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?).
I know they aren’t vintage at all, but I’m sorta at the point where it needs to be quick and easy. I had considered a program that mimicked my booklet-style invitations, but then I remembered how long it took to assemble the bloody things and decided I was completely out of my mind. So, this project came across my RSS feed one day, and I was sold. Read more…
Mrs. Lemonade, Austin/San AntonioAge and Occupation: 28, BureaucratFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Music ManagementEngagement Date: December 21, 2007Wedding Date: April, 2009Blogging Since: August 22, 2008Venue: Country Club ceremony, ballroom receptionAbout Me: I’m a total wonkette who is lucky enough to be surrounded by her favorite things on a daily basis – awesome music, the great State of Texas and of course, Mr. Lemonade! I find any excuse I can to craft something and am completely infatuated with the 1950’s, all things Kennedy, and my furbaby Vida.
Hey y’all! Have you forgotten all about me yet? I hope not!
Since I am still waiting on our pro photos to make their way to us, I thought I’d entertain you with a few more pics that were snapped by our lovely friend and bridesmaid, L.
Meet Rock, our very good friend and usher:
Rock has a keen eye for fashion and took a strong liking to the beautiful bridesmaids dresses. Although, who could blame him? I mean, they are really pretty… totally something that will be worn again and again after the wedding. Apparently, I’m not the only one who thought so… Read more…
Mrs. Cub, Chile/PortlandAge and Occupation: 26, AstronomerFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, AstronomerEngagement Date: May 10, 2008Wedding Date: September 2009Venue: Westwind YWCA campAbout Me: I'm a small-town girl who's making a living in Chile, with her heart in the Pacific Northwest. I grew up in Southern California, went to high school in Texas, grad school in New Mexico, and now I can't wait to settle down in Oregon! I love pears, hazelnuts,
knitting, traveling, running, baking, and long talks on the phone with
good friends. I'm planning my Oregon coast summer camp wedding while
abroad with my best friend - I'm always at home when I'm with him!
I could spout off about how we were “pressed for time” to find a venue, but in all honesty, venue hunting was more of a whirlwind vacation than anything else. Our time together in New Mexico was drawing to a close – Mr. Bear Cub defended his thesis on August 29, and we were to start work in Chile on October 1! We had a month to tie up loose ends at home in Oregon and find our venue!
Mr. Cubbie and I consider ourselves pretty flexible, but there were a couple of things we were definitely looking for:
Lodging for ~80 people in one place – We live in Chile now! We never get to see our friends or loved ones anymore! When we get married, we want it to be WAY more about the reunion of family and friends than the union of marriage. I miss my friends, and Mr. Cubbie does, too! Hotels and motels are a bit stuffy, so we tried to lean towards summer camps, B&Bs, and house-rentals.
Relatively easy access – Most of our guests have to fly to the NW; there’s no point in making them drive for hours after that!
No lameness – We know everyone up-charges just for the word “wedding”. That’s lame. We’re not going to stand for it. If someplace wants to charge us several thousand dollars to stand on their grass, they’ve obviously been smoking too much of said grass.
We can bring our own booze – again with the up-charging! Who needs it, when we can BYOB?
Killer food – duh!
A full-size kitchen we can use (to bake the cake)!
Must have an AWESOME view. The only things I’d ever envisioned about my “wedding day” were my dress (that it be stunning), and the location (on a meadow on a cliff overlooking the coast).
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!
And now for my rehearsal dinner dress, which looks similar to my shower dress (only hotter!). It doesn’t go AT ALL with the country theme, but I fell in love with the dress and had no choice. When I was in North Carolina, I visited a small boutique called K.LA and found my dress on the clearance rack. It was still pricey at $80, but I felt like splurging!
(Even though I am not smiling, I am happy! I was focusing on the picture )
I have been to so many rehearsal dinners where the brides looked so gorgeous and had a real “glow”. I still remember what they wore. Read more…
Mrs. Swan, New York CityAge and Occupation: 31, Legislative RepresentativeFiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Finance GuyEngagement Date: August 9, 2008Wedding Date: August 2009Venue: Battery GardensAbout Me: I am an un-crafty but resourceful, Caribbean-born but New York-raised woman who's been known to analyze "Dancing with the Stars" and “So You Think You Can Dance”, buy stinky cheese, and use way too many parentheses. I keep lists for fun, am constantly daydreaming of my next international travel adventure (four continents down, three to go), debating sports (let’s Got Mets/Giants!) and dancing around my apartment to stay sane. I am excited to share our wedding planning journey as I hope to plan a streamlined, personal, and fun wedding with the greatest life partner I could ever imagine, Mr. Swan.
WAY too early on a Sunday morning during a late April heat wave, Mr. Swan and I had our engagement shoot with our photographer, Dante Williams. We decided on South Street Seaport, which is quaint yet touristy little area right on the water in lower Manhattan. It was good to get there early, as it can be a total mob scene during the weekend.
Let me start by saying that Mr. Swan and I are not supermodels by any stretch of the imagination. NOBODY tells you how hard taking pictures can be. Yes, it should be easy to just sit there… but it wasn’t. I think we were just having a hard time relaxing. Needless to say, we started off pretty slow, BUT, by the end of the session we actually got to be pretty good (either that, or Dante was just messing with us). I also think Mr. Swan enjoyed an excuse for PDA early in the morning. In the end, I’m glad that we chose to do engagement pictures, so that we could get used to being photographic subjects for Dante, and get over our shyness.
The results? AMAZING. Here are some of my favorites (Oh yeah, the blonde guy is Mr. Swan):
Mrs. Joey, SeattleAge and Occupation: 28, Project Administrator for Public Health NGOFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, High School History TeacherEngagement Date: June 24, 2008Wedding Date: August 2009Venue: Eastside Catholic Chapel and Lake Union CafeAbout Me: I'm a Seattle girl through and through except for the fact that I don't drink coffee. I love my job most of the time because I get to travel and work with brilliant people who are trying to prevent Malaria. I love DIY projects of all sorts, cooking, and watching sports. I'd wear anything at Anthropologie and could spend all day on Etsy. I love to travel but shouldn't because I always get myself into unbelievable situations!
After my mini-ceremony tantrum, Mr. Joey and I sat down and selected readings for our ceremony. We each picked one and agreed on the third. So, here are our picks.
My pick: Reading 1
Wherever you go, I shall go,
wherever you live, I shall live.
Your people will be my people,
and your God will be my God.
Where you die, I shall die and there I shall be buried.
Let Yahweh bring ills on me,
if anything but death should part me from you!
– Ruth 1:16-17
Mr. Joey’s pick: Reading 2
Strive for the greater gifts.
And I will show you a more excellent way.
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels,
but do not have love,
I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
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!
Yes, that’s right my friends. Mr. Powder Puff and I bought our wedding bands this past weekend. I hate to say it, but we’re one of those sappy couples that got matching rings. That’s basically one step away from matching leisure suits and “His” and “Her” towels. And I kinda like it!
Mrs. Yorkie, Miami Age and Occupation: 30, Graduate Admissions CoordinatorFiance's Age and Occupation: 41, Asst. Professor Engagement Date: July 3, 2008Wedding Date: June 2009Venue: Red Fish GrillAbout Me: I’m an East Coast girl with a crafty streak who loves traveling, photography and being outdoors (barefoot, if possible). When I do have to wear shoes, I prefer Mizunos, and have worn out a few pairs running marathons. I have a thing for chai, crossword puzzles, Apples to Apples, The Office and my real-life Yorkie, Bella. My West Coast transplant, Mr. Yorkie, roots for the Buckeyes, loves baseball, and climbs mountains for fun. We’re planning a fun little seaside wedding filled with handmade details and vintage charm. I can hardly wait!
When it came to deciding on our favors, I was adamant about not giving our guests trinkets that would either end up in the trash or (worse) collecting dust on a shelf. Mr. Yorkie agreed, and so we set to brainstorming practical favors that our guests would actually use and enjoy. Immediately, we started thinking about edible favors!
I’ve been smitten with Minhee Park’s wedding details since they first appeared in Martha Stewart Weddings in Fall 2006. I especially love the little ice cream scoops served with custom-printed wooden spoons! Read more…
Mrs. French Bulldog, Orange CountyAge and Occupation: 28, Administrative Assistant & Interior Design StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Purchasing AnalystEngagement Date: November 8, 2008Wedding Date: August 2009Venue: Bernardo WineryAbout Me: I've lived in Atlanta, Dallas and Laguna Niguel; although I've lived in Orange County, CA most my life, I'm a Southerner at heart. I work full time for a Commercial General Contractor (aka my father) and I go to school for Interior Design at night. I love modern design, music, wine, crafting, DMailing, my family, my Westies, and of course, Mr Frenchie! Mr Frenchie and I met 3 years ago on Match.com and have been best friends ever since. I love his "old soul" and how he laughs with his whole body, among many other things. We are planning our summer wedding at the winery near his hometown, just 45 minutes south of Orange County.
Remember my post full of flower over-stimulation? This weekend, the French Bulldog clan (Mr Frenchie, Mama Frenchie, MOH/Sister Frenchie, and I) is going to the winery for the cake tasting (more on that to come) and our florist, Joyce, is going to have a mock-up of our centerpieces for us. Turns out is will look a lot less like this…
Mrs. Bruschetta, PhiladelphiaAge and Occupation: 25, Communication ProfessionalFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Physical Therapy Graduate StudentEngagement Date: November 30, 2007Wedding Date: August 2009Venue: St. Thomas of Villanova Church & the F.U.E.L. HouseAbout Me: I’m a self-proclaimed grammar geek who loves singing (like, really belting it) in the car. My mister and I are planning a vibrant summer soiree celebrating our passions – including food and Philly – and when we make it official, we’ll have been together for eight years! Being super competitive is in my nature, and talking excessively is in my genes. I’ve got a terrible sense of direction, but can always easily find my way into Mr. Bruschetta’s arms.
Thanks to Sister Bruschetta, selecting the significant songs to be played at our wedding has been a breeze. Over the past several months, the mister and I compiled a list of any and every song we’d like to hear at some point throughout the evening at our reception — from cocktail hour through dinner, and until everyone’s exhausted from dancing. We’d noted the artist and song title, but in some cases (like with some of the lesser-known oldies), couldn’t “hear” the tune in our heads any longer with just this information.
Mrs. Bunny, ColumbusAge and Occupation: 24, Associate Editor/ReporterFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, ReporterEngagement Date: September 23, 2008Wedding Date: July 2009Venue: Everal Barn, WestervilleAbout Me: Organized, but messy. I love art (all kinds). I don't have any secrets. I talk a lot and listen even more. I show love by baking. I'm timid by nature, but brave when it counts.
Mr. Bunny and I work at competing weekly newspapers, which makes it a little interesting trying to describe our work joys and frustrations without giving away too much before the paper comes out. In spite of that little hurdle, we've managed to build a pretty solid relationship in the short one-and-a-half years we will have been together when we tie the knot. I can't wait!
I designed my STDs to look like handwritten vintage postcards using the trial version of Adobe InDesign.
After downloading and installing InDesign on my MacBook, I started by creating a new 6″ x 4″ document.
The program automatically converts inches into picas (that’s the “p” you see in the box there). 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.
Before I say, “I Do,” I am going to show you one last DIY project: our escort cards.
I had to wait until I knew who was coming and what each guest wanted to eat before I could start this project. Green is for the guests eating beef, and pink is for the guests eating fish. I printed out both the names on the front, and the inside directs guests where to sit: Read more…
Mrs. Cub, Chile/PortlandAge and Occupation: 26, AstronomerFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, AstronomerEngagement Date: May 10, 2008Wedding Date: September 2009Venue: Westwind YWCA campAbout Me: I'm a small-town girl who's making a living in Chile, with her heart in the Pacific Northwest. I grew up in Southern California, went to high school in Texas, grad school in New Mexico, and now I can't wait to settle down in Oregon! I love pears, hazelnuts,
knitting, traveling, running, baking, and long talks on the phone with
good friends. I'm planning my Oregon coast summer camp wedding while
abroad with my best friend - I'm always at home when I'm with him!
I may be a scientist, but I’m constantly inspired by manyformsofart to include in the design style of our wedding.
Something I’ve been searching for desperately is botanical sketches of flowers to work as an underlying (dare I say it?) theme to the wedding design.
I absolutely love the food sketches of John Burgoyne on the back of my Cook’s Illustrated each month! Wedding planning aside, I wish I could frame each of these sketches and hang them in my kitchen! The sketches really drive home a rustic, homemade feel, don’t you think?
Mrs. Mascara, Chicago/Upper MichiganAge and Occupation: 25, Biomedical EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Process EngineerEngagement Date: July 27, 2008Wedding Date: September 2009Venue: Catholic ceremony, reception at local armoryAbout Me: A lover of Mr. Mascara, crafting, baking, Gossip Girl, diet soda, and all things wedding. A Yooper girl somehow displaced in the Chicago suburbs, planning a wedding from a distance, and counting down the days until I marry my best friend.
This past weekend was a busy one for the Mascaras (maybe just the female half of the family). Of course, since it was a holiday weekend, we were planning on making the trek back up to the UP, but the main reason we went back was so I could attend my first bridal shower! Mr. Mascara’s lovely sisters Angela and Megan hosted the event, which was held at his parents’ house on the lake.
FMIL Connie, FSIL Megan, FSIL Angela, and I
My FMIL had taken all of the furniture out of their living room to fit all the tables and chairs, and I must say that it looked absolutely beautiful! Read more…
Rock has a keen eye for fashion and took a strong liking to the beautiful bridesmaids dresses. Although, who could blame him? I mean, they are really pretty… totally something that will be worn again and again after the wedding. Apparently, I’m not the only one who thought so…
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
(Even though I am not smiling, I am happy! I was focusing on the picture 
)
