Jackie and Marilyn | Super Married and Stuff

Thanks for sticking with us over our week off! It’s been busy in our world, and last weekend (August 1) I got married! I’m going to share some of my favorite candids, but if there is demand later on, I’ll share some of the professional pictures from the photographer as they come back. My cousin, who normally does professional family and newborn portraits lifted her “no weddings” rule for me and I couldn’t be happier with the preview. If you’re in the MN area and need a family portrait, I strongly recommend checking out PKV Photography.

I found my dress pretty early on in the “Party Dresses” section of Miranda’s Vintage Bridal. It was my exact measurements and at a great price, so I took the plunge. My loved ones were concerned but I knew it was “the one” and pretty soon I had everyone else on my side. The dress is from the 1970s and is fully lined, which helped a lot in making it look like a little more than a summer sundress. Since our wedding was “Luau” themed, it fit perfectly. I don’t think anyone was surprised that I bucked the traditional gown, but in case you were, sorry not sorry! I’d do it again (but let’s hope I don’t have to).

My best friend, who is a hairstylist and has been responsible for making me look presentable since I was 14, did my hair. I knew I didn’t want an updo but didn’t want my hair everywhere either, so she made me this wonderful half-back waterfall braid. I had tried out many, many flower crowns hoping I would find the right one that was comfortable and didn’t make me look like too much of a fairy (we all want to be a little bit fairy on our wedding day) but, with the busyness of my dress, nothing looked right. Thankfully, Amazon exists and I got this wonderful flower last minute!

My necklace is from ModCloth and I lost it three times before the wedding. I am very happy I found it in time (again) to wear it. Cupid definitely struck me when I met my husband! I had arrow earrings from ModCloth as well, but my bestie gave me these earrings a couple days before and they were the perfect finishing touch.

I wore $8 ModCloth sandals because they are THE MOST COMFY. They were supposed to be my back up and I’m glad I had them. My original sandals were very slippery and very purple. Turns out there is such thing as too much lavender.

You’ll see that Adam took off his dress shirt after the ceremony and ended up looking like Aladdin. This only makes me happier that we tied the knot.

This whole wedding was DIY and highly budgeted, which is what I wanted. It was a lot of work, and even more work for people like our parents and friends who pulled out all the stops to get the house and decorations looking great. I have no problem with a giant, expensive bash, but being Millennials with student loan debt and a wish for a home sooner than later, we knew that we couldn’t personally justify spending the money on a day. I honestly felt like it was a million dollar affair! There was no drama, no stress (day of at least) and every one just hung out in the yard, sipping boxed wine and sweating to no end. I have too much social anxiety to willingly invite 200 people into my yard to gawk at me, but I’m so happy that I did. The support and love Adam and I felt was astronomical! Thanks to all involved – now I’m off to sleep for another couple weeks!

Dress: Miranda’s Vintage Bridal
Hair Flower: Amazon
Necklace: ModCloth
Earrings: Gift
Shoes: ModCloth

– Melissa

Marilyn Style: Start Wearing Purple

In the last couple years I have been collecting purple items of clothing because my closet has been seriously lacking and I’m seriously in love. I think it all started with this plea from Gogol Bordello  but it has fledge into a color I find to be super fun to play with, plays nice with my hair and skin, and matches my purple eyeliner I often flock to.  No matter the hue, if it’s purple, I’m happy.

I got this beautiful and warm sweater dress as a Christmas gift from Brianna last year. You will learn that we basically only get each other things from ModCloth and that this is a very good thing. Although it’s a very simple item, I love its shape, its feel and it seems to somehow “slenderize” my frame a bit more than most sweater dresses I own.

Of course, I have to have purple glasses! I already have purple/pinkish Cat Eyes, but as my prescription got worse, I decided to get some new spectacles that weren’t so “out there” for days I want people to see my eyebrows. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll cat eye every day for the rest of my life if I have to, but on days that I don’t feel like playing up my glasses these are the perfect mix of fun and serious for me.

My other purple item is this slouchy hat. A nice lavender can really put a grin on my face and I think it overall helps lighten up this dark, wintery outfit. It’s also really great for when you don’t want to do your hair!

I decided to let the purple shine and keep the accessorize to a minimum with just some necessary gray gloves, black tights and awesome 90’s black boots I got at a thrift store in Fargo.

Cold shoots and having this Gogol Bordello playing in your head equals one things: Dance Party!

What I Wore:

Dress: ModCloth

Belt: Thrifted

Boots: Thrifted

Gloves: Vendor

Tights: Target

Hat: Vanity

Marilyn Style: Baby Blue Bargain

The 80’s are responsible for a lot of gaudy things (me included) and for that they get a bad rap. In my recent thrifting quests I’ve noticed a lot of “1980’s gone 1940’s” clothing that makes my heart weep. I love 1940’s style, in both the hourglass-friendly fit and femininity, but the 1980’s take usually covers all that up with shoulder pads, sequins and the smell of a lot of hairspray.  FINALLY though I found a 1940’s inspired dress that the 80’s got right!
I got this baby on another Instagram shop for next to nothing ($6 shipped) so I wasn’t surprised when, a month later, I still hadn’t gotten it. I should’ve known it was too good to be true! But, just when I had lost hope (and completely forgotten that I snagged it) it showed up in the mail!

Even though the buttons and embroidery do have a very 1980’s vibe they aren’t as over the top as most dresses of this time, and I actually think they add to its vintage-inspired appeal. I really love the fit of the bust, the waist cinching tie and above all else, the color!

There is something so soft and sweet about this dress, it reminds me of something you would see a 1940’s Mom baking in. I think it’s so great (and crazy) back then you had “everyday dresses” that were basically the equivalent to sweats and a t-shirt in our time. I’m not gonna say I wouldn’t lounge in this, but it’s more likely I’m baking in PJ’s. And that none of the cookies end up getting made.
I paired this dress with some pearl earrings and simple white sandals (not sorry, Labor Day). Since we are meandering into fall, I paired this with an oversized green sweater and basically felt like I was in private school all day. Hey, I’d wear a uniform if it was this pretty!

What I Wore:

Dress:AdmirableStylz
Sweater: Target
Earrings: Target
Sandals: Thrifted