Weddingbee Blog

On Blogging:

It is still hard for me to tell people I am a blogger. In some circles that word has such a stigma, or it is totally misunderstood. A lot of people think a blog is just an online diary that you publish for the world to read, or an attention grabbing device! I like to think of blogging as more of a creative outlet, and a place to share ideas, learn new things, and meet new people.

Let’s go way back in time to… dun dun dun dun… the year… TWO THOUSAND!

In 2000 I first started blogging on LiveJournal, although I don’t think we started calling it ’blogging’ until 2001 or so. That was around the time I really got into blogs. I mostly read music stuff, and the blogs of various scenesters and party people in LA and NYC. While I knew I would never be the next ultragrrrl, I still had fun writing and exchanging comments with my friends.

Now, let’s fast forward to 2008. Mr. Sprinkle and I start talking about the big picture, and decided we would perhaps like to get married sometime soon! Then surprise, he proposed. Literally days later (19 days, to be exact) I started up a wedding blog. Originally, I just wanted a place to exchange ideas with other brides, and keep my family updated on what was going on.

I started off reading way too many wedding blogs. It was hard to keep up, and really frustrating to see so many blogs that seemed to only show super-high budget weddings. I finally fell into the groove of only reading Weddingbee and several blogs of other Los Angeles area brides. At the time, I would get really excited when there was a new post from Meatball, or Avocado, or Spring Roll! Those are the ladies that made me want to be a bee, too. So I thought long and hard about whether or not I had the time to dedicate to blogging, and then decided to go for it.

Aaaaaaand I was rejected!

I must admit, I was a bit upset. I even slowed down my ‘bee reading for a while. But, after a week or two I decided not to be a huge crybaby, continued my reading, continued my blogging, and worked a little harder on developing a strong blogger voice.

With less than two months to go ’til the wedding, on a random Thursday evening, I decided to reapply. I didn’t get my hopes up, because I really didn’t want to be disappointed. But I wasn’t! I actually got the email that I was accepted during nap time at school, so I had to keep my usually loud and obnoxious excited voice to a minimum. I couldn’t stop smiling at all that day, but I was super nervous when my first post went up. Going from an audience of less than 50 to a huge readership like we have on Weddingbee is a crazy leap, and I was worried that it wouldn’t be a smooth transition. Luckily, the experience has been nothing short of amazing, and I am continually inspired, excited, and humbled by everyone here!

On Weddingbee Characters:

When given the character options, I quickly narrowed it down to three: Sprinkle, Spaniel and Lightning. I alllllmost went with Lightning, but decided Sprinkle was a better fit. Rain is my absolute favorite kind of weather, and having a cupcake with sprinkles on it is usually the highlight of my week!

On What it Takes to be a Bee:

Originally, I thought to be a bee you had to have the most super original, amazing, crafty (insert other adjectives here) wedding out there. After reading for a few weeks I realized that the bloggers were just normal ladies who had something to say about planning! Yes, I think we have a higher-than-usual percentage of super crafty and talented brides, but I think the blogging world in general attracts that sort of person. Basically, to be a bee, you need a strong voice. Be opinionated, but not offensive. Be honest, be original, be willing to share! Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. You also need to not be easily offended, because you will occasionally get a negative comment. The first one really stings, but it gets easier. I just have to remind myself that not everyone lives the same life, we all have different ideas and opinions, and each opinion is just as valid as the next.

On Being a Bee:
I had the great opportunity to meet fellow bees and readers just a few weeks after I started blogging for WB, and it was amazing! Sitting down with two dozen people who are all going through the same thing as you, at the same time, is wonderful. It was like a Girl Scout meeting, except with alcohol. And without patches. Or green uniforms!

The experience of blogging for Weddingbee has been delightful. I love giving/getting advice on the boards. When I read that I have inspired someone to be a little more green, I get giddy. When I talk to other vegan brides, I am ecstatic! Once in a while I feel a slight panic when I realize it’s been four days since my last blog entry and I have six half-written posts but nothing ready to go up. Honestly, I could not ask for a better community to be a part of!