Way back in the day, I was having some issues deciding on shoes. Because I am oh-so-indecisive. I just couldn’t get my ish together. Same old, same old. Well, really, I just couldn’t stop thinking about these lovelies.

{Kate Spade}

Hello there, beautiful.

They were expensive, but I just could not stop thinking about the bows! And the sparkles! And the pretty slate-grey! And the square, ballerina-slipper-esque toe! Like Cinderella shoes, but cooler.

Anyway, in the happiest of coinkydinks, Kate Spade ended up having a ridoncadonc sale the weekend of my birthday, and Mr. CA, being the sweetheart that he is, decided he wanted to get me these shoes for the reception. (Because we can’t stop thinking about/talking about/ dreaming about/ breathing the wedding in these here parts.) Isn’t he sweet? Really, I think he just got sick of hearing me gush about them. Or, maybe he was tired of driving me to the Kate Spade store and having to watch me stand outside the window, gazing longingly at them inside. I mean, um, no, I didn’t ever do that. And, because the sale was so amazing, he only had to promise up our firstborn child, rather than the first two. What a deal!

Mmm, stripes.

Needless to say, I was quite excited to open them and get those babies on mah feet. Let’s be honest, they do give me a bit of toe-cleavage. But I’ve come to terms with that. My dress is long enough to cover them, really, and if anyone gets a glimpse, they will be razzle-dazzled by the bows and the sequins, and won’t notice my immodest cleavage.

Box within a box.

As per usual, I am obsessed with these shoes. The bottoms are super-smooth, and I slide around on our carpeted floor, so I’m going to need to break them in before the big day. They need a good knifing, perhaps? And let me tell you, I have been so tempted to wear these out and about, particularly since it’s getting nice and sunny. Toe-cleavage be damned – these beauties need to see the light of day! Dang it.

Oh, you want to see them?

Clearly, I love the bows.

Yes, Hive. You have now seen my lack of a badonkadonk. You’re welcome. Happy Friday.

Yummy – blurry toe-cleavage. The best kind.

Obviously, I love them, and I am way too excited to wear these shoes out onto the dance floor. I want the wedding to be here now!! They will just have to wait, I suppose (although I might be wearing them as I type this. Maybe).

Did you get an item of attire gifted to you unexpectedly? Are you planning on wearing different shoes for the ceremony and reception?

This article was originally posted onWeddingbee.

Ladies, I have finally made the plunge. My first Etsy purchase! (Can you tell I’m excited??) OK, it’s not even really a purchase yet, but I have put down a deposit on a custom order for my jewellery. After spending some weeks poring over pictures of glittery earrings, I have finally chosen (a few) items I will buy.

Hair comb:

Images above and hair comb by Lulu Splendor on Etsy

Pearl necklace with a back feature:

Images and necklace by Lulu Splendor on Etsy

Floral pearl necklace:

Images and necklace by Lulu Splendor on Etsy

Chandelier earrings:

Images and earrings by Lulu Splendor on Etsy

Small pearl drop earrings:

Images and earrings by Lulu Splendor on Etsy

Kind of a mish-mash! I really wanted big sparkly earrings, but I’m also a little hesitant that they might be too heavy for the whole wedding day, so I wanted to get something smaller as well as a safeguard. The pearl ones here match the rest of the jewellery, so after the wedding I will have some nice jewellery to mix and match when I go out in the evening. (Or to the office—whatever I want!)

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do for my hair because my sister-in-law is already loaning me her fingertip veil; so I didn’t really need to buy my own veil despite all those adorable birdcage and cathedral-length veils out there. I did think I wanted something extra to put in my hair, and while I kept looking at pretty flowers, fascinators, headbands, and sashes that could be tied into the hair, I just thought they were too much or random or weird. So many pretty things to choose from, but I just wanted something sparkly to put in my hair that would actually match my other jewellery.

Carla from Lulu Splendor is actually going to make all my jewellery together at the same time, so it will definitely all match. Nice plus! I’m so excited to work with her. I fell in love with her chandelier earrings…they look perfect—not too over the top but oh-so glam.

Originally I decided I’m NOT wearing a necklace with my dress because it’s way too sparkly and has a whole lot going on on its own. So I focused on searching for the perfect earrings. But when I was looking at Carla’s work, it was so pretty I kind of wanted it just for me (and the hubs) to enjoy later on. I’m sure Mr. Funnel Cake would love seeing me in a low-back dress with that pearl necklace dangling there…

At first I was going to get just the flower necklace, but they were both too tempting to pass up. I’m totally falling for the wedding-splurge excuse…but really, I don’t buy myself jewellery or clothing in general that often in this country, so I think it’s OK to get something nice for the big day. In fact, the first and last time I bought jewellery in Switzerland was for our civil union!

Carla has pretty bracelets as well, but I’m really not a bracelet girl. They just get in the way of doing functional things like using computers, so while it might be OK for the wedding (or annoy the crap out of me), it wouldn’t be an item I would wear a lot after the big day. I will decide if I want to wear either or neither of the necklaces when I try the dress on again in October! If it’s no to both, then I can always wear one of them to the rehearsal dinner or on the honeymoon or something.

Did you end up splurging on yourself because of the wedding? Which accessories were most important for you to nail down first? Did you surprise yourself getting something you originally thought you’d vetoed?

This article was originally posted onWeddingbee.