Weddingbee Blog

Ed. note: Mrs. Powder Puff is on her honeymoon, but she really wanted to participate in this series, and wrote her post on her blackberry and sent it to us! That’s dedication!

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I first heard about blogging back in college, circa 2004. Sitting in a classroom at the beautiful Michigan State University, my professor was discussing new innovations in journalism (my undergraduate degree) when he mentioned a fairly new thing called “blogging”. At the time, it sounded narcissistic and, well… stupid. Who wants to read a glorified diary?! If only I knew then how blogging would change my life.

Fast forward four years. Mr. Powder Puff and I had just gotten engaged and I was searching the ‘net for candle centerpiece ideas. Bam! Up comes Weddingbee and Mrs. Lemon’s gorgeous centerpieces. From that moment on, I was hooked. As I continued reading over the summer, I realized that I wanted, nay, NEEDED to be a bee. And at that moment, I did something that I never thought I would do—I started my own blog.

Now, for those of you who have been following me from the beginning, you may have realized that I started blogging for Weddingbee waaaaay before our wedding. November of last year, to be exact. A full eight months till the big day. But I’ll let you in on a little secret. Come on in close and I’ll whisper it in your ear…

I actually applied to Weddingbee in September. And was accepted a week or so later. TEN months until the wedding!! Since I was accepted so early, Pengy said they would wait to introduce me until it was a little closer to our wedding date. Believe me, it was SO HARD to wait! To see new bees being introduced and wishing it was me. But finally I was announced, and my life as Miss Powder Puff began. And I’ve never looked back.

Blogging for Weddingbee has changed my life. I’ve met some wonderful new friends (blogging for the ’bee is a little like being in a sorority!), written for an audience, and gotten some really fabulous wedding inspiration. It’s been so fantastic to be able to get my thoughts and feelings down on “paper”, and I love knowing that in the future I’ll be able to read what I’ve written at such a specific moment in my life, and remember the whole wedding planning process.

At times, writing for Weddingbee has been a challenge. Whenever you open yourself up to the public, you make yourself vulnerable to criticism as well as praise. We bees are real people with real feelings, and sometimes the comments can hurt! I know I’ve definitely had my fair share of snark thrown at me. But I’ve developed a thick blogger skin, and I really wouldn’t change one moment of my Weddingbee experience.

Now, for a couple of tips for all you aspiring bees. First, apply strategically. The reason I applied and was accepted so early is because there were a HUGE number of Bees getting married in September and October, and I knew Bee and Pengy would be looking for new bloggers. So, I thought I’d get my face in front of them and see if I had what it took. Obviously, it paid off!

Second, really create a unique “voice”. Write how you would speak, and polish it a little. Sounding like yourself will help you stand out and be a more interesting writer!

I’m an aging bee. My time with Weddingbee is almost through (sniff!), and a whole new generation of bees are being introduced. And even though I’ll miss you all when I’m gone, I haven’t regretted one moment of writing for this fabulous site. So, good luck to all you new and aspiring bees! Planning a wedding is a wild ride. It’s nice to know you have a friend in Weddingbee to take it with you.