But for now, I'm just leaving you with these photos from Melissa of Happy Confetti Photography. We took advantage of Mel being in town (to shoot a fabulous wedding!) and we all met up. Choosing the location was a no brainer. We live all the way across the city right now, but historic downtown has always had a really special place in our hearts. Grand Central Market is my favorite place in LA, hands down and I love seeing it through Melissa's photographs. She took pictures of us too, but it feels weird to plaster our faces all over here. You can hop over to her place and check it out and I'll just squirm self consciously in the meantime.
{grand central market}
{spice stall}
{us in grand central}
{angel's flight}
Actually, the best part about jury duty is that the courthouse is just a few blocks from where these pictures were taken, so I get to walk through the market every day and explore the entire area on my lunch breaks. I'm averaging 4 - 6 miles a day of wandering and it is awesome.
Oh, and if you're in LA, you might want to consider doing yourself a favor and getting tickets to the LA Craft Brew Crawl before they completely sell out. It was the best event we went to last year, no question, and it's a great way to see a little more of downtown. We sprang for VIP tickets this year and I'm already excited.
* I think I managed to talk myself out of attempting to bake and decorate 10 cakes the week before our wedding. And I think that was probably the best move I could have made, even though I'm still telling myself that I could bake just one or two or three or AT THE MOST five cakes the week before our wedding. Plus cookies.
** Do I wear my hair up or down? I tried to get D to help me analyze this critical issue during happy hour on the weekend and he told me in no uncertain terms to go ask a girl. He may be an architect but he has his limits, clearly.
You look amazing! Your bangs/hair are fabulous (I vote for up on the day of your wedding). I had my bangs cut this weekend and it was a debacle of the first order. Oh well.
ReplyDeletep.s. I vote up because it's not everyday that you get to do something fun and formal with your hair.
Rachel,
ReplyDeleteFirst off, your engagement photos are so lovely.
Second, the hair. I can't believe I even have a suggestion except that Joanna at Cup of Jo has had these great hair tutorials -- and the last one she did is perfect. And so easy that I can actually do it myself in a few minutes and have it look good. A miracle!! Here's the link:
http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2011/06/diy-wedding-hair-gibson-roll.html
xoxo
lynn
The pics are great! You will be beautiful no matter how you wear your hair! But I'm going to vote for down. :)
ReplyDeletei think for the up down thing it depends on your face. for instance, when i wear my in an updo it just doesn't look good, i need hair to frame my face to look better. so in the past if you've done updos and they look nice that could be the way to go, but down will look equally as pretty (and better if you look better with your hair down or up).
ReplyDeletethe pictures are beyond gorgeous. you guys look so happy and laid-back and in love.
ReplyDeleteabout the hair...you'd (obv) look amazing either way, so just wear it whichever way you feel more comfortable/pretty! x
I think a lot of people get so done up at their wedding that they no longer look like themselves. I say wear your hair however you usually like it best (up or down) with just some added primping. Don't do any style you don't usually do...it'll end up making you uncomfortable all night.
ReplyDeleteBOO = jury duty
ReplyDeleteYAY = your engagement photos. they are SO great!
Your photos are Gorgeous!! You guys look so happy and in love. Enjoy this time. Oh and I vote for your hair whichever you feel most comfortable and yourself in. May not help but you want to look like and feel like yourself on your wedding day. Congrats!
ReplyDeletewow what gorgeous photos! you are beautiful and you're such a cute couple!
ReplyDeleteabout the hair... i learned from going through the same question with my wedding hair (and after a prom hair disaster, which was WAY too formal for my casual personality) that you should wear your hair whichever way makes you feel the most confident and pretty. if you love to dress up and to have a fancy look, and you want to feel like royalty on your wedding day, go formal. but if you're more like me, and you are more comfortable with loose, flowing hair, wear it how you think it looks best, just slightly more polished than how you'd do it yourself. i pinned the front back and she polished up my natural curls so they bounced around my shoulders. it's pretty much the way i wear my hair most days, but more "done" looking. i know if i had gone super fancy or all up, i'd be worrying all night about whether it looked good, and whether it was "me" and i didn't want that. i wanted to feel comfortable in my own skin, and my hair reflected that it was ME! (plus, the veil if you're doing one dresses it up enough already in my opinion) however you do it, i'm sure it will be gorgeous :)
GIRL, you so pretty!
ReplyDeletewear your hair however you love it normally. I had it done by my hairdresser on the day but wore it down, no pins, no hairspray. It still looked fab at the end of the night (because of the finesse of the hair dresser, normally it would be frizz, kink city) and 10 years later, I can still recall how nice I felt (and I don't like attention so didn't want the whole look at me bride-y thing, wanted to elope - glad I didn't, your own wedding is the greatest party!)
ReplyDeleteand your photos look beautiful. love the colours and both of your smiles:)
ReplyDeletesorry about jury duty. the engagement photos are great!! you guys are to cute. i agree with everyone wear your hair how you feel comfortable. i have decided to wear mine up because i am getting married in florida and i hate to be bothered plus its a good excuse to do a braided up do that i would never do otherwise.
ReplyDeleteYou look lovely in your pics. I'll agree with all of those voting for a style that feels like you - if you never wear your hair up, it will feel odd in your pictures. Also, I think the style really depends on the dress. Can we please see pics?
ReplyDeleteYou guys are as cute as a button!
ReplyDeleteFirst, thanks for serving on jury duty! As a lawyer, I love it when young, educated people make the time to serve. Kudos for fulfilling your civic duty, and I hope the trial is at least remotely interesting.
ReplyDeleteSecond, beautiful engagement pictures! I went half up for my wedding hair - that way it was pulled back from my face but still down like I prefer. You are a natural beauty so I'd recommend something casual and elegant - whether it be slightly pulled back from your face, or perhaps a low, loose updo.
*fantastic* photos, yea for y'all! And i'd have to say that I couldn't vote for hair up or down without seeing the dress -- but I bet you'll look fabulous regardless :)! I do like the low, loose updo suggestion -- that way, if you're like me + hair inevitably goes up anyway, you don't ruin any work you did on the hair to ensure its gorgeousness in a full-on down style.
ReplyDeleteI second ( third, fourth? ) what Danielle & others have said about wearing your hair however you feel most comfortable. My hubby was thoroughly relieved when he heard I was going to wear my hair as I normally would-- he wanted me to look like "me". I even did my own hair, had it cut by my fabulous stylist 2 days prior and just took extra special care with it the morning of. It looked fabulous all day and I never worried about it. A great cut makes all the difference, as always.
ReplyDeletei vote hair down! more feminine and beautiful, but thats just my opinion. but you asked, yes? ;)
ReplyDeleteim practically getting married in september (aug 27) so im feeling the same things! eek.
LOVE those photos of you guys. Gorgeous, I'm gushing over here. I love the soft hair look for a wedding, but I agree that it depends on how you feel and your dress. I always envisioned a really casual flowy dress and my hair down for my wedding but then I found a dress I never thought I'd love (just a little fancier than I imagined) and I decided to wear my hair back since my hair felt too casual down. I still kept it simple by having someone pin it back, low, and loose at the nape of my neck, it was nice not to have to worry about it or fuss with it throughout the night. I just got so excited for you! whooooh!
ReplyDelete...on the other hand, I went to my cousin's wedding on Saturday and she wore hers down with just the slightest bit of a curl (or maybe even just rolled under with a round brush) at the bottom and it was beautiful. OK, this is obviously harder than I thought! Decisions! You are going to be stunning no matter what.
ReplyDeletewow, jury duty, are you kidding? what timing. yes i would agree with most of the comments i see above -- whatever you're comfortable in, dear. perhaps down at first and maybe try an up-do if you're doing two outfits.
ReplyDeleteHer photography style jives perfectly with your taste - love!! And not baking a ton is probably the best thing you coulda done for your sanity. :) Good luck with the trial...at least it's in a lovely building?
ReplyDeletesuch great shots. adorable and lovely in every way and nothing to be embarrassed about. your hair is lovely worn long in all these shots. if you're comfy in it, i say do that! xo.
ReplyDeletejury duty...kind of annoying, but I really enjoyed the process of it.
ReplyDeleteyour engagement photos are gorgeous! thanks for sharing them.
and good luck these last few months before the big day!
Ooooh the photos are amazing! You look so happy and full of light. You know, I'm gonna put in my two cents and say wear it down...it looks so lovely in the pictures. If you don't normally wear it up/back, it might feel uncomfortable. I've been told you want to look (and feel!) like your best self on your wedding day.
ReplyDeletebe tough but fair, rachel.
ReplyDeleteon hair: up would be gorgeous, but you're kind of a bombshell in your engagement shoot. i'm sold on down.
(wedding countdown! i'm so excited for you guys!)
That's so funny that you just posted this, I just posted an entry on my blog about Grand Central Market just last week! you can look at it here :)
ReplyDeletehttp://brittanyisabird.blogspot.com/2011/07/grand-central-market.html
Your engagement photos are lovely!
Why are you self-conscious about the engagement photos? The photos are great, you are gorgeous, and you guys look adorable and happy. =)
ReplyDeleteBummer about the timing of the jury duty, though! =(
The photos are amazing and have so much love and comfort to them. I agree with Lauren, your hair is fabulous in the engagement shots, I'd suggest wearing it down.
ReplyDeleteHair up. Pictures that highlight a pretty neck are so feminine and ethereal.
ReplyDeletehttp://prettyvintagefinds.blogspot.com
You guys are gorgeous and the shoot is so fun. Yay, I'm so glad you shared them.
ReplyDeleteOk what great pics! Thanks or the beer festival tip....looking into! Ok, so we've almost hit one year and I'm talking about what I've learned so far in marriage....any thoughts?
ReplyDeletewww.MrsCapretta.com
Recipes Marriage Fashion
GORGEOUS photos. Cannot wait to see what you do with the wedding! x
ReplyDeleteRachel, I'm so happy for you and Dustin! Your photos are beautiful, and you both look so incredibly happy in them! Congratulations!! xo Jenn
ReplyDeleteYOU GUYS! <3
ReplyDeleteYour engagement photos are gorgeous, I can't wait for my big day! Thanks for letting us all in on your little life, and for beign an inspiration to all us bloggers! I'm passing along the Sunshine Award to you! Please visit my blog for details and continue to share the love. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteSamantha
http://petitefemmejolie.blogspot.com
I just discovered your blog, it's great!!!! Love the photos. : ) I'm now a follower. : )
ReplyDeleteSheri
Hello, gorgeous! I'm a little late (just got back from vacation), but I vote down. You look HOT in your engagement photos with your hair down, so I'm having a hard time voting for any other style.
ReplyDeletePlease don't kill yourself baking the week before. It's okay to stop at 3 cakes. ;)
Lovely photos! I am partial to hair down, simply because that is what I would choose without question, but i'm sure whatever you pick will be simply stunning!
ReplyDeletex http://jazzandcocktails.blogspot.com/
Gorgeous engagement pics Rachel. You hair looks so thick and healthy that it might be a shame to put it up - what about half up half down? I've got jury duty coming up very soon, too :)
ReplyDeleteWEAR IT DOWN - so beautiful - I'm a wedding lover so I'm so excited for you - even though I have no idea who you are and I just stumbled across your blog :). boo for jury duty but you have a wedding to plan so smile :)
ReplyDelete-grace
http://herumbrella.com
Aww, I love the photos. You guys are so precious!
ReplyDeleteI wore my hair up, because my dress had a high-neckline. And because ours was an outdoor wedding, and I didn't want my hair blowing into my face every second of the day... but...
I really love your hair down in those photos. So I vote DOWN. You could add some soft curls, too... like this, maybe:
http://www.oncewed.com/31304/real-weddings/whimsical/chelsea-forrest/
Good luck! You will be SUCH a gorgeous bride!!! xo.
These pictures are great! I vote for wearing your hair down, much more natural looking. Either way you will be a beautiful bride! CONGRATS! XO
ReplyDeleteCan you do a post about baking your wedding cakes? I'm in a similar situation and would like to bake my cakes, but I'm not sure how to store them so that they'll keep! And what cakes are best for that! help!
ReplyDeleteGirlfriend, I am SO SORRY you have jury duty! That's such a bummer!
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog and am excited to look around :)
-Carly @ Createliveblog