DIY: Belt (Semi-Fail)

Since the beginning of planning this wedding, I have had an image in my mind of how I would look on my wedding day.  Little did I know that it would cause so much drama between my mother, sister, and myself.

Throughout all my planning, I have been adamant about not wearing a veil, and instead, having two flowers in my hair.  I knew that I didn't want the flowers to be real, because I didn't want to risk them wilting before the night was through, so I was going to make some.

A long time ago, around the time I purchased my dress, I bought some white organza fabric to match the fabric that my dress was made of.  I received it in the mail, thought it was perfect, and stuck it away with the rest of the wedding crafts.  After all, starting DIY projects in February isn't necessary, right? (WRONG! I wish I could go back and get so many more projects done that ended up not being used. Future brides - get a head start on your DIYs. You will NOT be sorry for the extra time!)

Four days before my final fitting, I remembered that my seamstress told me to come to my next appointment with all of my accessories. And, as you know, I didn't have the hair flower or the belt made.  My mom and I spent the three nights prior to my final fitting playing with different fabrics to make the hair flower, as you may have read here.  Well, we did end up making the flower smaller, and used only one, and it looked great.

As for the belt, well that was a little trickier.  After not having much made during the last fitting, we played around for longer than we should have trying to figure out the belt situation.  My mom and my sister don't like the dress with a belt, but that's the only way I have pictured myself on my wedding day. So, even though it was causing unnecessary drama, I was going to go with the belt.

Problem was, we didn't have the belt made. And this was a problem up until about 10 minutes before we left the hotel room the afternoon of the wedding!  When we went to pick up my dress, I didn't try it on. It had already been pressed, and stuffed neatly into the garment bag, so trying it on wasn't really an option.  I had no doubts in my seamstress that the dress would fit (despite the extra pounds I put on in the few months leading up to the wedding - stupid house drama).  I was just hoping to try the dress on so that we found finalize the belt!

Since that wasn't happening, the finalization of the belt was going to have to wait until moments after putting on the dress on my wedding day.

But! To see how that came out, you will have to wait for the recaps, because there are some great professional pictures of my mom making last minute changes to the belt.

Bridal Accessories

I'm really struggling with what to do about accessories, guys.  Do I wear a necklace, earrings, bracelet, right-hand ring, a belt, and a flower in my hair?  Do I eliminate the necklace? Do I forgo the right-hand ring? HELP PLEASE!!!!!

Here's a little information to help you help me decide :)

For my 18th (I stand corrected - it was my 21st) birthday, my sister got me a gorgeous pair of diamond drop earrings. I only break them out for really special occasions, since they're too fancy for everyday wear. Unfortunately, I can count how many times I've worn them on one hand.

So, to get that number over the one-hand-count, I've decided to wear them for the wedding.  They are beautiful, and even though she will be standing next to me as my MOH, I cannot imagine not having some part of my sister with me that day.

Diamond Drop Earrings / Personal Picture

Diamond Drop Earrings / Personal Picture

Diamond Drop Earrings / Personal Picture

Next, I will be wearing a flower in my hair, which is being made by my mother. I will also we wearing a belt around my natural waist, so there will be some embellishment there as well.

I do not plan on wearing my engagement ring on my right hand during the ceremony, and will instead remove it for the putting-on-of-the-wedding-band part of the ceremony, and then put it right back on after.  That being said, I will be wearing a ring on my right hand.  My everyday right-hand ring is a simple sterling silver hammered metal band:

Sterling Silver Hammered Metal Band 

(No idea why it looks like yellow gold. It's definitely not. I HATE yellow gold.) / Personal Picture

I'm not sure if I should go with that, since it is really who I am, or if I should do something a little more ornate, like these, which I bought off of Amazon, and would be worn stacked:

 Sterling Silver Sapphire CZ Eternity Ring / Image from Amex Jewelry, Amazon

Sterling Silver Clear CZ Eternity Ring / Image from Amex Jewelry, Amazon

Or this, which I bought off of HauteLook:

Sterling Silver Sapphire CZ with Clear CZ Half Moons / Image via Dillards 

I also have been thinking about wearing something on my wrist, but I am unsure of what style to go with.  I was thinking something along the lines of this:

Blue Nile Bezel Set Diamond Bracelet / Screen Shot from Blue Nile

Or...

Blue Nile Diamond Tennis Bracelet / Screen Shot from Blue Nile

But! Since the beginning of planning our wedding, I have been obsessed with this bracelet:

Alexandra Hart Leaf Cuff Bracelet / Image from Alexandra Hart

This bracelet is gorgeous, and fits our theme perfectly. I mean, seriously. It could not be more perfect...unless it was half the price.  And, yes, I know that the Blue Nile pieces above are so much more expensive, however, I wouldn't be buying real diamonds. Only using those pictures for style references. I'm not made of money, unfortunately.  

Lastly, I have the dilemma of choosing to wear a necklace. While you don't know the neckline of my dress, because I haven't told you what dress I have chosen, please offer me some advice as to wearing a necklace.  

Should I go with a necklace? Should I splurge and buy that bracelet?? Which ring(s) should I wear???

Please help! I need help!!!