiful bouquet already wilting (I may have even shed a tear) so she figured this was a unique way for me to be able to hold onto it forever. I am so lucky to have her in my life -- she always goes out of her way to make sure her family is happy.

And the unveiling of the "surprise" ...

 Loreen even captured the locket which held the photo of my late Grandmother which was very special to me, so I was very impressed. I am currently working on the arrangement of our wedding picture wall going up the main staircase in our house and I think this is the perfect piece to go in the middle.

If you know anyone getting married or anyone who recently tied the knot, check out Reenie Rose. Rather than preserve your flowers in a dry, brittle state, bring them back to life with a custom painting that will never fade. Loreen is a gifted artist with a great eye for detail and not to mention, she's super sweet! She and my Mom became good friends throughout the process so we talked about setting up a coffee date for the 3 of us. 

It's funny how these things happen, isn't it?

Because Kaitlyn got Married: The Day

I am so excited to post my official wedding photos today! Prior to the wedding, everyone told me how important it would be to take a moment during all of the chaos to reflect on it all so I tried to do that during each phase of the day and I wanted to share a few of my favorites with you.

The bridesmaids started arriving at 6:00 am, partly because there were so many of us and partly because we were too excited to sleep!

I was adamant about wearing blue shoes, yes to match the bridesmaids, but also because I'm always a sucker for a pop of color. This idea completely confused my Grandmother but when she saw them in person, she warmed up to it and decided it was absolutely perfect :)

I've said this before and I'll say it again: I have never felt as pretty as I did on this day. I knew this was the right dress the moment I put it on, but it was a different story with my hair. I was insanely specific about how I wanted it styled (no up-dos - all result in tears, no joke) 

All my life, I had imagined walking down the aisle with long loose waves because that's when I feel most like myself and thank you to Zano's, my wish was granted. With the curls cascading over my shoulder, the keyhole back was still a main focus (the highlight of the dress!)

Holy handsome!

Even the priest took a moment during the ceremony to point out the crazy amount of blue. "I just have to ask, was there sale on gym shoes?"

Aren't my bridesmaids gorgeous? Even though only a few of them are related, I consider them all to be family. Their bright blue J. Crew dresses and the coral/pink flowers looked better than I even imagined...one of my ultimate color combos!

I decided to skip the "first look" idea in order to have a traditional ceremony because I was so excited to experience that surprise moment when I saw him waiting for me at the end of the aisle and let me say, there will never be words to describe that emotion. My whole body was shaking and between the mixture of laughter and tears, I was on cloud nine.

That being said, this was one of the only moments my new husband and I were alone all day, so these are a few of my favorite photos - just him and I gushing over the day.

What is a wedding at the Shedd without Jellies?!

My husband calls this photo "the girl on fire" - Who needs Katniss Everdeen? ;)

One of the reasons we picked the Shedd (amongst many!) is because I think it has the greatest view of the city skyline so it was important to me to spend part of the night on the gorgeous terrace. In addition to cocktail hour, we spent some time taking photos and dancing in the (brief) rain drops which was one of the most memorable parts of the evening. It unplanned, imperfect and just right. 

Stay tuned for wedding details tomorrow...

Because Kaitlyn is Going to the Chapel...

My fiance and I have will have been engaged almost two years when we get married tomorrow and saying that it has been a whirlwind is an understatement. Even though we had a lot of time to plan, we were always busy doing something whether it was another detailed visit to the Shedd, cutting string for the invites (trust me, it made the difference), sending umpteen thank you's for our wonderful gifts, or buying our first home together!

Our families and friends have been more amazing than words can say with their support and patience and I feel lucky to be so loved. 

Speaking of love, I can't wait to marry mine. He's been my best friend for 7 years...

Now it's time to make it forever.

I look forward to sharing wedding and honeymoon photos with you when I return but until then, we have some great posts planned so enjoy!

#Kaitlyn (almost a Mrs!)

DIY Chalkboard Frame

I looked at so many of these on Etsy and thought why would I buy one when I could easily make it myself? I am going to be using my chalkboard for the donut station at my wedding. Really, are there any better favors than mini bites of heaven? I'm so excited.

As you can see, I also tested out a blue chalkboard paint from a bottle by Martha Stewart - The color is gorgeous, but it was a little harder to spread without getting any bubbles or bumps. The spray paint is the best way to produce even results:

Voilà! I will definitely re-purpose this once the wedding is over and display it in our house.

Will you be trying this DIY?

#Kaitlyn