I got engaged in Monte -Carlo after a week long visit along the French Rivera.  We stayed at The Hotel de Paris and he proposed at the restaurant Le Louis XV-Alain Ducasse

Hotel de Paris

Le Louis XV-Alain Ducasse

We decided to get married in Scotland because most of my family lives in the U.K. and he has never been (not sure that a wedding is the best time to explore a new county, but that’s my man).  Luckily for us I’ve been to Scotland numerous times and my family has been super helpful with the organization so far.  We chose a small castle just outside of Aberdeen which we have taken over for two days.

The Dress

For most people this is the hardest part.  For me it was the easiest.  I went to two places to try on dresses the first being White in Toronto.  I absolutely loved it there!  They have such an amazing array of dresses from some of the best designers in the wedding dress game.  I instantly fell for an Oscar de la Renta dress but couldn’t get my head (or my wallet) around the $10,000.00 price tag.  I was equally smitten with a more affordable Jenny Packham dress but it seemed like my wedding was so far off (I went almost immediately after we de-planed from France) that I wanted to give it more time.

White. image from toronto.com

On a last minute trip to New York for Kiki’s birthday my ladies surprised me with an afternoon at Kleinfeld.  Up to that point of my life I had yet to see an episode of TLC’s ‘Say Yes To The Dress’, but the girls had and they were convinced that this was THE spot.  And they were right!!!

We were welcomed when we walked into the romantically lit waiting area full of ‘brides to be’ anticipating their 3pm appointments.  A few minutes later we were greeted by Erika our brilliant bridal expert.   She brought us into what can only be described as The Grand Salon.  The girls and I were advised to look around and as if on que, they all started crying – I love my friends.  The Grand Salon is a large bright room with dresses organized in sections around the perimeter and various seating areas surrounding mirrors and podiums.

my besties in the waiting area

After Erika let us play for a while -loosing ourselves in the miles of organza, silk and tule- she asked me a few specific questions about my taste, my wedding (location, date) and ultimately my style.  I showed her a few that had initially caught my eye and she then disappeared for a second time only to return to guide us to my fitting room.  The room was small – well small for 5 people and some massive dresses – but since I’m not shy, especially around my besties we got to trying on the dresses that I had picked along with a few that she had gathered.

me in a 'no' that's falling off. lol

Let me interrupt here to say Erika was like a friggin Wedding Dress Whisperer.  The dresses she picked out were absolutely beyond perfect.  After trying on two, I -and my handy wedding dress trustees- were sure I had my dress.  Once we all agreed ‘it was the one’ we were ushered out to The Grand Salon (lol, love calling it that) and Erika led me atop the podium in front of the 3-way mirror where I could see my dress from every angle.  This was the most interesting part about the whole thing.  We realized later that you can’t just wear any dress out into the main room and onto the podium, it pretty much has to be ‘the one’.  Once out there you’re exposed to all of the other brides-to-be and all of their entourages.  It kind of feels like your at an involuntary fashion show or beauty contest where strangers are judging you on your appearance and dress choice.  Luckily for me, we picked one that the room approved of which meant that we were met with a warm reception – so warm and approving that I literally got the dress whipped off my back for another bride to try on…

Erika AKA The Dress Whisperer

saying 'YES' to the dress!

The dress I chose (unbeknownst to me) was actually a creation from the designer who was having his trunk show that day.  Bonus!  I got 13% off the dress and they threw in my alterations for free! Woop!  I also got to meet the designer -Lazaro- who was the sweetest man.  He did a sketch of the dress for me and signed it.

Love him!

me and lazarro and a dress that doesn't fit yet... lol

Just as we were about to leave a bride down the hall had a strange request.  She was a 5’1 blonde and for some reason she wanted me to try on her perspective dress so that she could see someone else in it…. Why she chose me, a 5’8 brown skinned brunette, is where it gets strange.  Nonetheless, I obliged 1. because I was having a blast trying the dresses on and 2. I had seen her in the ‘Salon’ trying the dress on and it was the only other dress that I was crazy for.  I put it on and trucked back out to the podium and for a second and a half I was double guessing my decision.  But I took a deep breath, dug down for some conviction and declared for the last time that nothing was going to make me waver, I have chosen my dress!  (nothing to do with the fact that it was $12,000.00… AHEM.. )

The experience overall at Kleifelds was amazing.  The staff are delightful and their selection is beyond.  After watching the show I discovered that they have a full basement of thousands of dresses.  How Erika was able to mull through them all and find a winner in 2.2 seconds is still blowing my mind.  Just goes to show how good you have to be to work there!

Thanks Erika for being the best ever in life!

Lots of love to my ladies for surprising me with an appointment at Keinfelds and being there with me for that awesome day!

xoxo,

coco

p.s. that was kind of fun.  maybe I will do some more posts on wedding stuff…

My bestie Mimi played this song for me yesterday and asked if it made me emotional and it totally did!  It brought back all of these random memories that have absolutely nothing to do with the actual meaning or words of the song.  On Mimi’s suggestion I read the lyrics and was so surprised!  When I was young I knew I liked this song because of the way it sounded but now I have a whole new feeling for it.  I love discovering songs again!  Thanks Mims!!

A friend of mine she cries at night, and she
Calls me on the phone
Sees babies everywhere she goes and she
Wants one of her own.
Shes waited long enough she says
And still she cant decide
Pretty soon shell have to choose and it tears her up inside…
Shes scared…scared shell run out of time.

I see my folks, theyre getting old, I watch their bodies change…
I know they see the same in me, and it makes us both feel strange…
No matter how you tell yourself, its what we all go through…
Those eyes are pretty hard to take when theyre staring back at you.
Scared youll run out of time.

When did the choices get so hard? 
With so much more at stake.
Life gets mighty precious when theres less of it to waste.
Hummmm…scared shell run out of time.

Just when I thought Id had enough
All my tears were shed…
No promise left unbroken,
There were no painful words unsaid.
You came along and showed me
How to leave it all behind….
You opened up my heart again and then much to my surprise.

I found love, love in the nick of time

xoxo,

coco

Mimi AKA Janis

Me AKA Joni

Love you Mimi!

See you on the dock!  Don’t forget your headbands and guitar…

xoxo,

coco

Last time we were all in Miami we had the time of our lives!!! We experienced everything South Beach had to offer, from the hottest clubs to the dirtiest dives, from Prime One Twelve, to gangster shawarma shacks.  

@ Mansion

Lowe's fave.. Cigars.. :l

w Keef Richards (Keef, not Keith)

mellow yellow @ the conrad

mimi on the drums @ rok bar

leisurely stroll on Lincoln

ahhhhhh

Dearest Miami,

We miss you!  See you in two weeks!

xoxo,

coco & lowe

p.s. anywhere you’ve been in Miami lately that we shouldn’t miss?

Mimi is one of my best friends in the whole wide world!  We have been through so much together.  We’ve had our hearts broken together, worked 3 jobs together, went to elementary, secondary and post secondary school together, fallen for John Mayer together, traveled together, basically we’ve done everything together!!  Mimi is beautiful, strong, sweet and most importantly, she is by far the funniest person I know.  I love you Mimi and can’t wait to see what the next 30 years have in store for us!

oh how i love thee!

Mimi and Kiki adopted (bought) a son called Sir Elliot Pedro yesterday and have officially named me Godmother!  I am soooo excited because he is the cutest thing EVER!  and he loooooves to snuggle just like me! 

he's jus lil!

aww!

Here are some pics

kiki and lowe

kiki and me

coco & lowe

the view from gen pop!

me say mikey

trexxx gettin the party started

vodka fairy!

Jason and Kiki

lyds! ZANG!

Jason rockin some Stephen Sprouse + Louis V! Fresh outta the box!

Louis Vuitton + Stephen Sprouse runners

xoxo,

CoCo