Mrs. D'orsay, Baltimore/Lancaster UKAge and Occupation: 24, nonprofit communications Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Web site developer and designer; co-owner of men's skincare shopEngagement Date: August 10, 2008Wedding Date: August, 2009Venue: Oakland ManorAbout Me: I'm a Maryland raised environmental policy wonk/activist/organizer and communications aficionado. In the past year I've lived in Baltimore, MD, Tucson, AZ, Miami, FL and Lancaster, England. In my not so spare time I enjoy planning trips with Mr. D' Orsay, visiting friends and family and crafting like a mo-fo. I also enjoy modern dance classes, rugby and soccer but have been banned by my mother, MOHs, and Mr. D' Orsay from playing till after the wedding. I have an unnatural addiction to cheese and shoes, but love Mr. D' Orsay more than either and can't wait to become Mrs. D' Orsay!
We speak the same language and we were once ruled by the same king. I’m even living in the same village that George Washington’s ancestors are from!
However, and it may not surprise you very much, but the US and the UK are very very different—even the wedding rituals—which can bring up a few awkward moments. Just try to figure out what a “bridal shower” would be if you didn’t already know.
Some things are the same, just called by other names. Bachelorette party = hen do, bachelor party = stag do. Though, they’re usually done in nearby cities or even other countries (Prague is popular)! Often people will dress up, seeeriously dress up, as in Halloween dress up. Here is an example:
Mrs. Champagne, DC/Vail/ColoradoAge and Occupation: 26, Eye DoctorFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, AttorneyEngagement Date: March 13, 2006Wedding Date: February 2009Blogging Since: July 30, 2008Venue: Small church ceremony with mountain-view log cabin receptionAbout Me: I'm a small town mountain girl with a city heart. Found my way to the east coast, and Mr. Champagne kept me here so we're planning a wedding from afar in my hometown Vail, Colorado. I'm secretly obsessed with reality TV, Wii games where I can shoot a gun, country music, and Caesar: Dog Whisperer. I also spend time pretending to golf, backseat driving, having one way conversations with our MinPin Maxwell, loving champagne, and wedding perfecting… I mean, planning. I use way too many repeated symbols and letters when I write, and I'll love Mr. Champagne endlessly…
You’ve probably had your fix of winter weddings from me, but I just have a few more to share before I share our own! Time is flying, and the list keeps growing, and my thoughts have turned to the ceremony itself. There are so many details that can be overlooked, and I sort of forgot about flowers for our church. Then I realized that the lights from Christmas will still be lit, and there’s not much you really need to do with a natural snowy backdrop.
Weddings during the holiday season can take advantage of the color, lights and decorations. Here’s how some brides chose to accent the time of year in their weddings:
Saint Phalle Photography:
I love this ring shot on the tree. Reminds me of all the gorgeous reader ring shots we’ve seen here thanks to Anne Ruthmann’s post!
Mrs. Avocado, SeattleAge and Occupation: 23, StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, ConsultantEngagement Date: July 27, 2008Wedding Date: October, 2008Blogging Since: June 30, 2008Venue: LDS Seattle Temple & Hotel 1000About Me: Somehow this little farm girl found herself a genuine Pole to fall in love and eventually move away to Poland with. I am an LDS bride attempting to plan a private religious ceremony, ring ceremony, seated reception for 100, and an open house while coordinating for guests flying in from across the United States and as far away as Poland. I try to avoid fads, excess waste, and saturated fat. I strongly endorse photography, DDR, calorie counting, rss feeds, cooking, and utilizing your resources.
As the guests gathered outside to wait for us to exit the temple there was a flurry of activity while everyone tried to finish getting ready. The groomsmen were given their ties (all from eBay) and the boutonnieres Mamacado crafted for them. Isn’t she amazing?
Mrs. Quiche, Chicago/Montego BayAge and Occupation: 28, Interior DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 42, Telecom GuruEngagement Date: July 2, 2008Wedding Date: May, 2009Venue: Coyaba Resort, Montego BayAbout Me: I love Chicago and can’t imagine living anywhere else (Well, except Paris. Or anywhere in France, for that matter!). I’m a full-time worker, part-time student, soon-to-be-step-mom, indie music lovin’, architecture and design fanatic, macaroni and cheese addict, vegetarian, Francophile, Ohio State football obsessed, wedding planning girl. Mr. Quiche and I are “Partners-in-Crime” and cannot wait to celebrate our marriage surrounded by our family and closest friends. I plan on DIYing my little heart out (or as much as a suitcase to Jamaica will hold).
As excited as I am to be getting married in Jamaica, I feel that having a destination wedding puts a serious damper on my DIY hopes and dreams. If we were getting married in Chicago, I’m afraid that I’d want to do everything from invitations to flowers to hanging lights to… you name it! Our Jamaican par-tay will streamline my potential projects. I tend to get ahead of myself when it comes to any type of project, so perhaps this is actually a GOOD thing.
One aspect that I want (and will try my hardest to achieve) to DIY are the flowers. A (singular) bouquet and boutonniere are included in our wedding package. And let me tell you – I don’t think they’re pretty.
Miss Snapdragon, Chicago/DallasAge and Occupation: 32,Associate ProducerFiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Lighting DesignerBlogging Since: November 14, 2008Engagement Date: January 1, 2011Wedding Date: March 2012Venue: Marie GabrielleAbout Me: Voracious reader of short stories, Russian literature, National Geographic and Cosmo. I'm a GENIUS at spicing up Weight Watchers recipes and a pathological cheater at board games. I run a slow marathon, but my feet are learning to move faster. Mornings aren't my thing, but I can night owl with the best of them. Don't tempt me with your Cherry Cokes---I'm trying to quit. Tomorrow. Or never.
About a month or so ago, two friends and I met up to stuff our faces with guacamole and tacos, with a side or four of beers. These particular girlyfriends are officially hitched to their respective lovahs, while I am also on the verge of eternal marital commitment (duh). Somehow we started talking about prior relationships, romantic entanglements and “Falling Hard” vs. “Falling Easy”.
From Mr. Dragon’s and my first year together:
For me, I have had one SERIOUS boytoy predating Mr. Dragon. Other than that, I dated a few guys. Read more…
Mrs. Cheese, KnoxvilleAge and Occupation: 29, Engineering ManagerFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, CAD DesignerEngagement Date: July 31, 2008Wedding Date: May, 2009Blogging Since: October 16, 2008Venue: Our home and the two acres it sits onAbout Me: I’m an emotional girl who loves sentimental things, parenthetical asides, and trying to do things herself. I can cook, sew, am a whiz at planning, terrible at delegating, and totally in love with my fiancé (who will be my second husband but first love of the rest of my life). For our home/ garden/ DIY wedding, we’ll be moonlighting as interior designers, home improvers, and gardeners with the help of our fabulous friends and neighbors. We can’t wait to be married, and are learning how fun getting married can be.
Today, dear friends, I’m dreaming about the big E.
E. L. O. P. I. N. G. *Eloping* Eloping!
Now, don’t lie to me — you think about it, too. At 3 AM when you’re up to your elbows in glue and slips of paper that are somehow supposed to turn into beautiful, professional-looking invitations all MacGyver-like, it crosses your mind. When your fiancé says, “Whatever you want, Honey.” When you bring up the bazillionth wedding-related difficulty that’s keeping you up at night, you think, “if only.” When you contemplate the flexing of diplomatic muscles required to handle all of your visiting family, in one place at one time, in a city they know nothing about (and you do), never mind the likelihood that some or many of them will be staying with you — oh, you think about it.
Mrs. Coconut, TallahasseeAge and Occupation: 27, LawyerFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, phD Computer ScienceEngagement Date: March 2007Wedding Date: November 2008Blogging Since: May 20, 2008Venue: 1930s Historic Building in Lakeland, FLAbout Me: I never thought about weddings until I got engaged. Now, I can't stop thinking about them! Planning the wedding has really opened the floodgates to my DIY side. If there's anything I can do to avoid hiring someone else, I will do it! Mr. Coconut is my financial advisor, he tries to keep me budget-conscious! We've tried to make wedding planning a team effort!
Continuing with Gettin’ Prettified, it was time to put on the dress! Yippie! (Warning: Lots of “me” pictures are coming, please don’t think I’m vain!) This first part of the morning went by slow and steady, but then, BAM! Time started to fly by and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
Mrs. Glitter, Los AngelesAge and Occupation: 27, Research Consultant/WriterFiance's Age and Occupation: 29, AccountingEngagement Date: May 6, 2007Wedding Date: June, 2009Venue: Millenium Biltmore HotelAbout Me: I was born and raised in West Los Angeles, California. I spent eight years in the Northeast working and completing my education. Having split time between two sides of the country has given me a true appreciation for both coasts. It has also provided an overabundance of cross country drives, flights and long distance relationship fun/misery! I love my family, my doggy Emma, fabulous wine, Anthropologie, politics, reading, being outdoors, exploring new cities, and good movies! My fiance and I are complete opposites, but somehow we have managed to fall completely and hopelessly in love.
In terms of a beauty regimen, I’m pretty low maintenance. Don’t believe me? I have a little story for you.
Recently while shopping around Sephora, I asked the guy working there to help me with eyebrow pencils. He looked at my brows with a look of horror and exclaimed, “When did you last wax?!” My response: “Ummm, I don’t wax them. I pluck them.” His response: “Honey, you PLUCK a chicken. You TWEEZE your eyebrows.” Read more…
Mrs. Crab Cake, Columbus, GAAge and Occupation: 25, Registered NurseFiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Director of Education and Living History for a museumEngagement Date: April 6, 2008Wedding Date: June, 2009Blogging Since: November 26, 2008Venue: Holy Family Catholic Church, reception: National Infantry MuseumAbout Me: I'm a perfectionist trying to balance two jobs, motherhood, my craft obsession, and wedding planning. I am obsessed with all things wedding, especially creative ideas for saving money and DIY projects. A Southern Belle at heart, I love anything southern, especially sweet tea, grits, afternoon thunder storms, crab cakes, and good old Southern hospitality. Mr. Crab Cake and I are planning a vintage inspired wedding with tons of Southern flare (can y'all say that with a thick Southern drawl?).
Once I had solved my photographer dilemma and booked the bridals, I realized it was time to get serious about finalizing my bridal look. I know, it seems early to be finalizing anything, but my photographer is preggers and expecting in April, so we’ll be shooting my bridals at the end of February. Last week, I realized I was just about two months away from my bridals, and with fittings to be done, shoes to be dyed, crinolines and bras to buy, and decisions to be made about hair, makeup, and veils, I decided I had better get down to business and make some decisions.
The weekend before Christmas, Mr. CC and I traveled to my Dad’s house to celebrate Christmas with them. Since I have no David’s Bridal anywhere near me, I jumped at the opportunity to go in and get a crinoline and a long line bra. Yeah, I probably could have gotten the bra cheaper elsewhere, but it was convenient.
I had heard rumors that David’s Bridal’s crinolines were dyable. When I asked the consultant if she knew, she looked at me as if I were sprouting a horn out of the middle of my forehead. She said, “well, I’ve never heard of anyone dying their crinoline, but I’m sure they are.” Anyway, I bought my crinoline and a long line bra and crossed that chore off my list of things to do.
Mrs. Daffodil, San Francisco/Los AngelesAge and Occupation: 26, Nonprofit Strategy ConsultantFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Resident PhysicianEngagement Date: December 29, 2006Wedding Date: May, 2008Blogging Since: August, 2007Venue: Church w/ floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Valley; Westin in downtown LAAbout Me: I moved around a lot growing up, but consider myself a Southerner at heart. I love scrapbooking, dancing, doggies, and diet coke. I am all about personalizing everything and hence, I'm a DIY bride who is just loving the entire wedding planning process! Mr. Daffodil and I met in our college fellowship group and were "just friends" for three years before we started dating. We've been together for four years now and can't wait to get married in sunny SoCal, Mr. Daffodil's hometown.
I have to confess… the thank-you cards took longer than expected. We sent them out in waves… to all of our parents’ friends within the first 5 weeks, to our family members and relatives over the next two months, and finally to all of our own friends that we invited slowly over the following months. But I am happy to report that we finished writing EVERY single one of them the week before we sent out our Christmas cards… which means, now that all our guests have received them, I can share the details with the hive!
Many of our friends asked where we ordered them from, but the truth is that we made all 200+ of these at home by ourselves, and it was very easy, cost-effective, and personal! This is how we did it… Read more…
Mrs. D'orsay, Baltimore/Lancaster UKAge and Occupation: 24, nonprofit communications Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Web site developer and designer; co-owner of men's skincare shopEngagement Date: August 10, 2008Wedding Date: August, 2009Venue: Oakland ManorAbout Me: I'm a Maryland raised environmental policy wonk/activist/organizer and communications aficionado. In the past year I've lived in Baltimore, MD, Tucson, AZ, Miami, FL and Lancaster, England. In my not so spare time I enjoy planning trips with Mr. D' Orsay, visiting friends and family and crafting like a mo-fo. I also enjoy modern dance classes, rugby and soccer but have been banned by my mother, MOHs, and Mr. D' Orsay from playing till after the wedding. I have an unnatural addiction to cheese and shoes, but love Mr. D' Orsay more than either and can't wait to become Mrs. D' Orsay!
We’ve decided we should do our own centerpieces, but before you deem us crazy, please know that we have a team of very talented friends we’ll be relying on (this could mean you!).
In the showdown of the century we have in the green corner:
Weird Uhule Fern/River Rock/Green Button Mum centerpieces, now referred to as Centerpiece A:
Mrs. Martini, New JerseyAge and Occupation: 30, Telecom by day, Superhero by nightFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Investments & Finance by day, Hip hop dancer by nightEngagement Date: May 24, 2008Wedding Date: March, 2009Blogging Since: August 18, 2008Venue: The VenetianAbout Me: Things that make me happy: Haribo Happy Cola gummies, TV shows on DVD, buying books although I never read them, 80’s rock ballads, ramen, and of course Mr. Martini! He is the calm, logical and number crunching finance guy. I can’t even multiply double digit numbers in my head and I am so indecisive that trying to choose between light green or slightly lighter green paper stresses me out (Wedding planning is going to be soooo much fun). We both find great joy in nabbing great seats at the movie theater for a blockbuster movie on opening weekend, and we are both absolutely crazy about snowboarding. And he loves to cook, I love to eat!
I’ve known Y since high school. Not only is she the only person I know who can pull off yellow nail polish and a beehive, during the 13 years I’ve known her I’ve always associated her with art. She and bridesmaid E got to make cool paintings and sculptures in art class while I was stuck playing the clarinet in band across the hall. Y eventually went on to pursue her creative side at Cooper Union, and all these years later, she’s still the funky girl from high school who hasn’t changed a bit—except for the fire red, five-inch heeled, patent leather knee-high boots she used to wear senior year, of course. When she offered to design our wedding invites for us, I was ecstatic, but concerned. For one thing, I am so incapable of asking for help that the thought of her spending so much time on something for us stressed me out. Secondly, despite how talented she was, she and I have such different personalities and I wondered if our tastes would clash. Trust me, she assured. I know you and I know your style.
She did more than I could have ever asked for. She created four designs for us, and in the end we chose this one: Read more…
Wedding BiosFeature Launched: September 12, 2008About: Wedding bios of real brides.
Mrs. Avocado, SeattleAge and Occupation: 23, StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, ConsultantEngagement Date: July 27, 2008Wedding Date: October, 2008Blogging Since: June 30, 2008Venue: LDS Seattle Temple & Hotel 1000About Me: Somehow this little farm girl found herself a genuine Pole to fall in love and eventually move away to Poland with. I am an LDS bride attempting to plan a private religious ceremony, ring ceremony, seated reception for 100, and an open house while coordinating for guests flying in from across the United States and as far away as Poland. I try to avoid fads, excess waste, and saturated fat. I strongly endorse photography, DDR, calorie counting, rss feeds, cooking, and utilizing your resources.
After I rushed everyone out of the woods there were quick hugs all around. (I’m usually really casual about whether I show up to things on time or not, but the day before the wedding we visited the temple and I had a breakdown when we walked in 2 minutes late. I didn’t want a repeat on the wedding day.) It was so sad to say goodbye to Sistacado, MOH Shay. Since she is not yet endowed she was not able to attend the sealing. We’d known almost our entire lives that this would probably be the case, but it was still hard to say, “See you when I am a Mrs!”
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
In terms of a beauty regimen, I’m pretty low maintenance. Don’t believe me? I have a little story for you.
