Mrs. Lightning, Cape Town Age and Occupation: 22, Journalist and Graphic DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 23, Computer ScientistEngagement Date: December 27, 2008
Wedding Date: September 2009Venue: Hout Bay ManorAbout Me: I'm a young American living abroad in the beautiful city of Cape Town with a wonderful South African fiance and our crazy kitty Zeus. We're young, driven and madly in love. Together we're pursuing our wildest dreams including our biggest undertaking yet, a vintage retrospective wedding filled to the brim with DIY madness. I have an unnatural attraction to cake, a passion for blogging and a love of good design. While I might be an overly obsessive creative with too many ideas and nowhere to put them, Mr Lightning is my biggest fan and I can't wait to make my true love mine.
The time has come for Mr. Lightning and I to select a venue for photographs. We have decided to buck tradition once again and have our formal photographs taken before the ceremony for two reasons. One: because it makes use of the best light, considering our wedding is in the evening. Two: because we won’t have to leave our beloved guests unattended with our reception to follow directly after the ceremony (it being the same venue for both, after all).
With the decision to take photographs before the wedding, we are also now able to select a unique location in which to take them. With Cape Town being such a beautiful and diverse city, it hasn’t been easy to pin down the right location for us (we need good weather and wet weather options). But just to let you in on what we are looking at, these are some of the contenders thus far…
The East Fort in Hout Bay. The East fort is (apparently) the oldest operating gun battery in the world. The ruins below are of an old house that look out over the East Fort and Hout Bay Harbour, making this the closest photo location to our venue. My photographer recommended this location, as it is where she had her portraits taken for her own wedding. I really love the idea of having a location that is in stark contrast to our formal attire.
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 saw this wedding this morning featured at Craftzine.com. The Bride and Groom are sheepherders. Apparently, his waistcoat is made from the same wool as her dress. Read more…
Mrs. Sprinkle, Los AngelesAge and Occupation: 26, Preschool Teacher
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Television Production/WriterEngagement Date: December 24, 2008Wedding Date: September 2009Venue: The Marvimon HouseAbout Me: I'm a Bay Area native trying to create a life for myself (and my fiance, and our three cats!) in the vast city of Los Angeles. I love vegan red velvet cupcakes, pilates ,and mid-century furniture. Mr. Sprinkle and I met when my band toured through his city (we bonded over cake and a mutual love of Morrissey) and we are getting married on the four year anniversary of our first date. When I am not teaching preschool (or blogging!) you can find me perfecting recipes, petting kittens, hiking in Griffith Park, and overusing exclamation points. We are planning a vegan, green-as-possible, DIY wedding, and I couldn't be more excited to share all of the details!
Mrs. Mouse, AustinAge and Occupation: 25, Weddingbee Editor/AttorneyFiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Civil EngineerEngagement Date: December 19, 2007Wedding Date: September 2009Venue: Barr MansionAbout Me: I just graduated from law school and will be taking the bar, getting married, going on a honeymoon with my guy, and then trying to figure out what I'm going to do with the rest of my life. I was born and raised in a small East Texas town, but I'm no country girl! I'm obsessed with British accents, fantasy (including Harry Potter, of course), and classic rock. My fiance and I consider ourselves both music and beer snobs--but every once in awhile we love to hear a crappy band and drink a cheap brew or two. We're planning an eco-friendly, casual, English garden affair for the end of summer, and we can't wait for it to get here!
Even though the Dude’s parents are (very generously) paying for the rehearsal dinner, we are planning and hosting it for the most part. It’s going to be in our backyard, after all!
So this past weekend I dusted off my Gocco and created some rehearsal dinner invitations to mail out.
Wanna see?
(Click for a closer look.)
It’s kind of difficult to see the light-pink cow and pig, but they look a lot more vivid in person. Read more…
Mrs. Star, New York CityAge and Occupation: 22, ActressFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Casting AssistantWedding Date: October 2009Venue: Ceremony: The Kraine Theatre, Reception: Midtown Loft & TerraceAbout Me: I’m a professional actress who’s always had New York City in her blood and I'm finally getting the chance to make a home in Manhattan with my fiancé, my dog, and my big dreams! I love polka dots, craft projects, Dunkin’ Donuts’ iced coffee, and anything sparkly. I’m having a blast planning our elegant/dramatic/New York City/acting-themed/largely-DIY wedding and am thrilled to be the youngest current Miss Blogger!
One of the most common arguments against getting married at our age that I’ve come across is the belief that we will eventually grow apart. Is this a possibility? For sure. But isn’t it always, no matter your age?
Reader Veil Tales was kind enough to send me this Washington Post article, which refreshingly argues in favor of young marriage. One of my favorite parts of the article states:
But what really matters for making marriage happen and then making it good are not matches, but mentalities: such things as persistent and honest communication, conflict-resolution skills, the ability to handle the cyclical nature of so much of marriage, and a bedrock commitment to the very unity of the thing. I’ve met 18-year-olds who can handle it and 45-year-olds who can’t.
True enough.
Mr. Star and I have had a deep and intense connection that neither of us can fully explain ever since the very beginning of our relationship, but we both know that it will take more than that to keep a (hopefully!) 60 or 70 year relationship running. We know and expect that as people and as a unit we will change as we age and continue to “grow up”, so to speak. Of course, this is true of any couple, no matter their age, but it’s especially important for young-ish couples to accept and work with. These are some of the things that have worked for us so far: Read more…
Kimberly Canale, Brooklyn, NYVendor: Event DesignerWebsite: Inspired GoodnessAbout Me: From the moment the engagement ring was slipped onto my finger, I've been in love with all-things-wedding. I still get teary eyed reading proposal stories in magazines and love sneaking a peek at a bride and groom glancing at one another for the first time, as the ceremony is about to begin. With each of my clients, I get to know their personality, family background and hear the story of how they met and fell in love. Each piece becomes another element from which I use to build the overall vision for their wedding day.
As the Creative Director at Inspired Goodness, my job is to create the various details that makes each of our weddings come to life. My work incorporates classic elements; engraving, hand calligraphy and vintage typography. Using a mix of found objects and flea market pieces lends a rich history to my work and challenges me to find creative ways to use mass-produced elements, each with a chic and timeless result.
With every new client, I get to explore avenues I've yet to pass and love knowing that the next adventure is just around the corner!
Last week I was on the phone with a mother of the bride talking about why brides no longer do photos of entire tables. The funny thing is that I’ve never been to a wedding in my life where this was done, but back in our moms’ day, this was certainly the norm.
With couples opting for more photo-documentary style photography, how do we remember exactly who was at our wedding say 5, 10 or even 30 years down the line? Originally, these photos existed for that purpose, even long after the last thank you note was written, you could look through your wedding album and see every table grouped en mass in a single photo.
The conversation kind of got me thinking about modern ways to capture everyone at your big day. Here’s a few ideas that will solve this trick!
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!
Remember the post I wrote about the amazing ties by Cyberoptix?! Well, we ordered ties and they arrived this week. They are AWESOME! We matched them with the girls’ dresses EXACTLY and Mr. AC really liked the oak tree, so we chose that image. Not only do the ties rock, but the company was so great to work with and the ties arrived very quickly.
The guys will be wearing dark gray suits with crisp white shirts and the ties. Mr. AC hasn’t decided if he wants a boutonniere yet, but I hope he does! If not, we are going to make a pocket square to match the tie. Read more…
Mrs. Poodle, Santiago, Chile/San Bernardino, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Industrial & Web DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Firefighter & Mountain PatrolEngagement Date: February 25, 2009Wedding Date: January 2010Venue: Mr. P's Grandparents’ RanchAbout Me: I’m a Chilean girl who's crazy about nature and swimming. I enjoy carving, drawing, reading and sewing; I drool over computers, fabric, pretty paper, purple and patterns. To me, chocolate should be one of the seven wonders, right next to lemon pie. I never thought an exchange work experience program was going to change my life forever, but while working in California, I met Mr. Poodle, and ever since my days are better and brighter. We are two goofy souls that, after finding each other, couldn’t help but want to be together forever. It has being a long and sometimes hard road, since we have to deal with such a long distance between us, but we are now facing the last stage of our Fiancé Visa, and soon we will be together. You know the best part? We will be married! So I’ll be blogging from Chile until just a few months before our “green and purple” wedding.
A while ago I posted all the different origami flowers I was working on for the wedding (here and here), and I had great feedback for all of them except one. Remember the cherry blossoms from this post?
Well, I had a hard time trying to figure out how to finish these flowers. So after I finally did, I had to teach everyone in person so they could help me (MOH, Sister, Mamá Poodle and more), because they could not finish the last steps of this tutorial. I thought it would be really helpful if I could add more pictures to the 1.0 version of the blossom tutorial, and I came out with this next version (it’s basically the same, but I added some more pictures and details). Read more…
Mrs. Chick, HoustonAge and Occupation: 28, Rights and Reproduction ManagerFiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Computer ProgrammerEngagement Date: November 15, 2008Wedding Date: April 2010Venue: A farm outside of HoustonAbout Me: Mr. Chick and I met almost ten years ago at Baker Blues, a college jazz party. He was attracted to my intensity, and I was mesmerized by his trivia pursuit skills and his dorm furniture adorned with his initials. We've grown more sophisticated through the years, with our love of wine, owning a house together, and parenthood (of a cat), but we have not lost our silliness or childish sense of humor!
Mr. Chick and I met ten years ago in college and we have been dating ever since. He is laid back and has an outrageous sense of humor. I am outgoing and spontaneous, but I am also intense and OCD. We are both oenophiles, and we love doing crazy things like skydiving or going to Italy on a whim. We bought a house together three years ago in Houston, Texas, and we have a kitler (kitty who looks like Hitler) named Blue. Mr. Chick is a great groomie who puts up with my constant yammering about wedding plans, and he has been very participatory and helpful throughout the entire process! Read more…
ClassifiedsFeature Launched: April 30, 2008About: A roundup of the best Weddingbee Classified listings.
Reader jrodney is selling her Priscilla of Boston wedding dress in a size 8. The strapless dress is made with ivory satin and silk, and it has crystal beading. She is asking $3500.
Have a wedding item for sale? Post it with pictures in the Weddingbee classifieds and you might see it featured on the blog!
Mrs. Pineapple, PittsburghAge and Occupation: 24, Graphic DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Student Affairs AdministrationEngagement Date: August 4, 2007Wedding Date: October, 2008Blogging Since: April 14, 2008Venue: The Rivers ClubAbout Me: Being a transplant from sunny south Florida I am learning to live with all four seasons while playing with our cat collective, line dancing, and doing a ton of DIY projects for our wedding (seriously, like a thousand)!
I did something today that I have not done in a very long time. I continued writing my recaps. It has been almost a year since Mr. Pineapple and I first married in a small cinder-block building in Clymer, PA.
When I last posted several months ago, cocktail hour was over and the party was just about to begin…
After the introduction of the parents, bridal party, and Mr. Pineapple and me, began the speeches from Sister Pineapple, Krissy and the best man, Erik.
Miss Dew Drop, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 31, AttorneyFiance's Age and Occupation: 35, Managerial Type at an Internet CompanyEngagement Date: December 12, 2008
Wedding Date: September 2009Venue: Ralston Hall MansionAbout Me: I'm a food-and-baking-obsessed, occasionally sword wielding Bay Area native who is quickly becoming overwhelmed with planning a wedding and opening a law practice at the same time. (Brilliant move, that one.) I love reading, online shopping, ice cream, my Macbook, Bollywood movies, hoodies, the UCLA Bruins, and of course, Mr. Dew Drop.
I’m not a stickler for etiquette by any means, but there’s a rule I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. It’s the one where the mother of groom should wear something similar to the mother of the bride.
But what do you do when this isn’t an option?
My mom will be wearing a sari. A fancy sari.
Not my mom’s sari, but I thought it would be useful for comparison’s sake. (Source)
Mrs. Lightning, Cape Town Age and Occupation: 22, Journalist and Graphic DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 23, Computer ScientistEngagement Date: December 27, 2008
Wedding Date: September 2009Venue: Hout Bay ManorAbout Me: I'm a young American living abroad in the beautiful city of Cape Town with a wonderful South African fiance and our crazy kitty Zeus. We're young, driven and madly in love. Together we're pursuing our wildest dreams including our biggest undertaking yet, a vintage retrospective wedding filled to the brim with DIY madness. I have an unnatural attraction to cake, a passion for blogging and a love of good design. While I might be an overly obsessive creative with too many ideas and nowhere to put them, Mr Lightning is my biggest fan and I can't wait to make my true love mine.
This post signifies the start of a few posts about some of the wedding-related surprises I have in store for my beloved. He’s promised not to look, and I guess I can only trust that he won’t. Read more…
Weddingbee GalleryFeature Launched: April 10, 2009About: A collection of inspirational wedding pictures from readers and bees.
Check out this orange and yellow themed candy buffet by Sweet And Saucy Shop.
Don’t forget to check out all the professional inspiration from the top wedding vendors in the industry in the PRO Folio!
Mrs. Penguin, Northern CaliforniaAge and Occupation: 27, Weddingbee Editor in ChiefFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Doctor of Physical TherapyEngagement Date: January 29, 2007Wedding Date: June 7, 2008Blogging Since: September 14, 2007Venue: Winery in the Gold CountryAbout Me: I love the Spice Girls, dogs with underbites, bean burritos, making messes, high fives, avoiding showers, crossword puzzles, blogs, weddings, and blogs about weddings!
Please join me in welcoming Miss Chick to the hive. She’s having two receptions: one in Texas and one in Taiwan!
Miss Chick, Houston Age & Occupation: 28, Rights and Reproduction Manager Fiance’s Age & Occupation: 29, Computer Programmer Engagement Date: November 15, 2008 Wedding Date: April 2010 Venue: A farm outside of Houston About Me: Mr. Chick and I met almost ten years ago at Baker Blues, a college jazz party. He was attracted to my intensity, and I was mesmerized by his trivia pursuit skills and his dorm furniture adorned with his initials. We’ve grown more sophisticated through the years, with our love of wine, owning a house together, and parenthood (of a cat), but we have not lost our silliness or childish sense of humor!
(Click for a closer look.)
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
{ Image source and tutorial 1.0 (Link) }
