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.
Remember this post? I showed you all how I packed all of the Kusudama flowers that my mom and sister helped me fold while I was still living in Chile.
Well, that little box transformed into this little bag a week before Curly and I came to California. I had to get rid of all the extra weight, including the box of the flowers!
As you can see, there are not only purple petals folded in that bag, but there are also tons of HOT pink ones. Why, you ask? Well, the last time I picked up the recycled paper I was using for the flowers, there was some rather mysterious lighting in the building, and I thought the pink paper was purple! Read more…
Mrs. Espresso, Corona/Big BearAge and Occupation: 23, Community Services SpecialistFiance's Age and Occupation: 22, Maintenance TechnicianEngagement Date: December 21, 2007Wedding Date: October, 2008Blogging Since: June 25, 2008Venue: Outside a rustic b&b in Big Bear LakeAbout Me: I'm a lover of all things good: coffee, music, travel, rain, and of course- my handsome fiance! I'm a full believer in the "Life is Short," mantra - and therefore, eat lots of dark chocolate. I'm a Geographer by degree and nerd by choice. I cook to the sound of French and Portuguese music even though I speak neither. I love road trips, camping, hiking, and capturing life through the lens of my camera. Take me to Anthropologie and I may never leave. I'm a sucker for pretty packaging, bargain finds, and old movies. Mr. Espresso and I are high school sweethearts and I am so blessed to be this amazing man's future wife.
We went back and forth on whether or not to have a Money Dance. We had taken out the garter and bouquet tosses, the mother/ son and father/ daughter dances… so why should we have a money dance? And would our relatives just look at us as just asking for money? And what if no one stood in line to dance with us? The questions went on forever.
After talking with Mama Espresso about it a few times, she told us to go for it. We’re young. We’re broke. And it would give our guests all a chance to dance with us.
So the money dance was in. And we had SO MUCH FUN!
Mrs. Sewing, San Mateo, CA/Honolulu, HIAge and Occupation: 24, Electrical EngineerFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Electrical EngineerEngagement Date: June 27, 2009Wedding Date: July 2010Venue: Anela Garden Chapel & Japanese Cultural Center, HonoluluAbout Me: I'm an easily entertained, compulsive idea-scheming machine who loves good art, good food, and a good engineering challenge. I'm planning a half-destination wedding on the beautiful island of Oahu - imagine a plethora of movies, art and games; savory Hawaiian food; blended Chinese and Japanese cultural details; lush, fragrant tropical flowers and all the air conditioning a NorCal native could want! And once I marry the love of my life, we'll come back to the 'mainland' to party it up all over again in my hometown of Salinas, the salad-bowl capital of the world!
Mr. Sewing and I are attempting to make my wedding dress. Yes, we know the possibility of it looking like a bad cosplay outfit is high. But I’ll tell you why we’re going to try it:
We’re cheap. Wedding dresses are expensive, and I can’t justify paying exorbitant amounts for a dress I’ll only wear for a few hours. We’re using muslin for the trial run, and if all goes well, we’ll invest in some cheap white muslin. Why didn’t I get white muslin to begin with? Well, I didn’t know they made it, otherwise I totally would have. But never fear, I have big plans for the trial dress. It can be used at renaissance fairs, maker faire, and of course, some kind of cosplay I’m sure.
I don’t want to be shiny. Since I’m already going to be shiny from sweating in the hot Hawaii sun, I don’t need any help from the dress. (I know they make non-shiny dresses out there in the fashion world, but everything I initially saw was either satin or taffeta, and I got scared!)
We’re DIY-fiends. When we see something cool looking, our first thought is always, “how can we make that?” We love a good puzzle.
So, before I reveal the pictures - here’s the pattern we’re using for the skirt. We are going to redesign the top, since I’m not 100% comfortable with a completely sleeveless look. Read more…
Mrs. Pencils, Washington DC/Frederick, MDAge and Occupation: 24, Program Director, Education Non ProfitFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Administrative Assistant, Ocean Conservation Non ProfitEngagement Date: July 26, 2008Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Morningside InnAbout Me: I'm a nerdy Northwestern girl who always knew she was meant to live in the East, harboring a deep love of ice cream, underwear, Diet Coke with a splash of Coca-Cola, pashminas, scrapbooking, stationery, wall calendars and books written for preteens. I think every day should include good thin crust pizza, chocolate, an obscure historical monument, lots of laughter, a dash of wedding planning and, of course, amazing Mr. Pencils! I'm loving the adventure of planning a Maryland wedding and Rocky Mountain reception, and most of all, I just love love!
I met Mr. Pencils in the January of our freshman year of college. I first remember meeting him on campus, near the quad, early on a Friday night (apparently, we had met before, but that’s a different story for a different day). We had a mutual female friend (we’ll call her Jane) that I just happened to being hanging out with that night. Within a week, Mr. Pencils, Jane and I were inseparable.
Part of the joined-at-the-hip included all deciding to pledge the co-ed community service fraternity on campus. Jane and I had already decided to join, as we both wanted to get more involved on campus and we both really enjoyed community service and working with others. To this day, the story goes that Mr. Pencils joined because of me—he proudly tells all of our friends this sweet fact. When I saw Mr. P in action, serving the community, I began to doubt this small detail…
For the next three and a half years, Mr. Pencils and I did community service side by side. We cleaned up beaches in Annapolis and parks near the National Mall, managed a small local men’s shelter overnight, volunteered at the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and supplied the manpower for countless family days at the National Air and Space Museum. 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.)
(funny enough, I found this image by typing in “Asian girl raising hand”)
If I had 50 hands, I’d raise them all. But let’s back up a second.
You know that whole thing about not letting the groom see you in the dress before the wedding? Read more…
Mrs. D'orsay, Baltimore/Lancaster UKAge and Occupation: 24, nonprofit communications Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Web site developer and designer; co-owner of men's skincare shopEngagement Date: August 10, 2008Wedding Date: August, 2009Venue: Oakland ManorAbout Me: I'm a Maryland raised environmental policy wonk/activist/organizer and communications aficionado. In the past year I've lived in Baltimore, MD, Tucson, AZ, Miami, FL and Lancaster, England. In my not so spare time I enjoy planning trips with Mr. D' Orsay, visiting friends and family and crafting like a mo-fo. I also enjoy modern dance classes, rugby and soccer but have been banned by my mother, MOHs, and Mr. D' Orsay from playing till after the wedding. I have an unnatural addiction to cheese and shoes, but love Mr. D' Orsay more than either and can't wait to become Mrs. D' Orsay!
Well, there would be so many wedding related things I would change. I was scoping out a Weddingbee reader’s blog and she posted about this beauty. I definitely would have gotten a matching pair of these rings from metalsmitten for our wedding bands!
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.
I was surprised by how much interest the Groomsmen/Ushers have taken in their attire. I think there was a universal sigh of relief when Mr. Pretzel told them that they would not be wearing tuxes.
Like Ms Potato Chips, Mr Pretzel and I have been eying a more casual look for Groom and Groomsmen’s attire. Mr Pretzel looked dashing in the vest and dress pants combo in the first part of our e-photo shoot so we decided to roll with that for our groomsmen.
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.
I’m not going to pretend that I know the secrets of a happy marriage, especially considering I’m not even married yet. But, Real Simple featured 6 couples who have been married for at least 50 years. Each of them shared secrets about what they do to make their marriage work. Some of them made me laugh and some of them made my heart smile.
They’ve been married for 60 years and first got married when they were 20 years old. Their car broke down as they left the wedding, but that has not impacted their marriage at all! Some of the secrets they shared were: Read more…
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.
In my last post, I mentioned the extreme methods I went to in order to lose my “college 20″. With 6 months to go until the wedding, I am happy to say that no such methods will be required this time around. I am at a healthy weight, and am fairly happy with the way I look. Like most girls, I am continuously looking to lose that last 5 pounds, but I don’t think that this should be a problem considering the amount of time I have left.
The MediFast plan was extreme, but it did teach me a practical lesson about loosing weight. Many people swear that the only true and honest way to lose weight is by counting calories. While I tend to agree with this method, I found that it did not work for me. I just had a hard time figuring out how many calories were packed into the food that I was eating. I tried using some of the many calorie counters that can be found on the web, but the truth is that most of the Polish-centric food that I eat on a day to day basis is just not listed. Read more…
ClassifiedsFeature Launched: April 30, 2008About: A roundup of the best Weddingbee Classified listings.
Candance8828 is selling 45 premium straw hand fans. They are woven natural straw and measure approximately 15″ long (including handle) x 12″ wide. She’s asking $35 for all, plus 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. 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!
I am soooo out of my league. When it comes to our invitations, that is. One great thing about Weddingbee is that it showcases many bees’ awesome DIY invitations. Like these. Or these. And we can’t forget about these! Of course, these lovely ladies know how to make Illustrator their bitch and make the process look super easy. Whereas, I can’t make anyone my bitch… not even my trusty pal Microsoft Word. (Word, we’re still pals right? Don’t leave me. Please.) Whatever. I was determined.
So with a persistence only present in the most ignorant and foolhardy of individuals, I plowed ahead and ordered some Lettra paper, confident that I would figure the rest out later.
A week later, I heard from a little birdie (alright, Mr. Hamster) that a package had arrived for me. Huzzah!
Mrs. Scissors, LaGrange, GAAge and Occupation: 25, Photography & Graphic DesignFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Engineering Grad StudentEngagement Date: January 1, 2009Wedding Date: June 2010Venue: Ceremony - First United Methodist Church; Reception - My parents' house!About Me: I’m a six-foot-three bride with a fifty-foot personality! I love great art, fabulous design, intense color, tons of music, indie photography, watching movies on repeat, and being really awesome. This super-tall, Southern, loud, quirky, neurotic artist is marrying a German, quiet, silly, super-amazing roboticist in an eclectic, funky, fun, snazzy, technicolored June wedding. Anything is game for this shindig, for it is all about us! We’re bringing giant paper cranes, six-foot-tall portraits, fortune cookies, a photo booth, a club-circuit DJ, handcuffs, and possibly a kidnapping to this small Southern town. Watch out, y’all, and try to keep up!
When August rolled around, I knew it was time to go dress shopping. I think that most brides are excited, thrilled, or positively beside themselves with joy over that part of the wedding process.
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!
Very, very early in wedding planning, I was searching for Penn State inspiration around The Knot, and I came across a Real Wedding feature that grabbed my attention. The couple had met at Penn State, and were married in a beautiful winter ceremony in Philadelphia.
One way that they paid tribute to their PSU romance was by naming their reception tables after people and places at Penn State!
I knew we had to do this! It was such a cute and understated touch. I searched all over and was able to collect pictures of people and places that Burger and I felt represented our Penn State experience. It wasn’t hard for us to narrow our list, since we needed about 30 for all of our tables! Read more…
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.
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.
This past weekend my mom and I attended the San Francisco Wedding Fair at the Four Seasons in downtown San Francisco, which was recommended to me as the best fair in the Bay Area. It was a very lovely event, with tons of yummy food and drinks, as well as some serious eye candy, but altogether, not really that useful to me, which is why I’d highly recommend that if you plan on checking out a bridal fair, go early in the planning process!
For me, being five months out, I’ve already decided on every vendor except for our transportation. My invitations are designed (I’m starting laser cutting them this weekend!), registry is done, and I’m pretty much just getting down to the nitty-gritty of executing all of my planning for the past nine months.
But I can see how attending a bridal fair would be very useful for newly engaged ladies, as there is a wealth of information to be gathered from one: vendor pamphlets, an easy way to ask direct questions, and the opportunity to see work samples in person, without having to make separate appointments. And so, for those of you who haven’t attended a bridal fair yet, here’s a peek at my visit. It wasn’t quite as crazy as Miss Rainbow’s experience, though! Read more…
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
