Y’all, I need some help finding a dress for our rehearsal dinner. I was initially inclined to choose something white and go with the whole bridal theme, but if I’m purchasing a new dress, I’d like it to be useful post-wedding, and seeing as I already have a short white dress, I probably won’t have too many opportunities to wear both in the foreseeable future.

So no white – probably. Our rehearsal dinner is ocean-side, so something with a little nautical flair might be good, or I could see myself wearing “something blue” — Marget wore the cutest blue skirt and white top to her rehearsal and dinner, which I loved!

In the course of my hunt, I’ve searched the following sites:

Anne M. Cramer (nothing caught my eye), Anne Taylor, Anthropologie, B.B. Dakota, BCBG, Belk, Bevello, Gretchen Scott, H&M, J. Crew (nothing looked good), Kate Spade (too expensive), Kiribilla (too expensive), Lilly Pulitzer, The Limited, Loft, Madewell, Modcloth (either they were out of my size, the length was too short, or the fit+fabric had poor reviews), Nordstrom, Piperlime, Shopbop, Topshop, Trina Turk, and Zara. Whew.

After searching those 23 sites, here are the seven possibilities I found:

1) Coral one-shoulder dress by BCBGeneration via Piperlime ($89.50)
2) Color block tuck shift dress via TopShop ($95)
3) Colorblock crepe dress via Nordstrom ($98.90)
4) Cotton pleated sleeveless dress by LOFT ($85 – not available in my size online, but I might be able to find it in a store!)
5) Colorblock crepe de chine dress by Eliza J via Nordstrom ($92)
6) Jacquard cotton dress by Taylor Dresses via Nordstrom ($92)
7) Tylar dress by Lilly Pulitzer ($298)

Is anyone surprised that my favorite of the bunch is also the most expensive? I just adore the scalloped hem on the Lilly, and love that it has some nautical flavor (and is something (dark) blue) while still being endlessly wearable. I’ve also seen it in person, and the quality and fabric weight is awesome.

So, friends, to stop me from spending $298 on this dress, please suggest your best alternative shop or design. Or try to convince me that one of the other seven is a better choice. Or try to convince me that I should just go with the Lilly :)

Thank you in advance!!

I’ve been trying to increase the ratio of “dressed up” (i.e. not cotton) tops in my closet, and when I spotted this one at Ann Taylor this week, I couldn’t resist. The material is so light – great for summer in the South. Luckily I had a $25 gift card, as the current price ($68) is a bit much. (I got it in “violet bloom.”)

AT is running a buy one, get one 50% off promotion right now on full-price tops… and I’m seriously tempted by this one, too.

So pretty!

For my final accessories post, we shall discuss what I’m wearing on my head!

Marget and I will actually be sharing a veil, and we’re hoping it will become a family heirloom! (Still two sisters between us yet to be married, so there’s hope for it to happen even in this generation :) We fell in love with a Sara Gabriel veil a month or so after I got engaged, but at about $450, it was out of our price range. When Annette of Chaviano Couture said she could make something similar for $250, we jumped at the chance! Annette and I had our final Skype call yesterday, and she sent me a few in-process photos, too. That’s it on the bottom right – we’re going to make the horsehair trim about 25% narrower, but otherwise, we’re thrilled!

Photos by Shawn Connell for Christian Oth (left) and Elsa Corsi

Post-ceremony I think I’ll switch out the veil for a comb tucked into an updo. A few pretty options above from Tejani, Jennifer Behr, Hair Comes the Bride, and Percy Handmade. Happily, I’ll be borrowing the comb a dear friend wore on her wedding day!

I’m off to a wedding at a Newport mansion tonight – can’t wait!! Will be back soon to share pics and a review of my Rent the Runway dress!

Back with more accessories!

Photos above by Heather Kincaid (left) and Karen Wise (right)

I wear pearl studs day in and day out, so I’m not looking to wear anything too flashy on my wedding day, either. I tried on these ones, these ones, and these ones (among others) in my search, but none of them were quite right.

Mom to the rescue again! I found the silver Diamonique pair in her jewelry box on my last visit home. They’re the perfect size and shape, but would be just a little bit better if they were in gold instead of silver. Of course, QVC also sells a gold version, but they’re inexplicably $140 more expensive. No thank you. I’ll be going with the silver ones unless something else drops into my lap. I also have the cluster drops as a back-up option.

Photos above by A Bryan Photo

The clutch I’ll be carrying is also a something borrowed – hilariously, it’s the clutch I gave my friend Katharine for her wedding! Pinky swear I didn’t know it would work out this way at the time. I was honored to be a bridesmaid in her wedding, and I’ll be honored to carry her clutch on my wedding day. For those of you who love the style, it’s the Classic Bow clutch from Davie & Chiyo. Though I love the “snow white” color, they have so many fun shades to choose from! I particularly like the pale aqua and the seashell.

Back with the last few details tomorrow!