Oh my god you guys. See these pictures? SEE THESE PICTURES?
This is a sisterhood of the traveling dress dress handoff. Rachel, with the short brown hair, she of the crazy joy filled dance off wedding, is passing off the dress to Jenn, who’s wearing it next. AND team practical member Sarah joined up with them for drinks AND Rachel and Jenn are taking a road trip to Philly to meet Liz…. who’s giving Jenn her chair covers, to cover up ugly venue chairs.
And if that’s not enough… when Rachel took her dress into be cleaned, the cleaner found out that she was giving it to another bride and insisted on giving the ladies 50%.
See that? How the giving makes giving and makes giving? See that thing that you guys do? So on Friday, inspired by The Sisterhood, I’ll be giving a little more info on suggested Team Practical meetups…. everywhere…. for September. Because when readers of this blog meet, friendships form. And how great is that?
Doesn’t this make you feel a little like, “You get a car! You get a car! You get a car”? Because it does me. I’m all teary right now.
It does. And my wedding is 8/29 in the NYC area, so if anyone’s getting married after that and wants stuff delivered at a meetup in Sept…. you’re welcome to it!
July 20, 2010 9:18 pm
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NYC in da hiz-ouse!! I’ll see ya there, Tanya. :)
July 20, 2010 9:41 pm
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Dudes, I’m so in for NYC! I’m not getting married until May, but I’m out of town Nov-April, so I could use all the Team Practical help I can get!
July 21, 2010 3:07 pm
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I’m very much looking forward to the NYC-area gathering! We’re getting married in September and it’d be nice to have some local practical brides to chat with. This place is…kind of bananas sometimes.
July 21, 2010 8:54 pm
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Getting married August 14th and live about 4 hours from NYC! Would love to meet up there and swap!!!!!
July 21, 2010 4:48 am
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Hey hey fellow Baltimore girl!
July 21, 2010 6:46 am
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Hello fellow Baltimore girls!
July 21, 2010 7:08 am
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Oh, my sweet hons! We’re multiplying!!! I knew there were a couple more of you around here somewhere. :)
Have you all read Wedding For Two? We should grab Ellie and hit up a happy hour of some sort.
July 21, 2010 10:38 am
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That sounds awesome!
July 21, 2010 12:05 pm
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I know I’m a bit of a lurker, but just had to speak up to say….represent, NYC :)
July 21, 2010 5:49 am
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Well Philly is certainly on the path from Bmore to NYC! Love us NE girls…
July 21, 2010 6:20 am
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NYC girl in exile (CT) here too! But I’d love to meet up :)
July 21, 2010 12:03 pm
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Oh, me too — I’m a lurk a lot, read a LOT, post not much sort of person. And I’m just across the Hudson River, and I would totally be into a NYC meet-up!
July 21, 2010 1:13 pm
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Yayyyy Team Practical!! Bring on the meetups; I love the ladies I’ve met through here, and would love to meet more. It would be extra fun if we went TP-ing together (Team Practical-ing, that is)!
July 20, 2010 9:20 pm
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There’s love all around! Are you re-grouped enough post-wedding to get together? Should we attempt another Bay Area meet-up? Oh. And Meg, I swear my dress is coming your way. Maybe tomorrow when I’m working from home?
July 20, 2010 10:12 pm
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Sort of, we’re moving in a couple weeks so things are a bit crazy, but I’ll let you know as soon as we’re settled. I’d love to have you, Rach and Christina over for dinner, bring the hubbys too!
July 21, 2010 12:03 pm
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Sounds great! lmk if you need a packing diversion (or help)
July 22, 2010 3:59 pm
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Oh yay! How freaking fantastic.
And yes, yes, yes to Team Practical meet ups! (The introverted part of me that is terrified of the fact that J. and I are moving cross country right after our wedding is super-excited at the prospect of meeting other members of Team Practical in our new city. Because I will pretty much demand that they become instant besties with me. :D)
July 20, 2010 9:27 pm
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Yay!!! Joy!! Smiling from ear to ear!
Chicago meetup?!? Yes, please!?!
July 20, 2010 9:29 pm
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YES YES YES. I’m about 2 1/2 hours down south of Chicago but that is totally worth the drive up there!
July 21, 2010 6:12 am
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I’m in Chicago! And there’s another woman downthread in Madison! Hooray.
July 21, 2010 6:44 am
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I’m in Chicago too! Well, until October…then Holland/Grand Rapids!
July 21, 2010 9:33 am
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Oooo! I’ll *be* in Chicago soon – we’re moving from DC to Chicago in a week and a half.
July 22, 2010 8:58 am
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Oh yay!! Madison is my home-away from Chicago! :)
July 22, 2010 9:45 am
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my schedule is getting crazier, but I’m up for a Chicago meet-up–I think it would be a nice dose of sanity to meet in person with some of Team Practical!
July 22, 2010 2:25 pm
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i’m in!!!
July 25, 2010 7:06 pm
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I think this might be *THE COOLEST THING* I’ve ever seen on this site. (And believe me, there was a LOT of good competition for that title.)
Oh, and meeting up with local Team Practical members in Sept.? Hooray!! :)
July 20, 2010 9:39 pm
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YEA!!!!
July 20, 2010 9:39 pm
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Hello! I love the traveling dress, paying it forward and the meet-ups ideas.
July 20, 2010 10:56 pm
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SF meet-up! SF meet-up!
July 20, 2010 11:03 pm
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YES YES YES YES SF MEET UP!
July 23, 2010 12:10 am
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Very nice wedding dress…..She is looking for very happy about her wedding…
July 20, 2010 11:06 pm
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Very nice wedding dress…..She is looking for very happy about her wedding…
July 20, 2010 11:07 pm
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I love it! And, can I be the first UK T-P-er to suggest a British meet-up? there must be some of you out there who live near me (please let there be,please let there be,please let there be)
July 20, 2010 11:30 pm
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London meet up??
July 21, 2010 1:19 am
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I would love to attend a UK meet up! only I”m all the way up in Aberdeen, Scotland.
July 21, 2010 1:51 am
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Yay! London meet up :-)
July 21, 2010 1:52 am
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I’m in London!
July 21, 2010 2:14 am
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And I’m only an hour from London….
July 21, 2010 2:21 am
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i’m in london! count me in :)
July 21, 2010 7:37 am
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Ok then, Londoners (and all those who can travel here easily enough) how shall we do this? You could all email me on silversign@hotmail.co.uk and go from there?
July 21, 2010 9:47 am
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Um, ladies? How you do it is you wait till Friday, when I announce how we’re doing it.
July 21, 2010 11:33 am
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Ha! Funniness… but it is hard to wait!!
July 21, 2010 1:30 pm
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I wasn’t planning to arrange a meeting for a different day to everyone else, just to get in contact with the other local people beforehand. My apologies.
July 22, 2010 12:43 am
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Come on Austin. There have to be other practical Texas brides around, right?
July 20, 2010 11:59 pm
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Me! Well, I’m a practical wife now….but that counts too, right?
July 21, 2010 5:27 am
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I’m an Austin wedding graduate!!
July 21, 2010 7:54 am
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Dude, if I can’t find any Dallas brides, I’m so crashing yours. Just so you know…
July 21, 2010 8:15 am
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Ooo! I’m in Dallas! But I guess we’re waiting until Friday… :)
July 21, 2010 7:57 pm
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I’m a Dallas not-bride (but hopefully someday in the near future)!! Just so we know that there’s another for a Dallas TP meetup!
July 21, 2010 9:54 pm
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Another Practical Wife in Austin … I’m a lurker, but I’m also fairly new in town and would love to meet more folks :)
July 21, 2010 11:10 pm
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This is awesome!
I’d so love to be in the states in order to meet up with all you amazing Team Practical ladies – I’m guessing ‘everywhere’ doesn’t extend to Melbourne, Australia?!
July 21, 2010 12:20 am
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Dammit, Adelaide here. Might have to organise some kind of TP Australian National Convention ;)
July 21, 2010 12:27 am
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I was going to shout out for Melbourne but thought there wouldn’t be anybody else!!! HOORAY!!! Hi, Bridget!! :D
July 21, 2010 4:30 am
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I’m in Sydney… :(
July 21, 2010 3:19 pm
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cape town?
July 21, 2010 1:57 am
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I wish! I used to live there, and LOVE Cape Town…but I live in Canada now.
July 21, 2010 1:31 pm
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wow, kinda funny to open up my reader in the morning and see the face of an old co-worker staring back at me!
so, woohoo Jenn!!
great dress :)
July 21, 2010 2:15 am
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Ha! Hi Bethany! Hope everything is great with you!
July 21, 2010 6:04 am
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I love this!!!
Anyone in Canada?? Nova Scotia??
Meg thanks so much for creating a space for this to all happen. I’ve been reading your blog for over a year now and am getting married a week from Saturday!! Your posts have helped so much, completely inspiring, and so damn encouraging that there are so many like minded ladies out there! Thank you.
July 21, 2010 4:23 am
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I am in Québec. So…Canada, but not too close.
Have an AMAZING wedding celebration!!! :)
July 21, 2010 5:18 am
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Where in Quebec? I’m in Montreal but will be moving soon…
July 21, 2010 1:32 pm
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I’m in Burlington, VT. I’m guessing you (Montreal) are probably the next closest to me.
July 22, 2010 5:30 am
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I’m in Canada, but Alberta.
A little far from Quebec OR Nova Scotia!
July 21, 2010 7:12 am
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in the interest of representing each province….winnipeg, manitoba!
July 21, 2010 5:42 pm
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haha… one person per province. we can celebrate together in spirit.
July 21, 2010 7:46 pm
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I freaking love this!!!! PractiCon 2010!!!!! International Tour!!!!
More than willing to travel along the east coast, but I’d like to suggest a meetup somewhere in the DC/Bawlmer/Phila area!!!!!
July 21, 2010 4:50 am
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I’d be in for sure!
July 21, 2010 6:22 am
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I’m newly engaged, this is perfect timing! I’ll be in Philly until the end of September. In Baltimore starting October. Would love some meetups. Thanks Meg for a wonderful site!
July 21, 2010 6:23 am
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i’m in Arlington, count me in!
July 21, 2010 6:40 am
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I’m a Baltimore girl- count me in!
July 21, 2010 6:47 am
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Oh, fun! I’m in DC, so you can count me in too :o)
July 21, 2010 7:27 am
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Of course you would come up with the awesome name, Angie. PractiCon is perfect.
Oh, lands. A national PractiCon somewhere central?
July 21, 2010 8:50 am
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I wanted to geek it up. Plus, I’ve never been to a Con of any kind and I want at least one under my belt. :)
July 21, 2010 10:39 am
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Philly!! But I’ll travel to Balitmore/DC if its on a weekend.
July 22, 2010 7:10 am
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Who here is in the Albany area/518-845 area code??? Anybody??? :)
July 21, 2010 5:11 am
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Aw, I got married there but don’t live there–we got married in Keene Valley, where my family has a house. 518, baby.
July 21, 2010 8:54 am
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All these int’ls have given me hope…Dublin anyone? (Ireland, not Ohio)
July 21, 2010 5:19 am
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OMG, YES! Meetups!! What a fabulous idea.
All this happiness brought tears to my eyes. I LOVE the Sisterhood!
July 21, 2010 5:45 am
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Wow, the love! These photos are AWESOME.
July 21, 2010 5:59 am
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Whoa, I feel like we just started a revolution…
The meet-up was awesome! I got loads of advice from two very smart cookies, an excuse to have a couple of beers on a sunny Saturday afternoon (as if one needs an excuse) and I am feeling so great about the whole thing.
APW is the greatest. thing. ever.
July 21, 2010 6:03 am
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ahhhh I know!! can’t wait to hear what Meg has up her sleeve for Friday..
July 21, 2010 6:35 am
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I had such a good time with you two! And I LOVE that it’s sparked other meet ups!
Jenn … remember to email me about the steamer and such!
July 21, 2010 7:07 am
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Aaah, this is so wonderful! My wedding isn’t until October, but a September meet up might be just the ticket, anyway. Any Boston sisters out there?
July 21, 2010 6:17 am
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Holyoke!
July 21, 2010 6:35 am
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Absolutely!! I’m near Davis Square, so Cambridge/Somerville/etc. I’m totally down! My wedding is in September, though, so anytime AFTER we get back from our honeymoon, and I’m down for a meetup. :D Eeee, excited!
July 21, 2010 7:05 am
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In Worcester but fiance lives in Boston. Wedding is in October and would LOVE a Boston meetup!!
July 21, 2010 9:29 am
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Anyone in Madison, Wisconsin?
July 21, 2010 6:19 am
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Isthmus bride right here! We could also get in on the Chicago area meetup, if my grad school schedule allows for it.
July 21, 2010 9:23 am
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lol grad school never allows for anything in my experience…. you just have to go ahead and get in trouble.
July 22, 2010 7:55 am
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Milwaukee!
July 21, 2010 10:03 am
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Chicago ‘burbs! And I have a wedding dress in my closet waiting to be cleaned and either donated back to BAB or otherwise…? :)
July 21, 2010 2:33 pm
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Yay midwest :)
July 22, 2010 9:49 am
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DC? Any DC folks?
July 21, 2010 6:20 am
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I’m in the DC area. Wedding date is 9/19/2010. A meet-up would be AWESOME :)
July 21, 2010 6:23 am
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I’m DC as well. Our wedding was in May, so I’m a “practical wife” now, but I’d still be interested in a meet-up.
July 21, 2010 6:57 am
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Here! I’m also now a “practical wife,” but I got married in LA, so I have nothing in DC to pass on other than advice and empathy…
July 21, 2010 9:43 am
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DC represent! I’d be in for a meet-up!
July 21, 2010 2:26 pm
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philly roadtrip?! this just made my day.
July 21, 2010 6:24 am
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Srsly. You, me, SMK. Fun times on the way to NYC.
July 21, 2010 10:56 am
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Boston anyone?!
July 21, 2010 6:28 am
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We got a few people a couple comments up…. I think we can get a few people together!
July 21, 2010 7:06 am
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Count me in! I’d love to meet up with you ladies.
July 21, 2010 7:36 am
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Rochester anyone?
July 21, 2010 7:00 am
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C’mon Oregon!!?!?! There are some tablecloths in your future after August! :)
July 21, 2010 7:52 am
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I’m in Seattle and just found out this morning that the tablecloths for my September wedding are no longer available from the company :( Perhaps a road trip to Oregon is in my future :D (I’ve never been, would love to go!)
July 21, 2010 10:12 am
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Woo Portland! There must be more NWers around here…
July 21, 2010 3:09 pm
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This is SO inspiring!!! I’m so excited about meet-up’s; I know we could somehow do it on our own, but a Meg-approved meet-up is SO much better.
Any Dallas girls?!? DF-Dub in da house?!?
(Sorry, I have no idea what came over me. I promise not to behave like that in our meet-up.)
July 21, 2010 8:14 am
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Minneapolis? I am so into the meetup idea. I was sad to not be in SF for the first one–sounded like so much fun!
Also…I am curious if others are feeling the pull of dress-giveaway joy, but are conflicted? I love my dress so much and I would love to pass it on, but I had an applique made from silk from my family’s (long-defunct) silk mill, and just feel a little attached… I am curious about the decision process to pass your dress on, and also to hear from folks who decided to hang onto theirs–what was it that made you keep it? What are you going to do with it?
July 21, 2010 8:58 am
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I love the dress giveaways, but I can’t imagine giving away my own dress. It sometimes makes me feel a little guilty. My dress was a little vintage number I bought on ebay, and I think the fact that I couldn’t replace it makes it even harder to part with. It’s also easy for me to justify keeping my dress since it’s not a traditional full-length gown and it’s not hogging a lot of space in my closet, but it’s still highly unlikely I’d ever wear it again.
July 21, 2010 10:59 am
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I love the idea, but the sentimental part of me loves hanging on to the dress I got married in. If for nothing else than to use one day as material for baptism baby clothes.
I wonder – is Meg open to the idea of the traveling (borrowed) wedding dress? I would love to see someone get to enjoy my dress, but I’d like to know it would stay in my family after their wedding. More like extending the idea of an heirloom family dress to the team practical family?
July 21, 2010 12:09 pm
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I’ve wondered about this too, but I think lending a dress is a lot more problematic than giving a dress. What if it were damaged at the wedding, got lost in the mail, etc? I can imagine a lot of scenarios that would end in tears.
July 21, 2010 1:06 pm
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Yeah, I have stayed far away from dress lending. Frankly, I think if you are still really attached to your dress (I am) you should keep it safe :) Everyone gives in their own ways….
July 21, 2010 1:50 pm
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I’m in Minneapolis too!
July 22, 2010 12:20 pm
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Sure, but then the question is–what do you DO with the damned (floor length, six layers of chiffon and tulle) thing?
July 21, 2010 7:39 pm
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Maybe find a really talented seamstress and turn it into a cocktail dress, and a fancy summer skirt, or something like that?
July 22, 2010 5:36 am
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Yessss, I’m in Mpls!!! I knew there had to be some Minnesotans on here…
July 22, 2010 6:18 am
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I agree with Meg, if you have a sentimental attachment to your dress, you should keep it. I think something about the way I got my dress made me want to pass it on. I had bought a lace gown at a sample sale that I liked and my mom Loved, but it didn’t really feel that magical to me. So I sold it on OnceWed, and the girl who came for it was so sweet and so strapped for money, I felt bad when she left that I hadn’t just given it to her. But I needed the money back for dress #2, which I had just bought from another girl with the exact same situation – it was her first dress but she found another one she liked better. So my whole dress experience had a lot of passing-along about it, and even though I definitely felt a pang when I handed my dress off to Jenn, I couldn’t be more excited that someone else (and someone as awesome as Jenn) will get to wear it and (hopefully) love it as much as I did. For me I felt more sentimental attachment to my jewelry, veil and hair comb, and wouldn’t part with those for anything!
It really is just a very individual decision, nobody should ever feel obligated to give away their wedding dress! You don’t even have to come up with a good reason to keep it. If you want to keep it, keep it!
July 22, 2010 7:29 am
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There must be some fellow sunshine state Florida brides out there in APW world! Maybe??
July 21, 2010 9:48 am
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Southeast Florida here!
July 21, 2010 8:21 pm
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Orlando here!
July 22, 2010 5:58 am
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anyone out there in/around st louis?
July 21, 2010 10:44 am
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i would love to exactly this whole post! and I would love to meet any team practical members in the South!
July 21, 2010 10:57 am
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Yay, Southern girls!
July 21, 2010 9:06 pm
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boston boston boston! i’ll be there!
July 21, 2010 12:17 pm
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FUN! I can’t wait until the details on Friday. I’m a Jersey girl (but god, nothing like the awful NJ reality shows) in Hoboken which is directly across the Hudson from NYC :-)
July 21, 2010 2:52 pm
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Meg, I fear we are hijacking your process, although knowing you, you will find a way to grab it back. I’m just curious, anybody in the Southwest? I’m Arizona…
July 21, 2010 3:09 pm
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I’ll take it back on Friday ;) You notice I’m slapping down people ACTUALLY trying to set things up without the details.
July 21, 2010 6:38 pm
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I’m in AZ too. :)
July 22, 2010 12:51 pm
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Can you schedule a meetup in Sydney (yes, Australia!)? Please, please, please?! Or if anyone else is out there and wants to schedule one here, let me know!!
July 21, 2010 3:18 pm
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Georgia? I can’t be the only one between DC and Florida, can I? Technically, I’m in Athens, and I don’t know my way around outside of that very well, but I can mapquest.
July 21, 2010 6:58 pm
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Double Posting so nobody thinks I think Georgia, USA is in Australia.
*hates hitting the wrong reply button*
July 21, 2010 6:59 pm
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Aww, Elf, I’m currently in GA but the fiance and I are moving to San Francisco pretty much right after our wedding in a couple weeks. *hugs* Hope some more Georgia ladies come out of the woodwork for ya!
July 21, 2010 8:13 pm
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I’m not in GA, but being in Asheville, NC….I think I’m probably one of the closest to you!
July 21, 2010 9:08 pm
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I’d be more comfortable meeting you halfway than driving to Atlanta. (I HATE CITIES), but that is more than a day-trip, isn’t it?
July 22, 2010 9:19 am
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LONG time lurker, first time commenter. I’m a Dallas area Team Practical Wife and would love to join the meet-up. I have a dress I might be able to donate and maybe a Team Practical Bride to Be to bring along as well. Looking forward to the details!
July 22, 2010 8:58 am
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I’m going to be moving out to the Bay area in August and would love a meet up. My wedding is in October 2011, I’m living in the Bay Area, the boy is living in West Virginia, and the wedding will be in Minnesota (my mother is the best person in the world for helping me), so I could use all the practical and emotional support I can get!
July 22, 2010 2:03 pm
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San Diego, anyone? Or even between SD and LA? I have until October 3rd to continue to obsess about wedding details (73 days, but who’s counting?)
July 22, 2010 5:34 pm
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You guys are amazing. x
July 29, 2010 6:24 am
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Hi there. I am not very tech-savvy so please excuse if I have posted in the wrong place. I read the article in the AJC and was writing to offer up my wedding dress to a bride-to-be in need. For a couple years I considered selling it, hoping that I would re-coup my losses (the dress cost $3000!). Recently I’ve come to realize that it would make me much happier to just pass it on to someone who will love it & cherish it as much as I did on my big day.
Meg (or anyone) please email me to let me know the proper procedure for getting my information out there so that my dress can find its way to its new owner. I will be happy to send all pertain info, pics, etc. I will leave you with this teaser: The dress is Demetrios Couture from 2000. It is made to fit a busty size 16/18 (in regular clothing). It is a gorgeous strapless gown that I’m sure will make someone very happy. :)
Thank you for providing such a wonderful site/blog,
Angela in Atlanta
September 24, 2010 12:54 pm
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[...] One last thing: can I just say I cannot WAIT to see this girl in my dress?? She’s making some changes to it, I’ve seen some previews, and I can’t believe her wedding isn’t for another 9 months, I might die of the suspense. At least I know she’s going to be wearing some hawt shoes. yayyy sisterhood! [...]
March 7, 2011 1:32 pm
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[...] next project? This one’s a little special to this community … it’s a Sisterhood of the Traveling Dress*** [...]
July 25, 2011 8:41 am
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