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!
A lot of things about our reception will be very “us” centered. We plan to take full liberty with our playlists, we’ll decided on the foods we like best, and we will probably get a lot of attention (hey it’s one day of our lives!). Because of these things, I knew I really wanted to do some things to let the guests know we were really thankful that they chose to spend their day (weekend, in most cases) with us!
I know, I know, you might be thinking, ‘isn’t this what favors are for?’ Yes it is, in fact. But from day one we knew that we were deferring traditional wedding favors in lieu of donations to our favorite charity. So the ideas below have become what I like to think of as “Guest Amenities”. Our guests may not even notice them, but if even a few guests feel wowed, then, mission accomplished!
During the cocktail hour there will be non-alcoholic beverages, including water bottles that have been customized with these labels that I cooked up from someone’s lovely template:
Mrs. Rainbow, TampaAge and Occupation: 22, Makeup ArtistFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Electrical Engineer/ProgrammerEngagement Date: November 27, 2008Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: The Gamble PlantationAbout Me: I'm a quirky (and slightly Type-A) freelance makeup artist who was born in Washington State, raised in Alabama, and now living with my one and only in sunny Florida. I'm fashion and beauty obsessed, and have recently discovered my inner domestic diva extraordinaire. I'm a wannabe chef, decorating addict, and trying desperately to be as crafty as possible---albeit only with a glue gun. I'm hopelessly in love with my fiance, and all things sparkly and feathery. Despite the glittery exterior, I'm a total hippie on the inside. When I'm not making up pretty faces, I love doing what I can to help people, animals, and the environment. Someday the FI and I will change the world, but first we're tackling our modern-vintage-Marie-Antoinette-meets-Alice-in-Wonderland inspired wedding. I just can't wait to be Mrs. Rainbow!
So, I told you about all the cake toppers I was lusting for at Etsy here. Needless to say, I couldn’t justify spending so much money on a cake topper. Sure, they’re adorable, but I know myself. I know that after the wedding they’d get stuck in a cabinet somewhere only to eventually a. break, or b. add to the clutter and annoy me. That’s an expensive annoyance. So, what’s a Rainbow to do? DIY, duh.
I don’t know if I told you this already, but we’re incorporating some birdies into our centerpieces, similar to the birdie here. They play well into the Marie Antoinette aspect of the wedding, without having gigantic ostrich feathers sticking out everywhere. In case you’re wondering, the ostrich feathers have been reserved for myself (more on that later).
Anyway, I knew I wanted a bird cake topper, but I was having trouble finding just the right pair. I scoured Michaels at least once a week looking for the perfect Mr. and Mrs. Rainbow peeps. Little did I know, all I had to do was wait until it got closer to the holidays. Apparently, that’s when all of the fancy decorative birds come out of hiding, so if you’re in need of some birdies, now’s the time!
After a few too many hours in Michaels for the second time that week, I found them. My two perfect birdies, in our wedding colors, just waiting for me to take them home and jazz them up!
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.)
As you may recall, I had originally wanted to DIY our invitations, but I found a really great price on letterpress invitations that didn’t require my amateur graphic design skills, and that were actually less expensive than printing our own (at $3.50 per suite from Ajalon Printing). Score!
Well, I got our proofs! I’m still a little sad that I didn’t do them myself (awwww, poor me), but I have some DIY plans for these suckers!
Mrs. French Fries, MilwaukeeAge and Occupation: 27, ParalegalFiance's Age and Occupation: 35, Investments AdvisorEngagement Date: September 20, 2008Wedding Date: June 2010Venue: Ceremony: Catholic Church, Reception: Hotel BallroomAbout Me: I'm a Midwestern girl who longs to live in a warmer climate (my feet would be happy in flip flops any day!). I love travel, impromptu napping, grilled cheese sandwiches, my iPhone, singing with reckless abandon in my car, and Mr. French Fries.
My fourth grade teacher was notorious for informing us that “spelling counts!” every time we handed in an assignment. My senior year AP English curriculum included Strunk & White’s The Elements of Style (and incorporated weekly quizzes to test our knowledge of said “elements” and “style”). Admittedly, I’m kind of picky when it comes to spelling and grammar. Luckily, Mr. French Fries is picky about these things, too. I guess we are a perfect match in this respect!
Mrs. Dachshund, Fresno, CAAge and Occupation: 24, Legal Office AssistantFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Computer TechnicianEngagement Date: April 18, 2009Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Victorian Gardens of Two SistersAbout Me: I’m a 24-year-old Californian bride-to-be who found love in the most unlikely of places - an online video game! I’m a farmer’s daughter living in rural Central California, but will always have a special place in my heart for the city. My future husband is a 27-year-old extraordinarily tall, exceptionally cute, and undoubtedly Canadian boy who was able to sweep me off my feet and take me for his bride. I love color, folksy songs that make me smile, interior design, kettle corn, my one-year-old puppy, Juno, and my fiance, of course! We’re planning a DIY garden wedding with a laundry-list of projects, all while dealing with the bureaucracy that is American Immigration!
The holiday season has officially begun, and I am so, so, so thankful to be spending it with Mr. Dachshund this year. It’s our first Christmas together, and I can’t wait to mesh both of our traditions and to begin making our own!
In the past month or so since the Christmas decorations have been out in stores, (does it seem like it goes up earlier every year!?) I’ve been searching for a “First Christmas Together” ornament to commemorate the end of our long-distance. There were a lot of wedding cake ornaments, and while Mr. D and I are technically married, none of those felt right.
Finally, during a random Etsy browsing session today, I found the perfect ornaments! And, they’re made by a seller who is not a stranger to Weddingland: Paloma’s Nest.
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.
In my last post I showed you what style of dress I was looking for, so now I’ll share with you how I actually found “the one”.
As I already mentioned, I had to schedule as many appointments into one day as possible because my little sis was in town. I used a combo of Yelp reviews and Google Maps to find salons in the area that had reasonable prices and allowed pictures to be taken. I realized early on in my bridal shop research that I’d have better luck in my price range looking in the South Bay, instead of in San Francisco. Here is where the day took us (copied from Google Maps):
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.
Well, in an ode to my more traditional self, let’s talk about the items that I’m keeping traditional: Read more…
Mrs. Hamster, New York CityAge and Occupation: 28, Finance GalFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Finance GuyEngagement Date: March 9, 2009Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: The Pierre HotelAbout Me: I'm an original Jersey girl living it up in the big NYC! I love baking for others, hosting brunches, and exploring NYC with my mans. Besides Mr. Hamster (of course), I'm attracted to shiny things, bold colors, snacks, matching and coordination, pork and duck fats, miniature versions of things, corny jokes and puns. We are planning a swanky Spring wedding in the heart of NYC, followed by a second reception in Singapore. From one city that never sleeps to another - I can't imagine a more exciting ride!
Ah, the ring. The ultimate piece of bling. I’m a huge fan of not being surprised (actually, I’m a huge fan of knowing the plan. I know. Boring), so when things started getting serious between the mans and me, he asked me to give him some ideas on what I would like.
I always thought I would go for something simple and classic - very much like this:
I sent this image to Mr. Hamster and was well on my way. But then, I discovered Blue Nile’s “Build Your Own Engagement Ring” feature. So, I did. I wondered what a ring would look like if it were a little more sparkly, and I came up with this: 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.
I have been having way too much fun searching for bouquet inspiration. All I can say is that I hope my florist appreciates all my efforts and gets it right!
I am definitely drawn to fluffier flowers such as dahlias, peonies and ranunculus and the mixture of yellow and white flowers (although pale pinks seem to making a frequent appearance, as well). Wanna see my favorites?
Mrs. Pudding, Greater Toronto Area/VermontAge and Occupation: 26, High School TeacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Computer EngineerEngagement Date: August 2008Wedding Date: July 2010Venue: Catholic Ceremony, Cultural Hall ReceptionAbout 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.
A couple of days ago, I blogged about a way too expensive bridesmaid dress that Sister Pudding and I fell in love with, and had to leave behind. I had been checking the Neiman Marcus website religiously for any possible discounts, but by the time that post went live on Weddingbee, I had all but given up.
Hive to the rescue! Some of you were quick to click on the link that I provided, and pointed out that the dress was now on sale! I rushed over to the website to check if it was available in the right sizes, and it was! The price was still a bit steep, so I wavered… until reader Kalasin was so kind to post a discount code for 20% off and free shipping!
I had no choice but to take this as a sign, so I ordered the dresses! They are on their way right now, and will be in my hot hands at the beginning of next week. This aligns with an extended visit from Sister Pudding (sooooo excited… anyone else in a LDR with their sibling/best friend?) and we will be sure to put on a little fashion show for you all.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Have you discovered any discounts thanks to the power of the ’bee?
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.
When we were at Robbins Bros in the beginning of the year, we had looked at rings for Mr. Nachos. He found one that he really liked; the only problem was that it was a tungsten ring for a LOT of dinero. Now, don’t get me wrong—I’d pay whatever it cost to get Mr. Nachos a ring he’s going to wear for the rest of his life if he liked it, but we both knew that tungsten should never cost as much as they were asking.
If you don’t know what tungsten is, it’s a virtually indestructible material that never scratches, never tarnishes, and won’t break. You can’t have it sized, so you have to make sure to order it in the right size the first time. Read more…
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.
Once we made it into the reception barn after our ceremony, our bridal party and parents followed close behind. There was nothing to do but hug each and every one of them.
Mrs. Lamb, NorfolkAge and Occupation: 25, Homeland Security ConsultantFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, Graduate StudentEngagement Date: January 2009Wedding Date: January 2010Venue: Trinity Presbyterian Church/Harrison Opera HouseAbout Me: I’m a Homeland Security Consultant with a tendency towards pulling office pranks, taking lunch breaks, and drinking Wawa shakes. I’m also an English major with a serious obsession with alliteration and rhymes. While I’m not keeping America safe, I’m training for half marathons and the Escape from Alcatraz swim. Or moving for the third time this year. Or baking. Or wedding crafting. Or crying about wedding planning. All the while, I’m getting myself into Lucille Ball-esque scrapes and making Jim Carey-esque faces. Our big fat Czech/Baptist/Jewish/Italian wedding is a combination of vintage eclectic, DIY, and little spoonful of sugar from our Event Coordinator. It’s going to be a Norfolk flavored wedding with the verve of an only-daughter-blow-out bash!
I was reading Post Secret over coffee yesterday morning (as is my normal Monday Morning Ritual). The response to the 11th postcard down was so touching as the reader described how her father was with her when she walked down the aisle.
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 will only be having a few children at our wedding (the bebes of our first cousins), but they are all little, which will be really fun!
While we will not be having a designated kiddie table (I’m sure their parents would love that), I definitely wanted the kids to have some special things to keep them occupied during church and maybe during the reception, too (if they’re still interested)! We also plan to offer a babysitter (my sister’s friends who attend PSU) in advance and see if any of the parents take us up on our offer.
I had initially pictured something low key, like a generic white paper bag filled with a coloring book and crayons. Then Cheeseburger Mom suggested drawstring sacks, and I was hooked! During one of my many Michaels trips, I spotted some of the exact bags she had suggested. They were only $1 each, and they had purple and green (not perfect matches, but still)! I grabbed some fillers both at Michaels and Walmart, and here’s what I have so far: Read more…
(more on that later).
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
