The Wedding Chronicles: "Bridal Portraits"

The most talented photographer in Houston, Julie Soefer, shot my bridal portraits the weekend before my wedding at the Hotel Derek. Thanks to her great relationship with the folks there we were able to salvage a planned outdoor, rainy day shoot by moving it indoors at this posh hotel. There are about a million more images that I am totally obsessed with. Click here to view them all.  

The incredibly talented Victoria Callaway did my make up and hair and truly made me feel like a princess-alebrity for the day. One more thing, the lovely Hotel Derek people said we could shoot there if they could have the rights to all the images. So, keep your eyes peeled for my face on their wedding page soon. Can you imagine? I love it.

The Wedding Chronicles: Epilogue "Epic Wedded Bliss"

It began last Wednesday, we wrestled a wedding dress through security and onto the plane...

We heard no less than 4 languages at the Las Vegas courthouse marriage Bureau, plus some really excellent fashion choices including pajama-chic and wtf-wear. Marriage apparently is not so serious here. It is for us. We swear!

We day partied large cabana style Friday... 20+ bottles of Veuve were consumed. No small feat. 

The Crunk City Council united and an angel got it's wings.

My older sister made the most amazing rehearsal dinner video ever complete with How Harry Met Sally and Princess Bride clips. Did I mention it was amazing?

Our first picture as husband and wife (thanks, Kathy!). We both cried the majority of the ceremony. 

The escort cards and luggage tag party favors were a hit!

As was the sea bass and filet dinner pairing. This was hashtagged #yumyuminmytumtum.

We cut the most beautiful cake ever. It was more difficult than we thought. That thing was a marvel!

Brad was initiated into the Crunk City Council and his official name is... Censored.

There was a bridal portrait processional through the casino (thanks, Noble!) and the pictures were loved (thank you, Julie Soefer!)

We then completely jumped the shark and late nighted in the casino club, Lily Pad. Nothing quite like being a bride in da club.

The next day we contemplated the magic that is Las Vegas and counted our blessings for such a fantastic wedding weekend, wonderful friends and family.

Now we are off to Maui (yes, this is our third and final selection of honeymoon locations: Santa Fe, Miami Beach, MAUI - sorry for the confusion) See you soon Houston, but not too soon! Follow all the action via my Instagram @aftonybalogna and make sure to recap all 99+ images via the insta hashtag #braftonvegas.

Had enough hash tagging? Make sure to watch this video by J. Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon here. 

The Wedding Chronicles: ACT SIX "Pack Attack: Cocktail Party &Rehearsal Dinner Outfits"

Pack Attack really appealed to me for this wedding post because it is a play on panic attack (I am also up to my eyeballs in items to be packed). All my close friends know that off and on through my life I have struggled with panic attacks and as this big, big day approaches I am feeling some anxiety pangs. However, as it gets closer I am getting more relaxed. I am at that point where if it has not happened then it will not happen. And that is OK. There is only so much one person can do. It's kind of like studying for a big test. You prep and prep and prep and if you do not have it the night before then it's too late to cram. This is my proverbial night before the test and I am ready to start relaxing and enjoying... the test? Maybe that's the wrong analogy. 

Thursday Night Party: DVF Jumper, Zara Heels, Zara Necklace, Chanel Purse. 

Friday Rehearsal Dinner: Anthropologie Blouse, BCBG Maxi Skirt, Nude Gucci Heels (no longer available, similar here), Zara Earrings, Valentino Rockstud Clutch. 

5 more days! I am SO READY to get to Vegas and be with all my loved ones in one place. Let the fun begin!

XO.

The Wedding Chronicles: ACT FIVE "The Gringo Honeymoon Packing Guide"

Can't believe our wedding is just a week away and Maui is just after that!!!

1. In-flight Wear: Proenza Schouler Pants, Equipment Silk Blouse, Acne Loafers, Zara Scarf (big, soft and affordable - just how I like 'em! What?), Ray-ban aviators, Valentino Rockstud Trapeze Bag.
2. Beachwear: Norma Komali bather, J.Crew Straw Bag, Ara Matthews Sarong, ILLESTEVA sunglasses, Sensi Studio Lady Ibiza toquilla straw sunhat, Musa Metallic braided leather sandals
3. Island Hopping Threads: Ray-Ban Aviators, Nike Air Max tennis shoes, J.Crew Shorts, MIH Jeans Safari chambray shirt, Chloe Marcie Mini Shoulder Bag.
4. Fancy Dinner Date: Aurelie Bidermann Earrings, Charlotte Olympia Clutch, Michael Kors Wedges, Issa Silk Dress.
5. Additional Swimwear: Lemlem cover up and Beth Richards Faye mesh-paneled swimsuit.
6. Lingerie (duh, this is your honeymoon after all): L'Agent by Agent Provocateur's teal stretch-satin chemise.
7. MUST HAVES: Goody Bun Coils (easiest up-do ever!), Burt's Bees chap-stick with SPF, Moroccan Hair Oil (helps limit those island frizzies), SPF 70 Neutrogena sunscreen (have you seen how ginger-white Brad is?), iPad (music! books! Candy Crush!), Ear buds (baby proof that flight).  

You Won't Be Able to Unsee This: Zooey Davechappelle

Zooey Davechappelle via Reddit
Now try to unsee that!? Happy New Girl Season 3!

MGMT's newest song

It's dark and I like it. Plus Michael Williams kills, per the usual. I do think they could have put in a little work on the name of the song. NYmag.com writes:

...Michael K. Williams plays a plant-hunting witch doctor who dreams up a psychedelic drug that ends up giving the man a horrifying deformity. It's sad and beautiful and directed by Isaiah Seret (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros' "Kisses Over Babylon"), with cinematography by Bradford Young (Ain't Them Bodies Saints).

The Cut; photo by YoungJun Koo/I'M KOO
London Fashion Week has been a pleasure to watch from the digital sidelines. This image of Eva Chen's lower half is making me desperately crave cooler temperatures and fall appropriate textures and silhouettes  That fur bag! The leather skirt! the Leopard sweater! Those Alexander Wang heels! I think they are?

Real life traffic metrics, ya'll. 

So, last week on 9/12 to be exact, my blog was on the front page of Reddit. Not for any satorical observations on my part, but from an article I enjoyed enough to re-post from GQ that featured a rather compelling interview with Bill Murray. Some folks on Reddit were arguing about Bill Murray and the Kung Fu Hustle? It was over my head.

Imagine my surprise when I checked my stats and I suddenly have 100k viewers in ONE DAY. [side note: this little blog of mine had previously generated a total 55k pageviews to date since it's inception in 2009 - which mind you, I was proud of.] It was pretty surprising and interesting to see where these people went once they got here? They also commented a lot. Now you have to read the article, clearly. Read it here and feel free to comment. 


Contracts abound right before the wedding.

Interesting thing about planning the big day, there are endless contracts to proof. I have thankfully had a lot of practice red-lining my share of contracts, but this is different. It's emotionally charged and personal in a way that I had heard about, but did not expect. I was finalizing the my wedding floral contract and I actually teared up reading it. It's going to be so pretty! One week from today at almost this exact moment I will be wrestling my way onto a direct SWA flight to Vegas with my wedding dress in hand. I can't wait for  you to see how it all turned out. Hell, I cannot wait to see how it is going to turn out!

Happy Friday from Tyson Beckford

Via
(photo by Diana Eliazov)

Images like this one make scrolling through all the fashion week images worth it. Oh hey, Tyson. You still got it.

Musical Musings: 1975, American Authors, & Lorde for Ya Playlists

BONUS: Jay Z ft. Justin Timberlake's Official Visual for Holy Grail

This Week: Jeff Koons & Dom, Capitalism! & NYFW

Time will not slow down! Every day is one day closer to our wedding and every day I am realizing one more, two more, three more (see how there's a pattern here?) things that need to get done, bought, paid for, organized. My quasi-obsessive self is really loving it, but the rational me is wanting to pump the brakes. Speaking of quasi-obsessive, I think I re-discovered my desire to not eat like crap all the time? (Don't get me wrong, I anticipate I will still be chanting this to some degree.) Half way through day two of the Blue Print Cleanse and I feel both in control and not crappy alive. Perhaps this will kick start my sprint to the white dress finish line. I did describe myself to my walking partner this morning as planning on being a "total psycho" for the next 2.5 weeks with regards to eating and drinking healthily. Here's to no burnout - cause nothing says burnout like the words "total psycho"! 

Here's some items I cannot get enough of this week:

• This Jeff Koons and Dom Perignon collaboration. This box is for their Vintage Rose and is supposed to be a balloon Venus. I love it and hate it. A lot.

• The two street style snaps, one of Anna Wintour glaring in front of construction and the other of a sunshine clad lady with adorable dog with hair better than mine, are probably my most favorite images I've come across all NYFW. They are not staged and that is the best part. See all of them here.

• This Steve Lambert interactive art installation "Capitalism Works for Me!" will be installed next week in Times Square. If  you live there please go by and hit True and then False for me to represent my conflicting opinions. Thanks.  

• Here are my top three outfits from my top three Spring 2014 RTW shows so far: Love the agate-like print on the 3.1 Phillip Lim boxy shirt (home decor inspiring fashion?). Love-love the geometric, black and white print on that really comfortable looking outfit at Marc by Marc Jacobs. And really love the Michael Kors dress because I want to own it and wear it on my honeymoon. Vacation... So close. 

I will have some wedding updates later this week. I am working on a mood board of my wedding parties' dresses and it is coming out pretty great. 

XO.

PS. My heart goes out to everyone effected by what happened on 9/11. We will never forget you. You are not alone.