So I thought my last shoe roundup was pretty fabulous, but I was kind of hoping for some options that were like, less expensive than my monthly rent payment.
So here are some more cute shoes with a better pricetag.
P.S. I don’t want to sound all, “I’m too good for cheap shoes,” because that’s not how I roll. I’m more thrift store than Saks, but as mentioned in my previous post, you put my feet in Payless, and in less than an hour, I’ll be crippled with excruciating, debilitating pain and I might try to kill you.

Clockwise from top: Magrit, Me Too, JCrew, Nina, and Vivienne Westwood

The cool thing about the Nina brand is you can pick your color AND design the shoe.

So I’m about five months out and I figure I have plenty of time to buy a pair of fun wedding shoes.

Um, yeah…maybe if I were a normal person, with feet that don’t always hurt.
Since my feet are the bane of my existence and I’m constantly dealing with blisters, severe pain and suicidal thoughts every time I wear heels, shoe shopping will NOT be fun. Why wear heels, you may ask? Just stop torturing yourself and wear flats. I’m 5′2. I just don’t look good in flats. Plus, I really like heels.

So here are some fun, way over my budget Louboutins, since I’m still in the fantasizing stage. The Converse in the middle are rad and practical, but again, I’m short and impractical.
Anyone have any suggestions for comfy, pretty shoes that won’t break the bank?
P.S. The next few days, my posts will be dedicated to shoes, because I like scouring the internet for pretty shoes.

So…I really hadn’t thought about ANYTHING before getting engaged, despite the fact that I had figured a proposal was coming soon. And by soon, I mean, within six months or so. 

But in typical me fashion, I did not plan ahead and then found myself wracking my brain over things I’ve never ever thought about. Does anyone who is not engaged go to weddings and remember all the little details, like centerpieces and favors and color schemes? 

I figured shopping for the wedding dress would be the hardest part, and picking out bridesmaids dresses would be the easiest part. 

That wasn’t the case, but only because I’m horribly indecisive.

My many bridesmaids – there are 8! – are super cool and not picky at all, but I wanted to make sure whatever I picked out would be something they could wear again, to another wedding or a cocktail party or something. I also didn’t want to have to force 8 people who live all over the tri-state area to meet me at some random bridal store in the suburbs. 

So I decided on JCrew. The spiced wine color. In silk chiffon. They can choose whichever dress they want in that fabric and color.

But now I’m having second thoughts. I peruse all these pretty wedding blogs and I like the way bridal parties look when the girls have different colors, or various shades of the same color. 

Problem is, I’m not sure spiced wine goes with any of the other colors JCrew has to offer. Maybe light pink? And what if all the girls prefer the wine color, which will probably look better on everyone’s skin tone than a very pale pink, especially before beach season? 

What do you guys think? 

Do you like these dresses? And what kinds of flowers (local, seasonal blooms) will look pretty with the wine color? Pinks? 

Hi, I’m Giovanna. I come from a huge Italian family in New Jersey, and I’m getting married in May. Let me clarify what that means. When I say Italian, I mean, my dad and grandparents on both sides are Fresh Off the Boat. So I speak Italian, I eat lots of yummy Italian food, I’m invited to family gatherings on a weekly basis, and my entire extended family LIVES for weddings. 

That’s all well and good, but I do not live for weddings, and my fiance, who comes from a very small, non-Italian, non-New Jersey family, definitely does not live for weddings. 

When we got engaged, after I got over the elation of knowing I’m marrying my best friend whom I love and respect and am extremely attracted to, my first thought was, “Oh, crap. This is going to be fun.” And by fun, I mean the polar opposite of fun. 

Here’s the problem: I may have not been the type of girl who always fantasized about my wedding, but when I realized it was happening, I could immediately tell you what I didn’t want. 

1. No huge princess dress
2. No big wedding hall
3. No clunky favors that people throw away as soon as they get to the parking lot
4. No obnoxious DJ that tries to force people on the dance floor 
5. No colorful DJ lights
6. No church

I’m sure I’m missing something on that list, but those are what immediately come to mind. Of course, there were also subcategories, such as “no big crazy crystal chandeliers and ugly carpets” under Category #2.

And so I embarked on a search for outdoor wedding venues in New Jersey, only to find out renting a tent and all the party supplies that go with it, on top of a site fee that most outdoor venues charge, could end up costing me much more money than I had planned to spend on this five hour party. 

You see, sometimes, when you’re trying so hard to have these simple, rustic, eco-friendly nuptials, it can end up costing an obnoxious amount of cash. So, I kept looking. (More on this in future posts.)

Somewhere in my research, I developed a strange obsession with tents. I love tented weddings.

Here’s how that conversation went with my cute, little, highly-opinionated Nonna: 

Me, in Italian: So I would like to get married outside, and have the reception in a tent. Problem is, although I’m fluent in Italian, I guess I didn’t know the correct word for tent, and apparently told her I was getting married in a cave. 

Nonna: A cave??? You’re getting married in a cave, now? What’s the matter with you? Then in English: You keeding me, you just keeding, right? 

This went on for another five minutes. Me insisting that it’s totally normal to get married in a cave. She, continuing to freak out. 

Then I found out the right word for tent. 

She apparently thought getting married in a tent was even more ridiculous than getting married in a cave. Who knew? 

Suddenly, in the course of this convo, it dawned on her that I had not said anything about a church. That’s where the real party began. And by party, I mean all-out fight, in which my mother (luckily) stepped in and defended me.

In the end, I stumbled upon West Park Winery near New Paltz, NY, where there’s a tent and a barn and you don’t have to pay for everything separately! Yay! But it’s about two hours away from my parents’ house. Nonna is not pleased at all. 

And she’s still not over the church or the tent. 

And so, that was just a very brief snippet of what I’m dealing with here. 

Thanks for listening to me vent, and please come for the ride with me as I spend the next six months battling with relatives. I can’t do it by myself! I’ll be chronicling my journey here and on my blog, Swoon.