pretty and local(ish)

I was just going through the latest edition of Engaged and greatly enjoyed the section on vintage inspired gowns. Very pretty! So far, I have to say that I have been a tad disappointed by the range of bridalwear designers in NZ (to be fair, I have only looked online.... there may be many more excellent options lurking in the yellow pages). Some seem really couture-y (which in my mind = pricey) and others seem to design quite "Bridey" dresses and nothing too out of the ordinary (if your experience is different please feel free to enlighten me!). But in engaged today, there was a lovely selection of gowns all made by local designers.

I especially liked this one, by Vinka Brides

(Other)homeward bound!

Great news - today I received an email saying that my visa has been approved and my passport is now on it's way back to me! I am more relieved than I can say, not least because Dave has told me that we are going to Holland for Christmas, and also Frankfurt, Cologne, and Brussels, and I would have been GUTTED to miss it! Of course, being the contrary person that I am, I am now really really sad to be leaving again - especially having met and fallen in love with JP (a.k.a. perfect nephew) - but the excitement of picking up my travels where I left off goes some way to making up for it! Also, Dave has booked for us 6 days in Northern Italy at the end of Jan. So that's something else to {really} look forward to.

In world news - thank goodness lovely Helena is going to be getting on a flight out of Thailand on Friday!!

And in wedding news - I got an email from the Maggie Sottero NZ stockist today telling me the cost of getting Vienna shipped out to NZ is $X (= far too much), so that puts paid to that. Now on to finding a dressmaker that will do a copy of it justice! (it's all in the boning, baby). Also - the bridesmaids have been asked, and have said YES and they are... dum de dum dum: My big sister Nic (surprise surprise) is Chiefy, and the other is Katie; one of my best buds from high school, uni, and since. We've gone with two on each side, as Dave is just having his two brothers and we wanted to keep things simple and small (although I think JP will be a wee cutie pageboy in a tux or possibly a spiderman outfit). Nic was asked over a seafood chowder and nachos (didn't really need to be asked, but I like to stand on ceremony), and Katie over tapas and a wine at a restaurant in Napier (attended upon by a goatee'd sommelier who Katie greatly impressed having just been to the NZ Wine Awards two nights previously).

So that's all a bit exciting! hopefully I'll be meeting with the photographer this week to pay the deposit, and then that will be about it in the way of proper planning for a while! so it's back to pipe-dreaming and internet inspiration...

Can't wait for Christmas with my boy again!!!!

Betwixt and Between

After a few days in sunny sunny Ashburton (eating far too much lovely farm food cooked by Gran), I'm now back in Blenheim for one night, and one night only, before heading down to our bach in the Marlborough Sounds until Friday.

I could get used to this gallivanting around.

Ashburton was fab - I LOVE the farm, it's one of my favourite places, and it was so nice to spend time with my grandparents when I didn't expect to see them for another year or more. I also got to talk weddings a bit. sigh. Now off to another one of my favourite places ever - all this relaxing is making my visa worries disappear (nearly).

Best best wishes to wonderful Helena who is now off on her big OE - currently in Bangkok, I believe.

Just a thought - would it not be prudent of the Canterbury District Health Board to not spend $7,000 on a farewell party when hospitals in the area are understaffed and patients are on waiting lists? Could Gordon Davies have perhaps spent some of his $450,000 pay packet on a party for himself? Some cheese and pineapple toothpicks? a plate of sausage rolls? a tray of fairy bread?

** an adendum to this post - perhaps, instead of spending X amount on a wedding, we could donate said sum to the people of Canterbury to try and increase staff numbers and reduce waiting lists. Just touche'd myself really.

Best Place My Arse

New Plymouth is not the best place in the world to live.

It's just not.

Lo and behold

I have something to say about the wedding again already (my new nonchalant attitude lasting all of two days).

Today I was in town for the Armistice Day service, and took the opportunity to check out a couple of churches nearby. I walked into the Nativity Church and instantly felt that that was the one (for me anyway - will have to check all this with Dave obviously). It is light and airy and happy-feeling. Also, although it isn't technically my family church, I have attended far more concerts, events, and services there - be they incredibly happy or incredibly sad - than anywhere else, and I feel more of a connection to it.

I haven't checked out the beloved Convent yet, and I still will (don't panic pro-conventees!), but I just have a feeling that the Nativity Church is right. It could also have helped that it is a sunshiny day here today and I am feeling quite positive generally.

As I said - today is Armistice Day. Remember those who fought and died, or fought and lived, on both sides of the line. Whether you agree with the fighting of past or present wars or not - the fact remains that if we remember and reflect, perhaps we can stop history repeating itself.

Lest we forget.

Not only...

am I now back from holiday, but I am also back in New Zealand! Surprise! it was all a bit hush hush so as to be a surprise for my sister, but here I am back in NZ hopefully not for too long. It's a visa issue I have... trying to convince British Immigration that Dave and I are a real couple (wish me luck; it's been a nightmare thus far) so that I can come back to the UK and carry on working. All a bit tiresome, not to mention expensive, but there are a couple of silver linings; meeting my gorgeous nephew, catching up with family and friends, including my grandparents, and enjoying the weather. Also, my sister and I can go scouting prospective wedding venues (I have been warned by no less than 3 independent sources that the Convent is perhaps not as large as I have been informed, so I need to go see for myself).

It's nice being home and all, everything is familiar and cosy and whatnot, but it's a bit odd too; being away from Dave (possibly for 6 months if I don't get my way with the Authorities) and in a sort of suburban limbo.

But I need to stop complaining and start enjoying it. The application has been sent and there's not a lot I can do about it now.

One of the Best things about being home is that I was able to vote in person in our national election! Voting Day is one of my favourite days in the year (every three years, I mean) and I love getting all dressed up to Make a Difference. Unfortunately (in my opinion) the wrong party won. I am a little bitter, and it will take a while for me to get over it, but things could be worse I guess. I have 10,000 words worth of rant, but I won't get into it.

In brighter news - Yay Obama!!! that was something of a highlight. In my opinion, it changes everything, and, as a humble quasi-political scientist, I did get chills thinking of all those people in America who are now feeling socially engaged because they personally effected change. Wicked.

Apart from being excited about venue perusal, I have to say I am a little wedding'd out. Maybe it's because it's 2 whole years away. Maybe it's because I have, over the last 2 months, gorged myself at the trough of Wedding Ideas. Probably it's a mixture of both. But in any case, I am not Feeling It right now. I expect that it will return though. So, although I will continue to read my favourite wedding blogs, this blog may drift a little. Not sure in what direction yet, but I'll figure something out. And undoubtedly I will become enthralled by centrepieces again in due course!

just a lazy back from holiday post

I've just had the nicest holiday away with my mum and dad. We met up with them down in London, as our band was playing in a contest at the Royal Albert Hall (we came 5th! oh yeah!), and then we headed down to beautiful Bath for a week. We were staying in a gorgeous wee cottage and I got some much needed relaxation in. Then Dave came down to meet us and we headed over to the Loire Valley, south of Paris for 4 days. We drank lots of wine, ate lots of cheese, and generally pottered around tiny villages all week. Bliss!! A perfect two weeks away was nicely rounded off with a gig with the band at the Louvre. A bit surreal, but very cool. We were doing our Acid Brass stuff (remixes of old Acid classics... a bit hard to explain, but it's good fun and goes off at the festivals) and got a good crowd in. It was awesome catching up with mum and dad too.

So now I'm just feeling a bit sleepy and worn out (worn out from relaxing? seems so) so today's post is a lazy one.

Check out this dress. Got $12m?? Feel like blowing it all on a dress? It's pretty sparkly I guess, but I'm not so into the lace-up side bits.

I'll get back on track with something a bit more interesting soon... promise.

Something I don't get about weddings

The rehearsal dinner. I honestly don't get it - I understand the bridal party meeting at the ceremony venue a day prior to the Day to run through how it's all going to happen. I understand wanting to catch up with out of town guests, because the reception itself is likely to be pretty busy and full on, but a dinner? to practice eating and engaging in polite conversation? I hope by now I have those skills covered. And if you give a speech at the rehearsal dinner, what is then said at the reception?

But The Knot (I know, I know) has taught me that not only is it Absolutely Necessary to have a rehearsal dinner, but it is also vital that a brand new dress is bought for said occasion.

Hmmmm this is coming out a wee bit snarky - it's not intended to be! maybe it's just different cultures and traditions; it seems as though the rehearsal dinner thang is more an American tradition - is that true? how about in the UK? in NZ? I guess also the style of wedding might impact upon other expectations too...

Personally, I would rather spend the night before the wedding chilling with my girls and my mum, having a couple of wines and watching The Sweetest Thing (ok, I stole that directly from my sister's wedding eve - but it was lovely!).

While I'm questioning it all... is there a difference between a bachelorette party, a hens night and a bridal shower? And a bridesmaids luncheon?

Goodness gracious me.

However. If we were to have a rehearsal dinner, and I was to buy a dress for it, I would HAVE to buy this:

an apology

very sorry to anyone who has been checking to see if I've written anything since last Wednesday. Unfortunately, Talk Talk (= worst internet provider in the UK) has let me down and the internet has been on the blink for a few days. I have called the Indian sub-continent a couple of times, but their databases are down also, so no help there.

After a trip to the library to write a couple of necessary emails, I've managed to restart the computer and the internet appears to be working again. However, it did that on Friday for all of 10 minutes and then crashed again, so I'm not holding my breath. Why didn't I do a course in computers? a B.A. can't fix the internet.

All going well I'll get some posting in this week - but from Friday I am off to London to perform with the Fairey Band at the Royal Albert Hall. Then, following a fun London day with Mel, I am on holiday with my mum and dad (yay! they just arrived in London yesterday!) in Bath for a week and then in the Loire Valley in France for a second week. The holiday finishes up with Dave and I performing, again with the Fairey Band, this time at the Louvre - woopee!!!!

A big thanks to everyone who has been reading and commenting! I know Paper Ballerinas hasn't achieved world domination just yet, but it's been lots of fun nevertheless!

Hair pieces

When I've tried on wedding dresses, I've loved it when the bridal store assistant has popped a veil on my head. It makes it all seem that much more bridal. But then, the other day, I tried on a stunning taffeta gown that had a silk flower at the waist. Instead of a veil, a clutch of silk flowers were clipped into my hair.

I was sold - veil schmael; I'm totally going with flowers.

Twigs and Honey is currently taking Etsy and the blogging world by storm, and Myra's creations have become so popular that apart from the first 30 orders received today, orders are closed for the time being! I tried valiantly to win a hair piece for myself, but no such luck.

But fear not, there are some other stunning hair piece options lurking on the web.

Mikiye Creations have many many hair pieces that I would be more than happy to wear (and are still taking custom orders!). These two are my favourites from her collection

This one is called Camellia. So romantic.

And this whimsical wee love is called Holly Golightly.

And this pair of peonies from Butterfly Enchantress

There are a ton of other options just on Etsy alone - with jewels, feathers, headbands, fascinator veils; all sorts!