Mrs. Starfish, Boston/NewportAge and Occupation: 25, Operations AssistantFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, SalesEngagement Date: October 8, 2008Wedding Date: October 2010Venue: The Atlantic Beach ClubAbout Me: I'm a perfectionist who is a planner at heart. I don't do well with surprises. I love planning, crafting, Newport RI, family and friends, and most importantly, Mr. Starfish---all of which will be big components in our October wedding in our favorite little city by the sea.
The table cards were one of the easiest DIY projects related to Sister Starfish’s shower, but I love how they turned out. After lots of embossing, it was nice to do a quick project with good results. (Embossing is awesome, but takes a lot of patience!)
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.
Mr Pretzel just informed me that “Miles of Aisles” should have been the title of my last post about our multiple aisle dilemma.
*Sigh* Babe, I love you… but where was this idea when I was writing my post?
I couldn’t let such a genius title go to waste, so perhaps it is time to share how we are going to decorate the “miles of aisles”.
For a short period of time I was enamored with pomanders… who wouldn’t be with beautiful images floating around the hive like Mrs Quiche’s island beauties.
Mrs. Oyster, DallasAge and Occupation: 30, Music TeacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 46, Art TeacherEngagement Date: January 9, 2009Wedding Date: July 2010Venue: The Tower ClubAbout Me: I'm a Texa-Californian with a penchant for sparkly things and a tendency to think a lot. I've been known to sing random songs or dance when there is no music on. My fiance and I love world culture, we love to travel, and we have an incredibly eclectic taste in music. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate our marriage with our family & closest friends. We're planning an “urban black-tie” wedding and hope to incorporate our personalities and some of our own interests. We look forward to a life of love, laughter, good music, beautiful art, and to creating our home together with our four (!) cats.
I initially had several inspiration pictures to show the seamstress. I had an idea in my head how these would be combined, but hadn’t fleshed it out yet. Stylistically, my favorite designers are Priscilla of Boston/Melissa Sweet, Suzanne Neville, and Lea Ann Belter. No matter what direction my search went, I kept being drawn to their dresses over and over again.
Once I studied dress shapes & took a serious look at my body type, I began to go towards dresses I knew could look good on me. Initially, I took my favorite dresses from those designers, some bridal-magazine fashion advice, added my intended neckline, and created this sketch. Ultimately, I decided to go with something else, but this was the first full sketch I made, and I was pretty proud of it.
Are you ready for the unveiling? Here it is… 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. Piglet, Virginia/OahuAge and Occupation: 28, ConsultantFiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Entrepreneur/Fashion Apparel Wholesale ImporterEngagement Date: June 22, 2008Wedding Date: August 2009Venue: Ceremony at the Lanikuhonua Phase II private estate, reception at a historic hotel in WaikikiAbout Me: I'm an East Coast gal with intense road rage and an addiction to romantic comedies, fast food, gadgets, Korean BBQ, and my wiener dog George aka Georgia May. I carry mustard packets in my purse and I love perusing the aisles at discount stores. A self proclaimed shopaholic, I impulsively buy electronics, software, and craft tools; none of which I know how to use. I'm excited to dust
these babies off and immerse myself in DIY projects galore in
preparation for our DW in paradise!
I’m taking a quick breather from recaps to congratulate my beautiful friend on her nuptials last weekend! She’s probably sipping on some mai tais in Honolulu as we speak. Jealous!
Isn’t she beautiful? During the planning stage, the girl was the chillest bride ever… she takes low maintenance to another level. She had a couple of projects in mind, but to be honest, I don’t think she would’ve care if they got done or not. See? …So laid back and composed. I insisted that I help. While working on them, I’d check in along the way to ensure what was in progress was what she envisioned, but her response was always the same, “I trust you! Sure! Yes!” Heehee. Free reign. Love it!
Mrs. Mouse, AustinAge and Occupation: 25, Weddingbee Editor/AttorneyFiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Civil EngineerEngagement Date: December 19, 2007Wedding Date: September 2009Venue: Barr MansionAbout Me: I just graduated from law school and will be taking the bar, getting married, going on a honeymoon with my guy, and then trying to figure out what I'm going to do with the rest of my life. I was born and raised in a small East Texas town, but I'm no country girl! I'm obsessed with British accents, fantasy (including Harry Potter, of course), and classic rock. My fiance and I consider ourselves both music and beer snobs--but every once in awhile we love to hear a crappy band and drink a cheap brew or two. We're planning an eco-friendly, casual, English garden affair for the end of summer, and we can't wait for it to get here!
Sure, there have been times in my life where my emotions have overflowed and I had no choice but to let the tears fall. I find that as I’ve gotten older, however, and have less reason for drama in my life, I cry even less than I used to.
Normally, this isn’t weird to me. I like the fact that I have a handle on my emotions pretty much all of the time (well, for most of the month, at least). I like that hurtful things people say to me usually don’t get to me. (I mostly just find them kind of funny.) I like that when I feel like I am overreacting to something, I pretty quickly recognize it and can rein it in. I like that my husband is not the kind of person that does things to manipulate my feelings and cause me to cry. But I have to say that sometimes I feel like a freak because I didn’t expect to, and in fact didn’t, cry on my wedding day. Read more…
Mrs. Jellyfish, Pleasanton, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Law StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Air Force PilotEngagement Date: February 21, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Casa Real at Ruby Hill WineryAbout Me: In a nutshell, I’m the most optimistic worrywart you’ll ever meet. My family emigrated from Romania to San Jose, CA when I was 8, and I've been a Nor Cal girl ever since! My fiancé is also a Bay Area native, so it’s funny that we met at UCLA, as college freshmen living on the same floor (go Bruins!). Between his career as an Air Force pilot and my path to becoming a lawyer, our relationship has been anything but typical. We currently live together in Berkeley with our puppy Stinson. In addition to spending time with the loves of my life, I enjoy crafting, attempting complicated recipes, environmental law and non-law school reading (Us Weekly, anyone?). Follow along as I plan an elegant 200-person winery wedding, graduate law school, take the Bar exam, get married and get used to the always unpredictable but never boring life of a military spouse!
I must really love you, hive, because I’m about to share some decidedly not flattering photos of me and one of my bridesmaids. A few weeks ago, my mama, BM K and I went to two local bridal shops to try on bridesmaid’s dresses. It was both a helpful trip (I learned that I like silk taffeta or chiffon best, no satin for me) and a confusing trip (I was left totally confused about what color dresses I want). I figured I’d show you some of the better dresses from the day.
Our first stop was Kate’s Koutoure in Berkeley. They offer a pretty good selection of low-medium price range BM dresses.
I’m kind of iffy on this style, but love the wine color (looks darker in person). The dress is by Jasmine B2, I believe.
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!
I know most people don’t care about favors. Or, to clarify, most wedding guests don’t care about favors. Honestly, only brides and wedding bloggers give a crap about favors, and you don’t need to make any. (Do as I say, not as I do!) But I really cared about favors. I got totally into our favors and loved them and spent hours creating/perfecting/packaging them!
Am I crazy enough to have three different favors? Read more…
Mrs. Chick, HoustonAge and Occupation: 28, Rights and Reproduction ManagerFiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Computer ProgrammerEngagement Date: November 15, 2008Wedding Date: April 2010Venue: A farm outside of HoustonAbout Me: Mr. Chick and I met almost ten years ago at Baker Blues, a college jazz party. He was attracted to my intensity, and I was mesmerized by his trivia pursuit skills and his dorm furniture adorned with his initials. We've grown more sophisticated through the years, with our love of wine, owning a house together, and parenthood (of a cat), but we have not lost our silliness or childish sense of humor!
I hesitated writing this post. I fear that I may make myself more stressed. Then I remembered how good all you ladies out there are to me! So here it goes:
Last weekend I woke up with a start. I dreamt about all the things I still have to do for our “totally chill, easy to plan wedding, now that we’re going to France.”
Riiiiiight.
I ran to the computer in my pajamas and created a “still have to do list”. YIPES.
I’m not kidding, ladies. Every time I even open the document my blood pressure rises a couple of points, and I feel my throat tightening, my breaths shortened. Read more…
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!
So I took a stab at writing my own little “letter” to read to Mr. Sew at our ceremony. My thoughts are to read our heartfelt sentiments to each other, then commence with the rings and traditional vows. I always love it when couples say something personal to each other. There’s something that just seems so special about it.
Mrs. Taco, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 29, writer/editorFiance's Age and Occupation: 37, editorEngagement Date: May 13, 2009Wedding Date: August 2010Venue: The Green Room at the War Memorial Veterans BuildingAbout Me: I like laughing and talking with good friends over good food and good drink, be it wine, cocktail, or brew. I write and edit things for fun and profit, but I rarely "write" these days without a keyboard and high-speed internets. Favorites include Mr. Taco, my Boston terrier, San Francisco, getting out of town, and the Roaring ’20s. I was kind-of planning a wedding since roughly 2006, when I discovered "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?" on the WE channel. I ran and didn't look back with a theme I called "urban vintage," and it culminated in the most magical day a taco could ask for.
Remember on Friends (which you totally watch, I know you do!) when Phoebe said Ross was Rachel’s lobster? As I look forward to old age with Mr. Taco, holding claws in our tank, I think about how lucky we are to have found our lobsters, right ladies? You find your lobster, you have your wedding, and you reach another level in the Game of Life. You then, hopefully, do not become one of those “smug marrieds” all your friends worry about. Maybe you’ll buy a house or maybe you’ll have kids, or both.
Or, maybe, your trajectory is actually quite a bit different than everyone else’s in your journeys with lobster.
My girl M found her lobster when they were about 20. They actually decided to get married fairly soon after they were lobstered. They went to Reno and got hitched (sans friends or family, I believe, correct me if I’m wrong, M!) at a little chapel, returning afterward to more blinky lights and other delicious cultural offerings in the Biggest Little City. Their formal wedding was way later, in 2007, on their son’s third birthday. He was the ring bearer and he sat on the steps at his parents’ feet while they got married… again!
My other gal, B, is not married and doesn’t want to be. Read more…
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!
Some of you may have noticed that my last post was over two weeks ago. I can’t help but feel guilty for my absence, but I have a valid excuse! Our invitations have totally kicked my butt, but I am VERY happy to say that they’re finished.
Our living room looked like this for two weeks…
120 Cricut-cut and Gocco printed sleeves, stitched address labels, fabric backed invites and double sided RSVP postcards later, I’m dooone.
Mrs. Starfish, Boston/NewportAge and Occupation: 25, Operations AssistantFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, SalesEngagement Date: October 8, 2008Wedding Date: October 2010Venue: The Atlantic Beach ClubAbout Me: I'm a perfectionist who is a planner at heart. I don't do well with surprises. I love planning, crafting, Newport RI, family and friends, and most importantly, Mr. Starfish---all of which will be big components in our October wedding in our favorite little city by the sea.
One of my favorite things about wedding planning is all of the fun new DIY projects I get to take on. I never really thought of buying an embossing tool and wasn’t much of a stamp person until the wedding planning began. Through Weddingbee, I have been introduced to PaperSource and have found so many cute stamps and inks, but I wanted to take it to the next level.
Enter embossing: my new favorite form of crafting. I love it because I am already a scrapbooker and card maker, so embossing will really add more to projects I already love doing.
Using a slow drying ink, stamp your image onto the paper/surface.
Mrs. Dolphin, Gainesville, FLAge and Occupation: 24, Graduate Architecture StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Interactive Interface DeveloperEngagement Date: February 14, 2008Wedding Date: May 2010Venue: Plantation Bay Country ClubAbout Me: I’m currently a Graduate Student at the University of Florida studying Architecture. I enjoy playing Scrabble with my Fiance, rooting for the Florida Gators, making any drink that involves a blender, cleaning (yes... I’m crazy), design... GOOD design that is, the new Pepsi with natural sugar, taking pictures, discovering new places in the U.S., and obsessing over doing (and designing) everything myself for our upcoming wedding!
One day while trying to find something to satisfy my need for Gator Bride-ness I typed “gator bride” into Google images to see what would come up. After rummaging through several pages of images I came across a super cute image of two wood carved gators, one with a top hat and the other with a veil made by bunnywithatoolbelt over at Etsy.
They were the cutest Gator themed cake toppers I had ever seen. Only one problem arose… Read more…
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
While working on them, I’d check in along the way to ensure what was in progress was what she envisioned, but her response was always the same, “I trust you! Sure! Yes!” Heehee. Free reign. Love it!
I know most people don’t care about favors. Or, to clarify, most wedding guests don’t care about favors. Honestly, only brides and wedding bloggers give a crap about favors, and you don’t need to make any. (Do as I say, not as I do!) But I really cared about favors. I got totally into our favors and loved them and spent hours creating/perfecting/packaging them!
They were the cutest Gator themed cake toppers I had ever seen. Only one problem arose…
