I was trying to find the thread that we were emailing back and forth on (this one) and I came across an alarming thread – is the Wake Robin for sale???? I had a minor heart attack and thought about googling for wedding insurance. What are the odds it will sell prior to our wedding dates. Ugh, I don’t even want to think about it. *shudder*

Some updates on my end – I found The Dress (which I thought was a myth). I’m more of a jeans girl myself, and in the office I wear a pants suit, but the dress I got is great, you don’t need help putting it on (a total plus) and (the best part) it didn’t break the bank! Also I got it from a local Brooklyn shop so we’re supporting the ‘hood.

We’ll be up to the Wake Robin for our tasting I think maybe in May and then I’m going to scout for flowers…have you done your tasting yet?

- Melissa

The $350 dress was an accident. I went into Boston to get an idea of what kind of dresses I liked and what looked good on me. I meant to buy one online. But they were having a sale on their floor samples. My favorite dress just happened to fit perfectly (I brought it home that day) and be on sale. It’s a Mori Lee, which are on the cheaper side (I think regularly it was around $500).

We live in Brooklyn and work in Manhattan, but Reed’s originally from Ridgefield, CT. I’m from Michigan (we met at Michigan Law School and Reed’s my reason for moving out east), so I don’t know the area at all, but we’re both sort of nature-types, so we get out of the city as much as possible.

Reed’s not a huge cake fan and so we’re avoiding cake altogether and the WR is doing pie for us – sort of in a fall theme. My mother is scandalized, but my friends think it’s cool.

Since we’re not going anywhere, I think a horse and buggy might not be necessary for us (which is too bad, really). Can I ask though, where did you find a dress for $350 – that’s totally within my budget, and not that scary budget the wedding stores set for you (I mean, $1000, really?), but a realistic, normal person budget. No one told me that buying a wedding dress is an extreme sport. I’m almost ready to buy the next one I see just so I don’t have to go out again!

We were going to use an ipod for music to save money, but we haven’t looked into DJs yet so I don’t know how budget-friendly they are.

I’d be happy to keep you updated on who we’re using and I’ll send you the link to our website as soon as we get it up. If it’s okay with you, I’ll be sure and mention your name if I go with Colleen to do makeup, etc. She sounds like a find.

As for local vendors, we’re just getting to that. James wanted to use Millerton Market for the cake, but with the $1.50 per slice plating fee the Wake Robin charges, we nixed that.

We’re hoping to use Country Gardeners in Millerton for flowers, but haven’t sat down with them yet.

We’re using Loon Meadow Farm in Norfolk for a horse and carriage, if you’re into that sort of thing (this is my one crazy splurge–hey, I only paid $350 for my dress, I can have a horse and carriage).

There are no local DJs. We’re going with Music in Motion based in Seymour, Ct.

As for hair and make-up, I’ve been living in this area for six and a half years and I still don’t have a hair dresser. James wants me to use a friend of his hair dresser. She has salon space at 81 Main Street in Sharon, but I can’t remember her name. I’ll give her a shot.

For make up I’ll use Colleen Kopec of Skintastic in Lakeville. I started going to her for waxes a few years ago and I just love her. She does all kinds of great stuff, facials, spray on tannning, manicures, all that good stuff.

I’d be interested to know who you end up using.