The Dress (pics)

I'm excited to share that I'll be getting a new computer in the next few months, which means I can finally use my super-dooper software to make an even more awesome video - including an over-hour-long one that includes the entire ceremony! I'm stoked!

In the meantime, here is some pics of the dress I wore, including the reception outfit.

A bit if description - the fabric of both outfits is 100% silk. The same silk, in fact, that Princess Diana's dress was made from. I was in awe when my seamstress said she could get it!

The beadwork is all done by hand, with high quality beads and faux pearls. The pieces involve an underskirt, the skirt, an overskirt, a corset, a bodice, and a jacket. Also the hat, which is awesome.

For the reception, I ditched the skirt(s) and wore bloomers and a skirt cage.

Of course it can't be a Steampunk wedding with some awesome details! The corset features two very stylized pocketwatches. The same design is embroidered into the front of skirt. At the bottom of the skirt, each petal has a different design, with a "K" embroidered into the very middle back petal.

Anyways, I'm sure you want the pictures, so here they are -

The Overview and Video

After a long time of waiting patiently, here it is, the video for the Royal Steampunk Wedding!

Remember, this is the short version! There is also a hour+ long video that has yet to reach the point where I can upload it. It needs some tweaking first. Though, I imagine that throughout my life, as I continue to experiment with video editing and such, I will reinvent my wedding video several times.

This short version, I like. The longer version, not so much. There is a lot of video in the longer version, and finding music for it all has been a challenge.

The Sherlock Holmes movie soundtracks (I <3 Hans Zimmer) have been of much benefit.

Which, by the way, the longer version has the entire wedding ceremony included, though you can see Travis's vows in a previous post. The audio is a lot better in the new version, however.

Also, I made this for you all, I do hope it's Steampunk "enough", haha:

In the upcoming weeks I will be making individual posts with a particular topic in mind (i.e. the dress, the cake, the bridesmaids, the groomsmen, etc...). Under those posts there will be a lot more pictures relative to that topic.

Please comment if you like!

Why no pictures, Mrs. King?

So we throw this awesome steampunk wedding in Cincinnati, OH and then refuse the share pictures? How cruel!

And how not true!

You see, I want to wait to receive the images from the photographers. It may take a couple of months, actually, since there were three of them taking pictures the entire night.

I just received the video, which I'm going to possibly being editing soon. However, this also will not be shown until the pictures are ready.

Once I get these images, I will choose several of my upmost favorites. Those will be in a post, along with the edited video.

I've chosen this process for a couple reasons:

1. While there are pictures of the wedding already that I've retrieved from Facebook, I want your first impression to be perfect. There are a few great ones via Facebook, but a professional camera still captures the magics more than a cell phone :)

2. I'm not going to show the video until you have gotten a chance to really see my dress. I only have a few images from FB that showcase my dress at all, and you will want to see details. Trust me on this one!

After the initial post, I will be updating with several posts that focus on a single topic (i.e. the dress, the flowers, the cake, etc...)

Depending on how the video turns out, I may also upload bits and pieces that were edited out of the main video.

However, in a few minutes I will be uploading a video to youtube of Travis preforming his vows. You will get a glimpse of my dress from the back. I will update with a post (probably tomorrow) describing why his vows are so special that I would bother uploading them before the "big reveal".

For now, I'm not giving a link. You'll have to search for it in a half hour or so. ;-)

EDIT: ok, make that video a "tomorrow-night" thing completely. I want to import the file as best quality as I can, and that is taking awhile. So! Bedtime for me! ^_^;

Final Cake Flavors

I'm sure the top issue on everyone's mind isn't

"I wonder what the dress will look like!"

"Is there going to be food? Is it GOOD food?"

"Do I really have to buy them a present... I mean, I don't know them that well..."

or

"Why the heck is it a cash bar? Who does a cash bar anymore? Open bar for everyone!"

REALLY the main question on your mind is -

"What are the cake flavors!!!"

Because of course, the cake at the engagement party was SO DELICIOUS!

Well, you will be happy to know that Travis and I had a consultation with our super-awesome cake lady over at Incredible Endings and have decided on several things, including cake flavors.

I can't tell you too much about how they are going to look because it involves some details in my dress, but the flavors are free to know!

So first off we have a repeat of the fantastic Raspberry Chocolate cake with White Chocolate Mousse filling! This was featured at the engagement party, but a special addition this time will be an actual layer of raspberries on the cake! I ate leftovers for a week, haha!

Next is a not-surprising choice of mine: Pumpkin. I'm a huge fan of anything with the word "Pumpkin" on it (specially desserts and Starbucks... which is also a dessert). Withheld between the layers of this cake is a Butterscotch Toffee filling. Warning to those who need it: THIS CAKE CONTAINS ALMONDS.

And is going to be fantastic!

Lastly, some guests will be presented with a more traditional White (Vanilla) flavored cake. The twist is the Caramel Liquor filling! Since it's a cash bar wedding, Travis and I wanted to give you all a little extra kick with this one!

So there you have it! A chocolate cake, spice cake, and vanilla cake - all with twists and turns! Everyone should have at least one that they enjoy!

At the reception, the cake will be served to you. The caterers will cut the cakes in the kitchen and bring them out, scattering the flavors amongst the guests.

If you are allergic to almonds or simply want a specific flavor, feel free to switch with anyone or ask for it specifically.

Feel free to try bites of the cakes surrounding you as well, so you get a little taste of all of them!

Also, if you ever have any cake needs - head over to Barb at Incredible Endings! She does amazing work, and her cakes rank among the best I've ever had! She uses an Italian Buttercream frosting which is to die for! She's a real incredible talent, and I'm glad we found her in our Cincinnati Wedding Guidebook!

Bridal Showers

Last weekend I had my first Bridal Shower with relatives from my father's side of the family. It was lovely! It was High Tea themed, so everyone was wearing fancy hats and picked out what tea they wanted.

Have I mentioned how much I love cucumber sandwiches? Travis's Grandma actually turned me onto theme, haha.

The presents were amazing, and we are grateful for every single one! We've already used the toaster, spice rack, George Forman Grill, and look forward to using the picnic basket! With this weather, I might try to steal Travis away for a trip to the park!

Also, Travis's mom bought us a wonderful 6-seating dishwear set that we look forward to using when our kitchen table gets set up! As soon as that all gets done and things calm down after the wedding (barring that I have a job at that point), I'm going to be inviting people over like crazy so I can cook!

The watering can is sitting on our bookshelf in the living room and looks great with our current decor - hopefully I'll be able to actually use it for gardening someday! The coasters will be great once the cake table becomes our coffee table!

My mother bought us a pot used for soups (and other things, which I'm looking forward to exploring, haha) and martini glasses.

All of the Gift Cards will be put to good use as well!

I'm really sorry if I missed anything so far, we're really super grateful for everything and will be sending everyone a thank-you!

I have another Bridal Shower later today with my girlfriends (steampunk themed), and then another one tomorrow afternoon with a lot of friends of my mother's and mine. Then in a few weeks we are having a "couples" shower with both Travis and I.

I won't deny sneeking peeks at the registries to see what items have a number under the "bought" column, haha.

We're so blessed to have so many people around to support us! It's really moving, and it just reassures us that no matter what happens, we have each other and we have a ton of people around us to keep us going. God bless, everyone!

Sappy Video of Epic Sappiness

Us saying sappy things about each other while sappy pictures of us growing up go by, while sappy music is playing. One of my proudest videos that I've created :)