Mrs. Stiletto, ChicagoAge and Occupation: 26, Non-Profit/FundraisingFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Engineer and PhotographerEngagement Date: March 2, 2008Wedding Date: September 2009Venue: The 19th Century ClubAbout Me: My fiance and I love living in the city of Chicago with our cats Basil and Linus, and vow to never move to the suburbs if we can possibly avoid it! We’ve poured ourselves into planning a wedding that reflects our personal style - modern and high contrast with a vintage twist. Blogging keeps me creative, baking keeps me happy, and grande nonfat no foam sugar free vanilla lattes keep me sane.
On our wedding day, the shoes on my feet may only make select appearances (except for when I’m practically holding them up in the air, begging for my photographer to take some “amazing shoe shots”), but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t look fabulous.
Of course, I can’t really afford to be sporting some of the favorites… unfortunately “Stuart” or “Vera” will not be printed on the soles of my shoes. But there are many affordable options out there that are great renditions of their designer counterparts, most of which run anywhere from $50-$100. I searched every site known to man (don’t think I’m joking!) to find the perfect pair and came up with a few contenders:
Source: Dyeable Shoe Store
“Melissa” by Lisa Rene, around $90, and dyeable to match any color I should choose.
Mrs. Perfume, DCAge and Occupation: 36, Consultant (and Part-Time Professor)Fiance's Age and Occupation: 41, ConsultantEngagement Date: May 13, 2008Wedding Date: May, 2009Venue: The Homestead, Hot Springs, VirginiaAbout Me: I'd like to think that I'm a modern day Little Edie Beale. Only not as..."talented". More realistically, I'm a foodie who can't bake; a dancer and dilettente; an art collector with a penchant for the whimsical and subversive. I live in the city and adore the country, but not much in between. I like smart design, great craftmanship and good value. Most of all, I love the new vintage aesthetic: classic, sweet, delicate, bespoke. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go for a culinary arts degree rather than a PhD; but wouldn't trade Mr. P for the world.
A couple months ago, on Boxing Day, we went to Brooks Brothers for their after-Christmas sale to see if we could find a suit for Mr. P to wear to the wedding (as I’ve mentioned before, I’d prefer for him not to wear his tux). I know, I know. Brooks Brothers? Classic, but boxy. Great for most American men, who tend to be a bit brawnier. Mr. P is slim, broad shouldered, and lean. Perfect for a more European cut… and surprise, surprise! Brooks Brothers, the stalwart American men’s clothier, just got hip to streamlined silhouettes. Two years ago, BB signed with guest designer Thom Browne to create a sub-label called Black Fleece, an uber-premium line under the Brooks Brothers moniker. He was snatched up for his cutting edge cuts for which he earned the Council of Fashion Designers award for designer of the year. Known for his Mad Men-esque 1950s slim suits and high waters, his style has been adapted for the mass market. 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!
At least for me - I’m clearly on a dessert kick this week. For those of us falling in love with cake buffets, I urge you to consider diversifying your investments, and to not put all your sweets in the proverbial cake basket. If you’ve been to A Backyard Wedding, you’ve seen it - delicious, fantastic, summery wedding pie.
I don’t suggest cutting the pie over cutting the cake because I could just imagine a giant cherry plummeting towards doom all over a lovely white gown. But let’s focus on the pie… mmm… pie. Read more…
Mrs. Peep Toe, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 29, Policy AnalystFiance's Age and Occupation: 36, Olive Oil Production ManagerEngagement Date: December 16, 2007Wedding Date: May, 2009Blogging Since: November 26, 2008Venue: Hotel VitaleAbout Me: I am a west coast lady who loves the San Francisco Bay Area. I love living with Mr. Peep and our animals: Huck the Dog and Ferris the Cat. I work to save the environment in San Francisco, while Mr. Peep makes ridiculously delicious Olive Oil. On any day you can find me reading the latest book I have gotten my hands on, eating Swedish Fish, and perusing wedding blogs! We are both champagne drinking foodies on a Bud Light budget. We are planning an eco-chic, intimate, and interfaith San Francisco City wedding.
For the last few weeks, I have spent a ridiculous amount of time looking for the perfect rehearsal dinner dress. I wasn’t looking for that perfect white mini rehearsal dinner dress, but a dress that looked phenomenal—and that looked like me. I’ve been to all the usual suspects—Anthro, J.Crew, BCBG, Nordstrom, Macy’s, and Bloomingdale’s. I’ve even been to multiple locations of each to see if they have different merchandise. And yesterday I finally found the perfect dress.
I’ve had issues with dresses for years. I even spent a few years skipping the dress thing all together and wearing skirts with a cute top instead. Last summer I faced my worst fear. I needed a dress for the FIVE upcoming weddings I was scheduled to attend.
I forced Mr. PT to go dress shopping with me. I tried on one dress, and he fell head over heels for it! Then I looked at the label and the price tag—it was Diane von Furstenberg, and more than I had ever paid for a dress in my life. What was a girl to do?
I couldn’t ignore Mr. Peep’s reaction. The dress was simple and fit perfectly. Read more…
Mrs. Piglet, Virginia/OahuAge and Occupation: 28, ConsultantFiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Entrepreneur/Fashion Apparel Wholesale ImporterEngagement Date: June 22, 2008Wedding Date: August 2009Venue: Ceremony at the Lanikuhonua Phase II private estate, reception at a historic hotel in WaikikiAbout Me: I'm an East Coast gal with intense road rage and an addiction to romantic comedies, fast food, gadgets, Korean BBQ, and my wiener dog George aka Georgia May. I carry mustard packets in my purse and I love perusing the aisles at discount stores. A self proclaimed shopaholic, I impulsively buy electronics, software, and craft tools; none of which I know how to use. I'm excited to dust
these babies off and immerse myself in DIY projects galore in
preparation for our DW in paradise!
I love me some eggs in the morning. More specifically, my favorite is eggs with rice, ketchup, and kimchi (spicy Korean cabbage). This morning, there were two yolks in one of the eggs.
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.
At some point, you discover that how you thought it would be isn’t how it is. Whether it’s work-related (dream job not all it’s cracked up to be?) or personal (not nearly where you thought you’d be at 30?), it’s tough and you have to mourn.
My personal fairy tale was that when I found the right person, all of my b*llshit would go away. With the right person, I thought, everything would be easy. I’d cease being too much — too loud, too emotional, too intense — even for myself, and I’d settle happily into the stability that a partnership would bring.
When my first marriage ended, I let myself believe that it was because he wasn’t the right person. Through our divorce, through living alone in a city where I knew nobody, through moving across the country alone and discovering that I was stronger than I gave myself credit for, I still believed in my fairy tale. I mourned every dream I shared with my ex-husband, every future vacation, every lost opportunity to do what we’d planned. I mourned the fact that I’d grown up with him and would never again be with a man who understood my roots as well as he did. I lost a lot in that divorce — relatives-in-law, a great man, our future — but I held on to my fairy tale. Read more…
Mrs. Green Tea, SacramentoAge and Occupation: 30, Tea AnalystFiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Coffee CriticEngagement Date: November 17, 2006Wedding Date: August 23, 2008Blogging Since: June 10, 2008Venue: Vineyard on the DeltaAbout Me: I'm just your average obsessive compulsive, arts & crafts loving, funky-on-the-inside/boring-on-the-outside girl, who dares to say 'Hey! I can make that!' Nerdy professional by day, goofy won-ton by night. The won-ton sometimes comes out during the day when I'm fed the dollar breakfast at Ikea. Since our engagement, wedding planning has put me on high alert for bargains and I've been pushing my nimble fingers through callous building experiments!
Mrs. Bee, New YorkAge and Occupation: 29, Weddingbee PublisherFiance's Age and Occupation: 33, InternetEngagement Date: May 7, 2004Wedding Date: March 5, 2005Venue: Westside Loft, New YorkAbout Me: Yes, my name really is Bee! I love my blogging, wikis, and tabasco sauce!
Mr. Bee and I just got back from a delicious early dinner at Commerce, an up and coming West Village restaurant that we’ve always wanted to try. We even ran into Malcolm Gladwell on our walk home (he lives in the neighborhood)!
Commerce is on the first floor of the white building. This quaint area is called “the backlot” because so many movies and tv shows are filmed here.
Because it’s Valentine’s Day, check out this sweet little audio interview with a 90 year old wedding ring salesman. In the interview, the salesman mentions that married couples don’t kiss on the street… how often do you kiss your fiance or husband?
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Mrs. Powder Puff, ChicagoAge and Occupation: 25, Preschool TeacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Career ServicesEngagement Date: May, 2008Wedding Date: July, 2009Blogging Since: November 12, 2008Venue: Outdoor ceremony, banquet hall receptionAbout Me: I am your typical Midwestern girl attempting to plan a sane, budget-friendly, fun wedding to the man of my dreams. I love shoes, laughing at “Platinum Weddings”, crafts, inspiration boards, candy, and basically anything I can DIY. While weddings can certainly be all-consuming, I honestly can’t wait until the ceremony is over and I can finally call Mr. Powder Puff my husband!
I used to refuse things at the table.
Now I shout for more wine.
In somber dignity, I used to sit
on my mat and pray.
Now children run through
and make faces at me.”
~Children Running Through, Rumi
I love you, Mr. Powder Puff!
How are you spending Valentine’s Day?
Mrs. Kitten, Austin/Grand CaymanAge and Occupation: 25, Law StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Dental StudentEngagement Date: October 19, 2006Wedding Date: April, 2009Venue: The Grand Old House, Grand CaymanAbout Me: In 2009 I will get married (after a two and a half year engagement!), become an Army wife, graduate from law school, take the bar, move from Austin to Washington, D.C., and start my career as a lawyer! With all this going on, Mr. Kitten and I decided to have a tropical, "stress-free" destination wedding. Nevertheless, my micromanaging, detail-oriented, perfectionist side has prevailed---I am currently obsessed with every last detail of my "stress-free" destination wedding! But most of all, I'm beyond excited to become Mrs. Kitten on a fabulous Caribbean vacation surrounded by my friends and family!
I’ve never been crazy about the idea of serving wedding cake. Don’t get me wrong—I love cake! It’s just that whenever I imagine our big day, a wedding cake isn’t in the picture. But, I am a HUGE fan of cupcakes! Cupcakes make it easy to have a variety of flavors for people to choose from. And leftover cupcakes would be so much easier for the guests to tote home after the wedding. Read more…
Mrs. Taffy, Ann ArborAge and Occupation: 28, Color and Materials DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Automotive DesignerEngagement Date: May 9, 2008Wedding Date: May 2009Blogging Since: September 14, 2008Venue: University of Michigan UnionAbout Me: I’m a girl who is crazy about Mr. Taffy, sewing, dancing, almost all types of sweets, and our cute pet canaries. I dislike touching fuzzy fabric of any kind, eating somewhat squishy food, and Michigan winters. Mr. Taffy and I are having a blast planning our Ann Arbor wedding, and cannot wait to share our day with friends and family.
You’ve seen the vintage Valentine that I will give Mr. Taffy tomorrow. This post is about the very first (unusual) Valentine that I made for my groom to be.
During my Secret Lives of Bees post, I talked about my obsession with blood donation. I am an avid fan of the Red Cross! I also mentioned that Mr. Taffy won huge points on our first date when he brought the subject of blood types up during dinner. I decided to make Mr. Taffy a blood donation-themed Valentine… after all, it was happy hearts day!
Squeamish bees, proceed with caution. This may be a little on the graphic side! Read more…
Mrs. Apple Cider, New York/CharlotteAge and Occupation: 27, Corporate Communications ManagerFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Grad Student – Clinical Mental Health Engagement Date: September 13, 2008Wedding Date: October 2009Venue: Banner Elk Winery & Blueberry VillaAbout Me: I am a North Carolina girl with a New York City spirit. I love crafting, blogging, laughing and dreaming. I know every word to the Anne of Green Gables and Little Women movies. I own every single Martha Stewart Wedding Magazine and have been dreaming of weddings since I was little. I believe life is about doing what makes you happy. If you aren't happy re-evaluate what you are doing. You should never look back on your life and not be proud of what you are doing. If you want to travel - travel. If you want to sing - sing. If you want to start a company - start a company. If you want to blog – blog!
I love supermarket.com and always find great artwork there. One of my favorite artists/vendors is called OrangeBeautiful. They have lovely note cards and other items.
Check out this “love” themed screen print. You could frame it and hang it!
Mrs. Stiletto, ChicagoAge and Occupation: 26, Non-Profit/FundraisingFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Engineer and PhotographerEngagement Date: March 2, 2008Wedding Date: September 2009Venue: The 19th Century ClubAbout Me: My fiance and I love living in the city of Chicago with our cats Basil and Linus, and vow to never move to the suburbs if we can possibly avoid it! We’ve poured ourselves into planning a wedding that reflects our personal style - modern and high contrast with a vintage twist. Blogging keeps me creative, baking keeps me happy, and grande nonfat no foam sugar free vanilla lattes keep me sane.
What to get for the men in the wedding? The bridesmaids are so easy because I’ll gift them their jewelry, plus a couple of other accessories/sentimental items. But you can’t be as sentimental with the guys. And with 5 groomsmen and 3 ushers, we definitely need to come up with some manly gifts.I was really surprised to find that Tiffany’s has crystal barware that we can actually afford! Wouldn’t paring one of these glasses with a small bottle of their favorite liquor or beer (depending on the guy’s drink of choice) be fun? Although something from Tiffany’s would probably be much more appreciated by the ladies than the guys, I assume that in general, unveiling Tiffany’s boxes should class up any rehearsal dinner, regardless of the recipients.
Mrs. Duckling, San DiegoAge and Occupation: 23, Psychology Grad Student, Youth Diversion Specialist/Marriage and Family Therapy Trainee and an Executive AssistantFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Marketing and PR CoordinatorEngagement Date: May 17, 2008Wedding Date: September 2009Venue: Rancho Bernardo InnAbout Me: I'm currently living in Orange County, but planning our wedding in my hometown of San Diego. We are a DIY wedding "2fer", as I'm the crafty one and Mr. Ducky is in charge of all of our graphic design and technical aspects. When not wedding planning or reading wedding blogs, I'm attending grad school and rotating between two different jobs to keep things exciting. My favorite things include shoes, Post-Its, Labrador Retrievers, traveling, psychology, delicious food, photography, reading, craft gadgets/supplies, and of course, my wonderful Mr. Ducky!
We wanted a unique location that had a sort of rustic charm, an outdoor ceremony, an indoor reception, not too many onlookers around, an efficient coordinator, local accommodations, and nothing that our guests would feel crammed into. We were concerned that driving south would be too far for some of our guests (adding an additional 1/2 hour to a several hour drive), so we decided to try searching inland. Sure enough, I found that pricing was much more reasonable there than on the coast.
Once place stood out in particular, and that was the Rancho Bernardo Inn. It seemed beautiful in the pictures and affordable from the packages that I had been sent. I was in San Diego by myself visiting my family for the weekend when I first spoke to the catering manager. She said that if I wanted, I could come that day and she would show me around in person before she left. I jumped into the car with my parents and fell in love with the location.
The Rancho Bernardo Inn has this rustic Tuscan feel immediately when you arrive on the property. The property is huge, but each area feels private. While it is a resort, it doesn’t feel like a touristy destination spot. It has its own charm while being a major resort. There is a beautiful golf course, luxury spa, and some amazing restaurants. My parents and I ate dinner there the first time we visited, and it was amazing! I have no fear that our guests will have a wonderful dinner at our wedding. But I will stop all my rambling and share with you the pictures… Read more…
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
I love you, Mr. Powder Puff!
Source: Tiffany & Co.
