Ed. note: There was an error in the price of tickets when this post first went live.The tickets to the Wedding Party are $60 each, not $120, as previously noted. Claudia from the Wedding Library has just graciously offered discounted tickets for $35 for those who don’t win the contest! Just call the Wedding Library at 212.327.0100. There is no surcharge if purchasing by phone.
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The Wedding Party comes to New York City again! On February 20th, join The Wedding Library as they host Darcy Miller, Colin Cowie, Vera Wang, and many other wedding celebs for a day of wedding fashion, runway shows, tasty treats, spectacular jewels, live music, beautiful blooms, and more! Click here to check out the full itinerary and to buy tickets. Tickets are $60, and The Wedding Party has graciously donated 2 free tickets each to 5 lucky Weddingbee readers!
You must be able to be in New York City on Saturday, February 20th to enter. Simply comment below and we’ll choose 5 lucky winners! Good luck!
Mrs. Buttons, Clearwater, FLAge and Occupation: 24, "Working on it"Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Financial ServicesEngagement Date: June 13, 2009Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Carlouel Yacht ClubAbout Me: I'm a self proclaimed perfectionist and a professional nomad (seriously, I've lived in TX, WI, MI, FL, NC, and now VA!). I love wine, cooking, curling up with a good book (nerd alert!), spoiling the furbaby, and of course, the wonderful Mr. Buttons! We are planning a lighthearted and whimsical wedding (with a good deal of DIY projects) in Clearwater, Florida, but from a distance of 800 miles away! We are looking forward to sharing our day with our family and friends, and most importantly, starting our lives together as husband and wife!
So, if you recall, I somewhat recently decided to make a switcheroo in regards to our reception flowers. Bye bye hydrangeas, hello baby’s breath!
Next up on the to-do list was to figure out what to display the beautiful poufs of baby’s breath in!
Mommy Buttons and I began by scouring Jo-Ann Fabrics, Michaels, and the like. We saw a lot of the same thing; clear glass vases in different shapes/heights. It could work, but I wasn’t in love.
Then, we decided to try our luck elsewhere by visiting our all-time favorite stores; TJ Maxx and Marshall’s. My mom mentioned that she had seen some pretty vintage-looking vases there previously. We walked down the aisles in anticipation…
And… boy was I glad we went there! There were shelves filled with vases in various shapes, sizes, and patterns galore! And they were very reasonably priced, ranging from $3.99 for the smaller pieces to $7.99 for the larger ones! We quickly gathered every single vase we could see into the shopping cart… and then proceeded to visit every TJ Maxx and Marshall’s in the Tampa/Clearwater area to clean them out!
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!
A while back, I had written about the possible reception surprises I was considering for Mr. Hammy at the reception. I was pretty sure I’d go with the cigar roller, but some readers brought up good points about possible smoke sensitivity as well as losing guests to the outside.
I was also considering a durian groom’s cake, but I knew that the Mister would really appreciate a durian flavored cake that also looked like a durian. Easy peasy, right? Apparently not - I did find some bakeries in Chinatown that made durian pastries. I also found some bakeries that could make a durian shaped cake. However, one that made a cake that both tasted AND looked like a durian? Surprisingly scarce. Read more…
Mrs. Green Tea, SacramentoAge and Occupation: 30, Tea AnalystFiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Coffee CriticEngagement Date: November 17, 2006Wedding Date: August 23, 2008Blogging Since: June 10, 2008Venue: Vineyard on the DeltaAbout Me: I'm just your average obsessive compulsive, arts & crafts loving, funky-on-the-inside/boring-on-the-outside girl, who dares to say 'Hey! I can make that!' Nerdy professional by day, goofy won-ton by night. The won-ton sometimes comes out during the day when I'm fed the dollar breakfast at Ikea. Since our engagement, wedding planning has put me on high alert for bargains and I've been pushing my nimble fingers through callous building experiments!
Coming up with games for the shower had me pulling out my hair. I had never been to a bridal shower and had no clue what’s fun to a bunch of women with ages/interests/backgrounds that are all over the map.
So I went with what I know best - sticking to the theme.
For the ice-breaker, I armed MOH-Ho with a stack of labels with names of different character associated with food (from Julia Child to Mrs. Butterworth) to greet the guests with. Here’s a shot of MOH-Ho with her new identity as the Morton’s Salt Girl:
She’d go hug her hellos, stick the label on each guest’s back, and explained the rules (guess who you are by asking people only yes or no questions). This worked out wonderfully because it gave MOH-Ho brief one-on-one time with each individual as soon as they came in, and the labels ensured she would not miss a soul. Read more…
Mrs. Hot Wings, Chicago/San DiegoAge and Occupation: 28, ProfessorFiance's Age and Occupation: 32, InstructorEngagement Date: December 20, 2008Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: Ocean View Villas/Jasmine Seafood RestaurantAbout Me: I am a psychology grad student living in Chicago and planning my wedding to a fellow psych grad student. I am a Sunny So-Cal bred gal who trudged across the country to follow her love of psychology and ended up finding a partner in the process. I am overly passionate about anything I involve myself with. I am an activist, a foodie, a reality TV watching junkie, an over-analyzer, a photography obsesser, and am utterly cheesy to the core. This is a story of what happens when a boy and a girl meet, fall in love over academic dorkiness, and a shared love for life. We (mostly I) are planning our semi-destination wedding in my hometown of San Diego. We are excited to bring our families and friends together from across our lifespans to celebrate our future in a grand 400+ person culturally blended affair!
Before I share with you our official e-pics from our wedding photographer. I want to share who she is and how I found her! But it comes with a story. This is a story of a wedding planning vice.
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Getting engaged and planning a wedding brings out all the glory of love and smitten over your partner… but oh, how it brings out the bad side of your personality, too.
(1) I stalk! Oh yes, do I ever. I stalked potential vendors, following them day in and day out to see if I liked their work. I wouldn’t even email them until I had seen weeks of blog posts of work I liked. Lesson to wedding vendors: blogging works!
So, based on website info alone, I felt like I had found the one when I read this on her website:
I am a wife, a mom, a princess, a musician, a photographer, an awesome peanut butter chocolate chip cookie maker, an education specialist, a lazy perfectionist, quirky, sarcastic, emotional, a couture queen, a food lover, a shopaholic, a fashion magazine junkie, a TV addict and I have an unhealthy fixation with Dr. Pepper. Don’t judge me.
So, I followed her! And one day, she posted this! And, I just had to have her. Who is she? 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.
You commented that the dress was flattering and photographed well, and my two beautiful bridesmaids agreed that the dress was their favorite.
Armed with all of this positive reinforcement, what did I do? Well, I just couldn’t pull the trigger and forced BM/FSIL to go shopping with me just one more time. Read more…
Mrs. Ribbons, Washington D.C./Bloomington, INAge and Occupation: 23, Research Associate for an international development firmFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Proposal Coordinator for contractor
Engagement Date: May 2, 2008Wedding Date: June 2010Venue: Indiana Memorial UnionAbout Me: I'm an Indiana transplant living in DC with my fiance and our pretty kitty. I enjoy the color pink, I'm obsessed with the Dior New Look and tulle, and I heart my level 80 paladin. I'm a sucker for bad TV, literary theory, and cakes of all persuasion. I also happen to be marrying the cutest closet nerd around! It's all about Bloomington for us because it's where we met -- on the college paper. If there's a theme for our small summertime wedding, it's Dior meets Dorothy Draper on a lark in Bloomington; think poofy, plus graphic prints, bold colors, and a whole lot of prettiness.
The first and only tasting we did for the reception was the cake. I’m not really that into meals, but I’m very enthusiastic about dessert, particularly cakes.
When the caterer called to ask what I wanted to taste, all I said was white buttercream frosting. Fondant might look real slick, but it tastes like ehhh. Other than that, I had no clue. Read more…
Ms. Stripes, Los AngelesAge and Occupation: 29, Costume Designer/StylistFiancee's Age and Occupation: 29, ChefEngagement Date: June 23, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Heritage Square MuseumAbout Me: I’m a type A creative with a messy streak, a loud mouth, and an uncanny knack for combining clashing patterns. I can usually be found with my nose in a book, my feet (or at least my toes) on the ground, my head in the clouds, and my arm around the prettiest girl you ever saw- aka
Fiancee Stripes. Together we’re planning a FUN vintage/modern French carnival wedding extravaganza and rockin’ dance party on a dime. (Say that three times fast!) Good coffee, long lists, Uniball pens, and my iPhone keep me sane, and making art, making trouble, and making out keep me happy! I love urban adventures, bike rides that end with afternoon drinks, breakfast for dinner, beautiful light, photography, travel, my furry family, and of course, my beautiful fiancee! I’m super excited to be here and can’t wait to share all our adventures as we craft a joyful, budget-friendly, design-savvy and all-around AWESOME wedding!
So that, my lovelies, is my dear friend Stephanie, who also happens to be our officiant. She’s a pretty awesome pregnant lady, right?
A few weeks ago I had the honor and privilege of attending the Seemanthum Ceremony for her (and her wonderful husband Suneel’s) future baby girl. Wait ‘til you get a load of the pics below—because that baby is gonna be one pretty little thing! Anyhow, back to the subject at hand—a seem-a-whatta??
A Seemantham Ceremony. According to my invitation: Read more…
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.
Check out the board thread to see will “BEE” there. See you then!
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!
Mr. Pencils and I fell victim to “when”ing. We’ll get engaged when… we’ll get married when… we’ll get a dog when… we’ll have kids when… we’ll buy a house when…
These “whens” simply put off the things we want. We try to justify that somehow there is a fated, destined time for each of these blessed events. I hate to break it to the blogging world—I don’t think there is ever going to be a better “when”.
The first two “whens” happen to just be what Mr. Pencils and I grappled with. We couldn’t get engaged yet! We were in college… then we were recent grads… then we were living an hour apart… then I was a miserable first year teacher…
After all of these “thens” we bit the bullet (how romantic) and got engaged in July of 2008, despite there being a number of more “whens” we could think of. Read more…
ClassifiedsFeature Launched: April 30, 2008About: A roundup of the best Weddingbee Classified listings.
Miss Robot is selling 22 assorted milk-glass pieces. Included are 11 compote dishes, 5 vases, 2 candlestick holders, a glass bowl and 3 hobnail lampshades. She’s asking $100 for the complete set.
Have a wedding item for sale? Post it with pictures in the Weddingbee classifieds and you might see it featured on the blog!
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!
Mrs. Parfait, ChicagoAge and Occupation: 26, TeacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Senior Online ConsultantEngagement Date: February 14, 2009Wedding Date: April 2010Venue: Signature EventsAbout Me: I have a soft spot for all things sweet and romantic. Desserts, love songs, sappy movies? Yes, yes, and ohh yes. My fiance and I enjoy singing to our dogs, creating crazy ice cream sundaes, and generally being lovey dovey cuddle bunnies. We also do socially acceptable things like dancing, throwing Frisbees, playing high stakes board games, and taking unreasonably fun road-trips. We're planning a Korean/Serbian wedding with plenty of playful, personal touches!
I have special plans for our dessert table. Like most, it will be filled with yummy treats in bright colors and cute, bite-sized morsels. Unlike most, it will include goodies like this sweet, pillowy, candy-colored delight. Can you guess what it is?
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.
Once we made the decision to assign tables, it meant that we needed to figure out what we were doing for table numbers. I say that like it was a chore, but I was SO excited. I’d seen so many cute ideas for table numbers and part of me was sad that I had no reason to come up with my very own idea. But thankfully, all that changed.
I went back and forth about what I wanted to do for so long. I knew that I wanted something rustic, but also vintage, and I hadn’t seen anything that really encompassed both of those things. However, as I kept looking I found a lot of inspiration from the hive. Let me show you what I came up with and then tell you how I was inspired:
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.
As I alluded to in my last post, I decided to DIY my garter that will be used for the garter toss. Yes, we will be doing the bouquet and garter toss, another tradition that we decided to include, because… well, we have lots of unmarried friends, and it’s fun! The tosses have been done at almost every wedding I’ve attended, so I thought we might as well do it, too.
So on our wedding day I will be wearing my old blue garter as my something blue, and this new one which will be tossed. And for about $10 of materials from the fabric store (purchased during a sale, yay!), I’d say this DIY garter turned out pretty nicely!
The following is my little tutorial on the steps I took to make this garter. I know there have been several tutorials, such as the ones by Miss Cheeseburger, Miss Poodle, and Mrs. Peach, however they were all a bit different, so I thought I’d chime in with my two cents. I tend to use the “fake it until you make it” approach to sewing, but who knows, maybe this will help someone out!
I started out by gathering my supplies, several types of lace, elastic, pins, thread, etc. (photographed on top of my sweet new purple laptop!):
She’d go hug her hellos, stick the label on each guest’s back, and explained the rules (guess who you are by asking people only yes or no questions). This worked out wonderfully because it gave MOH-Ho brief one-on-one time with each individual as soon as they came in, and the labels ensured she would not miss a soul.
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
