Disclaimer that this message is not as remotely entertaining as a boner at the altar, but this is the one board that probably has the most diverse planning experience... so, all in the name of practicality: For out-of-town brides planning (or who have already planned) a wedding OOT and did bridal portraits - - I live in D.C. and we're getting married in Austin on 11/6. I had always planned to fly down a few weeks beforehand in Oct. to do my bridal portraits with our wedding photog, and use that time to get my hair/makeup trials with my selected vendors. But it's turning into a huge hassle -- first, I am worried about hauling the dress down there, then back to D.C. to finish alterations, then back down there for the wedding. It seems like there's no room to hang anything on flights these days so I'd probably have to shove the dress in the overhead compartment, and then I'll have to get it pressed multiple times, which means more $$. I obviously don't want to get portraits done too far in advance since I want my dress alterations to be mostly completed so it fits in the photos. Oh, and my photog can't do any Sat in Oct. Argh. I figured I would fly down 10/21 and do it that Fri, two weeks before the wedding, then just leave my dress at my mom's house until the wedding. Turns out my makeup vendor can't do either Fri, Sat OR Sun that weekend (she can only do the previous wknd, Oct. 15.) I am a little worried three weeks out and not bringing my dress back to D.C. for one final fitting may be dicey. Not that I think I'll drop add'l weight (I wish), but still...
So, sorry for the text wall that makes absolutely no sense, but if anyone has suggestions on how you timed this stuff, I welcome them. Also, I fully realize that bridal portraits are a twisted Southern obsession and a good half of the country would tell me it's a waste of time and to shut the F up.
