Weddingbee Blog

Now I consider “geek” to be a compliment. A clever salt and pepper shaker set for the geeky bride-to-be.

(via betterlivingthroughdesign)

Nicole Kidman wed Keith Urban in a traditional Catholic ceremony in Sydney, Australia yesterday. The bride walked down the aisle in a Balenciaga gown in front of celebrity guests Naomi Watts, Hugh Jackman, and Russell Crowe. Nicole reportedly, “cried all the way to the church in the car and then she cried all during the ceremony and had to wipe her eyes under the veil.” This is the first marriage for Urban and the second for Nicole.

More images of the wedding here.

Desperate Housewives star, Marcia Cross, wed stockbroker Tom Mahoney in San Gabriel, California yesterday. Marcia wore a Reem Acra gown in front of 200 guests at the Church of Our Savior Episcopal Parish. This is the first marriage for both Cross and Mahoney.

Paper Source seems to carry a great collection of rubber stamps and most of them are under $10.

I love Lynn Lugo’s printed bridesmaids dresses! What a fun and fresh alternative to the traditional bridesmaid dress. Lynn also offers classic styles in a variety of customizable fabrics and detail options.

Available online and at several stores in the New York area. Dresses start at $245.

Suite? Oceanfront? Continental Breakfast? What exactly do all these terms mean?! Here are definitions for some common hotel terminology you should know when booking your honeymoon hotel.

1) Standard Double Room - A room with a full, queen, or king-size bed; whatever is considered “standard” at the hotel.

2) Double-Double Room - A room with two beds (of any size).

3) Deluxe Room - A room with a king-size bed, but it could also be two beds of any size instead. There is also generally an amenity and service upgrade from the standard double room.

4) Junior Suite - A large room with a bed and a sitting area.

5) Suite - A room with at least one bedroom and a separate living room.

6) Oceanfront Room - A room with an unobstructed view of the ocean.

7) Ocean-View Room - A room where you can see the ocean, but you may have an obstructed view.

Garden-View Room - A room that faces the hotel’s courtyard, parking lot, or other view.

9) American Plan - A room rate that includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

10) European Plan - A room rate that doesn’t include any meals.

11) Continental Breakfast - A meal that includes coffee, tea, juice, and light breakfast fare like muffins, bagels, or cereal.

(source: bridalguide)

For a comprehensive glossary of hotel speak, check out esavvysystems. Also this funny guide to hotel doublespeak is worth a read.

A couple of weeks ago, reader Ariel was looking for a cheaper alternative to the beautiful Kate Spade Essence shoe which retails for $299.

Today Anna sent us a link to these very similar shoes from Bakers that go for only $49.99. They’re also available in silver. Great find!

I haven’t been able to figure out how to word my invitations. I know that whoever technically pays for the wedding gets to “host” the wedding on the invites - but I want my invitations to be a little more casual. So here are some options that I researched. Tell me which one you like best.

Option 1

The pleasure of your company
is requested at the marriage of
Ms. A. Butterfly
and
Mr. J. Butterfly
on Saturday, the date of November
two thousand and six
at half past hour in the afternoon
Twenty Four Fifth
New York City

Option 2

Miss A. Butterfly
and
Mr. J. Butterfly
request the pleasure of your company
at their wedding (or marriage)
at half past hour o’clock
on Saturday, date of November
two thousand and six
at Twenty Four Fifth
New York City

Option 3

Ms. A. Butterfly
and
Mr. J. Butterfly
invite you to share in the joy
as they celebrate their wedding/marriage
at half past hour o’clock
on Saturday, date of November
two thousand and six
at Twenty Four Fifth
New York City

What do you guys think? I know none of the parents’ names are on there. My parents are helping me pay for the wedding - but it’s not hosted by them either. And I really don’t like the traditional wording that goes - “Mr. and Mrs. Daddy Butterfly cordially invite you to the marriage of their daughter, Miss butterfly to Mr. butterfly…etc.” It’s way too formal for my taste!

If anyone else has any other suggestions, please let me know!

In today’s hive, JB wants to know about hair/make-up trials, P wants to know about cocktail receptions, and Nina wants to know about hair extensions.

Please feel free to add your question to the hive!

My maid of honor has purchased her gown!

I give you the Tadashi Tier Chiffon Halter Gown!

And the Thread girls ordered their dresses today — last minute switch to the turquoise seer sucker.

I’m way more excited about their dresses than I am about my own.

Hello weddingbee bloggers!

I just got engaged last month and am scrambling to plan a wedding by October 21st! We are having a tent reception but I am having some problems with my caterer so I was wondering if there was any information/experience you might have? I saw 2 past blogs on tent receptions, but wanted to know if any of you actually went through it
and have any additional advice. Please let me know!

Thank you!
Keep up the great work!

Esther

~~~

Though I love tented affairs, I personally have no experience with them. Anyone have words of wisdom for Esther?

The sun sets at 7:15 on the day of our wedding, which is perfect for our ceremony and outdoor cocktail hour. If you are having an outdoor wedding or ceremony, find out when the sun will set on your wedding day through weather.com’s wedding tools.

Reader Molly tipped us off to Felix Doolittle’s delightfully charming illustrated papers. I’ve actually seen him on Martha Stewart where he hand painted individual wedding invitations! His line includes note cards, thank you cards, fill-in invites (for bridal showers), customized return address labels, and save the date stickers.

While I don’t like the idea of address labels on invitations, you have much more leeway with save the dates. His whimsically illustrated address labels and save the date stickers are too pretty to pass up. I simply adore his work and will have to pick up some of his note cards for myself!

Save the Date Stickers

Return Address Labels

More of his illustrations (I personally like the bugs ;)).

Since Audrey asked after my ring, over in the beehive, I thought I ought to post a pic.

As I mentioned in the comments there, I ended up with a cushion-cut stone after a lifetime of lusting after Asschers and emeralds… Now Mr. Daisy and I knew we were getting engaged (from just about the moment we met), so we did have some ring discussion pre-engagement. His thoughts were that if he were about to drop a fair amount of money on a ring, it probably should be something I would enjoy wearing. So I told him how I adored the Asscher and it was absolutely, 100% the ring for me.

Not my ring… Just an Asscher example.

The only fly in the ointment, was that I just had no clue as to what kind of a setting I wanted. We went all around the city checking out various Asscher cuts in various settings and I quickly became discouraged. None of them looked nearly as elegant on my hand as they did in the jewel case. Then, at Graff, they had a knife edge band that I wanted to see, but it had a cushion-cut stone in it rather than an Asscher. I tried it on anyway and, much to my surprise, fell in *love* with the cut. It was what worked for me and though I had previously eschewed anything but a step-cut, I was loving the bling-y sparkle.

Some months later, Mr. Daisy proposed; I burst into tears; I said “yes” at least once; and then I noticed that the ring-which was (is and will always be) secondary to my unfettered joy at the thought of marrying this amazing fellow-was just perfect. Well, perfect for me, anyhow!

(I apologize for the blurry/dark photo-I have not yet mastered my new camera’s “Macro” mode.)

Did anyone else have a complete change of heart as to ring choice? Or did you/do you plan to stick to your guns?

With almost 6 months to go till’ the wedding day, I’m ready, set with almost everything and can’t wait until the day I can be a married woman.

The Rockleigh Country Club
My venue. The pictures on the website do not do justice to how magnificent and wonderful the place really is. It just oozes with elegance.

Kim, Jin Hong
My family and I have known this photographer for nearly 20 years. He is truly amazing and worth every single penny. One visit to him and he pointed my family and I to everyone.

Rana Bridal
The owner, Rana, is a sweetheart. She gives you her honest opinions and suggestions. If you give her the style of dress you have in mind, she will hand select a few “perfect” gowns for you to try on. She meets with brides by appointment only and one bride at a time, so she can give you her full undivided attention. She was recommended to me by my photographer. He is not one to recommend just anyone in the business. She managed to get one sample of the dress that I’ve had my eye on, so I will be going in sometime this week to try it on. I’ve narrowed down my dress to that and one other, a Kitty Chen Couture gown. I don’t have pictures of the Kitty Chen dress because it is part of their new season collection.

Il Mare
The florists my family and I decided to go with. I met with 2 creative designers, Lisa and Jasmine about 2 weeks ago. One has worked with Preston Bailey in the past so you can actually see a little bit of his work incorporated to their floral designs. I’m really excited as to how my centerpieces will look. There will be LOTS of candles and some orchids sprinkled throughout. A bit of a summery feel for a winter wedding but I’m fine with that because I don’t want a cliche winter theme/feel.

As for the DJ, we’re pretty much set with Yang, Sae Il. He was recommended by the photographer (again). Mr. Snail and I will have to meet with him sometime this week or next to discuss some things. Mr. Snail wants some korean music and I need my hip hop. I also have to mention no cheesy songs like the YMCA, Macarena, Electric Slide, Chicken Dance, etc.

All this within less than a month. Crazy~!

So, who-all of you are going to submit a wedding announcement to the NY Times?

Marcus Aurelius is convinced everyone — read that as Miss Caterpillar — should submit an announcement. But, I’m a little afraid of Veiled Conceit.