Dearest ESB,
I never thought I would get married - it was never important for me. Then I met X. He wanted to get married so I wanted to get married. He loves the idea I wasn't losing anything as I didn't think marriage was important but he was missing out - not that he would ever have said anything) - so many years later we are getting married!
We have planned two (TWO!) weddings. Down to a T. Both have had to be cancelled due to various things (family). So I have planned a secret wedding. For him. One that will actually happen. Just the two of us. Seriously - our photographers are acting as witnesses. X hates summer - so we are getting married half way across the world. In Scotland. Outside. In winter (Feb '12). We are talking 5 degrees celsius. On a good day. That's about 40F. I have ordered him a suit, organized venue, celebrant, photographers, flowers and everything else. Rings are done. Blah blah blah. Sorted.
The thing is after planning two weddings, and now a third I am tired and bride'd out. Plus it is going to be cold and outside and hopefully snowing - I just don't know what the f*** to wear (except for two pairs of black opaque stockings and a pair of hunter wellies).
I am tall and broad and daring (and about a size 8-10, size 11 feet, and have a sweet rack). I just want to be a total fox.
*****
This Vanessa Bruno would really show off that sweet rack.
But I dunno about the wellies. Aren't wellies with a wedding dress sorta 2010?
Yes: wellies with a wedding dress are 2010. You can take a couple of pictures with them if you really must (esp if it's nasty outside) but don't over-wear them (and certainly NOT when you are actually getting married).
ReplyDeleteI like the Vanessa Bruno but it looks a bit filmy for winter? What about sparkles (since we be lovin' on glitter over here at ESB lately)?
ReplyDeleteESB hates JCrew but it's my favorite store (sorry, love). I think this would be awesome at a Scottish winter wedding but doesn't sound like it'd be that figure flattering.
What about this one?
I just have this image of a very slinky/glam sort of mansiony wedding...What's the venue like?
agreed on the wellies.
ReplyDeleteand 3 cheers for sweet racks !!
All that cold stuff and just the two of you loveliness combined with the fact that I'm an insane knitter makes me want you to wear a sweater dress.
ReplyDeleteUgh, now I want that second one...
I'm less concerned about your dress and more thinking that you need some bomb outwear for this weather, like an awesome poncho or something.
ReplyDeleteI'll cast another vote against wedding wellies. I'm actually doing the outdoor winter elopement thing, too (in one week...!!), and I totally feel you--finding weather- and wedding-appropriate shoes is tough. I've ultimately decided to bring two pairs:
ReplyDelete1. A pair of Fryes for the snow. They're leather and not the warmest option, but they don't look like shit with my dress (which is short). I've waterproofed the hell out of them and am crossing my fingers....
2. A pair of heels. Because even if you go for boots at the ceremony, do you really want to wear those while having a celebratory drink at the corner pub afterwards?
Oh, and I like the Vanessa Bruno. It might be a little thin, but isn't that what coats are for?
ReplyDeleteI'm stealing this from little winter bride, but this Givenchyis my favourite thing ever (and it's on sale!)
ReplyDeleteYou need a really beautiful coat. Get a nice dress to wear under sure, (love the Vanessa Bruno) but spend the bulk of your budget on a gorgeous coat. And you'll actually wear it again.
ReplyDeleteWhite Coats at Net a Porter
Or I love this dress: it's wool, it has sleeves and your rack will looking amazing
ROKSANDA ILINCIC
I'm with Shayna - you need an awesome wool coat - like a red belted trench or something. e.g. this one or this one
ReplyDeleteI was also a very-cold-weather-bride: we were married in December, it was -20oC and we had photos outside in the snow. Solution? Short dress, vintage cropped fur coat and knee-high moccasin boots. And then something warm at the restaurant right afterwards! We were so happy, I honestly didn't even feel the cold.
This is Scotland we're talking about. Wellies aren't 'in or out', they're a bloody necessity for being outside. Switch to some fancy footwear once you're near a roaring fire with a whisky in hand.
ReplyDeleteThat dress is incredible.
Wow, you are a brave lady - I live in Glasgow (trust me, not the coldest part of Scotland by any means) and I wouldn't get married outside in February. I totally agree with the blah wellies comment - plus the weather in February tends to be very, very cold and crisp and not that rainy. You're most likely to need something you can walk in on ice... it will be very, very cold, most likely much lower than 5c. We're struggling to get above 2 or 3 just now and Feb is much colder. I'm totally with Another Kate - get an amazing fur, vintage or faux, and sling it over that amazing dress and get some amazing boots that will keep your toes warm. Just not wellies please...
ReplyDeleteI am cold just *imagining* this wedding! But it sounds beautiful and romantic.
ReplyDeleteOther options...there's this and this, though perhaps too "safe"?
This is INSANELY daring but insanely expensive... still, I *had* to share!
I am also on the no-wellies-bandwagon and would push for some sturdy black leather boots, and I kinda wanna see you in a tartan coat!
If you opt for a long gown, you could get away with legwarmers underneath, just a thought. Good luck!
@nicole those legwarmers are NOT GOOD. do you need a time out??
ReplyDeleteI would wear the hell out of some Vivienne Westwood if i were you - maybe this dress or this awesome bomber jacket with ESB's dress. Don't listen to the haters, i think Hunters with a short dress would look awesome (and I actually live in Scotland so I know how cold it can get!)
ReplyDeleteWE ARE TRYING TO SHOW OFF THE *RACK,* PEOPLE.
ReplyDeleteNAILED IT on that dress, @esb. I second @Cici's coat suggestion! Not the tartan, though. Getting married in Scotland is not equal to having a wedding full of Scottish stereotypes. So no on the wellies too. Unless you have a sheep as your witness. Then go all out.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that dress is great (almost as great as the new favicon!) @Alyssa is dead on; if you do have sheep as witnesses and thus go all out, you MUST send in pics.
ReplyDeleteWow, you're amazing. A secret wedding (you even bought him a surprise suit?!?!!) just for him. He's a lucky guy.
ReplyDeleteI say go for some leather boots lined with thinsulate or something warm (not shearling). I have a pair of Merrells that get a lot of compliments, but I'm not sure that they would work with the dress ESB has suggested.
Also? From a Minnesotan who knows about cold weather, I suggest wearing knit silk long underwear. It's wonderful, light, really warm, and feels lovely.
besides
ReplyDeletewellington boots are fucking cold when its cold
the rubber provides no insulation
esb's dress suggestion is perfection. i'm already married but tempted to buy it too...
ReplyDeleteThat is a great dress, but I don't see how it's going to show off her sweet rack. That requires a dress with a waist. All that loose fabric in the torso is rack-hiding.
ReplyDeleteyes, if you have boobs the torso must be fitted or you just look fat
ReplyDeleteI like this wool dress for a cold secret Scottish wedding. Warm, fierce, will show off rack.
ReplyDeleteWear Sorels with it.
@FineP you have got to be fucking kidding me
ReplyDeleteThat dress IS awesome. I agree that you should put your money in a really great coat that will make you feel hot and not freeze your boobs off. I mean, come on, there's showing off the rack and then there's showing off your nipples because it's so damn cold out, which is maybe not what you want photographed to show future generations (and you really aren't going to want your teeth chattering when you say "I do"). Also, Wellies were super trendy and are now tired but I think it looks more dated to have a bride in freaking peep toe pumps in the middle of a snow covered field. That would render almost any good heel useless, so I wouldn't spend top dollar on shoes for that. Where your boots for the trek to the ceremony and the wedding itself it that's what you want and do what others suggest and buy some heels for celebrating afterwards that you can wear again.
ReplyDeleteWear the dress + tights + leather boots with some kind of thick sock inside. I would opt for an awesome coat as well, but I realize that covers up the dress. Depending on your cold tolerance, keep the ceremony SHORT! Then retire to a pub where the boots + socks can be replaced with hot shoes.
ReplyDeleteIt's probably because I'm a big ole nerd, but secret wedding in Scotland totally says Macbeth Witchy Vibe to me. Something like this Cynthia Vincent with a shaggy sheepskin/fur stole, armloads of bracelets, flowy hair and some sexy black boots. Don't blame me, ESB started the whole fucking caftan thing!
ReplyDelete@helevent NOW WE'RE TALKIN
ReplyDeleteOh lord. I live in Scotland. You are a braavvve lady. February is frequently our worst month weather-wise, mostly because it tends to be very unpredictable and and changeable.
ReplyDeleteTherefore, I would suggest you gather a small collection of items that are interchangeable and complementary. For example, a pretty shawl, a warmish wrap or cardi and a full blown winter coat; a pair of fancypants wedding shoes (heels or flats, whatevs), a pair of practical shoes and a pair wellies in case it decides to rain on your ass. Which, I have to point out, it frequently does. Every visitor to Scotland I have met ALWAYS expresses disbelief at the amount of rain we get. Despite the fact that 'they knew Scotland was wet'. It's more than wet, it's dreich, it's dour, it's soaking. I'm surprised we're not all prunes.
BUT Scotland is also stunningly beautiful. I've lived here all my life and it still manages to take my breath away. Hopefully mother nature will bless you with a beautiful day -but pack the wellies just in case.
please make sure you have an amazingly warm tartan throw/oversized scarf with you... for example madewell has one designed by alexa chung...
ReplyDeleteif wellies are *you*, do wellies. it's not your fault it got trendy
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I like Josie's suggestion best. I mean, she actually lives in Scotland. Where are Cara and Kirsty??
ReplyDeleteI live in Scotland too as well also. Looking through the photographic archives, it's not really *that* bad around that time of year. Snow is only a maybe most parts, more likely in the highlands. I did an engagement session in february this year in Aberdeen and the bride was fine in a cardi and the light was beautiful. That said, a decent warm wool coat and a scarf, plus a brolly in case of rain is a good plan. I like the Vivienne Westwood suggestion, the cut is awwwwwwwesome. Wearing your hair at least half up to keep it out of your eyes is probably a good idea too.
ReplyDeleteFootwear depends.... I mean if you're doing the whole clifftop/field thing you'll have to have boots of some description. How about these lace-up boots?
Afterthoughts:
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure they don't go with the dress and they're pricey but for sexy sensible boots that aren't wellies I love these:
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/66061?feat=506708-GN2
Also a big tip would to be check out the outfits that brides wear on Scottish wedding photography websites e.g.lillianandleonard.com
That could help you get an idea of suitable clothing.
It's hard to give proper in depth advice without you saying where-abouts the wedding is taking place - it's going to be pretty different in a big city as compared to the highlands. But if you want an example of how the weather here can be at it's worst, google 'hurricane bawbag', which we are currently experiencing. I'll let you work out that colloquialism by yourselves.