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As I mentioned, we’re thinking of having a DIY photobooth where guests take pictures of themselves with whatever funny props they want, and also write us messages on wish cards. I want our guests to post their wish cards and instant photos for others to see, which I hope will inspire some conversation and camaraderie. While I love the look of branch arrangements on which you can hang wish cards (and photos), like this:
Let me be absolutely clear with everyone that I would never, ever attempt to DIY this because greenery (even if it’s dead wood) and me don’t mix. And I’m not going to shell out the money to have them professionally made.
Out: trees. In: memo boards! Love em. What are they?
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I knew that I wanted to include the Paebaek Ceremony in our wedding, and I was pretty much all set with a phone number I got from Mrs. Bee for her Paebaek folks, Rose Handicraft. I also knew a handful of friends who have used them and were happy with them. But my mom suggested I use an acquaintance of hers that owned a Paebaek business instead because she promised us a really good deal. I didn’t see any reason not to go with her, so I agreed.
Big mistake!
She never really gave us a discount. It would’ve cost the same, if not more than the Paebaek vendor that I wanted to use. And in my opinion, I thought Rose Handicraft had a better display. Also, the lady dressed me quickly and abrasively, as if we were in some kind of rush. She also jammed the headpiece through my hair, which really angered me. She even forgot to place the red stickers on my cheeks. I didn’t even realize it until the ceremony was half over because we were so rushed! But there really was no reason to rush - we did our Paebaek ceremony during cocktail hour, which we extended 15 minutes to make sure we had plenty of time to change in and out of our clothes and take our time to enjoy the ceremony. I never even got any shots of us getting ready for the ceremony, which was something I really wanted.
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I’m sorry to have been MIA for so long, but Mr. Bee and I have had our hands full with the newest addition to the Bee family! 
I am interrupting my final wedding recap to talk about an issue that is really crucial when it comes to weddings: DOCs (day-of-coordinators). I, like many brides, thought I could go without. But as the weeks neared our wedding date and I started to visualize a timeline for the few days before the wedding, I couldn’t figure out when I would have time to set up all of the our DIY projects in our reception barn pre-wedding.
I had two trains of thought: 1) a stressed out bride, racing the clock, delegating projects, and ultimately, barely taking a breath before walking down the aisle, or 2) going hiking with friends, enjoying our rehearsal dinner, waking up rested the morning of the wedding, and possibly having a chance to go for a run or do yoga in the hours leading up to the ceremony.
Needless to say, option 2 seemed much more appealing. Our wedding salesperson at Devil’s Thumb Ranch had two recommendations for day-of-coordinators and one, she said, was fairly new to the business. Her name was Danielle Odil of Something Classic Events. We talked a few times for a few months before the wedding and, eventually, I caved. But not without combing through her set package and customizing it to my needs (including slicing the price tag to my budget). To see what I did to her package, head here.
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Featured on Weddingbee
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
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Happy 2010, friends!! Wowee, the future is amazing! Hover-boards as far as the eye can see!! It’s glorious here in 2010!
In addition to ringing in 2010, Mr. Potato Chips and I celebrated 7-1-5: our 7-year dating anniversary, our 1-year engagiversary, and our 5-month wedding countdown!
Just like last year, we headed down to Newport, RI.
Just like last year, the falling snow and New Year’s traffic turned a 2-hour road trip into a 3+ hour road trip.
Just like last year, we were cranky.
Unlike last year, I prepared with road-snacks.
As I’ve mentioned before, Mr. Guinea Pig and I were with my parents over Christmas when he proposed. What I didn’t mention is that we were spending Christmas near Lake Tahoe! Mr. Guinea Pig had been hoping to propose at the beach on the lake, but the house is about a 10 minute drive up a mountain from the lake and he knew I would guess what was happening if he asked to take a stroll on the beach!
Anyway, the point of this post is that moments after we got engaged, my mom was saying, “Oh! Wouldn’t a destination wedding in Tahoe be fun?! It’s such a beautiful location!” We (ever-so-) briefly considered it, but Mr. Guinea Pig and I hadn’t really wanted a destination wedding. My parents are the only people we really know who live on the West Coast (and they actually live in the East Bay, not even Tahoe!), so everyone would need to fly in. Plus, as soon as I started thinking ’Tahoe destination wedding’, little dollar signs started flashing before my eyes and I slowly backed away from the day-dreaming (even if my parents are contributing the vast majority - thanks Mom & Dad Guinea Pig!).*
Being back in Tahoe for Thanksgiving, though, reminded me how beautiful a Tahoe wedding could have been. Miss Snow recently talked about her ’other wedding’, and it inspired me to map out my version of the Guinea Pig wedding that might have been, had Mama Guinea Pig gotten her way.
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Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
I’ve been thinking here and there about how I want my hair styled for the wedding. Let me try to explain what I see in my head so we’re all on the same page…
Close your eyes and picture this (OK, don’t close your eyes or you won’t be able to follow along, hehe)…
(source)
… family and friends sitting in their sun dresses, khakis and sandals, the sun is setting over the water, pings from the steel pan float through the air, mixed softly with the sounds of waves in the background, and a warm salty breeze is brushing lightly across everyone’s cheeks. Mmm.
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Obviously these songs required a lot of thought as well. But some songs were far easier for us to come up with than others!
Grand Entrance: I love, love, love the entrance of the bridal party and bride and groom into the reception. While it really won’t be our “first time in public” as we will be at our cocktail hour, I think that the entrance has the potential to set the tone for the whole reception. I really like when people choose to use different songs for each pair in their party, but at 8 pairs, that would be a lot of music! I’m still not sure exactly how the timing will play out, but I’m hoping we can work in at least these two songs:
“I Gotta Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas - now, I know this song has been ridiculously popular at weddings this year, but I just can’t help myself! It’s too perfect for us.
“Celebration” by Kool and the Gang - it’s my parents’ unofficial wedding song, and no celebration is complete without this one for me. It really is just all about happiness and a great party atmosphere (even if it is a bit cliche. 
Our First Dance: This one was easy.
White_n models her gorgeous gown on an escalator.
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.
In the nine months we were engaged I put WAY more thought into what shoes I would wear (funny, because I ended up wearing a pair I already owned) than how we all would get down the aisle. In fact, the night of the rehearsal while my poor DOC was stuck in traffic, I used my sister’s notepad and pen to figure out who and in what order people would get down and back up the aisle. Oops. A little advice, if I may: make sure to figure this out before the rehearsal, that way you can make sure everyone you need comes to the rehearsal… we were missing a couple people, mainly FIL Frenchie and SMIL Frenchie. Oops, again.
Luckily we are all pretty intelligent people and it all came together the day of. Thanks to our DOC for rounding everyone up!
Here we go… I waited, trying to relax and out of sight, while Papa Frenchie escorted Mama Frenchie down the aisle.
Over the summer, it just so happened that there was a wedding expo at the St. Pete Times Forum in downtown Tampa, so mom and I decided to attend and see what it was all about!
Hmm, looks deserted???
We arrived a few minutes before they opened the doors to the event… as we walked up to the building, the two of us were wondering if anyone was actually showing up to this shindig; it looked pretty deserted out there! I shrugged and said, “Well, at least we’ll get through the entire event at a decent time!” The clock struck noon, and we were allowed to enter…
Now, this was my first official wedding expo that I attended, and there are some tips that I would highly suggest you implement in order to streamline your visit!
I mean, who needs those things anymore? Well, I do! Particularly if I want to make our DIY faux-tobooth/guestbook work (after the wedding, I will put people’s pictures in a guestbook next to the messages that they left us).
So, what do I need for this fxbooth?
Equipment
Since Polaroid film is, for the moment, no longer in production, I am thinking of turning to the Fujifilm Instax camera:
Source ($46.90 at Amazon and other locations (you can probably find it on eBay for cheaper)
You know that crazy time during adolescence when your skin develops a T-Zone and becomes completely unpredictable? No? I’m sure it can’t just be me. Well, I apparently haven’t yet outgrown that phase. While I’ve been told that this means wrinkles will be longer in coming (thanks, Mom), I do worry about the dreaded shine on our wedding day.
Possibly warm May weather + my propensity to shine + a duchess satin wedding gown = my need for a proactive battle against *too* glowy (read: oily, sweaty) skin and makeup meltdown. Within my arsenal:
Holy New Year Wedding Madness, Batman! It’s the day before my wedding. The only things I need to do today are get my nails done and attend the rehearsal/dinner. Last week, I was dreading the whole ordeal. I was convinced that I had created the Frankenstein of weddings and that it had turned against me. I was sick and tired of anything wedding related. On Monday morning, the stressful haze began to clear. I woke up and smiled because I knew that I would be seeing my woolly counterpart (after a 21 day hiatus filled with finals and holiday travel). On Tuesday, we completed our 4th move of the year together (2 for him and 2 for me). On Wednesday, we transferred all the wedding items to my planner, Ms. P. Yesterday, we rang in the new year with members of our wedding party at the Bier Garden. Good beer + good German food = good times had by all.
Today, I woke up and smiled again. The joy that everyone had predicted would ensue after last week’s shenanigans has filled my soul. My wedding week mantra has been, “At the end of the aisle, our marriage begins.” I’m ready to enter into the mysterious relationship of joining two into one. Today, I’m excited. And happy. And at peace.
I’m going to try to refrain from yearbook-esque exclamations (Can you believe it? What a ride! You’re the best!) and instead leave you with a little wedding day treat.
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