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Weddingbee Blog
Ever thought of using a real mailbox for the tons of wedding cards you’ll be receiving? Check these lovelies out at artfulcreations. Have it personalized for your wedding, then use it at your new home!
Hello Bees! A quick update on Weddingbee. The site is growing nicely, but we’re not yet at the point where I’m making minimum wage. That’s fine with me, but I’d also like to hire an intern! That way I can focus more on building features for the site and writing posts…
I’ve checked out all the top weblogs (Gawker, The Superficial, Gigaom), and a lot of them are using a new ad unit: a small clearly marked image ad interspersed with the posts. I didn’t like that the ads weren’t always clearly marked, and that some of them used text ads (it seemed like it was too easy to confuse the ads with blog posts). Also, one of the sites had the ad right after the first post! That was just too much…
So we thought we’d try this new ad out for a bit, but with some tweaks. It’s located three posts down, and is clearly marked with a border and the word “Advertisement.” It’s also an image age, not a text ad - to make it even more clear that it’s an ad.
I’m trying to balance ads with the need to grow the site - hopefully this is a good compromise? Check out the ad a few posts down… and please me know what you think!
Mrs. Bee
ps While we were at it, we added tags back to the site. With our new webhost in place, we should be able to support them again without slowing down the whole site! A huge thanks to BIL Bee who actually does all the behind the scenes work. 
Here is a cute wedding favor idea - miniature liquor favors! I’ve been to quite a few weddings that incorporated this into their favors.
You can just go to your local liquor store and ask for “mini liquor bottles” but they usually have them displayed somewhere in there store. They’re super cute and quick wedding favors that don’t require a lot of time to put together. I’ve seen some that are wrapped in little sachet bags tied with a ribbon tied or with just a plain ribbon.
They’re inexpensive and run on average about $1.00/favor - depending on which bottle you purchase. You could also pick colors that match your wedding color scheme.
I like the personalized bride and groom feature on the champagne bottle below.
mini grey goose bottle
It’s time for Mr. Blueberry and I to decide if our officiant will run our rehearsal. This is the difference between a $150 fee and a $300 fee (and we’re paying for the officiant ourselves).
I’ve made a list of pros and cons in my head:
Pro: Of course, he’ll know just how to do things
Con: $$$
That’s pretty much what it boils down to. I’m sure I could run the rehearsal myself–I know lots of brides do–but I worry (don’t laugh) that people won’t listen to me. And if I assert myself, I’ll come across as b*tchy, and will make people mad. There’s no one else really to run the rehearsal besides me, since I know just what’s going on and how I want things to work–i.e. I can’t really ask a friend or someone. Yes, I’m a control freak :P.
So what do you think? Should I shell out the big bucks (it really is a lot of money to us) to have the officiant there? I don’t know if the peace of mind will be worth it or not. Who’s running your rehearsal?
Featured on Weddingbee
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
“Make an elegant invitation statement without the fuss. Stylish invitation sets with matching envelopes, reception and response cards included.”
Dear Weddingbee,
I have been asked by a guy friend to help him pick out an engagement ring for his girlfriend. They are both very good friends of mine and I know her taste fairly well. What is the best way to approach this? My first instinct was to tell him that he should ask his girlfriend to help him choose or at least try to get some hints for the perfect ring. But she’s also one of those people who loves to be surprised, and I think she would be thrilled if he proposed with a ring he picked out. Do I surreptitiously ask her what her “ideal” engagement ring would be? But then she will probably catch on. What if I help him pick out a ring and she doesn’t like it?
Ah, so many issues and I’m not even the one getting hitched. I don’t know how you all do it in such an organized and savvy way! I love your web site and hope to hear from you.
Thanks!
I’ve seen Dasha Boutique’s chic jewelry featured on the pages of many different bridal magazines, so I finally checked out their website last night. I really liked their sophisticated and affordable jewelry, and thought they’d make wonderful gifts for your bridesmaid babes. Each piece is even customizable by gemstone, metal, length, and ear fitting.
Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
Hi, my name is Miss Pearl and I’m a paper addict.
I never knew what a fun world paper shopping could be until wedding planning. I mean, as a teenager, I had fun stationery — a soft, watercolor rainbow print and a fierce, diva-like leopard bordered paper. But textures are a whole new world to me.
I’m one of the lucky that lives near a Paper Source, which is what got me started on my paper addiction. To save money before, Mr. Pearl and I decided we were going to do regular, run of the mill Carlson Craft invitations — pretty, but basic. Now that we have more time, I have gotten to do some looking (and drooling) over paper.
Some of the favorites so far…
Yet another idea for a groomsmen gift–a personalized pub sign! From The Pub Sign Store, your groomsmen can have a sign that reflects their personal interests. I know a few of Mr. Strawberry’s guys would love to have a sign hanging in their den denoting it as their “bar!”
You are my hero.
Love, Miss Plumeria
~~~
I recently discovered Google’s new Docs and Spreadsheets service. Many of my friends and I already hail Gmail as the best email service ever made, and Google just keeps outdoing itself!
With new Docs and Spreadsheets Beta, a user can create and edit documents and spreadsheets, all online. The final version is stored online, like a saved email, so it’s essentially a “live” document that can be updated and saved from any computer that has internet access, without having to download and upload any files! You can add “collaborators” who can access and edit the document as well, invite viewers to see it, and host live chats while viewing it. For those addicted to Word and Excel, you can export any Google document or spreadsheet as a PDF, Word, or Excel file and work on it from your computer if you choose. You can also upload existing documents so you have a working copy online!
Miss Violet blogged about Costco’s discounted Spa Finder gift certificates earlier today. Then I received a promotion from New York Magazine for 15% off Oasis Day Spa’s pre-discounted packages.
With the Spa Finder gift certificates and the 15% discount (print and bring with you), you could save quite a bit on some pampering for you and your bridesmaids! 
I love our favors–they’re so unusual, yet cute. They were one of the first things we figured out for the wedding, way back in June.
Since our wedding has a “starry night” theme, Mr. Blueberry came up with the idea of giving out glow-in-the-dark stars as favors. We realize that most people probably won’t use them–hopefully some will give the stars to their kids or cousins or something, but they should at least be momentarily entertaining :).
Plus, at about 50c/favor, you can’t argue with the price!
We bought 45 packs of glow-in-the-dark stars at Wal-Mart:
Okay, okay. Six foot two isn’t that tall. But compared to five foot zero me, it’s like another world. And I’m hoping I’m not shrinking since it seems like I am!
My problem is this: we are an unbalanced couple height-wise and with there being a whole 14 inches between us, I have been obsessing about shoes. Not that I have a dress or anything yet, ya know.
I am utterly in love with the Ella shoes at Blue Tux:
I saw this 1950’s vintage inspired velvet capelet from She Complete featured in the most recent issue of Bridal Guide magazine. This would be so chic as a coverup for a winter bride! Perfect with Erica Koesler’s gorgeous hats and veils.
The problem with planning a wedding over the course of a year and some months is that you change your mind often. My latest “brilliant” idea is to incorporate birds into our shabby chic theme.
(drawing via Mariah @ DeMarco Designs)
I don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner. Of course I won’t be using all of these…it’s too late! I thought maybe someone else could benefit from my tardy, yet cute bird theme.
That’s Mr. Daisy, right? Ok, in the realm of life, yes, he’s that. But in the realm of wedding vendors, my first, my last, my everything, my port in a storm:
My wedding planner:
I didn’t exactly choose my planner in the by-the-book order. By the time I convinced my parents that a wedding planner was something I was not going to give up without a knockdown, drag out fight a good idea, we’d already booked our venue (The Metropolitan Club) and our band (Soul Connection f/k/a White Light).
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