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You’ve already read about our loft location drama, and how I had worked hard to find a ceremony site that was within walking distance of our original reception site at the Soho Loft because I didn’t want to have to deal with trying to transport guests between neighborhoods in NYC. So we booked the Kraine Theatre for the ceremony. Then we had to move our reception to a different location and were so thrilled to have it at the Midtown Loft! One problem: how to make sure everyone gets between the ceremony and reception without getting lost or having to spend any money?
We could have hired some black cars for the transport, but that seemed kind of boring. I wanted the wedding to be very “New York”, in addition to dramatic, so I thought it would be fun to have everyone take the subway. We have a lot of out-of-towners, though, and I was afraid that they would get lost or be annoyed that they had to figure out the subway for themselves.
Our solution:
Following my resolution to make do with what I’ve got and not spend more money on wedding decor, I came up with these:
They’re a variation of Junk Camp’s stamp photo holders, found here.
I chose to use these cookie cutters because my mom and I both have a ton of them and I wouldn’t have to drill holes in them to accomodate the wire. After the wedding we can remove the wire (which is simple, thin gauge copper wire we had in the garage) and they can go back to being cookie cutters.
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For us, booking the venue was the easiest decision we’ve made so far. Upon first getting engaged, I went to one of those Bridal Extravaganza thingies where you get bombarded by vendors left and right. It was a bit overwhelming, but I did end up finding some information that led us to the venue of our dreams–Barr Mansion, in Austin, Texas. Later that night, I looked up the venue’s website and fell in love with the place. It had everything I wanted for the ceremony–a simple outdoor garden area–as well as a beautiful reception location (the Artisan Ballroom). Additionally, it is the only certified organic wedding venue in the United States! This fit in nicely with our “green”-themed wedding.
I found out at the bridal show that the venue would be hosting an open house the next Saturday night so that potential bookers like us could check it out all prettified with candles and glowy lights. The Dude and I went, and even though the price they quoted was higher than we wanted to spend, we knew we had to have our wedding there. We both wanted a place where we could have the ceremony + reception, and the ballroom felt so intimate and special. To make it work for us, we decided to hold the wedding on a Friday instead of a Saturday, and we picked the very last Friday in their “off” season to save additional money. (Yes, that is how we ended up with the 9/11 wedding date.)
Mr. Joey and I have been saving up for the honeymoon. No, I’m not talking about saving our pennies (though we are saving those, too). I’m talking about gathering up things to do during out LONG flight to Sydney. An 18+ hour journey for me is pretty normal, but for Mr. Joey, I worry. The 5 hour flight from NYC to Seattle drives him crazy, so I can only imagine what the flight from LA to Sydney will do.
I’ve started saving magazines when they come. We get a good range of them—Sunset, New Yorker, Esquire, Outside, Readymade—so I’m good on that front. I just need to keep myself from reading the occasional article. We plan on making a stop at out local Goodwill. They sell paperbacks for $0.79, and you can always find something good there. I always stop at the Goodwill to buy books for a trip. I don’t feel so bad leaving a $0.79 book on the plane or in a hotel.
The other thing we’ve been saving up are podcasts. I listen to news programs on the way to work most days, but on Monday evenings, I have the pleasure of listening to This American Life. I think I really like the show because I feel like it’s entirely possible I would hear someone I know on the show one week. Heck, I could be on the show. If they ever do a show on kidnapping capers in a foreign country, I’m their girl.
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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.”
Reader kmdxbb shared with us this great black and white shot of her and her husband’s wedding rings.
Keep on loading your inspirational wedding pics to the gallery to see them featured here on the blog! Remember, your images must be under 1MB in size, or they won’t load.
You might have noticed from my excited-engaged-hand shot that my nails aren’t exactly the most darling things in the world. In fact, I can’t even remember the last time I had a proper manicure!
That being said, with respect to wedding day beauty, I’m not exactly planning for a French manicure. When we talk beauty here at the Bear Cub den, what we (the royal we 
) really mean is health. Let’s be honest with ourselves - when we’re healthy, we exude natural beauty! I’ve found some other brides along the way who’ve found this to be true as well.
As for my nails, they don’t exactly look healthy. I don’t bite them, but as soon as they grow a millimeter, I cut them back to nearly nothing - and for good reason! I have weak nails. They peel, they bend, they break, and all too easily! Luckily, a long time ago a friend introduced me to Nailtiques.
This “nail polish” isn’t so much a polish as a protein-enriched nail strengthener. I accidentally sliced through one of my nails a few weeks ago while prepping food (OUCH), and this little baby is bonding the nail together again!
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Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
Finding the right music has been a struggle, from the recessional to the first dance, and beyond. We want the music to reflect our style and to be the right fit. However, I didn’t want to dwell too long on finding the song that the bridal party will walk down to.
In all of the weddings I’ve been to since I started planning my own, I cannot remember the song anyone has used for the bridal party entrance, whether they were traditional or more modern ceremonies. Absolutely nothing has stuck in my mind. So, rather than overthink this one, when Mr. S and I hit upon something that we both loved, it was chosen without a second thought.
I know many couples out there have gravitated toward the Vitamin String Quartet for their beautiful instrumental covers of popular songs. Their cover of The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven” is absolutely perfect. It’s beautifully done, and will be a perfect fit on the day of the wedding.
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In preparation for our hometown reception over the fourth of July weekend, I’m checking out options for printing a good quality but reasonably priced photo book… or five.
I’ve picked through a thousand SOOC (straight out of camera, for those of you who don’t follow Mrs. Avocado’s blog) photos and chosen about a hundred favorites, and our photographer is editing them as we speak. I want to put together a wedding scrapbook for our peeps who couldn’t make it to the actual shindig to peruse, plus a couple of keepsake albums for each of our parents, all in less than a few weeks’ time.
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Charlieken is selling her ivory silk satin Vera Wang bridal gown for $350.
Have a wedding item for sale? Post it with pictures in the Weddingbee classifieds and you might see it featured on the blog!
Other great items for sale:
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Meet my birdies! They’re such hotties. Last week, I headed home to Virginia for my b-party festivities hosted by these lovely ladies. I should have known this was going to be the mother of all bridal showers based on the invitations I received weeks ago. But I had no idea… NO IDEA… how crazy and balls out they went.
I have such a hard time expressing in words how special these ladies are to me. Simply put, I love them and I really didn’t deserve all that they did for me that day. They did a phenomenal job with the Breakfast at Tiffany’s themed shower! So much thought was put into the celebration, with no detail overlooked.
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It’s one year later, and finally, I’ve mustered up the courage to share our wedding day budget with you!
Date: 6/07/08
City, State: within 10 miles of Boston, MA
Budget: $25,000
# of Guests: planned for 200, actual # 170
Ceremony Costs, $405 (2%)
We were married at St. Catherine of Genoa in Somerville, MA — the same church Mr. Toucan’s parents were married!
The e-pics section of Weddingbee Bios is hoppin’! There are so many amazing entries that we can’t fit them all into one post! Check out some of the hive members’ amazing e-pics, with another post on this subject to follow (I promise!)
Newport Nuptials and her fiance took their engagement pics at the college where they met.
It was getting late in the evening and although we kept trying to prolong the inevitable, I knew I needed to head back to the hotel and make an attempt at getting a good night’s sleep. I had to keep reminding myself that the evening’s festivities were the pre-game and we still had the big show ahead of us the next day.
Mr. L and I looked around one last time, taking in the faces of our friends and family and did our best to take it all in one last time.
I already mentioned to you that my two MOHs gave me a shower last weekend. It was so adorable, I just had to share more of the details. There’s no other place I would’ve wanted it than on my parents’ deck in the Hollywood Hills. With views over the San Fernando Valley, a soothing fountain, and lush plants, it’s beautiful.
The day started off drizzling which was not a good sign, since all of the chairs had been set up outside, but as soon as people started arriving, the sky got lighter and the precipitation stopped. It was even fairly warm. The guests arrived to tables full of snapdragons and a spread that was delicious: lox and cream cheese sandwiches, pesto pasta salad, cucumber sandwiches, regular salad, and cheese and crackers.
About sixteen friends and family showed up, including my step-grandmother who won’t be able to attend the wedding because she can’t travel anymore.
We got our first wedding gift in the mail last week! It was SO exciting, and made everything feel so much more real!
We got all our new glasses and a tablecloth with matching napkins (don’t worry, we haven’t used them yet!). Thanks, Auntie L!
So, now comes the confession…
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