I seriously hope

that when it's actually close enough in time for me to seriously consider the hat-thing I will wear on my head, that I can find something this fabulous. I don't really want to share where it is... but since I'm generous I did. Maybe it'll still be around in a year's time? (ha!)

You know how you get two-dress brides? I think I might be a multiple-hat bride. I'm going to work my way up from 'significant' headbands to hats for everyday wear, just to get used to them. At least, that's my justification for the navy straw pancake number that's sort of a hat attached to a headband that I'm about to buy on etsy.

Blooms

I love the idea of mint and basil - so fresh with cornflowers!

Okay, I clicked on this link by mistake, thinking it was something else. This florist (sorry, I can't get on board with the term 'floral designer') is the USA (SF & bay area). But oh. my. god. I thought I didn't care about flowers. I thought I'd just wholesale a whole bunch and stick them in op-shopped pint glasses (and hell, when I look at the budget I probably still will*). But for dreamy, dreamy inspiration, go check out Rose Now Floral.

(I'm dreaming of a rainbow bouquet now)

* But maybe I'll add some mint, and maybe some pansies or sweetpeas, to those glasses now.

Fabulous shoes

I'm a tall gal, and while I do genuinely love teetering about on 4 inch heels, I don't have the back or the balls (of my feet!) to do it for very long. Especially not standing on a stone floor for the ceremony. So I had always intended to wear ballet flats beneath my dress. But if I'm going to wear a short dress, I'm going to need heels. The legs will need to be to their best advantage.


And that's where Hey Lady shoes come in. Mmmm... they're cute and chic and sometimes a little bit vintage, and they're especially designed to be comfortable. Padded linings, carefully thought out heel angles, choice of heel heights... and did I mention cute and chic? I can actually barely choose between them all. And I don't even normally go for strappy styles.

If a had a $5000 dress budget...

This dress, by Chloe, available at Net-A-Porter, would certainly be on the short-list.

The Gifted Ham & The Engagement Party Plan

Image from Sunday Driver under a creative commons licence.

So we haven't actually had an engagement party yet. I'm partly indifferent, partly embarrassed (at the thought that we will have one literally months after we got engaged). We're in the process of buying a wee house, and it would be just so perfect to be able to have a combined housewarming/ engagement party* in our own place. Not to mention our current rental is really quite revolting and not suited to guests. So.

Just prior to Christmas my mother got a gift voucher for a ham (long story). She decided not to use it at Christmas, as there's enough ham then for everyone plus some, and has instead told us that we may have the ham for our engagement party. It's very generous, and also kind of hilarious. I am left trying to plan a menu around a ham-on-the-bone.

I initially wanted Southern-inspired food. Ham in coke, baked "fried" chicken, potato salad, green bean salad, cajun spiced sweet potato,** sweet iced tea and mint julep punch. I thought it was a gorgeous idea. BCB said no. "I just think it's a weird theme. We're not Southern, our new house isn't Southern... why would you do it?" Because we have a ham to work with darling. Because of the ham.

But just this very weekend I found a ridiculously cheap source of quince paste (don't I sound like a crack dealer?). Like, $12 a kilo cheap. So now I'm thinking mustard glazed ham, lots of cheese, quince paste, bread rolls... and what? I need more vegetable suggestions to go with this kind-of-European-rustic-picnic-thing... but I can work on it. And what vodka-based cocktail to go with this hearty fare? (We have a stockpile. BCB and my mother have made a point of bringing back their full duty free allowance every time they travel).

* because it's combined, and because the party will still be eighteen months before the wedding, and because the wedding will be small I am going to invite people that won't be invited to the wedding. I want everyone to see our new house! Is that just too rude?

** the vegetables take a certain priority, as I won't be eating the animals.

AWESOME! And so suited to a summer wedding in Australia, no? From New York Weddings.

More suit options for the Lank of Build and Retro of Style

To be honest, we haven't looked into the cost yet. But with the tanking Australian dollar it might end up costing no more than a made-to-measure suit from Duchess Clothier.

Fullin Tailoring, on Beaufort St in Mt Lawley, are third generation Italian tailors, willing and able to make "period style suits". I guessed this before I checked out their site. Because their window display has two chipped mannequins in lime green and rust red 70s safari suits. Those outfits mightn't match our "wedding theme", but they'd sure match BCB's sideburns.