THE {other} dress: update

well, folks, we found it.  THE bridesmaids' dress.  after 2 months of searching and approximately 3 trillion e-mails, we have a winner!

via

it meets all of my requirements {blue, not strapless, less than $200}. i LOVE its simplicity.  i never worry about the customer service at nordstrom, and i know it's easy for my girls to purchase.  done and done.  several of the girls' dresses have already arrived and one of my girls has promised to bring the dress with her when she's home for easter so we can have a little bridesmaid fashion show.

as for shoes and accessories, i'm largely leaving that up to each maid.  for shoes, i told everyone gold, strappy heels of some sort.  i figure a lot of people already have something that meets that description from college formals, and for those who don't, you can easily find a pair in any price range.  i'm not really dictating anything for jewelry.  since i really wanted everyone in the same dress, i think having everyone express her own personal style through jewelry and shoes {within reason} will be fun.

i can't tell you what a relief it is to cross this off of my little to-do list.  right now, the last big hurdle to cross is booking a florist and i have meetings set up here in a few weeks, so hopefully that will be taken care of before too long.  we are less than 7 months away, people!