Mrs. Cowboy Boot, Santa FeAge and Occupation: 25, Magazine EditorFiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Artist and Whitewater Rafting GuideEngagement Date: April 28th, 2008Wedding Date: October 2009Venue: Devil's Thumb Ranch, ColoradoAbout Me: I grew up in Los Angeles and have since lived in San Diego, Boston, Italy, Hawaii, New York City, and Santa Fe. I speak Italian and love pasta. My real passion is the outdoors, though. When I'm not at work, I'm snowboarding, hiking with my two dogs, mountain biking, surfing, cross-country-skiing, or boating New Mexico's rivers. Despite my boyish love for adventure, I'm a girly-girl at heart and am overly-excited to pull off the romantic, vintage-inspired, country wedding of my dreams.
I can’t recommend this enough: in the days leading up to your wedding, do yoga. Whether it’s by yourself or at a class, it will allow you to give yourself to the moment which is all you can ask for at wedding time: to be present.
Devil’s Thumb Ranch
Photo by our friend, Amanda Wilson
This is exactly what I did on Saturday morning, the day before the wedding. Lucky for us, Devil’s Thumb Ranch has complimentary yoga classes in a window-filled room that overlooks the mountains. Bridesmaid AC and I indulged in this luxury and it was the best way to sink into the weekend with a calm, relaxed mindset. Read more…
ClassifiedsFeature Launched: April 30, 2008About: A roundup of the best Weddingbee Classified listings.
Mrs. Mouse is selling a vintage ’50s party dress, complete with ivory lace and chiffon streamers trailing down the back. The tea-length dress fits a size 2-4. She’s asking $375 + shipping.
Have a wedding item for sale? Post it with pictures in the Weddingbee classifieds and you might see it featured on the blog!
Mrs. Pretzel, SeattleAge and Occupation: 32 Learning, Training, and Development SpecialistFiance's Age and Occupation: 28 Manufacturing EngineerEngagement Date: September 2, 2009Wedding Date: July 2010Venue: Catholic Church & The Engine Room at Georgetown StudiosAbout Me: I’m just a thirty-something girl who never dreamed of weddings, poofy dresses, or ritzy receptions. I am a rabid knitter, except recently, wedding projects have replaced my yarn and needles. I’ve been fiercely independent since the age of 2 and 30 years later I think my family and friends had given up on me settling down and getting married.
Ironically, I had to go all the way to Seattle to find a boy from Purdue. We fell in love over Seattle Beers and cooking together. I love NASCAR, he loves Legos. I can talk like a Muppet and he can fit a whole McDonald’s cheeseburger in his mouth. We are a two reception couple, currently planning a brewery inspired bash.
A little while ago we took my size 4 ring in to be sized down to a size 3.5… yeah I’ve got some teeny-tiny fingers. The day we were to pick up my ring, I got struck with the flu and spent the rest of the week in bed or in quarantine. Sigh… we had to wait an extra week be reunited. I felt strange without my ring, but Mr Pretzel and I agreed that it was sliding around my finger way too much for either of us to feel comfortable. When I finally got it back, I realized that I hadn’t really elaborated much on my ring.
Let’s rewind back to last March. Mr Pretzel and I had just started talking marriage and engagement. I hadn’t even started to think about rings. Then, we were watching Sweet Home Alabama and I had my first engagement ring thought/comment.
You know the scene: Reese and Patrick are in a dark room, the lights flip on, the blue boxes are stacked high, and the diamonds come out.
Mrs. Trail Mix, New YorkAge and Occupation: 26, PE TeacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, MBA StudentEngagement Date: March 2009Wedding Date: June 2010Venue: Tannery Pond at the Darrow SchoolAbout Me: I'm a country girl who somehow found herself living in the Big Apple and loving every minute of it. I'm planning a rustic, country-chic wedding in my hometown in upstate New York and it's going to be a Party with a capital P. White wine, flea markets and running keep me happy and my friends, family and fiance are my world. I'm a little bit crafty, a little bit crazy but mostly just crazy in love.
Since I’ve already devoted a post to my beautiful bridesmaids and their dresses, I should probably keep things even and talk about what the manly men will be wearing for our wedding day. Well, technically it’s still up for discussion so I suppose I should rephrase that to say what I want the manly men to wear. We both agreed tuxedos were way too formal for a country soiree, so that left us with various suit options. Personally, I think a crisp khaki suit would be perfect for our outdoor summer affair. I keep seeing pictures all over the internet and really dig the style.
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.
Mrs. Labrador Retriever, Athens/SavannahAge and Occupation: 24, Student/Sports ReporterFiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Physical Therapy Assistant Student/Future Dr. of PT
Engagement Date: December 31, 2008Wedding Date: November 2009Venue: Whitfield Square/Savannah StationAbout Me: I'm working on my second degree from UGA (Go Dawgs!). I'm a self-proclaimed attention-w****. If it involves a camera, I'm in front of it! You'll never meet a girlier tomboy than me. I can go toe to toe with any guy on the subject of college football, and lift more than any girl in my gym, all without chipping a nail. I hope to someday be the only person you want delivering your sports news. My FI and I are the loving parents of three Labrador Retrievers (one of each color) and are planning a "Southern Romantic Charm" wedding in the beautiful, historic city of Savannah. I'm not extreme in anything except moderation... and wedding planning.
Attempt #1: Mr. Lab and I got all the way to the courthouse with our paperwork filled out and money ready to go. But then we realized we forgot our certificate proving we completed marriage counseling. Said certificate would save us $30. We decided that was plenty enough to wait until our officiant could mail us the required notarized form and we’d try again.
Mrs. Ramen, PhoenixAge and Occupation: 26, Optometry StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Industrial DesignerEngagement Date: January 3, 2009Wedding Date: December 19, 2009Venue: Phoenix Art MuseumAbout Me: I'm an SF-born, Seattle-raised girl, transplanted to Phoenix where I'll be getting married, and planning all the way from Orange County where I go to school (yes, it feels as crazy as it sounds). I loooooove Yogurtland, am slightly very obsessed with all things paper, am heavily addicted to wedding blogs, deeply desire a puppy, thoroughly enjoy cooking, cry when I watch (almost all) movies, thrive on solo car-karaoke, can't stop being sarcastic, am neurotic about taking pictures of almost everything I eat before I eat it, and aspire to travel the world. My super-talented fiance and I are attempting to DIY a majority of our massive (~350 guests) "clean & modern, yet romantic, but completely unexpected, with a teeny dash of vintage" wedding, stay within our not-so-massive budget, and somehow get a really luxe (but still fun!) look/feel at the same time. In music terms (since we're both really into music) think Coldplay meets Motown meets Kanye meets Sinatra.
Here are what our pretty light blue envelopes look like all nekkid. So… this story is about my first epic fail, which could have been disastrous, but ended well. Read more…
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!
We’re ringing in Friday with a brand new bee! Please join me in welcoming our newest worldly bee to the hive—Miss Pudding!
Miss Pudding, Greater Toronto Area/Vermont Age & Occupation: 26, High School Teacher Fiance’s Age & Occupation: 26, Computer Engineer Engagement Date: August 2008 Wedding Date: July 2010 Venue: Catholic Ceremony, Cultural Hall Reception About Me: Quite literally a citizen of the world, I was born in Poland, grew up in Canada, and now live in the beautiful state of Vermont. I love reading historical biographies, multi-tasking, teasing my hair, and, despite my height, wearing high heeled shoes. I am the ultimate klutz with an uncanny ability to put on a graceful front. Mr. Pudding and I have been dating for over six years, and are very excited to finally merge our (very large) families. We are planning a traditional Polish-Catholic wedding that is anything but predictable.
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!
Well that’s it—the whole shebang. We planned, we wed, we partied and we survived. The whole thing was very surreal. Some days it was too real and other days I felt like I was living in a dream (and sometimes a nightmare). Read more…
Ms. Potato Chips, Boston/Narragansett RIAge and Occupation: 29, PhD StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Personal Trainer/Business Owner/Physical Therapy AssistantEngagement Date: January 1, 2009Wedding Date: June 2010Venue: The Narragansett TowersAbout Me: A semi-professional bookworm, if I could be a literary character I’d be a cross between Jo March and Jane Eyre, only better accessorized and much lazier. My hobbies include sleeping in, seasonal brews, running, Trader Joe’s, and watching Unwrapped and Good Eats with Mr. Potato Chips. I harbor an irrational fear of tulle, crafts, things that are fussy, and overuse of the phrase "Your Special Day". After a year or seven together, down the aisle we go, slouching toward adulthood and planning a Rhodie party with equal parts whimsy, cheer, and pizza.
This is one of those nerdy/crazy times when archival research intersects with wedding/wedded life. Are you rolling your eyes yet? Bear with me. What follows, for your reading pleasure, are portions of an article written in The New-England Weekly Journal (Containing the Most Remarkable Occurrences Foreign & Domestic) on February 15, 1731. It is part one of a two-parter called “A Letter to a Lady on her Marriage.” I think we’ll all learn a thing or two about how we ladies ought to govern ourselves after we’ve snagged that husband. No need to thank me.
Mrs. Frozen Yogurt, DallasAge and Occupation: 28, Special Projects CoordinatorFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Equity TraderEngagement Date: March 19, 2009Wedding Date: April 2010Venue: Marie Gabrielle, DallasAbout Me: I was born and raised in Texas, and have lived in several of the cities across the state, but I currently reside in Austin. I went to college in Boston and have a special place in my heart for the Northeast. I love reading, shopping, wine, reuniting with college friends that are scattered across the country, reality TV, trying out new recipes, and attempting all the DIY projects that come along with wedding planning. I'm a "bleeding heart, save the world type" and thankfully my job allows me to work on legislation and policy to help out those in need. I met Mr. Frozen Yogurt in a bar, though he doesn't even drink! And now we are planning a modern yet vintage wedding in Dallas while dealing with the trials and tribulations of first time homeownership.
Do you ever feel like you don’t take enough time to actually focus on your relationship? Maybe because your days and weeks are muddled with wedding planning, working, home remodeling, etc. Or maybe because things become “routine” and you fall into your patterns. OK, this is starting to sound like an infomercial, only I don’t have a wonder product to sell to you.
But seriously, sometimes I feel disconnected from Mr. Fro Yo.
It’s not that we don’t talk everyday—we do, several times a day. Then we go home from our respective jobs, take our dog for a hike, maybe do a little P90X, make dinner together, curl up on the couch together where he often plays with my hair as I lay in his lap, and then go to bed and read together for a while before finally falling asleep. But sometimes it feels like we’re two people taking part in activities while in the same room, but we’re not really “together”.
So, I’ve decided to stop taking all these sweet little moments for granted and really appreciate everything we have with each other. Read more…
Mrs. Mary Jane, Grand Forks, NDAge and Occupation: 26, Instructional DesignerFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Lead ProgrammerEngagement Date: February 28, 2009Wedding Date: September 2009Venue: City HallAbout Me: I'm a career woman on the surface and a homemaker at heart. I love fast cars and high heels, and my favorite food is cake. Mr. Mary Jane and I are both full-time employees and students, and we just bought our first house. We love to curl up on the couch with buttery popcorn, Sour Patch Kids, and the latest Netflix arrival -- whenever we can get a break from everyday life.
Mrs. Pretzel, SeattleAge and Occupation: 32 Learning, Training, and Development SpecialistFiance's Age and Occupation: 28 Manufacturing EngineerEngagement Date: September 2, 2009Wedding Date: July 2010Venue: Catholic Church & The Engine Room at Georgetown StudiosAbout Me: I’m just a thirty-something girl who never dreamed of weddings, poofy dresses, or ritzy receptions. I am a rabid knitter, except recently, wedding projects have replaced my yarn and needles. I’ve been fiercely independent since the age of 2 and 30 years later I think my family and friends had given up on me settling down and getting married.
Ironically, I had to go all the way to Seattle to find a boy from Purdue. We fell in love over Seattle Beers and cooking together. I love NASCAR, he loves Legos. I can talk like a Muppet and he can fit a whole McDonald’s cheeseburger in his mouth. We are a two reception couple, currently planning a brewery inspired bash.
When we left off, I had fallen in love with little wooden versions of Mr Pretzel and me, like the ones made by goosegrease on Etsy. Mr Pretzel was pretty smitten with the idea, too. Something about the simplicity of these minis spoke to our clean, modern sense of design. This project stayed on the back burner until a trip to Jo-Ann’s Fabric. Mr Pretzel and I were picking up supplies for another wedding project and I said, “Let’s swing by the wood section.” I was thinking we could build our own people using various wood shapes. As we were comparing wood spheres for the appropriately sized heads, my eyes landed on a package of perfectly sized, already assembled, wooden people! My eyes scanned the price… $1.29! Woo hoo! I did a quick celebratory dance and quickly pulled Mr Pretzel to the next aisle to stock up on paints.
An afternoon later, I had a mini-Mr Pretzel and a mini-Miss Pretzel—for a whopping $8.37! If you have a selection of paint on hand, you could do this project for a mere $2. Seriously? Seriously! Alright Miss Pretzel, get on with the ‘structions!
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.
It’s been a week since Mr. Poodle and I finally were reunited, and we went from using Skype and the phone to say hola and buenas noches each day to saying it with a real hug and a kiss. It has being AMAZING!
But, we struggled again with the visa process. This time it was not our K1 Fiancé Visa, but my family’s. Since they were not able to start their process until our visa was accepted, we’ve now realized accepted the fact that the timing (for our January wedding) was just NOT going to work. And since we would have only been able to have a few of them with us at the wedding, we have decided we are going to move our wedding celebration date, so that way ALL of our Chilean guests (OK, all 4 of them) can be able to make it to our special day.
It sounds crazy to think we are going to change our wedding date just for 4 guests, right? But they are my special invitees (including Poodle Mom and Poodle BM Sister) and they mean the world to me.
After our talk, we decided the best month for us will be April, since it will be Mr. Poodle’s brother’s spring break (he is his best man). This will assure that the most important people in our lives will be able to make it. Read more…
Mrs. Trail Mix, New YorkAge and Occupation: 26, PE TeacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, MBA StudentEngagement Date: March 2009Wedding Date: June 2010Venue: Tannery Pond at the Darrow SchoolAbout Me: I'm a country girl who somehow found herself living in the Big Apple and loving every minute of it. I'm planning a rustic, country-chic wedding in my hometown in upstate New York and it's going to be a Party with a capital P. White wine, flea markets and running keep me happy and my friends, family and fiance are my world. I'm a little bit crafty, a little bit crazy but mostly just crazy in love.
When it comes to food, I know what I like. I am one of those people who LOVES food. I definitely live to eat.
Anyways, when it came time to talk about the menu, Mr Trail Mix and I had a pretty clear idea of what we wanted. Since all the food will have to be cooked without access to a kitchen (our venue is essentially a field), we wanted to keep it simple and easy but tasty. Read more…