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. Pug, New York City/Half Moon Bay, CAAge and Occupation: 33, LawyerFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, dittoEngagement Date: July 2008Wedding Date: March 2010Venue: Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon BayAbout Me: The Mr. and I are two 30-somethings who enjoy tasty sweets of all kinds, our neighborhood wine store, and cuddling with our pug. NYC is where we live and the city we love, but we’re doing the deed out in Northern California. We are trying to keep the affair small, intimate, and manageable. Our motto is: the less people, the better! (I’m kidding.)
Let’s hop back for a moment and revisit my decision to make our own save the dates.
I figured that if I was going to go DIY our wedding stationery, I might as well look into paper choices that I wouldn’t necessarily have if I had gotten pre-printed save the dates. So, the first thing I looked at was the heftiness of my paper choices.
Paper weight
There are several types of paper—cover, text, writing and bond (for those in the paper industry, don’t shoot me if I’m wrong). The paper is further categorized by weight (in pounds)—meaning the weight of a certain number of sheets. For a much better explanation of paper weight, go to The Paper Mill Store—they have a webpage explaining all this mumbo jumbo.
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.
Today I logged onto The Knot to see that our wedding is just a little over 100 days away, and the panic set in. Then I decided to click on my To Do List, and a page opened up with a lot of alarm clocks indicating that I have not accomplished many of the items on my checklist. Many of them were about the traditional tasks such as ordering tuxes for the guys or deciding on the perfect accessories for my ‘maids, but the first one staring back at me said:
Start taking better care of yourself. Get in wedding day shape by eating right, joining a gym, and/or even hiring a personal trainer.
So basically, I’m a fat ass and need to be sure I get skinny quick for my wedding.
Mrs. Cola, Mountain View, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Product Communications and PromotionsFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Managing Partner and Senior DesignerEngagement Date: March 5, 2009Wedding Date: June 2010Venue: The Mountain Terrace, Woodside, CAAbout Me: I’m a Washington State native, enjoying life in Silicon Valley California with my fiancé, our three kitties and one leopard gecko. I like reading wedding blogs, Photoshopping wedding design mock ups, making lists, and planning, planning, planning! I’m a bit of an anomaly, on one side I’m a very girlie girl, I collect shoes, I lay out my outfits 4-6 weeks in advance, and I’d never leave the house without my hair curled and makeup on. But on the other side, I’m a total tomboy, I love to go camping and hiking, play drinking games (hey, I’m Irish!) and most of my closest friends are guys. My fiancé and I are planning a DIY-focused wedding with a balance between easygoing (what he wants) and chic and stylish (what I want), and are tying it all together with elements in lavender, sage, butter cream and chocolate.
Yet another craft idea I stole from the web! This was featured on Project Wedding, and I pretty much copied the text from this version.
It’s a sign to hang on our hotel suite door knob, which will serve to 1) let people know which room is ours for the after party and 2) double as a Do Not Disturb sign. It was really easy, and probably a frivolous, unnecessary project that I wouldn’t have bothered with if I didn’t have so much time left before the wedding. But that’s the beauty of planning early; I have time for fun and silly additions! 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!
This year the Bees participated in a Secret Santa where we exchanged ornaments of each bee’s character! Some were made, some were purchased, but all were adorable. With a budget of $15, check out what our talented and creative bees came up with!
Mrs. Cheeseburger, Baltimore, MD/State College, PAAge and Occupation: 25, Medical StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Medical StudentEngagement Date: June 28, 2008Wedding Date: March 2010Venue: Catholic Church Ceremony & Hotel ReceptionAbout Me: I'm a passionate girl from Pittsburgh, currently living in Baltimore for school, who loves Penn State, seeing movies, football, thunderstorms, black and white photos, Christmas, good beer, my amazing friends and family, and of course, my mister! We met, fell in love, got engaged, and will be married at our alma mater (go lions!) in a traditional Catholic ceremony followed by a hotel reception with lots of DIY details. It means so much to have our families and friends meet at our favorite place on earth to celebrate our love for one another - I truly couldn't ask for anything more!
We were scheduled to take our engagement pictures at the end of October, and so I spent some time thinking about what we would wear. I found a really cute, fall dress at Banana earlier this summer that I have been saving to wear for this exact occasion. I am really into the whole ruffle trend, and I love, love, love this dress (the color is closer to the detail shot - a really pretty blue). I also really wanted to pair it with some bright shoes, and I thought yellow would really work. The necklace is one of my favorite accessories, and the short sleeved cardigan is a pretty pale bluish green that I recently decided to get since it will likely be a bit chilly on photo day.
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 asked to do an inspiration board based on a holiday ornament, I immediately thought of the silver and gold tree-inspired menorah my brother and I gifted to Trail Mom several years back.
I love mixed metals, and since winter is almost officially here, I thought a silver and gold palette for a winter wedding inspiration board might be nice… 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!
I wonder if, just like every set of newlyweds thinks their wedding was the coolest and most fun wedding ever, every bride looks at her bridesmaids and her female family members all done up and thinks, ‘Wow, I really have the most beautiful set of ladies there ever was.’
I don’t know if that’s the case, but if it is, then call me a stereotype, because I really think I have the most beautiful set of ladies there ever was. I mean, come on:
Vgirl17 is selling a pair of new Stuart Weitzman platform sandals. These leather fuchsia heels are a size 7.5. She’s asking $335 with shipping included.
Have a wedding item for sale? Post it with pictures in the Weddingbee classifieds and you might see it featured on the blog!
Mrs. Spaniel, Los AngelesAge and Occupation: 28, Law StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 29, PsychologistWedding Date: March 2010Venue: Calamigos RanchAbout Me: I'm a third-year law student trying to balance graduating with starting my career, keeping up a relationship, and, oh yeah, planning an Old World, multi-cultural, "mountain lodge" wedding for 180 guests! A South Asian Jewish girl getting ready to marry my handsome Catholic Dane, I'm hoping to blend our cultures in our wedding just a bit more gently than by providing samosas as appetizers and offering æbleskiver for dessert. (Although that would also be awesome.)
Finding a Mother of the Bride dress was an ordeal. It was such an ordeal, actually, that Mama Spaniel could have started her own blog based on the search! Seriously—we were all over the board! I gave her a few guidelines about color and style, and then she proceeded to buy and return pretty much every single dress available through Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus online in her size (and even not in her size!). Some fit the guidelines, and some were red mermaid dresses. And when we thought she was satisfied with a dress, she changed her mind and did it again (she bought and returned the same Tadashi three times!). Although it appears that the search is over and the issue has been closed, two more dresses are en route. You can’t say the woman isn’t having fun shopping!
Before the ordering spree started, my ideal dress for Mama Spaniel was something like this:
Tadashi Shoji Rosette Bodice Silk Chiffon Gown, $398 at Nordstrom
Mrs. Nachos, Chicago/St. ThomasAge and Occupation: 33, Commercial Real Estate & HairstylistFiance's Age and Occupation: 36, Radio ProducerEngagement Date: May 22, 2009Wedding Date: April 2010Venue: Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort, St. ThomasAbout Me: I'm a happy, laid back city girl that can find the silver lining in any situation. An optimist at heart, my motto is to turn your "what ifs?" into "so whats!". My fiance is a radio producer and the biggest Cubs fan you'll meet - our apartment decor definitely shows it. He and I grew up next door to each other and because of it, we have the best home videos and easiest holiday dinners. We are planning an intimate wedding in the Virgin Islands and a cocktail party in June for 150 of our closest friends.
So the shoe search has been put on hold until next weekend. I stopped into the Cole Haan store yesterday and not shockingly, they didn’t have the flip-flops or bridal line I talked about in my last post. The goal that I did manage to achieve yesterday however, was nothing short of a miracle! I needed to find a bra that made me look amazing in my dress. I had an image in my head of how I wanted the girls to look, but when you’re not the most well-endowed, I wasn’t sure my vision was physically possible. Here’s another look at my dress (keep in mind I was clipped into it and only wearing a strapless bra)…
Mrs. Guinea Pig, Baltimore, MD Age and Occupation: 26, PhD student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Operations Director at a non-profit Engagement Date: December 25, 2008 Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: The Chesapeake Bay Beach Club About Me: I'm a tomboy science nerd whose girly side has made a startling appearance thanks to wedding planning! I love to bake, knit and sew but I also ride a motorcycle (that Mr. Guinea Pig wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole). We live with our three crazy cats and love to read, travel, watch movies, and do home improvement projects together! My parents/family are Canadian but I'm definitely American, although I've lived in 5 different countries, 6 different states, and speak Russian fluently. Mr. GP and I met online (did I mention I'm a scientist?) and had a whirlwind romance - now we can't wait to get married & celebrate with all our friends and family in a blue and yellow waterfront affair!
OK, I’m not that ambitious. But I am going to talk about knitting! And major props to anyone who knits their wedding dress - is there anyone out there?!
So, here’s a little story: when I asked my sister and friends to be a part of our wedding day festivities, 3 of the 5 were in very serious, long term relationships, and a fourth was starting a new relationship. Fast forward to today, and all of them are single. When Mr. Guinea Pig asked his guys to be a part of the big day, 3 out of the 5 were already married. Now, two of those couples are pregnant! I guess we have opposite curses on our friends (sorry ladies)! Read more…
Mrs. Pug, New York City/Half Moon Bay, CAAge and Occupation: 33, LawyerFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, dittoEngagement Date: July 2008Wedding Date: March 2010Venue: Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon BayAbout Me: The Mr. and I are two 30-somethings who enjoy tasty sweets of all kinds, our neighborhood wine store, and cuddling with our pug. NYC is where we live and the city we love, but we’re doing the deed out in Northern California. We are trying to keep the affair small, intimate, and manageable. Our motto is: the less people, the better! (I’m kidding.)
For this story, Goldilocks was going through the woods, and these woods spanned New York City all the way over to the San Francisco Bay Area* (it was a big forest, like Fangorn in Middle Earth). She wandered for a long time, looking for the perfect place (called a “wedding venue” in old folklore) at which she could drop thousands of dollars. But not too many thousands of dollars.
And she wanted to find a place that could stuff her guests silly with good food, treat them very nicely, and allow her faithful companions (i.e. pugs) to accompany her. She found lofts, restaurants, hotels and inns during her travels. However, most were too big or too small, and she had to look at many places in order to find the one that was just right.
First up, in the “too big” category…
Daniel. Ah, my holy grail–amazing food, lovely decor, professional service… I actually thought that Mr. Pug might propose to me at this restaurant the one time we’ve been there. With food, drinks, tax and tip, about $250-300 per person. The words I let out after figuring out that amount were not so holy. If you are getting married here, I hate you. Do you hear me? Read more…
Weddingbee GalleryFeature Launched: April 10, 2009About: A collection of inspirational wedding pictures from readers and bees.
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. Cola, Mountain View, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Product Communications and PromotionsFiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Managing Partner and Senior DesignerEngagement Date: March 5, 2009Wedding Date: June 2010Venue: The Mountain Terrace, Woodside, CAAbout Me: I’m a Washington State native, enjoying life in Silicon Valley California with my fiancé, our three kitties and one leopard gecko. I like reading wedding blogs, Photoshopping wedding design mock ups, making lists, and planning, planning, planning! I’m a bit of an anomaly, on one side I’m a very girlie girl, I collect shoes, I lay out my outfits 4-6 weeks in advance, and I’d never leave the house without my hair curled and makeup on. But on the other side, I’m a total tomboy, I love to go camping and hiking, play drinking games (hey, I’m Irish!) and most of my closest friends are guys. My fiancé and I are planning a DIY-focused wedding with a balance between easygoing (what he wants) and chic and stylish (what I want), and are tying it all together with elements in lavender, sage, butter cream and chocolate.
It’s a sign to hang on our hotel suite door knob, which will serve to 1) let people know which room is ours for the after party and 2) double as a Do Not Disturb sign. It was really easy, and probably a frivolous, unnecessary project that I wouldn’t have bothered with if I didn’t have so much time left before the wedding. But that’s the beauty of planning early; I have time for fun and silly additions!
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
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